people in the wilderness, where for forty years their conduct was one continued scene of murmuring and rebellion. Even towards the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who had imbrued their hands in the blood of their Messiah, he commanded his mes- sages of mercy to be delivered in the first place : that city which had exceeded all others in iniquity was to be the most favoured of any in the whole universe, by the united labours of all the Apostles. But we need no further proof of God's backwardness to cast off his people, than what we may all find in our own bosoms. We all are living monuments of his patience, and long-suffering, and forbearance. If his compas- sions had not been infinite, not one of us would have been here this day, to speak or hear of them.]
True it is, that " his Spirit will not always strive with men :" but yet he does not abandon them at once ; as will appear, whilst we shew,
II. What are the different steps by which his ap- proaching departure may be discovered.
God " has pleasure in the prosperity of his people :" but, when constrained to leave them, he manifests his anger gradually, in order to awaken them to re- pentance, and to prevent the execution of his severer judgments. He withholds,
1 . The manifestations of his love —
[Whilst his people conduct themselves in a becoming manner, he delights in every possible exercise of mercy towards them. He " draws nigh to them," and " lifts up the light of his countenance upon them," and " sheds abroad his love in their hearts," and testifies to them of their adoption, and " witnesses with their spirits that they are his." But when they draw back from him, he withholds from them these gra- cious communications. They now pray indeed, but find not a present and prayer-answering God : they read also, but feel not that power and sweetness in the word which they once did : they attend ordinances, but find them not, as once, to be " the gate of heaven." The sun is hid behind a cloud ; and they are no longer animated with his cheering rays : "I hid me," says God, " and was wroth, because they went on fro- wardly in the way of their hearts."
Inquire, then, beloved, whether any such calamity as this is come upon you ? If it be, know that this is God's first step towards a final departure ; and if you do not arrest his pro- gress by penitence and a renewal of your first works m, he will
m Rev. ii. 5. and iii. 3.