amongst us the evident tokens of his presence, in that sinners are yet awakened to repentance, and saints are edified in faith and love.]
Address —
1. Let the long-suffering of God be gratefully acknowledged —
[We should " account the long-suffering of God to be salvation d." Let us not, however, rest in carnal mirth ; but let his temporal mercies to our land, and his spiritual mercies to our souls, call forth our liveliest gratitude and our devoutest praise.]
2. Let it also be practically improved —
[In the words immediately following our text, the prophet says, " Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his own soul." It was the duty of the Jews to cast off their bondage as soon as God should open a way for their escape. Thus must we also cast off the servitude in which we have been detained, and go forth from amongst all the enemies of God. If we continue in sin, we must take our portion with the ungodly. But if we give up ourselves unreservedly to God, he will blot out our past iniquities in the blood of his Son, and make us partakers of an everlasting salvation.
d 2 Pet. iii. 15.
Jer. li. 10. Come, and let us declare hi Zion the work of the
Lord our God !
THE prophets, whilst foretelling future events, are often transported in spirit to the period of which they speak ; and are enabled to see, as it were, the events themselves actually passing before their eyes. Hence, if they speak of the rise or fall of kingdoms, they behold the armies marching to their destination, engaging in the conflict, and either conquering or conquered, according as the Governor of the universe has fore-ordained. This is peculiarly manifest in relation to the destruction of Babylon; which is more frequently and more fully predicted than any other event, except those which immediately relate to