distinguished by these two great peculiarities, — an incapacity to worship their own God according to his appointment, and an aversion to idolatry, to which their whole nation were so long and so obstinately addicted. This then is to the whole world an evidence, that the Scriptures are divinely inspired, and a pledge, that the event predicted shall in due time be fulfilled.]
2. By those who are inquiring after God —
[Every awakened soul desires to know how it may find acceptance with God. And here the way of access to God, and of acceptance with him, is plainly declared. The Jews in due season will return to God through Christ, and will devote themselves to his service with filial gratitude and love. And it is in this way that every sinner must return to God. There is no other Mediator through whom any sinner in the universe can come to God : nor will any man be accepted of him, unless he surrender up himself to God in a way of holy obedience. On the other hand, no one who approaches God under a grate- ful sense of redeeming love, and with a desire to fulfil his will, shall ever be cast out. In fact, it is for this very end, even to produce this change in the hearts and lives of men, that God's perfections are manifested', or his promises revealedk, or his blessings given1. Let every one of you then return to God in this way : for there is not one who has not departed from him, even as the Jews themselves, or who does not need the same penitence and faith as they : and I can venture to assure every penitent and believing soul, that whosoever cherishes this holy fear, shall have the light of God's recon- ciled countenance lifted up upon him, and experience to his joy the same blessed liberty and the same divine enlargement, as theym.]
3. By those who are giving way to desponding
fears —
[Many, when first seeking after God, are ready to ask, Can it be that one so vile as I should ever obtain favour with God, or one so obdurate be ever penetrated with the feelings of penitence and love ? Now I say, Look at the Jews ; their wickedness, even from their first coming out of Egypt to their final expulsion from their own land, was most atrocious, even beyond that of the nations whom they were sent to extirpate. And now for the space of eighteen hundred years they have been as impenitent and obdurate as men could be. Yet behold, God has still designs of love towards them, and will ere long restore the whole nation to his favour. To all their other sins
1 See the blessed effect on Moses, Exod. xxxiv. 6, 8. k 2 Cor. vii. 1. l Heb. xii. 28. ™ Isai. vi. 1, 5.