And " what are we better than theyc ?"
[God has given to us also his Law. And who amongst us obeys it ? Who desires to obey it ? Who really, and in truth, endeavours to obey it ? What, if we do not bow down to stocks and stones ; do we not, in fact, " love and serve the creature more than the Creator," even as they didd? Who amongst us either abstains from any act, purely because it would displease God ; or performs any act, purely from a desire to please him 1 I grant, we may abstain from many evils,
a Rom. x. 21. b Hos. xi. 5, 7. c Rom. iii. 9. d Rom. i. 25.
and perform many duties ; but by what motive are we im- pelled? We shall find that our own gratification, or the approbation of man, has a far stronger influence on our minds than any consideration of God's favour ; and that in " the spirit of our mind" we are as much revolted from God as ever the
Jews themselves were
But God has given to us his Gospel also, saying, Whatever contempt they have shewn to Moses and the prophets, " they will reverence my Son." But have we obeyed his voice, and " taken upon us his light and easy yoke?" No, indeed : we have been as regardless of Christ as if he had never come into the world. " We have indeed called him Lord ; but we have not done the things which he has saide." Say, my Brethren, whether we have " fled to him for refuge," as the only Saviour of our souls ? Say, whether we have surrendered up ourselves to him as his devoted followers, and made it the one labour of our lives to " glorify him with our body and our spirit, which are hisf?" Look at all around you, and see whether this be their state : and then look within, and let conscience tell you whether it be your own state : and, if it be not, then is the reproof in my text merited by you, far more than by the Jews themselves ; inasmuch as you sin against greater light, and far richer mercies than they.]
God was ever endeavouring to reclaim his people : yet did his mercies only serve to mark their ingrati- tude, and bring reproof upon them,
II. For their insensibility to his love —
Not all the mercies vouchsafed unto them could bring them to a better mind —
[God had promised them a supply of all temporal bless- ings, if they would serve him with diligence and fidelity. And notwithstanding they violated their obligations continually, he still imparted to them the blessings they had so justly for- feited, sending them rain and fruitful seasons, as if they had not offended him at all. And what did he expect in return for these mercies? He doubtless expected, that, from a sense of gratitude for such unmerited kindness, they would reform their lives, and devote themselves to his service. But, behold, they still continued their disobedience ; and " none of them said in their hearts, Let us fear the Lord our God, who has done such great things for us." This was a great aggravation of their guilt, and could not fail to bring down upon them God's heavy displeasure ]
e Luke vi. 46. ' 1 Cor. vi. 20.
1039. J god's bounties, and our ingratitude. 65
And what effect, let me ask, have God's mercies produced on us ?
[Behold, in his mercy he has now "sent us rains," which we so greatly needed, and has given us a prospect of a " harvest;" when, if the drought had continued much longer, we should have been reduced to a state of extreme scarcity or famine. And what does God expect at our hands, but that we say one to another, Let us now fear the Lord our God, who has vouchsafed to us this seasonable relief'1? Surely this is not more than the occasion calls for. But is this the way in which we are now requiting God for his mercies ? Is this the feeling of men in general ? Has it been the feeling of our own hearts? Have we humbled ourselves before him? and