But, notwithstanding our obstinacy,]
God is ever looking wishfully for our return —
[" He looks down from heaven, to see if there be any that will understand and seek after himd." " He willeth not the death of any man, but rather that he should come to repent- ance and livee." He even swears that this is the state of his mind towards usf. He " hearkens" with more than parental anxiety; 'Cannot I hear some acknowledgment amongst them; cannot I hear so much as one groan, or one sigh? O that I could ! O that they would suffer me to exercise mercy to- wards them g ! Would they but " speak aright" and condemn themselves for their iniquities, I would soon shew them how gracious and merciful I am.' Thus does God listen, as it were, in hopes that some will repent and turn unto him ;]
But scarce any will repent of their wickedness, or
even consider their ways —
[We hope that impenitence is not quite so universal amongst us, as among those whom the prophet addressed. We cannot quite adopt his complaint, and say that " no man " re- pents. We trust there are some amongst us, who have " called their ways to remembrance," and sought for mercy in God's
appointed wayh But certainly there are very few that
will turn their thoughts inward, or seriously ask themselves, "What have I done ?" Reflection is painful to the generality ; and, instead of cherishing it, and setting apart seasons on pur- pose for it, the greater part do all they can to stifle it ; they run to pleasure, to company, to business, in order to shake out of their minds all painful recollections. In all the concerns of time, they will examine carefully enough, whether they have prospered or not: nor would they be averse, in a journey through woods and forests, to compare their steps with the directory that had been given them, and to inquire occasionally whether they were in the right path. But in the concerns of their souls they harbour no doubts ; they go on even in direct opposition to the strongest evidence; and take for granted that they are right, when, if they would make the smallest inquiry, they could not but find that they are in the most fatal error.]
Too many amongst us seem even to glory in their sins —
[The image by which this truth is represented in the text, is as just and beautiful as any that can be conceived. Look at
d Ps. xiv. 2. e 2 Pet. iii. 9. f Ezek. xxxiiL 11.
s Jer. iii. 4, 13. and xiii. 27. and Hos. xi. 8. h This must be amplified, or not, according to the state of the per- sons addressed.