plains of us1, and expresses the deepest regret that we have not suffered him to exercise the mercy which was in his heart towards usk. In a word, his message to the whole world is this, " Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgres- sions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin1."]
On the attainment of his end, he will instantly re- move his judgments from us —
[What an example is given us, in his mercy towards the inhabitants of Nineveh ! How did he regard even the humi- liation of Ahab, though he knew it to be only external, selfish, and partial111! This then is the way to terminate the cala- mities of war. Sin is, as it were, the target, at which God shoots his arrows. The sword is drawn, " to avenge the quarrel of his covenant :" let that quarrel be composed, and " the sword will be returned to its scabbard; it will rest, and be still."]
Having considered the means of terminating the calamities of war, and of averting the judgments of God from our land, we would, in
Conclusion —
Suggest some hints respecting those heavy judg- ments, which God has denounced against sinners in another world, and respecting the best means of avert- ing them from our souls —
[That the sword has a charge against impenitent sinners, is certain" nor, however secure they may think them- selves, shall they be able to escape it0 "Except they
repent, they must all inevitably perish p." Moreover, if it be once drawn out against a person in the eternal world, it shall never be returned to its scabbard. Think then whether it have not received a charge against you. It is true, you are not mentioned by name ; but you may be as clearly marked by character, as if your very name were specified. Possibly enough your works are such as to determine your state, beyond any possibility of doubt q: or, if not, your want of regeneration and conversion may no less clearly mark you as
monuments of God's displeasure1 Know then, that in
Christ only can you obtain pardon and peace : " There is no other name given, whereby you can be saved." Seek then
» Zech. vii. 11, 12. * Ps. lxxxi. 13—16. > Ezek. xviii. 30.
m 1 Kings xxi. 29. n Ps. vii. 11 — 13. and ix. 17. and xi. 6.
0 Prov. xi 21. P Luke xiii. 3, 5. <i Gal. v. 19 — 21.
r John iii. 3, 5.