god's promises to penitents.
Lev. xxvi. 40 — 42. If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked con- trary unto me ; and that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies ; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity ; then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant toith Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I re- member ; and I will remember the land.
WE are apt to feel a jealousy respecting the divine mercy, as though a free and full exhibition of it would cause men to make light of sin. But the inspired writers seem never apprehensive of any such effects. In the passage before us God has set forth his pro- mises to his people, if they should continue obedient to them ; and the most tremendous threatenings, in case they should become disobedient. Yet even then, though he foreknew and foretold that they would depart from him and bring upon themselves his heavy judgments, he told them, that, if even in their lowest state they should return to him with humiliation and contrition, he would restore them to his favour, and to the land from whence they should have been ex- pelled. What encouragement the pious Nehemiah derived from these declarations, may be seen in the prayer he offered ; in which he reminded God of them, and sought the accomplishment of them to his