them, or that, having heard of him, have been left to perish in a neglect of his salvation : think of these tilings, and then, if you can, deny your obligations to the goodness and mercy of your God ]
But let US more especially consider,
II. The peculiar obligations of the Redeemed to do so —
*' Let the Redeemed of the Lord say so :" yes, if ye " whom he has delivered out of the hand of the enemy, and gathered to himself," are silent, " the very stones will cry out against you." Think,
1 . From whence you have been gathered —
[The remotest ends of the earth are not so far from each
other, as ye were from God and in this state ye were
led captive by the devil at his will ]
2. By what means ye were redeemed —
[It was by the precious blood of God's only dear Son**
" It was also by the effectual working of his power: for
he, as a good Shepherd, sought you out, and apprehended you, and brought you home on his shoulders rejoicing^ ]
3. To what ye are brought —
[As the Lord's redeemed people, ye are brought into a state *of peace with God: ye have the privilege of constant commu- nion with him : ye may expect at his hands every blessing wiiich your souls can desire: and ye shall finally possess all the glory and felicity of heaven.
Think now what, in the view of these things, should be the state of ynur minds. If those who have never yet experienced one of these benefits, have yet abundant reason to celebrate the goodness and mercy of their God, have not ye much more? O "let the Redeemed of the Lord say so:" let them sing his praises day and night: let them adore him with their whole hearts ]
Address,
1. Those who are yet insensible of God's good- ness—
[Alas ! how great a portion of every assembly are compre- hended under this description! Well, know y& then that
we re(iuire no other proof of your perishing condition. Tell us not from what sins ye are free : we will grant all that ye are pleased to say: but we declare you to be blmd, ignorant, base, ungrateful creatures : ye have no hearts to adore your God ; and
therefore ^ Eph. ii. J3. • Ezek. xxxiv. 12. Luke xv.5.
356 PSALMS, evil. 43. [410.
therefore if ye die in your present state, ye can never enter into the kingdom of heaven, wliere the one employment of the blest inhabitants is to sing the praises of redeeming love. If ever ye be truly converted unto God, this new song will be put into your mouths, and be sung by you day and night ^ ]
2. Those who love the blessed work —
[Some there are, and may God increase their number an
hundredfold ! who delight to bless and praise their God
Go on then, dearly Beloved, and abound more and more. Though your songs are as yet but faint, they are truly pleasing in the ears of your reconciled God and Father. This song in particular is grateful to him. Mark what notice he took of it
when sung by Solomon s So will become down and fill
your souls with his glory Mark also what honour he put
upon it when sung by Jehosaphat''— So will he defeat all
the confederacies, whether of earth or hell, that may be formed
against you ^i"g on then with increasing gratitude, even
to the end; and soon shall the golden harp be put into your hands, and you shall join with that heavenly choir in that more perfect song in which they all unite, even in singing, " Salvation to God and to the Lamb for ever and ever."]
*^ Ps. xl. 1—3. with Jer.xxxiii/ll. « 2 Chron. v. 13.
"2 Chron. xx. 21,22.
ccccx.
god's love seen in all his dispensations.