And does he not stand in the relation of a husband to you? Yes, he does ; and will still recognise you as his spouse, not- withstanding ail your past unfaithfulness. You remember that our blessed Lord is frequently called " the Bridegroom" of his Church™. St. Paul, when apparently setting forth the duties of husband and wife, declares that, in reality, " he spake of Christ and his Church11." Now, under this relation, does he desire to receive you, notwithstanding all that you have done amiss. I wish that every one of you could realize this figure. Conceive of a woman who had departed from her husband, and greatly dishonoured him by the most licentious habits. Sup- pose a friend of her husband commissioned to seek for her, and to inform her, with all imaginable tenderness, that her husband was willing to receive her again ; that he would freely pardon all her misconduct, and never upbraid her with it even to his dying hour. What would be the feelings of a woman under those circumstances, especially if she was not wholly aban- doned to her evil ways ? Now such I would wish to be the
1 John vi. 37. m Matt. ix. 15. John hi. 29. Rev. xxi. 2, 9.
■ Eph. v. 32.
feelings of every one amongst you, and such the interest in the message now delivered to you. I pray you, Brethren, consider this as the very case with you ; and let the advice which you yourselves would give to a woman so circumstanced, be that
which you will carry into effect on the present occasion
With all needful benefits, too, shall you be loaded. What can a straying sheep need more, than to be brought in safety to the fold, and to be put under the care of a faithful shepherd that will supply its every want ? Such are the benefits that shall be accorded to you. What, though there should be only "one or two" of you so disposed? Shall you, therefore, be disregarded by your God ? No : your heavenly Shepherd will take you up in his arms, and " carry you home on his shoulders, rejoicing:" and he will appoint over you "pastors, according to his heart, to feed you with knowledge and understanding." The benefit of a faithful ministry is by no means justly appre- ciated by the world at large. But to those who have been " brought home to Zion," it is a mercy of inestimable value. Greatly does a stated ministry, where the pastor is really after God's heart, tend to the edification and comfort of God's faith- ful people ; and you, Beloved, if you will truly return to God, shall find that the word preached to you from time to time shall " accomplish in you all the good pleasure of his good- ness ;" and prove " the power of God to the salvation of your souls" ]
Coming now back to the subject as first proposed, I would say unto you,
1. Be like-minded with God, in reference to his ancient people —
[See what tender regard God shewed towards them in the days of old : and the same anxiety does he still express for their welfare : for, as I have before observed, the message sent to them has respect to a period yet future, when they shall assuredly obey the call delivered to them. And if God, who has been so greatly offended by them, and whose only dear Son " they slew, and hanged on a tree ;" if He, I say, yet regards them with such tender compassion, what ought ye to do, whom they have never offended, and who are in the same condemnation with them ? In truth, the command of God is given to you, and to all who have access to them in their pre- sent dispersion: "Go, and proclaim to them" the mercy of their God : go, and invite them, by every tender consideration that is proposed to them in the inspired volume : and if ye say, ' I cannot hope to prevail upon them ;' let it suffice if you can prevail on " one of a city, and two of a whole tribe." You are not taught at first to expect the conversion of the whole