has not cast off the yoke of God, and said, like Pharaoh, " I know not the Lord, neither will I obey his voice ? " In the latter view, it may describe those who, having begun to serve the Lord, turn back again in some measure to the world and to sin. And where is there a child of God who must not acknowledge himself to have been, at some time, of this num- ber, however diligently he be serving God at this moment ? Who can say that he has invariably, from the very first, pursued the path of duty in one uniform tenour of conduct ? Who has not often been conscious of secret declensions, and " backslidings of heart?"]
To both these descriptions of people does God address an earnest and impressive exhortation —
[God well knows the danger to which all are exposed when they have turned aside from him. Nor does he " will, in any instance, the death of a sinner, but rather that he should return and live." Hence, instead of saying, as we might well expect, Depart from me, he invites us to return. He would have us not only to take his yoke upon us, but to draw in it with pleasure and delight. To enforce his exhortation, he adds a most encouraging promise. Well might he threaten us with the dreadful consequences of our transgression, and address himself only to our fears. But he is a God of infinite compassion, and would rather win us by love. Our back- slidings have made a deadly wound in our souls, a wound which if not speedily closed, will destroy us for ever. Behold, what astonishing mercy ! He promises to heal us : to heal the guilt of our sin by the blood of Jesus, and the power of it by his good Spirit ! Such is his gracious declaration to us at this instant ; and such is the encouragement which he affords to all who have departed from him.]
Having seen the condescension of God, we can be at no loss to determine,
II. The effect it should produce upon us —
If we have the smallest spark of ingenuousness within us, his goodness must of necessity produce,
1. A ready compliance with his will — Such was the effect upon those addressed in the text. And, whenever the word is applied with power to our souls, the same effect will be visible on us. We shall no longer keep at a distance from God, but return to him with our whole hearts. Filled with astonishment at his forbearance towards us, and solicitous to experience the renewed expressions of his favour, we shall say, " Behold we come unto thee." No