partaker of this honour, if only he would comply with the invi- tations of his God. O that every one of us might now obey his voice ; and that he would " make us willing in the day of his power ! " Would you see more clearly what God would do for you ? This same prophet tells you without a figure, that "he will pardon all your iniquities" that ever you have com- mitted, and so load you with his benefits, that all who behold you shall be filled with utter astonishment at his goodness to youh. Only resist not his strivings with you, but " run after him when he draws you," and beg him to " fulfil in you all the good pleasure of his goodness, even the work of faith with power : then shall the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified in you, and ye shall be glorified in, and with him, according to the grace of our God, and the Lord Jesus Christ1."]
h Jer. xxxiii. 8, 9. i 2 Thess. i. 11, 12.
Jer. xiii. 15 — 17. Hear ye, and give ear ; he not proud : for the Lord hath spoken. Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadoiv of death, and make it gross darkness. But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride ; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord's flock is carried aivay captive.
REPENTANCE is at all times a proper subject to be enforced ; but more especially on a day professedly set apart for national humiliation. The words before us were addressed to the Jews when God was about to send them into captivity in Babylon : and they may well be considered as addressed to us, now that his hand is lifted up for the punishment, and, for aught we know, for the destruction of our land.
They manifestly contain the prophet's exhortation ; his arguments to enforce it ; and his determination in case he should not be able to prevail on the people to repent.
But the occasion, and the text itself, call rather for exhortation than discussion. We shall therefore,
a Preached February, 1801.
1048.] A CALL TO REPENTANCE. Ill
though not without a due attention to the order of the words, proceed to urge upon you the great, the seasonable, the indispensable duty of repentance —
[Know then, that it is " God who speaketh." The words delivered to you in his name, as far as they accord with his mind and will, are his words, and are to be received as though you heard them uttered by a voice from heaven b.
" Hear ye, and give ear" and let not the pride of your hearts obstruct your attention. Often has God spoken to you by the dispensations of his providence, and the declarations of his grace ; yea, moreover, by the still small voice of con- science : but ye, the generality of you at least, have turned a deaf ear, and refused to hear the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely c. But " be not proud." Ye must hear at last, whether ye will or not. Let then your stout hearts be humbled ; and receive with meekness the engrafted wordd.
In the name of God we say to you, Repent. " Give glory to the Lord your God." It is by repentance only that you can do thise. Repentance glorifies all his perfections; his omniscience that sees your transgressions, his justice that punishes them, his mercy that pardons them, and his wisdom and goodness that have provided such a marvellous salvation for ruined man.
O glorify his omniscience : say, 'Lord, thou art privy to all the secrets of my heart ; thou knowest that I am inexpressibly vilef.'