their God supremely, and cleave to him stedfastly, and trust in him confidently, and serve him with their whole heasts ? One would think it impossible that they should do otherwise, if we did not know that]
The very reverse of this characterized their whole deportment —
[Their whole history from the beginning records one conti- nued series of murmurings and rebellions. In Egypt itself, and within a few days after their passage through the Red Sea — but how shaH I recite all their provocations ? I must recite their whole history, if I would bring before you the full extent of their wickedness. Now and then they seemed to manifest a better spirit. When they saw all their enemies dead upon the sea shore, they began to sing praise to their Almighty Deliverer : and on some occasions, when he punished them for their rebellions, they
manifested some contrition, and promised to amend''
But they soon returned to their former habits, and " turned aside like a deceitful bow," which, when promising to carry the arrow to the mark, causes it to drop at your very feef^. At no time did they evince any real desire " to set their heart aright j" and, when they professed any such purpose, they soon forgat their engagements, and shewed, that " their spirit was not sted- fast with their God".]
Now from having so complete a knowledge of them, we are ready to imagine, that they were as far beyond all others in depravity as they were in their privileges. But, that we may do justice to the character of that generation, let us proceed to consider, II. The character of ours —
The favours conferred on us are as superior to any bestowed on them as it is possible to conceive — • [Their redemption was from oppressive task-masters ; but ours is from sin and Satan, death and hell. Theirs was accom- plished by power only ; ours by a price surpassing all calculation, even the inestimably precious blood of God's only-begotten Son. Theirs was for a time in the earthly Canaan ; ours for eternity in heaven. Theirs was a mere shadow j ours is the substance ^
What then may not reasonably be expected of us?
[Suppose we could divest ourselves of all recollection that we were a party concerned in this matter, and were called upon to give our opinion, how any people, so favoured as we have been,
might " ver. 34—37. " ver. 57.
890.] JEWS AND CHRISTIANS COMPARED. 27o
miglit be expected to requite their heavenly Benefactor ; what answer should we give ? Should we not say, There will be no bounds to their gratitude : they will adore their God day and night : they will almost grudge a moment that is not spent in his praise ^ : they will commit all their concerns to him with a confidence which nothing can shake ; and devote themselves to him with an ardour which nothing can abate : they will be wholly his, in body, soul, and spirit ; and will look for his presence and his blessing as the only portion of their souls ? 1
And how is it with us ?
[How is it with the generality? Do they " set their heart aright" towards him ? Is there in their hearts any real determi- nation to live to him, and for him, as their rightful Lord and Master ? Is there any decided purpose to secure at all events an interest in that redemption which he has wrought out for them ; and to live entirely on Him, who has lived and died for
them? Let me rather ask, Is there any concern about
their heart at all ? Provided only they be moral in their lives, and regular in their attendance on ordinances, do they not think themselves at liberty to set their affections on things below, in- stead of reserving them exclusively for things above ? See, in their converse with the world, how little they savour of heaven and heavenly things ! See them even in their religious worship, (whether in the closet, or the family, or the public assembly,) how cold and formal all their services are ; performed from a sense of duty, rather than from inclination ; and with a view to satisfy their conscience, rather than to enjoy and glorify their God ! In a word, instead of pointing like the needle to the pole, their heart rests indifferently in any other position than the right ; and never, unless from some forcible impulse, and for a moment, points to- wards God as its rest at all.]