the Saviour wept over the devoted city of Jerusalem: and we would that " our eyes also were a fountain of tears, to run clown day and night" on account of your present obduracy, and on account of the miseries that await you in the eternal world!]
3. How desirable is the knowledge of God, as
revealed in the Gospel!
[Never was there one who sought the face of God in vain. No : however long ye may have rebelled against God, there is mercy for you, if you turn to him with your whole hearts. Think how many of those who crucified the Lord of glory obtained mercy at his hands : and so shall you also, if you will humble yourselves before him, and seek for mercy through his atoning blood. " Not so much as one of you should perish, if you would but go to him." No truly, " there is no condem- nation to them that are in Christ Jesus." " All that believe in him shall be justified from all things." " Acquaint, then, yourselves with God, and be at peace." Seek " that know- ledge of him which is life eternal." And know, that, whilst " they who know him not, and obey not his Gospel, shall be banished from the presence of his glory," his believing and obedient servants shall both serve him, and be served by him, in his kingdom and glory, for ever and ever.]
Exod. v. 17, 18. But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle; there- fore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord. Go therefore now and work.
MAN prides himself upon his reason : but let him be under the influence of passion or interest, and nothing can be found more unreasonable : his eyes are blinded, his heart is hardened, his conscience is seared, and his actions are nearer to those of a maniac, than of a rational being. Nor is his madness ever carried to a greater extent, than when religion is concerned. Look at the persecutors of God's people, from Cain to this present moment : what have they been, but agents of the devil, fighting against God, and murdering their fellow-creatures with insa- tiable cruelty ? A just specimen of their conduct we have in the history before us. Moses and Aaron were sent of God, to require that the Hebrew nation, who were then in Egypt, should go and offer sacrifices
z 2