it to their souls. See our Redeemer in the days of his flesh : was there any disease which he could not cure? Was not even a touch of his garment instantly effectual for one who had spent her all upon physicians, and to no purpose ? Me- thinks I hear one complaining, that sin and Satan have such an entire possession of his soul, as to render his state alto- gether hopeless. But " is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no Physician there?" Look at the demoniac in the Gospel: so entirely was he possessed by Satan, that no chains could bind him, no restraints prevent him from inflicting deadly wounds upon himself. But a single word from the Saviour expels the fiend, and causes the maniac to sit at his feet, clothed, and in his right mind. Fear not then, thou despond- ing sinner; for there is nothing impossible with him. And if thou say, ' True ; but he has already tried his hand upon me in vain, and given me up as incurable;' hear then what he speaks to thee by the Prophet Isaiah : " For his iniquity I was wroth, and smote him : I hid me, and was wroth ; and yet he went on frowardly in the way of his heart." (Here is your very case : and what says he to it ? Does he say, ' I have therefore given him up as incurable?' No; but ("I have seen his ways, and will heal him." Heal him, does he say? Yes ; " I will heal him, and will restore comforts to him and to his mourners0." Go then to him, thou desponding soul. Say to him, as David did, " Lord, be merciful unto me ; heal
my soul, for I have sinned against thee p." If you
reply, ' There is no hope for me, because I have once known the Lord, and have backslidden from him ; ' be it so ; yet, as a backslider, hear what a gracious message he sends thee by the Prophet Jeremiah : " Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings V One thing only would I guard you against, and that is, "the healing of your wounds slightly1." Let your wounds be probed to the very bottom : and then, as the waters of Marah were healed so as that the fountain itself was changed, so shall your soul be purified throughout, and "the waters flowing from you spring up unto everlasting lifes."]
0 Isai. lvii. 17, 18. p Ps. xli. 4. q Jer. hi. 2
r Jer. vi. 14. « John iv. 14. and vii. 38.