Isa. Ivii. 17, 18. gives me another instance to the same purpose. This seems to be the description of a man totally rejected of God. The most dejected sinner can hardly make a more deplorable description of his condition, though ready enough to speak all the evil of himself, that he can think of. Let us see how things are disposed. There is an iniquity found in him and upon him, that the soul of God abhors. In this evil there is a continuance, until God manifest him- self to take notice of it, and to be provoked with it: ' I was wroth,' saith God, and took a course to Jet him know so; ' I laid my hand upon him and smote him,' in some outward dispensation, that he could not but take notice that ' I was wroth.' Upon this smiting it may be he begins to seek and pray, but I am not found of him: ' I hid me,' I let him pray, but took no notice of him, but hid myself in wrath. Surely this will do, he will now leave his iniquity and return to me. Nay, saith God, he grows worse than ever, neglecting my smiting, hiding, wrath: 'He goes on frowardly in the ways of his own heart.'
God had appointed in the law, that when a son was re- bellious against his parents, and grown incorrigible therein, he should be ' stoned with stones.' What shall be done then with this person, who is thus incorrigible under the
THE STRENGTH OF FAITH. 331
hand of God ? Says God, ' I have seen his ways/ it will not be better. Shall I destroy him, consume him, make him as Admah and Zeboim ? Ah ! ' my bowels are turned in me, my repentings are kindled together : I will heal him.' If he goes on thus, and no outward means will do him good, he must perish ; but ' I will heal hiui.' He wounded his soul, I also wounded him in the blows I gave him, when I was wroth. ' Is he not my dear child ? Since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still ; therefore my bowels are troubled for him, I will surely have mercy on him ;' Jer. xxxi. 20. He shall have wine and oil, grace and pardon for all his wound J. But alas ! he is not able to go one step in God's ways, he is so wonted to his own. Leave that to me, saith God, ' I will lead him ;' I will give him strength, guid- ance, and direction to go in my way. * I will lead him, yea and give him comfort' also.
Now if any one cannot in some measure bring his con- dition within the verge and compass of this promise, it is hard with him indeed. And as I know the necessity of that duty and usefulness of searching our hearts for the fruits of the Spirit in us, whereby we are made meet for communion with God, which are all evidences of our acceptance with God, and pardon of sin thereon; so, I dare say, these are promises that will sufficiently warrant a perplexed soul to close with Christ, as tendered from the love of the Father, even v.ben it can find in itself no other qualifications or con- ditions, but only such as render it every way unworthy to be accepted. We do not say to a poor, naked, hungry, har- bourless man. Go get thee clothes, get thee food, get thee a habitation, and then I will give thee an alms : no, but because thou wantest all these, therefore I will give thee an alms. Because thou art poor, blind, polluted, guilty, sinful, I will give thee mercy, says God.
Yea, but at least a man's sense of his state and condition, with his acknowledgment of it, is needful to precede his clos- ing with the promise. It is so, as to his receiving of it, this oftentimes being the fruit and work of the promise as given itself. But as to the tender of the promise, and Christ in the promise unto us, it is not so. When did God give the great promise of Christ to Adam ? was it when he was sor- rowing, repenting, qualifying his soul ? No, but when he
332 THE STRKXGTH OF lAlTH.
was flying, hiding, and had no thoughts but of separation IVom God, God calls him forth ; and at once tells him what he had deserved, pronounces the curse, and gives him the blessino-. ' I raised thee up,' saith Christ, 'under the apple- tree, there thy mother brought thee forth ;' Cant. viii. 5. From the very place of sin, Christ raiseth up the soul. So Isa. xlvi. 12. ' Hearken to me ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness.' Here are two notable qualifications, stout-heartedness and remoteness from righteousness. What saith God to them, ver. 13? He discourses to them of mercy and salvation. And, chap. Iv. 1. 'Buy,' saith he, 'wine and milk.' Yea, but I have nothing to buy witLal, and these things require a price. Indeed so they do, but take them * without money, and without price.' ' But he calls on them only, who ' are thirsty.' True, but it is a thirst of indigency and total want, not a thirst of spiritual desires, for in whom- soever that is, they have already tasted of this wine and milk, and are blessed ; Matt. v. Nay, we may go one step farther; Prov. ix. 4, 5. Christ invites them to his bread and wine, who have no heart. This commonly is the last objection that an unbelieving heart makes against itself, it hath no mind to Christ. Indeed he hath no heart for Christ, but yet, saith Christ, thou shalt not thus go off, I will not ad- mit of this excuse ; you that have no heart, 'turn in hither.'