and believing penitent whom he cast out ; or find, if you can, any limit to his mercy and grace. In " turning unto us" is implied not only a reversal of all the judgments which he had purposed to inflict upon us, but a communication of all that a Father's love, and a Saviour's grace can bestow — pardon, and peace, and holiness, and glory.
And here it will be proper to notice the frequent repetition of his name, " The Lord of Hosts." Was that repetition with- out design ? No : it is intended to impress on our minds, that, as the message is from him, so is the particular direction stamped with his authority, and the particular promise con- firmed by his unchanging truth and faithfulness. It is in the name of the Lord of Hosts that we come ; it is the word of the Lord of Hosts that we speak : it is the veracity of the Lord of Hosts that is pledged for its accomplishment.]
To this exhortation is added,
II. A salutary caution —
We are apt to follow the examples of our fathers, and to tread the path which they have trod before us. Not that we so readily conform to the practice of godly parents: their example, though not destitute of weight, finds more than a counterpoise in our evil passions, and in the conduct of those around us : but in justi- fication of our own evil ways we are glad enough to plead the habits and authority of those who have gone before us. This however will be of no avail. Such examples form no precedent for us. The word of God is our rule : and according to that we must walk, regardless of all that others have done, or may do, to establish any other rule. Attend then to this salutary caution :
Walk not as your disobedient fathers have done —
[The generality of those who have gone before us have walked just as the great mass around us do at this time. But a state of worldliness, or sensuality, or carnal indifference was not therefore right, because they lived in it ; nor is it therefore safe, because they died in it. In like manner, the conduct of our superiors at this day is no rule for us. If they truly and unreservedly obey the voice of God in his word, cleaving to the Lord Jesus Christ with full purpose of heart, and de- voting themselves in body, soul, and spirit to his service, we may follow them : but even then we must not regard them as infallible : we must not follow even St. Paul himself any farther