in lying words, saying. The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we^;" nor, on the other hand, to trust in human devices, to the neglect of him, who " worketh all things after the counsel of his own will."
It was for the latter of these sins, that the Jews were reproved in the words before vis. The Assyrians had invaded their country, and were coming against Jerusalem itself: and the Jews, instead of crying to God for help, contented themselves with fortifying their city; and lived as securely as if no danger were at hand. This greatly incensed God, and caused him to denounce against them his heaviest judgments.
The words before us will lead us to consider,
I. The duty to which God calls us —
The terms used in the text were intended to express repentance —
[The shaving of the head, and cutting of the beard, and putting on of sackcloth, were used among the Jews as indica- tions of sorrow^. Of themselves indeed, neither those nor any other actions, however significant, had any value before God : they were even hateful to him, if used without correspondent dispositions of heart'' : but, when accompanied with inward contrition, they were pleasing and acceptable in his sighf^.]
This is the duty to which God calls us at this time —
[He spake to the Jewish nation by the dispensations of his providence^, and the voice of his prophets^. And is he not calling us to repentance at this time, by the calamities of the nation, by the command of our rulers, and by the voice of all his faithful ministers^ ? Yes; he says aloud, " Turn ye to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning**."]
But how little attention we pay to him will appear, if we consider,
II. The state in which we continue —
^ Jer. vii. 4, ^ Ezek. xxvii. 30, 31.
<> Isai. i. 13, 14. and Ixvi. 3. ^ \ Kings xxi. 27 — 29.
^ Mic. vi. 9. Awful visitations were always considered in that view, Judg. XX. 25, 26. ^ Joel, Isaiah, &c.
s The particular circumstances of the nation should be here stated. ^ Joelii. 12.
888.J UNCONCERN OF MEN AMIDST GOD's CALLS. 597
The evils of which the prophet complained, are, alas ! too descriptive of our state :
1. We confide in our own preparations without looking to God —
[So often has God prospered our naval exertions, that we almost universally overlook his providence, and ascribe our success to our own superior skill and valour. Our hopes also of future conquests are founded wholly on our own prowess. We are active enough in making preparations ; but are as unmindful of God, as if we needed not his aid, nor were at all dependent on his will. For the truth of this assertion we appeal to the public prints, and to the expressions of all with whom we conversed]
2. We still live in our wonted habits of conviviality and dissipation —
[It is not intemperance and excess that is the object of the prophet's reprehension, but an unsuitable gaiety of mind, at a time when it became them to be humbHng themselves in dust and ashes. And is not this the case with us amongst all ranks and orders of the community ? Doubtless the pressure of the public burthens must impose restraints on many : but still the change in them is not the effect of a voluntary humi- liation, but the reluctant fruit of irresistible necessity.]
3. We, in too many instances, turn the very warn- ings of Jehovah into contempt and ridicule —
[The Jews were warned of the near approach of their destruction : and they, to ridicule the idea, said, " Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die." We indeed, having no information from God respecting the issue of public affairs, cannot imitate, with respect to them, the impiety of the Jews. But, in relation to infinitely more important matters, there is as much profane scoffing amongst us, as amongst them : the declarations of God's word are set at nought ; and they, who most faithfully denounce God's judgments against sin and sinners, are, for the most part, regarded either as hypocrites or fanatics.]