Address,
1. Those that disregard the word of the Lord — [There are, alas ! too many who " stumble at the word, being disobedient :" their language is, " As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto theee." If they do not avowedly reject the word, they shew by their conduct, that they consider its doctrines as fanatical, its precepts as harsh, its promises as illusory, and its threatenings as vain. But, while " they thus practically reject the word of the Lord, what wisdom is in themf ?" Doubtless if they who were in the midst of the storm saw any of their neighbours housed, they would cast a wishful look at them :
c Isai. xxviii. 18. '• Prov. xiii. 13. e Jer. xliv. 1C. f Jer. viii, 9.
and will not their lot be envied in the last day, who shall have taken refuge in Christ, and found protection from the wrath of God ? Let then the remembrance of what took place in Egypt operate powerfully on our hearts. Let us " search the Scriptures, and make them our meditation day and night." Let us take them " as a light to our feet and a lantern to our paths." Let us " treasure them up in our hearts," and labour to follow the directions they give us. Let us " receive the word with meekness," " not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God." Let us beg of God that it may be " quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to our inmost souls, and discovering to us the very thoughts and intents of our hearts." Let God's blessed word regulate our hearts and lives : then will God look upon us with favourable acceptance8, and acknowledge us as "his in the day that he shall make up his jewels11."]
2. Those who fear the word of the Lord —
[Some there are amongst us, we trust, who having once, like good Josiah, wept on account of the denunciations of God's wrath, now, like holy Job, " esteem God's word more than their necessary food." There is not a threatening in it which they dare to despise, or a promise which they do not desire to enjoy, or a precept which they do not labour to obey. They desire nothing so much as to be " cast into the mould of the Gospel," and to be " sanctified by means of it in body, soul, and spirit." To all of this character I say, Happy are ye ; for if " ye tremble at the word" of God, ye have no reason to tremble at any thing else. Ye may look at death with complacency, and at hell itself without terror, since ye are screened under the shadow of your Redeemer's wings. Envy not then the liberty, and the thoughtlessness of sinners ; neither let their revilings deter you from your purpose. The time is quickly coming when your God will appear to their shame and to your joy1. Then the wisdom of your conduct will be seen in its true colours : and you shall understand the full import of that question, " Doth not my word do good to him that walketh uprightly k?"]
s Isai. lxv. 2. h Mai. iii. 17. ! Isai. Ixv. 5. k Mic. ii. 7-