Isai. lv. 7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abun- dantly pardon.
WE may discern many of the attributes of the Deity, as wisdom, power, and goodness, in the works
of creation : but it is from the book of revelation only that we obtain the knowledge of his mercy. The Heathen indeed entertain some faint ideas that God will pardon them ; though they know not how to ap- proach him with acceptance, nor have any assurance that they shall find acceptance with him. But we are invited by God himself to come unto him, and are encouraged by an express promise that he will par- don even the vilest of returning prodigals.
In the words before us, we may see,
I. Our duty —
All of us by nature are in a state of departure from God, and of subjection to sin. Hence our duty is,
1. To forsake our sins —
[Every one has some " way " which he has marked out for himself; some way that is suited to his age, his education, his circumstances in life, or his constitutional propensities. Some are addicted to open vice ; others to a more decent spe- cies of gaiety ; others to the pursuit of riches ; others to the more refined, though not less destructive, gratifications of literary pride ; while others again regard nothing but their ease, and the indulgence of their peculiar habits. But what- ever he our ways, if they he not such as are prescribed in the Scripture, and such as lead directly to heaven, they must be "forsaken." We may indeed, and must, attend to our earthly duties ; but in them, as well as in our religious exer- cises, we must seek the glory of God, and the salvation of our souls.
We must moreover forsake our " thoughts." Even they who are most correct in their conduct, will find abundant matter for humiliation in their " thoughts." What proud thoughts arise even from their supposed superiority to others ! What vain, angry, envious, worldly, covetous, impure,- and unbeliev- ing thoughts lodge within us all, and find a welcome recep- tion in our hearts ! These then, no less than our ways, must be "forsaken:" we must watch and pray against them, and labour to have our minds occupied with holy and heavenly contemplations.]
2. To turn unto our God —
[As it is from God that we have departed, so it is unto God that we must return : nor will any reformation of our lives, or even renovation of our hearts, avail us, if this further change be not accomplished within us.
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