But Divine chastisements, unattended with the ope- rations of grace, never produce the desired effect —
[Notwithstanding ten successive plagues, Pharaoh con- tinued to harden his heart against God. Thus it is with sinners in general: they either relent not at all, or, like metal taken out of the furnace, relapse immediately into their former state of obduracy. For the most part, " though God strikes them, they will not grieve ; though he even consumes them, they refuse to receive correction ; they make their faces harder than a rock, and refuse to return s." " They are mad upon their
a 1 Tim. vi. 10. * Col. iii. 5.
e See Acts xii. 23. and 1 Cor. xi. 30, 32.
(1 Hos. vi. 5. Isai. vi. 9, 10. Exod. xiv. 4. e Isai. lxvi. 4.
1 2 Thcss. ii. 11. Rom. i. 24, 26, 28. 8 Jer. v. 3.
idols ; so that though, like Ezekiel's followers, they delight to hear the word, they will not do it, but still yield to the corrupt bias within themh; too many of them, instead of being re- claimed by God's chastisements, continue, like Ahaz, to trespass yet more and more against him1.]
Now then how shall this controversy be brought to a successful issue ? it can only be in,
II. The way which he takes to terminate it —
One might well suppose that God, who sees iniquity in all its aggravations, would give vent to his indigna- tion by destroying those who commit it —
[On some occasions God has signally interposed to execute vengeance on the sinners of mankind k. And it is a miracle of mercy that he endures any with such long-suffering and for- bearance. When he sees both his mercies and his judgments despised, and that his endeavours to reclaim sinners issue in nothing but disappointment, we might well expect him to swear in his wrath, that such daring transgressors should never enter into his rest.]
But he determines rather to save them by an exer- tion of sovereign and almighty grace —
[Jeremiah informs us, that, when God knew not, as it were, how to restore the backsliding Israelites, so as to put them among the number of his children, he adopted this reso- lution; " Thou shalt call me, my Father, and shall not turn away from me1." Thus in the passage before us he says, " I have seen his ways, and (what? will destroy him utterly? No:) will heal him." What marvellous condescension ! what unbounded mercy! How should it melt the most obdurate heart ! God will apply the balm of Gilead to the consciences of sinners ; "he will heal their backslidings and love them freely." Nay, further, he will take them by the hand, and however far they may have strayed, he will bring them back unto his fold, and " lead" them in safety to his heavenly kingdom. Nor will he leave them destitute even of present " comforts:" the peace and happiness, which they have in vain sought for in the ways of sin, he will give in the paths of righteousness and true holiness.]
It is to be remembered, however, that he will first make them " mourn" for their transgressions —
h Ezek. xxxiii. 31. '2 Chron. xxviii. 22.
k Numb. xvi. 31, 32. 1 Cor. x. 1 — 10. » Jer. iii. 19.
990.] god's mercy to obstinate sinners. 493
[While sinners continue obstinate, it is not possible that they should obtain favour with the Lord. God must altogether deny himself before he can receive the impenitent. He has declared that all must repent, or perish1"; and that it is in a way of weeping and supplication that he will lead them to himself". It is the broken and contrite heart alone that he will not despise0. He says, " Only acknowledge thine iniquity:" and when his time is come for subduing a sinner to the obe- dience of faith, he will " take away his stony heart, and give him a heart of flesh1';" he will first " give him repentance; and then remission of sinq." He will cause him to become a mourner in Zion ; and then will give him beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness r.]