an heart in them !" From hence we are naturally led to set before you The sentiments and dispositions which God approves; — the sentiments ; " They have well said all that they have spoken;" — the dispositions; " O that there were in them such an heart !"
I. The sentiments which he approves.
Here it will be necessary to analyze, as it were, or at least to get a clear and distinct apprehension of, the speech which God commends. It is recorded in the preceding context from the 23d verse. " And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders ; and ye said, Behold, the Lord our God hath shewed us his glory, and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire : we have seen this day, that God doth talk with man, and he liveth. Now there- fore why should we die ? for this great fire will con- sume us : if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, then we shall die. For who is there of all flesh that hath heard the voice of the living God, speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived ? Go thou near, and hear all that the Lord our God shall say ; and speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee, and we will hear it, and do it." Then it is added, " And the Lord heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me ; and the Lord said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee : they have well said all that they have spoken."
Now in this speech are contained the following things ; An acknowledgment that they could not stand before the Divine Majesty ; — A desire that God would appoint some one to mediate between him and them ; — and lastly, An engagement to regard every word that should be delivered to them through a Mediator, with the same obediential reverence, as they would if it were spoken to them by God himself. And these are the sentiments, on which