0 Hos. ix. 12.
1. How are we to reconcile this doctrine with other parts of Scripture ?
[It is certain that the Scriptures speak much respecting
the determination of God never to forsake his people?
And we believe that God will fulfil his promises, and that not one of them shall ever fail. But there are passages equally strong on the other sideq; and they in their place need equally to be enforced. The former are necessary to encourage hope : the latter, to excite our fear. The truth is, we apprehend, that no person is warranted in believing himself a child of God, any farther than he lias an evidence of it in the conformity of his soul to the will of his heavenly Father. With the pro- gress of sanctification his confidence may well increase ; but with a declension in sanctity there ought to be a proportion- able relaxation of his confidence. When therefore he is in a truly spiritual state, he may fitly be carried forward on the wings of hope, and love, and peace, and joy: but when he declines from that state, he needs the quickening influence of jealousy and fear : and, if any " turn back unto perdition," they then prove to the world, that their former confidence was delusive ; and we must say of them, as St. John does, " They went out from us ; but they were not of us : for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us : but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of usr."
If men would receive the ivhole word of God, without con- tending for human systems, they would find no such contra- dictions as they are apt to imagine : or, if they found some expressions which they knew not how to reconcile with others, they would at least learn to exercise candour towards those who differed from them, and to leave the full explanation of these hidden mysteries till the day when God himself shall cast the true light upon them. Our concern is, not so much to recon- cile the difficulties of Scripture, as to learn from every part its appropriate instruction, and its legitimate use.]
2. How are we to avert this awful calamity ?
[We should mark with extreme care the very first motions of the Deity that indicate his displeasure. The occasional hidings of his face should lead us to inquire, what there has been amiss within us, what neglects or miscarriages that have grieved his Holy Spirit. We should instantly betake ourselves to fasting and prayer, entreating him to " shew us, wherefore
p 1 Sam. xii. 22. Isai. liv. 9, 10. Jer. xxxii. 40. Heb. xiii. 5. <i 2 Chron. xv. 2. 1 Cor. ix. 27. 2 Pet. ii. 20—22. r 1 John ii. 19.