yielded in part to the commands of God : he resisted altogether at the first; but gradually receded from his determinations, and permitted the Hebrews to offer their sacrifices in Egypt ; then to go into the wilderness, provided they did not go very far into it : then he would let the men go : then at last the women and children also : but he would not suffer them to take away their cattle : those he was determined to keep, as a pledge of their return. In all this there was nothing but pride and stoutness of heart. He held every thing fast, till it was wrested from him by some fresh judgment, and conceded nothing but from absolute compulsion. And thus it is that many amongst our- selves part with their sins. They would retain them all, and gladly too, if the indulgence of them would consist with their hope from heaven. If they part with any, they do it as a mariner who casts his goods overboard to lighten his ship and keep it from sinking : but it is with reluctance that he parts with them; and he wishes for them all again, the very instant he is safe on shore. From the same motive flows his per- formance of certain duties: he engages not in them from any delight that he has in them, but from a self-righteous desire of purchasing heaven by these sacrifices.
But in all this there is nothing of true humiliation, nothing of real piety. The sinner, when his heart is right with God, desires to fulfil all the commandments of his God: "not one of them is grievous unto him:" he would not wish to be allowed to vio- late any one of them; but desires to " stand perfect and com- plete in all the will of God." He would not retain a right eye or a right hand, that should be an occasion of offence to his God and Saviour. As it is his prayer that " God's will may be done by him on earth as it is in heaven," so is it his daily endeavour to carry it into effect: and, could he but have the de- sire of his soul, he would be " pure as Christ himself is pure," and " perfect as his Father which is in heaven is perfect."
This union of deep sorrow for the past, and of unreserved obedience for the future, is marked by God himself as consti- tuting that state of mind which alone will prove effectual for our acceptance with him.]
Having explained the nature of true humiliation,
we proceed to,
II. Expostulate with those in whom it is not yet wrought — There is but too much reason for this expostulation wheresoever we look —
[Their need of humiliation, none, I apprehend, will venture to deny. Let us only look back and see how we have acted towards God, as our Creator, our Governor, our