informs us : " God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it with an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us3. On this, then, we rely, even on the immutability of God's covenant ; and from this we infer the certainty that God's ancient people will be restored to him in due season. Not- withstanding their present disconsolate condition, God's " eye is yet over them for good ;" and, notwithstanding their invete- rate hostility to the very name of Christ, he still " loves them;" and never will repent of the gifts he has bestowed upon them, or of the calling wherewith he has called them : for " He is not a man, that he should lie ; nor the son of man, that he should repentb." We may say therefore with the Apostle, in the preceding context, " All Israel shall be saved : as it is written, There shall come out of Zion, the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob : for this is God's covenant with them, when he shall take away their sinsc."]
I now confidently make my appeal to you ; and ask,
1. Do we not find here a just occasion for gratitude?
[We admire, as well we may, the blessedness of God's chosen people in the days of David and Solomon, especially when compared with the blindness and ignorance of the heathen nations around them. But far more elevated is our state at this day, inasmuch as the effusion of the Holy Spirit upon us is more abundantd, and our advantages for fruitfulness are pro- poitionably increased. Do but reflect on your situation as graffed on the good olive-tree ; and look upon the stock, the wretched, worthless stock, from which you have been taken : shall not this mercy fill you with unutterable joy? Verily, if you do not bless, and magnify, and adore the goodness of your God, " the very stones will cry out against you."]
2. Have we not here, also, a loud call for our
compassion ?
[Come, and survey the ground on which the olive-tree is growing : see how it is strewed with branches, with dead and withered branches, that have been broken off from the stem : and then consider that they have been reduced to this state " for your sakes" and " broken off on purpose that you might be graffed in*." Look on them, I say, and tell me whether your bowels should not yearn over them ; and whether you ought not to exert yourselves to the utmost in their behalf?
a Heb. vi. 17, 18. b Num. xxiii. 19. c ver. 26, 27.
d John vii. 39. Tit. iii. 6. e ver. 19, 20.