" Ah ! Lord God," we come with a painful report : we would have rejoiced to have told thee, that thy word had had " a free course, and been glorified amongst them ;" but we are con- strained to declare, that, if not in word, yet at least in spirit, they say of us, " Doth he not speak parables ? " Some do really think that the message we deliver is no other than " a cunningly-devised fable ;" whilst others, acquiescing in it as coming from thee, are too busy, or too careless, to pay any respect to it. Some, it is true, take a pleasure in hearing thy word, just as Ezekiel's hearers did ; but, like them, they will not comply with any one of thy commands : their cares, their pleasures, their desire of earthly things, carry them away, and entirely engross their minds : they are hearers of thy word, but not doers of it : and though they sometimes are made to see their face as in a glass, they go away, and presently forget what manner of men they are. Thus, though they differ from one another in many things, they agree in this, namely, to refuse subjection to thy blessed word, and to follow the ima- ginations of their own hearts.
This however is not the case with all : there are some who receive the word, " not as the word of man, but, as it is in truth, the word of God." Some there are that say of us, We have been messengers of glad tidings to their souls, and instru- ments in thy hands for their eternal welfare. The Saviour whom we have announced to them is precious to their souls ; they look to him ; they trust in him ; they rejoice and glory in his salvation ; and they shew forth their faith by their works. " O Lord God, what thanks can we render unto thee for all the joy wherewith we joy before thee on their account ! " truly " they are our glory and joy." O blessed Lord, increase their number a hundred fold ; and " establish all their hearts unblameable in holiness unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ ! " that when we shall be summoned to thy judgment- seat to give up our account to thee, we may do it with joy and not with grief. Let not one of them turn back again to per- dition ; but keep them all steadfast in faith and love and holiness, that we may have the joy of presenting them perfect before thee in that day, saying, " Here am I, and the children thou hast given me !"]