let nothing prevail upon you to " turn away from him." Be ready to sacrifice every earthly consideration, and to lay down even life itself, for him. Under all circumstances, my advice to you is, " Be stedfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord : and you may then be assured, that your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord."]
Jer. iii. 22. Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backsliding s. Behold, tve come unto thee ; for thou art the Lord our God.
THOUGH the conversion of men is the result of God's purpose, and solely the effect of his grace, yet it is wrought by rational means. He calls upon them as free agents, and enforces his exhortations with the most cogent motives. By these means he convinces their judgment, and makes them willing to comply with his solicitations. In the preceding context he had determined to effect his purpose by the con- straining influence of his grace ; nevertheless he does not omit the use of means, but repeats his former in- vitations with still stronger arguments than before. In this way he produces the change upon the reluctant soul, and makes it thankfully to embrace his proffered mercy.
In discoursing on the words before us, we shall consider,
I. The Lord's address to the backsliders —
The persons addressed are either mere nominal Christians, or real Christians in a declining state —
[The term " backsliding " refers to an unruly heifer that either will not at all draw in its master's yoke, or that performs its work unsteadily3. In the former view, it comprehends all those who in name and profession are his, but in reality are altogether regardless of his will. Alas ! how many are there of this description in every place ! Who amongst us may not consider the text as addressed to himself in particular? Who
a Hos. iv. 16.