should humble ourselves before him, and plead the merits of his dear Son, and renounce the ways that have been displeasing to him : the very instant we return to him in this manner, he will " cast all our sins into the depths of the sea," and embrace us with the arms of his mercy. What madness then to wish that there were no such Being!]
Infer,
1. How great is the patience of God!
[God sees, not one only or even many, but all the world living without God^, banishing him from their thoughts^, and wishing hun banished from the universe : yet he not only bears with them, but follows them with invitations and promises,
and waiteth to be gracious unto them Let us stand
amazed at his goodness ; and let that goodness lead us to repentance ]
2. How glorious is the change that takes place in conversion !
[Grace no sooner enters into the heart than it slays this enmity, and reconciles the sinner to God. Henceforth it becomes his one desire to walk with God, to enjoy his pre- sence, to fulfil his will, and to live in the near prospect of
participating his glory How enviable is such a state !
Compare the wisdom of such a state with the folly which we
have been exposing And let us instantly begin to live,
as we shall wish we had lived, when we come to die.]
f Eph. ii. 12. g Ps. X. 4.
Ps. xiv. 6. Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because
the Lord is his refuge.
ONE would imagine that religion, as brought into lively and habitual exercise, should commend itself to all : it is so reasonable a service, that one would suppose none could find fault with it. Yet, never has it been maintained by any one since the first introduction of sin into the world, without provoking hostility from those who were not under its dominion. As for David, he suffered for it through all the reign of Saul, and through a great part also of his own reign : for, though a king, he was an object of