Jer. viii. 22. Is there no balm in Gilead ; is there no physi- cian there ? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered ?
AS the Eastern languages in general, so the in- spired writings in particular, abound in metaphors. In this view, they are peculiarly calculated to convey instruction ; because they embody truth, as it were ; they dress it in the most inviting colours, and bring it home to the mind with most commanding energy. Metaphors are of necessity founded on some acknow- ledged truth : if therefore the figure itself be just and apposite, the sentiment contained under it becomes so much the more luminous and impressive. The general idea intended to be conveyed in the words of our text, is this ; that, though God was so severely punishing the Jewish nation, he was willing to remove his judgments from them, and to restore them to his favour, if they would use the means which his pro- phets had prescribed : lamentable as their state was become, they were not beyond the reach of mercy, if they would repent themselves, and turn unto their God. Now this sentiment is conveyed in metapho- rical expressions ; the literal import of which is, that no one with the means of recovery before him would be foolish enough to continue under the pressure of a painful and dangerous disorder. This truth every one feels and acknowledges : and consequently we must acknowledge yet more strongly the folly and wickedness of continuing under the displeasure of God, when we have at hand the certain means of deliverance from it.
To impress this thought upon your minds, we shall,
I. Shew what is that state of recovery to which God desires to bring us —
That man is disordered bv means of sin, is so evi- dent, that we scarcely need insist upon it. We justly say in the general confession of our Church, " There