[God is indeed slow to anger, and " rich in mercy to all who call upon him." When he proclaimed his name to Moses, this was the attribute by which he was to be chiefly known ; " The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffer- ing, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sing." Indeed this is the argument by which men are influenced, far more than by the terrors of God's avenging wrath. These, though proper to be urged in their place, operate for the most part, like the storm which makes the traveller wrap his cloak the more closely round him ; whereas mercy, like the sun, pene- trates with a kindly and genial influence, and induces him willingly, and of his own accord, to cast it from him. By this, therefore, does God chiefly endeavour to reclaim his obstinately offending people.]
2. The relation under which, notwithstanding their departure from him, he still regarded them —
[He often calls himself " the Husband" of his ancient people11. And here he urges that relation as an inducement to them to comply with his merciful and gracious invitations. Amongst men, such transgressions as God's people had com- mitted must have issued in an irreversible divorce: but with God no such impediment existed : he could, consistently with his own honour, re-admit them to his embrace; and he declares himself willing and desirous to restore them to all the privi- leges and blessings of a most beloved spouse.]
3. The benefits which he was still ready to confer
upon them —
[They, like sheep, had gone astray from him; and he sought them out with all diligence : and if the whole flock would return unto him, most gladly would he receive them all1. But if only a small remnant of them would return ; if only " one of a city, and two of a tribe," would come ; he would not, on that account, reject them. On the contrary, he would appoint over them " pastors, according to his heart, who should feed them with knowledge and understanding11."
s Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7. h Isai.liv.5. Jer. xxxi. 32. Hos.ii. 19,20- * Ezek. xxxiv. 12 — 14. k Jer. xxiii. 3,4.