produce this happy effect, we shall have reason to be thankful for them.]
1. What, under all circumstances, should be the chief object of our attention —
[The Jews failed, because " their heart was not right with God." Let us look to this, that we indulge not hypocrisy in our hearts. If we call God our God, and our Redeemer, let our eyes be to him as our only, and our all-sufficient Help.]
* Hos, xl. 7 — p. '' Jer. xiii. 27.
Ps. lxxxi. 11, 12. My people would not hearken to my voice, and Israel would none of me : so I gave them up.
THE history of the Jews is not a mere record of times and persons far distant from us, but a display of the Divine procedure towards others, as a pledge of a similar procedure towards us. The Jews were intended as examples to the Church of God m all ages : their prosperity whilst serving God, and their adversity when they had departed from him, were designed to shew us what blessings we may expect
at
at God's hands, if we serve him acceptably; and what judgments, if we rebel against him\ In this view it will be profitable to consider the words before us ; and,
I. The perverseness complained of —
Nothing could exceed the kindness of God towards his people of old —
[How tender and affectionate is his address to them''!
He intreats them not to look to any strange god, since
he alone has an exclusive right to their regard ^ He
assures them also, that whatsoever they shall ask at his hands, he will do it for them*^
And is it not precisely in the same way that he addresses us ? He invites to look to him*, and to come unto him^, and to ask of him whatsoever we will, with an assurance that we shall not be disappointed of our hope*^. There is no limitation or excep- tion, provided only the things we desire be agreeable to his holy will. If we plead with him in earnest, there is no sin that shall not be forgiven'', no corruption that shall not be mortified', no want that shall not be suppHed''. He engages, that, to what- ever temptation we may be exposed, his grace shall be sufficient for us'.]
But their obstinacy was incorrigible —
[The Jews, with but few exceptions, " would not hearken to his voice." His precepts, his promises, his threatenings, were alike disregarded by them. " They would none of him ;" but said to his messengers whom he sent to reclaim them, " Make the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us "
And is it not thus with us ? Is not his authority trampled on by us ? and are not both his mercies and judgments almost uni- versally despised ? We will have other objects of our affections
in preference to him We will not open our mouths in
prayer, though we know that nothing is to be obtained without
it The language of our hearts and actions is, " We will
not have this man to reign over us™" Notwithstanding
all that he has done to "redeem" us from death and hell, we will not take upon ourselves his light and easy yoke.]
Whilst we thus imitate the perverseness of the Jews, let us tremble for fear of,
II. The
* See 1 Cor. x. 1— 1 1. & Heb. iii. l6— IQ. & iv. 1.
'' ver. 8. ' ver. Q, lO. '' ver. 10. with Deut. iv. 7-
^ Isai. xlv. 22. & Iv. 1—3. ' Matt. xi. 28.
P John xiv. 13, 14. & xv. ?. ^ Isai. i. 18.
» Mic. vii. 19. '' Phil. iv. I9. ' 2 Cor. xii. 8, 9.
'" Luke xix, 14.