from us in the ordinances, and withholds the influences of his Spirit, we should still more earnestly inquire, wherefore God contendeth with usy? Perhaps we should find that God is " wroth" on account of our pride, ambition, worldliness, or some other hateful lust ; and that, as he would not hear the Jews even " when they made many prayers, because their hands were full of blood," so some cursed abomination has provoked him to withdraw from us. If we perceive no parti- cular trial, either temporal or spiritual, we must not even then conclude that all is well, since it is the very nature of spiritual judgments to blind the eyes, and sear the conscience, and harden the heart. Of this we may be sure ; that whether our outward circumstances be prosperous or adverse, they are equally calls and invitations from God; and are intended as incentives to gratitude and humiliation. Let us then both notice and improve his works of providence and grace ; let us improve them by obeying him that calls, and " turning unto him that smites us."]
3. How thankfully should we accept the present offers of his mercy !
[Now, notwithstanding all our " frowardness," the voice of mercy sounds in our ears. But how vain will it be to wish for one such promise in the eternal world ! God will not then say, " I will heal him;" but, " I have seen his ways, and will execute vengeance on him to the uttermost." Now God would " comfort us" if we turned to him with " mourning;" but then, though we weep and wail ever so much, he will not vouchsafe to us one glimpse of his favour, or the smallest possible mitigation of our pain. Let us then entertain a grateful sense of his unspeakable kindness. Let us " turn to him with weeping and with mourning." Let us humble our- selves in the dust before him ; and pray, that, where sin has abounded, his grace may much more abound2.]
y Job x. 2. z Rom. v. 20.