II. TnE TERRIDLE THWARTING AND BmDERINO OF 'l'HAT GRACIOUS PUTII'C,SE WHICH BAB TAKEN PLACE. "How shall I put theo," etc.? plainly denoting that there is some giant obstacle in the way. In the case of Israel the previous portions of this prophecy show clearly what this was. Ilut it is equally true of us all. And this dread hindrance to God's carrying out his purposes of grace towards us consists not so much in what we have done e.s in what wee.re. The hMI,rt of man is not right in the sight of Goel, and whilst that is so, God cannot set us amongst his children. Transgressions ancl offences are but the symptoms of the deadlier evil that lurks within, not the evil itself. 'l'hat consists in the state of heart God wards which, alas! characterizes us all, until the new heart and the right spirit be given. What should we say if towards ourselves as parents our children were to order themselves as we do towards God ?-rarely thinking of us, placing no confidence in us; though we would delight to have them speak to us, yet maintaining a sullen silence always; in their hearts disliking us and resenting the expression of our will; disobeying us on the slightest pretext, and choosing for their friends those they well know to be our foes. If any parent was so unhappy as to have such a son or daughter, how could he set such a one amongst his other children who love him as children should? And that this is the case between the unrenewed man and God, let conscience and men's works, words, and ways witness. This being so, how can we "marvel" that our Lord hath said, "Ye must be born again"? But we are shown e.lso- Ill. THIS DIFFICULTY, VAST AS IT IS, TRIUMPHANTLY OVERCOME, In the latter part of the verse and in the confessions of the twenty-second and following verses it is clear that II great change has taken place. The rebel heart has gone, the child's heart has come in its place. '!'he erewhile sinful godless soul is heard calling upon God as "My Father," and in daily conduct is found not turning away from him. ,vhat a change! No wonder that the Scripture emblems of it are all drawn from contrasts the most vivid and intense that experience furnishes or the mind can conceive: life and death, darkness and light, crimson red and snow whiteness, leprous and pure; as one possessed of the devil, and as one calm, sober, and in his right mind ;-such are some or them. But the beholding of so great a change leads of necessity to the inquiry how it was brought about. Hence note- IV. TBE JIIEANS WHEREBY THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED. These were as they ever arc, the manifestation of the love of God. In Christ God came to seek and to save his self-lost children. But they, instead of welcoming the Christ of God, crucified and slew him. '!'hat rebel alienatedil.eart which is common to us 1111 wrought this awful crime. But it is when by the Holy Spitit men are led to see what they have done to him who so loved them ns to come from heaven to save them, there is produced that con- viction of sin, that deep and genuine repentance, that sense of his infinite love, and thnt consequent entire trust in him,-all which arc the very elements of that heart of a dear child which calls God "My Father," nnd which will not turn awny from him. I have read of one who was for ever reclaimed from the deadly sin of drunkenness by the deep anguish of heart which he experienced when he fouud that one day, when brutalized by drink, he had smitten to the ground his own dear child, nnd wounded her with a wound the scar of which she would never lose; and that he had done this whilst she was lovingly seeking to lead him away from the place and the people who were tempting him to his ruin. When he came to himself and knew what he had done, his horror and remorse had no bounds. "'l'he drink I ay, it was nil the drink I" ho exclaimed when, years after, telling the atory. "Could I ever touch it ngain? I kept my finger lightly on the little maid's forehead, and lifted my face to heaven, and vowed that I would never touch the murderous thing again as long as I lived, and with II broken heart I prayed the Lord to help me." '!'hat well-known story serves to illustrate how, in this great matter of man's restoration to God, ho who once was II god- less rebel becomes filled with another heart, and God can, ns he desires to, place him e.mongst the chil<lren. For when I clearly see the wounds which I in my mad sin have inflicted on him who sought to save me, and who tenderly loves me still not- withstanding nil I have done, the sight of his cross and of those wounds will !ill my soul with such a hatred of sin and love of God that I am no longer what I was; I am Lorn again, I have passed from death unto lire. Yes, it is the sight of the love of God iu Chri:;t which turns the sinner i11to the child of God, and wins for him II place 76 'l'LlE IlOOK OF 'l'IIE rnOPHE'l' JEilEhlI AH. tell. m. l-2g,
amongst the children of God. With what fervour, then, may \1'8 pray the blessed Spirit to fulfil his work in and for us and for all men !-C.