amenable, both to God and their fellow-creatures, for the evils, which, by their undue exercise of those passions, they inflict upon the world. But God, who accomplishes his own purposes without at all infringing on the liberty of the human will, renders those passions subservient to his own designs ; and employs men as his agents, as a man employs an axe in the execution of any work which he chooses to effect0. Man is the instrument ; but God is the real author of the work that is doned.]
Till he has effected his own purposes by it, no human efforts can bring it to a close —
[What are his ultimate designs, is known to himself alone : but whatever " his counsel be, it shall stand ; and he will do all his will." He had " given the sword a charge against Ashkelon and the sea-shore ; and therefore it could not be quiet," till it had executed its commission. He puts a cup into the hand of different nations; and it must go round, till they have all drunk of it. In vain will any refuse it : taste they must, yea and drink too, even to the dregs, if God has so decreede. And, as we ourselves have been his instru- ments, to carry war to coasts which were, according to human appearances, most secure ; so may we have it brought to our own shores, notwithstanding the security we appear to enjoy ; and, if " God has so appointed," no power or policy of men will be able to avert the storm : we have partaken largely of the sins of other nations ; and we must expect to partake also of their punishments f.]
But what is impossible with man, is possible with God ; who has mercifully declared to us,
III. The means of its termination —
The intention of God's chastisements is to bring us to repentance —
[God has no pleasure in correcting the children of men : on the contrary, "judgment is his strange act," to which with reluctance and difficulty he proceeds. But he tells us plainly, that he will proceed, till he has accomplished his gracious ends ; yea that, if we hold fast our iniquities, he will increase his chastisements seven-fold g. On the contrary, he promises, that if we humble ourselves before him, he will remove themh. When his rod does not produce the desired effect, he com-
c Jer. li. 20—23. d Isai. x. 14, 15.
e Jer. xxv. 15, 16, 17, 27, 28. * Ezek. xxiii. 31—35.
B Lev. xxvi. 27, 28. h Lev. xxvi. 40 — 24.