•white as snow :" and in other places he promised his Spirit to " write his laws upon their hearts," and to " cause them to keep his statutes °." But under the Gospel dispensation, the effi- cacy of the Redeemer's blood to " cleanse from sin," and of his grace to renew the heart, is declared in the strongest terms''. Hence then, when it is said, " Wash you, make you clean," there is no room to say, " I cannot ;" for " the grace of Christ is sufficient" for all, and " we can do all tilings through Christ who strengtheneth us "5." Seek then to be washed in his blood, and to be sanctified by his Spirit, and then the smallest of your offerings, even a cup of cold water, shall be an acceptable sacrifice in the sight of God^]
o Ezek, xxxvi. 27. p 1 John i. 7, 9. 'i Phil. iv. 13.
^ 1 Pet. ii. 5.
Isai. i. 18. Come 7ioio, and let us reason together, saith the Lord : though your sins he as scarlet, they shall be as ivhite as snotv ; though they he red like crimson, they shall he as wool.
MAN is a rational being ; and, though prone to abuse his reason for the vindication of his own evil ways, is capable of judging, when sound argument is proposed for his consideration. Hence God addresses himself to our reason, and makes his appeal to the whole creation, when our pride or obstinacy prevent us from acknowledging the truth of his assertions. The chapter before us exhibits a judicial process : heaven and earth are called as witnesses against Israel; the charge against them is opened % and their vindication of themselves is duly considered''. Having convicted them of their iniquities, God invites them
a ver. 2, 3.
'^ Their reply is not set down at length ; but it may be gathered from the answer given to it by God. They plead that they have offered sacrifices, yea, many, and of the fattest of their flocks ; that they have done this themselves, before God in the temple, with great reverence ; tliat they have presented other offerings also ; that they have observed the stated feasts ; and that, instead of resting in carnal ceremonies, they had joined with them the spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise. God follows them through their objections, and leaves them not a word to add, ver. 11 — 15.