been exempt. In respect of criminality, our conduct justly subjects us to blame, from which the senseless animal is free : for our departure from God has been,
J. Wilful, without any just occasion — [The mind of every unregenerate man is alienated from God : he hates his law : he is averse to his yoke : "he says to God, Depart from me ; I desire not the knowledge of thy ways." All indeed do not choose the same path ; but, as the Prophet says, they " go every one to his own way :" one in a way of open profaneness ; another in a way of self-righteous formality : but in this all are agreed, that they listen not to the voice of the good Shepherd, nor walk in the footsteps of his flock
And now, I would ask, What reason have they for this ? "Has God been a wilderness to them? a land of darkness? Wherefore have they said. We are lords : we will come no more unto thee*"?" The true reason of our departure from him has been, that we have " not liked to retain him in our knowledge*^:" on the contrary, the notices which we have had of his power and grace " we have imprisoned in unrighteous- ness** :" and actually "knowing that they who did such things were worthy of death, we have both done them, and had plea- sure in those who did them," choosing them as our friends and daily companions*.]
2. Habitual, without one serious effort to return to him —
[The sheep in its Meandering state betrays to all its dis- quietude; and if it knew which way to go, it would gladly return to the fold that it has left. But the unconverted man goes farther and farther from his God, without so much as a desire to return : or if a desire occasionally arise in his mind, it is so weak and so transient, as to produce no permanent eftect. If a sense of guilt and danger obtrude itself upon him, he strives to silence the conviction, and to divert the thought from his mind. If urged to return to the fold of Christ, he replies, "No: I have loved strangers: and after them Mill I goV* This is their way, from the first moment that they begin to act^: and in this they persist, till the good Shepherd, of his own grace and mercy, searches them out, and brings them back to his fold.]
Then takes place the change which is described in my text, and which leads me to set before you,
II. Our
'' Jer. ii. 31. ' Rom. i. 28. ""ib. ver. 18.
* ib, ver. 32. ' Jer. ii. 25. e jer. xxii. 21.