Application —
1. To those who have deserted God —
[Let us only reflect on the months and years that we have past without any affectionate remembrance of God, or any earnest application to Christ as our Mediator and Advocate ; and we shall not need many words to convince us, that we are included in this number. But let us consider whom " we have forsaken ; even God, the fountain of living waters ; " and, with all our labour in pursuit of happiness, we have only " hewed out for ourselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water™." Let our past experience suffice to shew us the vanity and folly of our ways : and let us " return unto him from whom we have deeply revolted." But let us beware lest we " heal our wounds slightly." Christ is the brazen Serpent to which all must look : He is the good Samaritan who alone can help us, and who has submitted to be himself " wounded for our transgressions," that he might " heal us by his stripes."]
2. To those who are deserted by God —
[God does find it necessary sometimes to withdraw the light of his countenance from his people. But, whatever he may have done on some particular occasions, we are sure that in general he does not forsake us till after we have forsaken him. Hence, when the Israelites were deserted by him, they did not say, Let us pray that he will return to us ; but, Let us return unto him : for they were well assured that, as the alienation had begun on their part, so it would be terminated as soon as ever they should humble themselves in a becoming manner. Let those then who are under the hidings of God's face, inquire, what has occasioned his departure from them : and let them put away " the accursed thing," and turn to him with their whole hearts. Let them rest assured, that " there is balm in Gilead ;" and that, if they come to God in the name of Christ, their " backslidings shall be healed," and " their happiness restored"."0]
m Jer. ii. 13.
n Hos. xiv. 4. Lam. iii. 31, 32. Ps. xcvii. 11. and cxlvii. 3.
° If this were the subject of a Fast Sermon, the application might be comprised in the following observations : 1 . The calamities of the nation are manifest tokens of God's displeasure, and calls to repent- ance.— 2. All the efforts of our rulers to heal our wounds will be in vain, if we do not repent. — 3, A general turning unto God would bring us speedy and effectual relief.