no guilt imputed to us but that of omission and defect, yet must we apply to the blood of sprinkling, and seek for pardon through that one Sacrifice wliich was once offered for us on the cross.]
Learn then from hence,
1. The value of a faithful monitor —
[We do not like faithful admonitions, even from those whose special duty it is to reprove sin. We are ready to account them harsh and severe. But what is the office which a friendly monitor performs ? Is it not that which the Angel of the Covenant himself executed, yea, and came from heaven on purpose to perform ? But it may be said, that we alarm men, and make them melancholy : true ; we shew them their guilt and danger, and try to bring them to a state of humi- liation on account of it, and to an affiance in the Lord Jesus Christ for the pardon of it. But is this an evil ? If the whole congregation were affected precisely as the whole congregation of Israel were, every one weeping for his sins, and seeking the remission of them through the great Sacrifice, would it be a matter for regret ? No : we would to God that this very place might this day deserve the name of Bochhn ; and that the re- membrance of it might never be obhterated from your minds ! Sm*e we are that the congregation of Israel felt themselves deeply indebted to Him who thus sought their welfare ; and we have no doubt but that, however an ungodly world may hate our reproofs, there is not a contrite sinner in the universe who will not regard his monitor as a father, and " receive him as an Angel of God, even as Christ Jesus s." They will not hesitate to thank him, who, by bringing them to weep here, has kept them from weeping and wailing and gnashing their teeth in hell /or everJ]
2. The danger of forgetting the admonitions that
have been given us —
[During the days of Joshua and the elders that outlived Joshua, the Israelites maintained some measure of steadfastness in their duty to God : but afterwards they fearfully declined, and brought upon themselves the most afflictive judgments. The whole remainder of the chapter from whence our text is taken, elucidates this truth. The impressions which were now made upon them gradually wore away ; and the people relapsed into their former state of supineness. Of the unreasonableness of their conduct they were fully convinced : for, when the Angel asked them, " Why have ye done this?" they could not offer one word in extenuation of their guilt : but when they
s Gal. iv. 14.