for ever ? " Would Jesus ever have come down from heaven, if he had not been ready to save ? Would he have shed his precious blood for us, if he had not been ready to save? Would he have sent his word, his ministers, and his holy Spirit, to invite and draw us to him, if he had not been ready to save ? Has he not said, " As I live I have no pleasure in the death of a sinner, but rather that he turn from his wicked- ness and live ; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways, for why will ye die ? " And would he thus have sworn, invited, en- treated, and expostulated, if he had not been ready to save? Be- loved brethen, would to God that ye would all put him to the trial ! not one of you would then ever perish in your sins ; he would cleanse you in his blood from all sin ; he would restore your souls to health ; and make them to nourish in immortal youth and beauty. Do you ask, How shall I obtain this blessing ? We answer, just as the king of Judah, or the king of Britain, were restored to health: means were used for both ; but the means were very inadequate to the end which was to be obtained : that which prevailed for both, was prayer ; and that shall prevail for you. If you were like Jonah at the bot- tom of the sea in a whale's belly, the prayer of faith should deliver you. Still however you must use the means ; attend to the word that is preached ; and read the Bible in your closets : but do not imagine that these means can convert your souls : no ; that is the Lord's work ; and you will use all means in vain, if you do not beg of God to render them effec- tual. But if you pray, you will find the Lord far more ready to give, than you are to ask. To save sinners is his work, his office, his delight ; it is " the joy which was set before him, in expectation of which he endured the cross and despised the shame :" yea, it is the import of his very name ; for he was " called Jesus, because he was to save his people from their sins." This is a perpetual ground of joy to all ; it calls for our devoutest thanks and praises : it should make us all adopt the language of the text, and say, " The Lord is ready to save me ; therefore will I sing songs to him all the days of my life, in the house of the Lord."
But if you have been restored to health; if you have expe- rienced his salvation ; if upon a review of your past life you can say with Hezekiah, "The Lord was ready to save me;" what ought to be the frame of your mind ? how should you give thanks ! the Psalmist says, " Let them give thanks whom the Lord hath redeemed ;" and if they will not, who will? The angels were not half so much indebted to him, as they for whom he shed his blood. " O then give thanks, give thanks unto our God ; for it becometh well the just to be thankful :" " O come let us sing unto the Lord, let us heartily rejoice in the God of our salvation."]
919.] IIEZEKIAIl's THANKSGIVING. 117