rather than design, and of temptation rather than of any inve- terate propensity to evil.]
2. Those also who are called " God's people," and who consider themselves as " the seed of Jacob," are not a whit less in need of instructors than the care- less world —
[See the account given of those to whom the prophet was sent: " They sought God daily; and delighted to know his ways, even as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinances of their God : they even asked of God the ordi- nances of justice ; they took delight in approaching unto Goda." Could such as these have any transgressions of which they needed to be informed, and any sins which endangered their souls? Yes: "their hearts were not right with God:" they were " partial in the law :" they put their outward obedience in the place of vital godliness : they trusted in their works also as recommending them to God, and as forming a justifying righteousness before him ; and they even complained that God did not recompense them according to their deserts. And how many such characters are found amongst us ! how many, who, whilst they find pleasure in attending upon the House of God, imagine that, by their religious observances, they shall entitle themselves to his favour !
Now, in reference to all such characters, I must say, that the duty of ministers is to " shew them their sins." It is their duty to search out, for the information of others, the mind and will of God ; and to bring home to the consciences of all a sense of their manifold transgressions. They must endeavour to hold up before men the glass of God's Law, that they may see the deformity of their own fallen image, and be stirred up to seek reconciliation with their offended God. To every one must they point out the sins which most easily beset him; and declare to him the judgments which God, in his word, has denounced against him.]
Whilst we assert this to be their duty, it will be proper for us to notice,
II. The manner in which it must be discharged —
The direction here given is clear and strong. Those who have received a commission to speak for God must deliver their message,
1. With earnestness — [Mere advice or friendly counsel is not that which be- comes them on such occasions as these: " they must cry aloud,
a ver. 2.