2. What cause have they, too, for shame !
[It is surprising that persons thus highly favoured should ever be found at a distance from God. But the very best of men have hearts " bent to backslide from God," and to " start aside, even as a deceitful bowy." Who amongst you, Brethren, is not sensible of this ? You can know little of vour own hearts, if you do not see it ; and little of God's grace, if you do not bitterly lament it. Ah ! be ashamed, that ever your desires after God should languish, or your delight in him abate. Stir up yourselves, Brethren, and beg of God to quicken you ; that you may correspond fully with the description in my text, and be at all times " a people near to him." See how he complains of you in relation to this matter : " O that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways ! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. I would have fed them also with the
9 John vi. 56. and xiv. 23. r Gal. ii. 20. s Ps. lxxxix. 15.
1 Eph. ii. 13. u Matt. xxiv. 40, 41.
x Rev. vii. 11. >' Hos. vii. 1G. and xi. 4.
finest of the wheat ; and with honey out of the rock would I have satisfied them2." Yes; you cannot but know whence it is that your strength is so small, and that your consolations are so few. It is altogether owing to your not walking more closely with God : for, if you were near to him, as you should be, your souls should overflow with all manner of good ; according to that promise which he has given, " The faithful man shall abound with blessings3."]
z Ps. lxxxi. 13, 14, 16. a Prov. xxviii. 20.