he not lift up the light of his countenance on the poor and needy ? Does he not shed abroad his love in the heart ? Does he not give the witness of his Spirit to the soul, and seal it unto the day of redemption ? On the other hand, does he not hide his face when you become remiss, and leave you to feel what " an evil and bitter thing it is to depart from him ?" Yes : you can testify that there is a God that ruleth in the earth ; you can testify how rich his grace is, and how abundant his mercy in the Son of his love. You can testify that Christ " reveals himself to his people as he does not unto the world ;" and that he dwells in them, and gives them, by the manifesta- tions of his love, an earnest and a foretaste of their future inheritance. Go on, then, living by faith upon him, and cleav- ing unto him with full purpose of heart; and shew to all around you what the Christian life is. Run, as in a race, for an incorruptible crown : wrestle as one that is striving against all the principalities and powers of hell : and fight manfully till all your enemies are put under your feet. So shall you be living witnesses for God in this world, and partakers of all his blessed- ness in the world to come.]
Zeph. ii. 1 — 3. Gather yourselves together, yea, gather toge- ther, O nation not desired; before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you. Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment ; seek righteousness, seek meekness : it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.
IN the preceding chapter, the most dreadful judg- ments are denounced against the whole Jewish nation. That devoted people are represented as a sacrifice, which God himself has prepared to be devoured by their enemies, whom he has invited as guests to come and prey upon thema. Yet, as God afforded space for repentance to the Ninevites, notwithstanding the apparent immutability of his decree against them, so he does here to his own people the Jews. By the voice of his prophet he bids them " gather themselves
a Zeph. i. 7.