lasting joy shall be upon their head : they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and mourning shall flee awayf."]
Application —
1. Inquire now, I pray you, what is the state of God's work within you ?
[Has he ever yet wrought effectually in your souls ? Has he ever brought you out of bondage to the world, and sin, and Satan ; and brought you to live in a state of entire dependence upon him, for guidance in his ways, for protection from ene- mies, for daily supplies of grace and peace, and for the final possession of the promised land ? And are you advancing in the divine life, and " making your profiting daily to appear?"
If the work is not yet begun, lose not a moment in
pleading with him, that you may obtain mercy at his hands. And if, through the prevalence of temptation, it has declined at all, cry to him with all possible earnestness, " O Lord, revive thy work ! " and leave nothing undone, if by any means you may " strengthen in your souls what is yet remaining, but is ready to dieC]
2. Let nothing discourage you in your application to the Lord —
[See the state of the Jews in Babylon; and judge whether you can be in a more desperate state than they. To Babylon they had been sent by God himself, in token of his heavy dis- pleasure : and there they were oppressed without mercy. No access to God had they in his ordinances ; nor had they any hope of deliverance, except what was founded on his word of promise. Let your state, then, be as bad as your imagination can paint it, and the same blessed hope is yours : for God will not shut his ear against the cry of the poor destitute, or dis- appoint their desire. Go to him with that prayer of David, " Return, O Lord, how long ? and let it repent thee concern- ing thy servants. O satisfy us early with thy mercy, that we may rejoice, and be glad in thee all our daysh !" and you may be perfectly assured that he will return to you, and " give you a reviving in your bondage1."]
f Isai. li. 9— 11. e Rev. iii. 2.
11 Ps. xc. 13, 14. l Ezra ix. 8.