Christ , .. clennseth from ~u sin;" there is, therefore, absolute warrant for expectiug such cleansing; and we nee:l not think, thouih practically we do, that the blunder of n little lad known to the writer, is really the truth. In repeating the General Con- fossio::i, when he came to tho words, "anrl there is no health in us," he substituted for thom, "and there is no help for it." And that is what so many practically think. 'l'hey remember their own grievous past, they know the force of long evil habit, an<l their own wretched weakness, and they see the persistence of evil and sin everywhere, even in the good; and they come to the sorrowful conclusion that" there is no help for it" this side the grave. They have no real expectation of deliverance, and, there- fore, they do not get it. And yet people go on perpetually asking for it. The reason of their not having is that they will not open their mouths wide, and so God cannot fill them with his blessing. But- III. NONE EVER WILL, UNLESS THE CONDITIONS OF BUCH EXPECTATION BE FUL- FILLED. There must be: 1. A mouth to open; that is, power to believe. Now, we all have that, and use it every day about other things. 2. Need of God's blminy. Unquestionably there is that. 3. Sense of this need. Consciousness of it, and distress because of it, Hunger a[ter God's blessing. 4. Will to believe. Trust is more a matter of the will than of .the reason. " I will trust, and not be afraid." Refuse to doubt, resolve to believe.-S. C. Vers. 11, 12.-Given up. Note- I. THE CONDITION CONTEMPLATED. It meant: 1. No longer held back from sin. "Their own hearts' lust" was to lead them now. 2. No longer urged to goodness. 3. The Spirit no longer striving with them. 4. Divine chastisements abandoned. (Cf. Isa. i. 5.) See the history of Israel for proof of all this. And it is true still, when a soul is•• given up" by God-when even bis resources seem exhausted. II. !Ts TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES. 1. They are often naturally visible. A God- forsaken people, Church, soul, can be readily recognized. Disaster, defeat, shame, weakness, death,-these are some of the outward signs. 2. They are felt within. (See the history or Saul, 1 Sarn. xx:viii. 6.) Ah I the inward misery of the soul given up of God. III. 'l'HE INVARIABLE CAUSE. (Hos. iv. 17; and see text.) 1. They would not hearken to God's voice. Neither by bis messengers, nor through conscience, nor in provi- dence. 2. They would have none of God. 'l.'hey cared neither for bis favour nor for his frown. IV. THE DIVINE RELU0TAN0E TO THUS DEAL WITH THEM. (Ver. 13; Hos. xi. 8; Matt. xxiii. 37; Luke xiii. 34.)-S. C. Ver. 12.-0ur own way our worst woe. Our text a declaration of Gcd's dealing with rebellious men. We note concerning it that- I. IT TELLS OF A .PUNISHMENT WHICH SEEMS NO PUNISHMENT AT ALL. Those who rebelled so grievously agc\inst God were allowed to do just as they liked, to have their own way as they pleased. 1. Now, our text does tell of punishment. It is not a statement of indifference on the part of God, or of failure, but of bis holy displeasure. 2 . .And it is a punishment of which we have many instances. As when Israel lusted after flesh (Ps. lxx.viii. 30). And when they would have a king, and God gave them Saul (1 Sam. xii.; Hos. xiii,). 'l.'be history of Balaam. Ephraim joined to his idols. 'fbe devils asking and being allowed to enter the swine at Gadara. "Not this man, but Ilarabbas I" and they had their way. The prodigal would go into the far country. And there are many other illustrations beside. 3. God is slr;,w to resort to it. He tries all other means first. 4. It convinces when none other will. Men are forced to believe, then, that God was right and they wrong. 6. But it seems the reverse of punish- ment. For the Law of God was to Israel a yoke which galled and fretted and chafed them incessantly. Its "thou shalt not" met them at every turn of their lives. Now, this punishment seemed to be deliverance from the yoke and licence to do as they pleased. Where was the punishment in 1,hat? 6. And men think the aame still. For to them the service of God is so much rnstraint, religion a tight torturing ligature, which holds them back from what they chcose, and binds them down to what they would never choose. And undoubtedly religion is a restraint and a bond. We are never to conceal 172 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [re. T.XXXT. 1-16.
this fact, and the really religious have no desire to. But men generally do not like it at all, and are gl~d to he rid of it. II. BUT IT IS A PUNISHME1'"'T so TERRIBLE TIIAT NONE OAN DE MORE BO. 'l'o be gi"Ven up to our own hearts' lust is God's most awful doom. 1. What would sucl& so-called liberty be in other regions, Suppose the stars, instead of oboyincr0 their Crcato1'8 laws, were each to wander at its own will 'I Wt1ere would musio be il the laws of harmony were not obeyed? \Vhat home would that be where tilere was no la,.,? Or state, where anarchy prevailed? 2. .And so in regard to the soul. Man is made for God, and, e.s St. Augustine says, "Nostrum cor inquictum est donec requi,·~cat in te." It must be so. Sec the varied and appalling judgments of which the Bible tells-the Deluge; Sodom; the destruction of Pharaoh, etc. What are they all but the natural results of determined sin? Better any punishment-even hell itself-than that G0d should leave us alone, or give us up, as told of here. CoNc1,usroN. Are you suffering under the hand of God now? 'l'hen assuredly he bas n0t left you alone. Turn to him. Are you at ease iu sin 'i Then "Awake thou that slcepesL ! " You have need to. Are you serving God? Then let all men 'know that bis senice is perfect freedom, the delight of your soul.-S. O.
, ers. 13-16.- What might have been. These verses tell what Israel missed, but might ha"Ve had. And they are written for our learning. Note- I. \VHAT GoD WAS PREPARED TO DO FOR THEM. 1. Subdue their enemies. 2. Dis- comfit their a.dversaries. 3. Conversions should have bem numerous. 4. Eternal life should have been theirs. 5. .And fulness of joy. And in reference to men now: God waits to be gracious and to do all for them that corresponds to the blessings told ot here. II. BUT NONE OF THIS CAME TO PASS; ONLY THE VERY OPPOSITE. In their character, couduct, and conditio!!, things went from bad to worse. Enemies not subdued; their adversaries became stronger; sin rampant; their days few and evil; want and misery in their dwellings. III. How suoH RESULT CAME ABOUT. 1. It was not God's will. Cf. the tears of Christ over Jerusalem. "How often would I have gathered thee," etc. I 2. But U was Israel's ownfault. (Vers. 11, 12.) Thus it ever is. IV. THE SORROW OF IT ALL. God dishonoured; the Holy Spirit grieved; their children and their neighbours led astray; themselves given up of God; and all this need not have been. Dread the doom of such.-S. C.