[Not even the scoffer should be dismissed without such counsel, as, if duly received, may operate a saving change upon his soul. The prophet here says to the inquiring Edomites, " If ye will inquire seriously, inquire ye; returning" from your evil ways, and " coming" humbly and believingly to your God. So say I to you. If there be amongst you any who really desire to know the purposes of heaven, come ; and, as God's watchman, I will, to the best of my power, instruct you. And this in particular will I declare to you , that if only you will return to God, your past iniquities shall not be your ruin." Hear what God himself said to the Prophet Jeremiah : " Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say. Return, thou backsliding Israel ; and I will not cause my anger to fall upon you .... Turn unto me ; for I am married unto you .... Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings." And the very instant that they replied, " Be- hold, we come unto thee ; for thou art the Lord our God ; " the prophet was commanded to say, " If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the Lord, return unto me°." This fully explains the words, " Return, come." In all the Scriptures there is not a single word that tends to the discouragement of a returning sinner. No : the whole sacred volume says. Come, come, come : "The Spirit and the Bride say. Come: and let him that heareth say. Come: and whosoever will, let him come, and take of the water of life freely." And lest we should suppose that any sin whatever shall prove a bar to the acceptance of a returning penitent, our blessed Saviour expressly says, " Hiin that Cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out." This coun- sel, then, I would affectionately give to you, " Inquire ; Re- turn; Come."]
But that this counsel may be better understood, I will
now, in conclusion, address you more at length.
1. Be serious in your inquiries into the truth of God —
[Inquire after nothing in a light, contemptuous manner : " Be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong." Nor make any inquiry with indifference ; like Pilate, when he asked of our Lord, " What is truth ?" and never waited to receive an answer. But set yourselves diligently to " search the Scrip- tures;" for in them alone will you find the whole truth, without any mixture of error. Inquire, too, into the state of your souls before God. Bring them to the true and proper touch- stone, the word of God: examine yourselves by it ; and beg of God to search and try you; that, if there be any hidden evil in your heart, it may be disclosed to you, and be purged away by the blood and Spirit of Christ ]
0 Jer. iii. 12, 14, 22. and iv. 1.
888.] UNCONCERN OF MEN AMIDST GOd's CALLS. 5f)5
2. Be assured that God's word shall take effect —
[Presume not to sit in judgment on it, or condemn it. You are not called to judge, but to submit. If you see not the reason of God's declarations, do not therefore conclude that they are not founded in wisdom or goodness or truth : but say, " What I know not now, I shall know hereafter." If the word of God hold forth a thi'eatening, tremble at it, and beg of God that it may never be executed upon you. If, on the contrary, it set forth a promise, lay hold of it, and rest upon it, and ex- pect the accomplishment of it to your soul. And be fully satisfied in your minds, that the final states of the whole world shall be in exact agreement with it, and happiness or misery be awarded to all according to its unerring dictates.]
3. Let the final issue of things be the great object of your concern —