philosophy : but all by nature, however differing in their par- ticular pursuits, agree in this, that they " are of the world, and not of God ;" and that they " seek honour from man, and not the honour that cometh of God only." They need no exhorta- tion to cleave unto worldly vanities ; that they do naturally of themselves : and if we could point out to them how to come in closer contact with the objects of their ambition, and how to secure to themselves a larger measure of them, we should find them very attentive to our counsels. But when we exhort them to cleave only to the Lord, they have no ears to hear us, no disposition to regard us. In vain do we expatiate upon the honour which God designs for them ; that appears to them no better than " a cunningly-devised fable," or at best as a sub- ject that may well be deferred to a more convenient season. "Though we call them to the Most High, none at all will exalt himb;" so that God may complain of us as he did of his people of old, " All the day long have I stretched out my hands to a rebellious and gainsaying people0."]
Address —
1 . In a way of appeal —
[We may justly say to you, " What more could have been done for you than God has done d ? " and wherefore do you so requite him ? Judge, all of you, between God and your own souls, and say what such conduct merits at his hands. I will tell you in God's name what you may assuredly expect. Be- hold the girdle when it was brought back from the river Euphrates, how " marred and worthless" it wase : see too how that emblematic judgment has been executed on the Jewish nation, not only in their Babylonish captivity, but in their present dispersion, where they are " a hissing and an astonish- ment" to all the rest of the world. So will God's indignation against you be manifested on account of the contempt you pour upon him ; according to that express declaration of his, " Them that honour me, I will honour ; and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed." As they who made light of his invitation were " not suffered even to taste of his supperf," so you shall never taste of that honour and happiness which he offers to you : and as they were shut out into outer darkness, so will you at the last day awake " to shame and everlasting contempt8."]
2. In a way of encouragement —
[Nothing does God desire more, than to take even the vilest of mankind, and bind them to him as a girdle. Yes, there is not one so worthless, but he should be made a
b Hos. xi. 7. c Rom. x. 21. d Isai. v. 3, 4.
e ver. 7. f Luke xiv. 24. s Dan. xii. 2.