" Repent ? " Who has not felt many checks of conscience, when lie was tempted to commit iniquity ? These have been no other than the motions of God's Holy Spirit within us, testifying against sin, and inviting us to serve our God*".]
But against his reproofs how often have we " har- dened our necks !"
[Many will not endure reproof at all : and, if the word which is ministered to them by the servants of God disquiet their minds, and especially if it strike at their besetting sin, they will vent their indignation against the faithful Messenger who thus disturbs their slumbers. The reproof given to Ama- ziah was so reasonable, that one would imagine it could not possibly give offence : yet behold, what resentment it kindled in the infatuated monarch ! " Art thou made of the king's
counsel? Forbear. Why shouldest thou be smitten*^?" •
Nothing could be more jvist than the rejoroof which Jeremiah was ordered to administer to the Jewish people : yet the only effect it produced was, to excite their wrath, and to make them threaten him with instant death : " When Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak unto all the people, then the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, took him, saying. Thou shalt surely die ^ "
Herod went further still, and actually put the greatest
of all the Prophets to death, for no other fault than that of telling him that he should not persevere in his adulterous com- merce with his brother Philip's wife^. Thus it is at this day. Men indeed cannot proceed to such extremities against their reprovers now as they did in former times : but the world's en- mity is the same against all who " testify of it that the works thereof are evil ; " and it is owing to the protection of the laws, rather than to any diminution of men's hatred against the truth, that contempt only, and not death, is the portion of God's faithful servants.
But it is not only in a way of outward opposition that men manifest their obduracy. Many who externally approve of the faithfid ministry of the word, are in reality as averse to it in their hearts. They hear the word perhaps even with pleasure, as Ezekiel's hearers did ; but they will not do it*^. Say whether this be not the case with many amongst you : you have had the whole counsel of God declared luito you ; but have you com- plied with it ? Are you truly brought to the foot of cross, in deep humiliation, in earnest prayer, and in a simple reliance
on the blood of Jesus as your only hope ? Have you
also taken his yoke upon you, so that you are daily and hourly fulfilling his will, and regarding his service as perfect freedom ?
b Gen. vi. 3. <= 2 Chron. xxv. 15, 16. ^ Jer, xxvi. 2 — 8.
e Matt. xiv. 3—10. f Ezek. xxxiii. 31, 32.