2. Those who are hesitating what course to pur- sue—
[Do not " consult with flesh and blood," but go to the Lord your God, who, if you are upright in your requests, will surely make known his will unto you. The counsel of God's ministers may indeed be asked ; but they must no further be followed than they speak agreeably to the written word. That word you are to consult, every one of you for himself; and, if you pray unto God for his Spirit, " he will guide you into all truth." But beware of dissimulation : beware also of delay. Defer not unto the morrow what God requires to be done to-day : but " to-day, while it is called to-day, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness." If you listen to pride and unbelief, you see in the history be- fore us, whither they will lead you. The ungodly world may promise you safety in following their ways ; but safety is to be found only in an unreserved obedience to the commands of God, and especially that command of living by faith in his dear Son, and devoting yourselves to him as his redeemed people. " Believe then in the Lord, so shall ye prosper ; believe his prophets, so shall ye be established."]
Jer. xliv. 16, 17. As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee : but we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth.
ONE would scarcely conceive it possible that human beings should be so depraved as to utter the words which we have just read. Yet, if this be not the language of men's lips at this day, it is, to a very great extent, the language both of their hearts and lives : and one advantage which we derive from the history before us is, that, whilst we see how far the impiety of men will carry them, we learn to form a correct estimate of their conduct. Perhaps in the whole world we should not find one who would jus- tify them ; though thousands will justify themselves in following their example. Permit me, then, to hold up this picture before your eyes, in hopes that, as in