CHAP. III. V.1. The beginning of this chapter, in the original, seems to connect with the conclusion of the preceding. ‘* Jn saying, if a man, &c.”” God would never prosper his professed worshippers, while they proceeded in their evil courses: and this appeared, not only by his threatenings and judgments, but even by his calls to repentance and promises of mercy.
For, in saying, ‘ Return to me, and I will « pardon thee, notwithstanding thy past atrocious crimes,’ he in effect said, that he would not otherwise pardon them. <¢ In saying,”’ or, whilst thou sayest, or acknowledgest, that ¢ the law of God forbids a man to take his wife again, whom ¢ he had divorced ;—even thou hast gone from me, and hast ¢ had unlawful commerce with many lovers.’ (Blayney.) To shew that his ways and thoughts are unspeakably above those of man; God illustrates the subject from the law given by Moses ; in which any one who had divorced his wife, was forbidden to take her back, if:she had been married to another: (Note, Deut. xxiv. 1—4:) and it must be allowed, that such a conduct would introduce a community of wives,
-
CHAPTER II.
head, ‘thou refusedst to be ashamed.
a and greatly pollute the land where it was practised: yet after all the idolatries committed by the Jews, the Lord could ho-:
B.C. 620.
rain;.and thou hadst-*a whore’s fore-* 553,315 "i Pew 7. xvi. 30 A Wilt ™thou not from this time cry! Zen vi. tue unto me, "My Father, thou art *them's. sais, 1 e oe DD. Xi en | Guide of my youth? See a
7 a RY n ii. 27. 5 Will "he reserve his anger for ever Po Pa. xii 14,: . IXX1. 5. 17 CKiXe will he keep it to the end? Behold, *thou % for. i.at hast spoken and done evil things as thou , Ji Is. | couldest. cits o,9. 8. vi 6 § The Lorp said also unto me, IN q Be. xxil, 6; Mic. the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou iwi? seen that which ° backsliding Israel hath" %n i, w—va. done? *she is gone up upon every high 717. edit mountain, and under every green tree, soni. 90. 1. t Vu. 7. EZ. XVI
and there hath ' played the harlot.
24, 95. $t. be H a
7 And I said, after she had done allts«o
—_
nourably, and would certainly, receive them to full favour, if they returned to him. <f
V. 2, 3. The people might see the traces of their idofa-tries, on every high place on which they looked : they were continually devising new species of idolatry, and tempting others to it: even as the prostitute sits by the way to seduce the passengers; or as the Arabian robber waits in the desert for the traveller. (Notes, Ez. xvi. 23—94. xxiii. 1—35.) Thus they polluted the land by their abominable wickedness : and when the Lord visited them with drought or famine, they persisted in their crimes with the most shameless effrontery.
(Marg. Ref.) « The former rain falls in autumn, after the
“long summer's drought: the Jaffer rain comes about the ‘ middle of April.—After which it seldom rains during the ‘ whole summer.—The former especially necessary for seed- “ume: and the Jatter for filling the ears of corn before the ‘harvest.’ (Blayney.) Rain falls also in the winter months :
but scarcely ever in the summer; so that the parched land
could not be sown, without the former rain.
V. 4, 5- Some interpret these verses as a reproof of the hypocrisy and presumption of the Jews. Notwithstanding their abandoned and obstinate . wickedness,: they would still call God their ‘* Father and the Guide of their
‘youth ;” (Note, Prov. ii. 17 ;) the Friend, who had taken .
care of the nation from its infancy : and they presumed to expect help from him, though they continued to imitate the re- -
bellious son, or the adulterous wife. Nor would they be ins duced to believe, that he would so reserve his anger for ever, as to bring his threatened judgments upon them: but they expected, that he would relent before matters came to this extremity; though they were conscious, that they had spoken and done evil to the extent of their ability, and were not restrained from transgression by any other hindrance, than want of power and opportunity.—This isa probable interpretation ; but the passage is more commonly understood in a contrary sense. Would not the people, from this time, (when they were warned, Corrected, and invited to repentance, and fa-voured, with a pious refurming king,) come and seek merc
from that God, who had always been the Father and Guide of Israel? Would they not intreat him again to take them une der his fatherly guidance ? Would they not do it immediately, without further delay? And would the Lord, in that case, reserve his anger for ever, and punish them to the end? By no
19 U2
\
24. 2 Kings xvii. .
——
B. C. 620. y
x 8—! I.
48. xxiv yy sister Judah saw 7¢. 8 And I saw, ’ when for all the causes
*2 Kings xvii. to. sister Judah *feared not, but went and
Ez. xxtii.ti—2!} Has. iv. 14.
Q And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that ° she 1 Habe ii im defiled the land, and ‘committed adultery
nant 1B. Ps with stones, and with stocks.
Is.x.6. Hos.vi 1 And yet for all this her treacherous tHeb, in fate sister “Judah: hath not turned tnto me
4, avi, 3. mar- with her whole heart, but tfeignedly, saith e pe i 16. the Lorp. ree gut’ 14 And the Lorp said unto me, * The e aningae 20, Dacksliding Israel hath ‘justified herself
more than treacherous Judah.
xVi). 6. 93. XViii. Ml.
hi. 7. 2 iv. 1. . 1s, xiv. 22.82, 12 @ Go, and proclaim these words xxxiil. 11. Hos
vi.1.xiv.1—s. toward the north, and say, ." Return,
3Xxx. Ile XXXili.
6. Bz.xxxix.25. thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lorp ;
Hos. xi. 8, 9
K xxxi. $0.’ Deat.' ano T will not cause mine anger to fall
iv. 29 os : ° Ps. tox upon you: “for I am merciful, saith cxlv. 8 Mic. Vii. t8—~20, Rom. Ve 20, 21. .
means: though they had done all in their power to provoke him, he was yet disposed to be merciful to them. (Nofes, 1. ll. 2, 9.
«, Vi 3) 1. A new message seems to be begun in this place, which probably was delivered after Josiah had made great progress in his reformation. The prophet had a view given him of the wickedness of Israel, the kingdom of the ten tribes, which had apostatized or turned away from God. The word bucksiiding seems to be taken from oxen, when they turned back, instead of drawing forward, in the yoke; and it is used for an individual, or a people, renouncing the worship and service of God.
Israel had utterly renounced the temple, and almost wholly forsaken the worship of God, and they committed idolatry in every part of the land. The Lord had also sent Elijah, Elisha, and other prophets to bring them back to him; but in general they returned not. The kingdom of Judah, descended from the same stock, was equally treacherous and untaithful to the covenant of God with them, and they witnessed all these transactions.
At length he saw it necessary to put Israel away, as an adulterous woman ; which he did by the kings of Assyria. (Note, 2, Kings xvii.) Yet Judah took not warning, and was not afraid to continue, and to grow more impudent, in abominable and absurd idolatries.
And after all that Judah had heard and witnessed of the Jong continued captivity and misery of Asrael ; they did not fall in cordially with good Josiah’s reformation, but only * feignedly,” reluctantly, and hypocritically. (Notes, Zeph. i. 1—8.) So that all things considered, Israel was not so inexcusable as Judah was become: for Judah had been favoured with many pious kings, had had far " greater advantages than Israel, had been born with in greater patience, and had the doom of Israel set before them asa Warning ; and all these circumstances aggravated their guilt.
JEREMIAH.
‘ i f 02 Kings xvii. 13, these éhings, ° Turn thou unto me; but | the Lorn, and'T will not keep anger‘for!+™. =». atest she returned not: and “her treacherous ! ever. : i
B.C. 20.
m 25. xnxx. 19d. Lev. axvi. 49—~
13 Only ™acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the iv. 1s—~sr Lorp thy God, "and hast scattered thy n 4.6. so ss ways to the strangers under every green #. ™
tree, and ye have not obeyed my VOICE, Pie si. Sax saith the Lorp. au?
14 Tur, °O backsliding children, 7% 34¢7-saith the Lorn, ’ for I am married unto ! you; and I will take you, ‘one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you 4. to Zion : "
15 And "I will give you pastors accord- ss. aaxmih, 8. ing to mine heart, * which shall feed you John x, i. with knowledge and understanding. Hy
16 And it shall come to pass, ‘when ¥er..% . a ye be multiplied and increased in the land; ?@,, iim. {© in those days, saith the Lorp, “they shall is.'v. Bie
Pet. li. say no more, *The ark of the covenant xxx. i,m,”
-
of the Lorp; neither shall it come ‘to ii. Reareh
12
mind; neither shall they remember it ; 26. Hos 2. 10, m. ix. 9,; aE : lh, neither shall they visit i; neither shall a 1 | Zech. Sthat be done any more. cor es ae
17 At that time they shall call Jeru-, 2-mut,lt.s. 1,@. Mal. i. 23. es lv. 20—24, Heb. ix. 912. x. 8, §. 19—@1- 2 Heb. uper the heart.
oe 2
§ Or, it be magnified.
(Notes, Ex. xvi. 48—55. xxiii. 4—a1. Matt. xi. 20-— 24.) V.12—15. The prophet was next ordered to proclainy his message towards the north, where the ten tribes were dis~ persed in captivity in Assyria Media. The prophet did not go into those countries to preach to the Israelites: but this order was intended to shame the Jews, and it implied that mercy was in reserve for Israel.
“They were thus calted on to repent of their idolatries, and return to the Lord: and he would no longer cause his anger to rest upon them, bei ever disposed to mercy. ‘¢ I will not look down upon you “‘ with a lowering brow.” (Blayney.) (Gen. iv. 5,.where the same phrase is used. Onthecontrary : see Note Num. vi. @ —26.) They were exhorted to acknowledge that .they had sinned against that God, whose professed and covenanted worshippers they had been; and that they had basely turned every way to seek out other objects of worship, which they preferred to him.
They were encouraged to repent and Fre-turn to God, by an intimation, that he still considered them as children, thongh rebellious, and as marricd to him, though adulterous ; and that he had yet a favour towards them, on account of his ancient transactions with the nation.” They were also to be assured, that he intended to take a small remnant of them, as one from the whole number of the inhabitants of a city, or two from a family, or subordinate division of a tribe; to bring them back to Zion, and place over them rulers and seachersliks David; men after his own heart, who should feed them wisely and prudently, or with divine knowledge and wisdom, which are the proper food of the soul. (Notes, Is. xxiv. 19—15. xxvii. a—6, 12, 13; xXx. 20—26.) This was in part accomplished, when some of the Israelites returned with the Jews from Bubylon, and were ruled and taught with them by Zcrubbabel, Joshua, Ezra,.
Nehemiah,
B. C620. | : Wm oe ps salem Ythe throne of the Lorp;.* and
Ixxxvii. 3.
vit. ixvie 1-@ll the nations shall be gathered unto it, | places, weeping and supplications of the
Ez. i. 26. xiiii. Iv. Qc.
7. Gai iv. 28." to the name of the Lorp, to Jerusalem : w Is. lt. Q—4. xh
e—s. ix. 3-9. Neither shall they * walk any more after
ixvi. 20 Mic. iv. . . . y 5 ‘1-8, Zech. i. the * imagination of their evil heart. ale. xr. | 18 In those days ‘the house of Judah b vii. ws. ix. 1 shall walk twith the house of Israel,
avil te: Sc and they shall come together ‘ out of the
a eco land of the north, to the land that I have ee oo ? given for an inheritance unto your
v stu ° : mess. Deut. xxix. fathers.
iis Pit: 19 But I said, *How shall I ‘put cxax. 3. xext.thee among the children, and give thee
11 — 1% 82.64 pleasant land, a § goodly heritage
zaxix, S5—8-0f the hosts of nations? and IJ said, ean _"Thou shalt call me, My Father; and a Seo onto —aatli.? Shalt not turn away |! from me.
Or. used J “-
* fake topes. 204 Surely as a wife treacherously ti, saa, 9- ¢0.departeth from her * husband, “so have
John fi. 11-13 * :
2 Cor. #. 17, yé dealt treacherously with me, O house
tv. 37. 2b. 1. Of Israel, saith the Lorn.
—$. g xii. 10. Ps cvi. 24. Ez. xx 6. Dan. viii. 9. xi. 16.41. 45. ¢ Heh. land of desire. — § Heb. heritage of glory, or, beauty. Prov. tii. 3d. 1 Pet. i. 8, 4 h See on 4.—Is. Ixiil. 16. Ixiv. 8. Matt. vi. &, 9. Rom. viii. 15—17. Gal. iv. 5. i xxxii. 39, 40. Heh. x. $9, A Heb. frem after mie. ® Heb, Sriend, Hos. ili. 1. k 1,2 8—10.— Ve it. Is. xiviti. 6. Ez. xvi. 8, &c. Hos, v. 7. Vi. 7. Mal. ii. 11.
and others, But it refers to the gathering of the dispersed Israelites with the Gentiles, into the Christian church in the primitive times and in after ages: and the future restoration of Israel.
V. 16—18. It is generally thought, that the ark of the covenant was not found aftcr the captivity, neither ‘* was it ‘© made any more,” and that nothing was substituted in its place: yet vastly more than this must be here intended. The ark was the chief.symbol of the Lord’s presence with ' Israel, the principal type of. Christ, and the centre of the ritual law. (Marg.
Ref.) The meaning therefore seems to be, that the whole of that dispensation was about to be abolished ; which took place after the multitude of believers had been greatly increased, by the conversion of the Gentiles, and of the Israelites scattered among them. The strong attachment of the Jews to externals, and their reluctance to part with them, seem to be denoted.
They could not be weaned from these ‘* beggarly elements,” till Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed: then the observance of them became impracticable, and the Jewish converts to Christ perceived ' that they were no longer of any value ; and thus they sunk into disuse, and gradually into oblivion. At the same time the church, the Jerusalem from above, became more glorious : (Notes, Gal. iv. 21—91.
Heb. xii. 22—25 :) the Lord openly reigned there as on his throne, all the nations were. gathered before him to worship, and no longer followed the imaginations of their own evil hearts,in the worship of idols.
In this happy state of the church, it is predicted that the Jews and Israelites would lay aside their ancient contests, cordially unite in the worship of God, and enjoy together the peculiar privileges of his people.—As this is here introduced subsequent to the calling of the Gentiles, it evidently foretels the future calling of the tribes of Israel.into the church, and their restoration to their ownland. ‘ That in'the latter days ‘ they shall actually return from their several dispersions, tq “dwell as a nation in their own land, is declared in such ex-
CHAPTER III.’ B. C. 620. 21 A‘ voice was heard. upon the high, 8 = 17.
16. Zech. xii. 16 children of Israel: ™ for they have per-m Not, xt, se. verted their way, °and they have for- Prov.’x 9. xx.’ gotten the Lorp their God. 0 See on it. $2.— Sn a ae v " Wi e 4 id. - xiv. 1. and I will heal your backslidings: * Be- Pi. tos, xiv. 1. hold, we come unto thee; for thou art 7#vi,8 Cant.
1. 1, & xiv. Be ; ; Zech’ xiii. 9. : 23 Truly "im vain is salvation hoped for® Gx. f; hill | Iti d f xliv. 9. xiv. rom the hills, and from the multitude o eu. “xiv. 7, 8 ° ° Z. XX. 28. ° mountains: truly *in the Lorp our God iia." $ , Ib xi 8. xine 24 For ‘shame hath devoured the 1. xv. is. 17. labour of our fathers from our youth ; , 7 Josiv. 22.” their flocks and their herds, their sons 8: Hes. ii. Rom. vi. @l. ; a v6. vi. 26. 25 We "he down in our shame, and Ps. cit. 99. is. our confusion covereth us: * for we have 16, ea, vil 1 * e ame Xi, 2s sinned against the Lorp our God, ” wexit iis, Bess unto this day, * and have not obeyed they it». ata voice of the Lokp our God. Pee fv 7, Ite
1. 4, 5. Bz. Viie $s. Mic. iii. 9. P . ? e e o 22 ’ Return, ye backsliding children, xx. ss. Hos. - bil, Se the Lorp our God. cxxi. 1, 2 Is. ‘ - v. 8 Ps. tii, is the salvation of Israel. : @. ix. 10. X. Ge and their daughters. axxi, and our fathers, from our youth even kzrix.6. gz. xxxvi. 39 xbviii, x v.79. Dan. ix. 6—9. Z xxii, 21. Judg, fi. @. Prov. v, 19. Dan. ix, 10.
‘ press terms by most of the ancient prophets, that there ean. ‘not be a doubt, I think, of its being literally accomplished ‘in due time.’ (Blayney.) (Notes, xxx. 2—11. XXxi. 1—14, Is. xi. 11—16. Ez. xxxvii. 16—28. Hos. i. 8—11. iii, 4, 5.) ‘ Whatever way we understand these promises, aboutthe ~- ‘ restoration of the Jews from captivity, or dispersion, it can= ‘not annul the evidence of the chief predictions in view ; ‘ viz. those relating to the abolishing of the ceremonial law, ‘and the conversion of the Gentiles ; begun by the calling ‘ or gathering in of many nations, and completed, by ** the ‘* gathering of all nations to the name of the Lorp.” (Maclaurin.)
V.19-. The blessings, promised in the preceding verses, were exceedingly great; and a difficulty, apparently insurmountable, lay in the way of their accomplishment, arising. from the guilt of the nation: for how could JEHOVAH, consistently with his justice and holiness, put such obstinate rebels among his children, and give them that pleasant and gforious land for their inheritance, which had been long possessed as an heritage by the nations and their armies? (Marg.
Ref.) To this he answers, that he would bring thema to repentance, faith, and prayer, and give them the Spirit of adoption, the temper of dutiful children ; and then they would call. on him and fear him, and love him as their Father: that he would so influence their hearts by his grace, that they should no more depart from him: and it is implied, that when. this took place, he would cast out their enemies before them, as he had done when their fathers were first put in possession of Canaan. (Notes, xxxi. 31—94. xxxil. 97-41. Ez. xi. 14 —20, XXxvi. 20—98. xxxix. 23—29. Zech, xii. g—14.) *
V. 20—25. This seems to be a prophetical representation of the manner, in which the change before mentioned should be effected. The Lord would convince the people of their wickedness, in treacherously departing from him. Then the voice of their Jamentations and prayers. would be heardy even in the places where their crimes had:
B. C. 620. _ CHAP. IV. |
Israel and Judah are called to repent, with gracious promises and solemn warnings, 1—A. A prediction of the invasion of
been perpetrated: and this open confession was necessary, as they had so perversely forsaken the way of obedience, and forgotten their God. He then graciously invites them to return to him, and he will both pardon their guilt and heal their backslidings ; establishing their hearts and healing the diseases of their souls, by his sanctifying grace. Thus encouraged, they readily declare their purpose of immediately returning to the Lord, who had a right to their worship and service. (Notes, xxxi. 18—20. Lev. xxvi. 40 —42. Deut. iv. 29—931. xxx. 1—10. 1 Kings viti. 46—
53. Js. xxvi. 12—18. Hos. xiv. 1—3.) They are now convinced that salvation, temporal or eternal, must be sought in vain from their idols or superstitions, and that it could only be had from the Lord. (Nofes, Js. xlv. 15—25.
Hos. i. 6, 7.) They confess, that, for their sins, they had endured much disgrace and misery, having been spoiled of their property and bereaved of their children: they are now ashamed before God to reflect on their iniquities and idolatries and those of their fathers, through all their generations: and, being thus penitent they are reinstated in the family of God, and numbered among his children. (Notes, fs. Ixlil. 7—19. Ixiv.
Dan. ix. 4—19.)—Some expositors consider the word ‘* shame,” as exclusivcly relating to the shameful idolatries of Israel ; especially the worship of Baal; for this ido! is sometimes called Bosheth, the word rendered shame; but this interpretation is not necessary. The present dispersed and disgraced state of the nation is evidently the punishment of crimes, entirely distinct from gross idolatry, from which the Jews have long been. free; and the recovery of Israel’ from this abject condition, seem especially predicted.
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. Ve. im—tt1.
The Lord is so ‘ rich in mercy,” and hath made such abundant provision for the honourable exercise of it ; that he is ever ready to receive to full favour the vilest of transgressors: even when it would be contrary to. the most approved rules of society, exactly to copy his example, in our conduct to those who grossly violate their relative obligations.
But whilst he glorifies the abundance of his grace, in calling rebels and apostates to return unto him ; he will also bring their iniquities to remembrance: nor canany man expect the tokens of his favour, who is not humbled and ashamed on account of his sins, and in some proportion to their aggravations. If then we would escape rebukes, corrections, or puinous. judgments; we must judge ourselvcs, and examine, with minute exactness, all the sins which we remember to have committed, that we may condemn ourselves for them before God.
In this frame of mind, the vilest transgressor may approach him as akind Father, and may plead with him all the favours, which he hath bestowed, as the Creator and Preserver of men. All the mercies of God to his church in every age may suggest encouragement to the humble enquirer: and what can be so desirable for the young and inexpe-ricixced, in this ensnaring perilous world, as to have the Lord Almighty for ‘ their Father, and the Guide of their ** youth ?” Let such then daily and fervently pray for this
JEREMIAH.
B. C. 620. Judah and the ravages of war, for the. wickedness and hypocrisy of the inhabitants, 5—-18. The prophet bitterly laments the sins and miseries of his —
people, 19—31.
—
mercy: and let parents direct, and help, their ‘children in seeking it, and earnestly intreating God to bestow it on them. Let those, who have not hitherto begun to seek God, from this time begin to do it in good earnest : and if any have grown negligent in this important concern; let them, without dela and with their whole heart, return unto him.—But it will not avail the obstinate and hypocritical, to use the most excellent words, and to presume on external privileges, and their relation to God ; or on his mercy ; as if he would not execute his threatened vengeance, especially on those who call him Lord and Father, while they continue to ‘*
“© and do evil as they can.” —Alas ! how plainly do we find, on an impartial review of our conduct, that we have had it in our hearts to do tar more evil, than we had it in our power actually to perpetrate: and that we should have made ourselves far more vile, if we had had more liberty, health, riches, ingenuity, or opportunity ; or if we could have got over the fear of reproach, or punishment from man!
Ana how few temptations, comparatively, have we resisted out of pure regard to God !— When we carefully mark the crimes of others, especially of such as break off from a teligious profession, and despise warnings and convictions ; we should. also note the consequences : and then we shall generally see abundant reason to shun their evil ways. But when the Lord makes sinners a warning and beacon to their companions’ and they fear not, but rush into similar-iniquities, their guilt is greatly aggravated.
He is the only competent J udge of characters; he knows perfectly how to estimate men’s comparative advantages, with the warnings and the strivings of his Spirit, which they resist; the hypocrisy of. their apparent good, and many other discriminating circumstances: and he alone can infallibly determine, whether the open infidel and profligate, or the designing hypocrite, be the viler character. It is dreadful to be proved more crimina! than those, who have actually perished in their sins: yet it will be no comfort to the condemned to know, that some others were even still worse than they.
V. 12—25. _
Blessed be God, his word hath been proclaimed in this our distant land, not only to dispersed Israel, but to us sinners. of the gentiles also, calling on us to return unto him, and declaring his oe mercy, and readiness to forgive. This goodness of our God should lead us to repentance, and humble confession of our sins. But, alas! most meh, “ after ‘¢ the hardness of their impenitent hearts despise the riches ‘* of his mercy,” and proceed to ‘‘ treasure up wrath against.
“* the day of wrath.” (Note, Rom. ii. 4—6.) Hitherto only a small remnant has been called into the true church of God, even from that nation which was, as it were, married to him; and but few of this nation, that hath been almost equally. fa-voured.
But let us be thankful, if we be of.this number : and let ministers pray for themselves, and let the people pray for them, that they may be ‘ pastors after God’s own ‘* heart, to. feed the people with knowledge and understand- << ing :”’ and that very many such pastors may be raised upin all parts of the world.—In the primitive ages of the churchy. when the partition-wall was taken dewn, such pastors
id
e .
B.C. 620.
eet iee | TE thou ‘wilt return, O Israel, saith the Lorp, ’return unto me: and if thou
xxxi. 6. Hos. vii.
16. xiv. 1. Joel : ; : 2
¢ Ben’ xxx. «. Wilt © put away thine‘abomiaations out of Josh. save i my sight, * then shalt thou not remove. itm. vic ss 2 And thou © shalt swear, The Lorp ary - aoe ° f° _¢ ° . a1.oChr.xv.6.liveth, ‘in truth, in judgment, and in 1s. xx.7, 4,0 righteousness; © and the nations shall
Eph. iv. 3! bless themselves in him, “and in him B. cay, & xx*- shall they glory.
XXXVI. @ Chr. xxxiii. 8 ev. 2 Deut. x. 90. Is. xlv. 93, xviii. 1, 2 fix. 24. 1 Kings Ni. 6. Ps. xcix. 4. Hos. ii. 19. Zech. viii.8. g Gen. xxii. 18. Ps. Lexi. 19. Is. Ixv. 16, Gal. ili.s. hix. 24. Is. xlv.25. 1Cor.i.31. 2 Cor. x.:i7. Phil. lil. $. Greek.
abounded, and the number of true Israelites was vastly increased: but “¢ yet.there is room:” the holy nation may still be multiplied exceedingly, its worship may be rendcred far more spiritual, its people more weaned from the imagination of. their evil hearts ; and they may be taught to be more of one heart and soul, ‘and ‘to keep the unity of the ¢¢ Spirit in the bond of peace.”” Then Jerusalem will appear to be the glorious throne of JEHovat ; Israel and Judah will become one in Christ Jesus, and all nations will be gathered unto him.—We are ready, on considering the character of hardened sinners, to say, ‘ How can the Lord pnt “ such persons among his children, and give them those privi- ‘ Jeges, and that inheritance, which belong to every one of his ‘ family ??
But surely the mercy and grace, which have sufficed for us, would suffice for the vilest whom we know or can conceive of. He can teach all the nations of the earth to call him Father, and to exercise every filial disposition towards him: but without this change, no man can be partaker of the inheritance-of the children of God. But, whilst professed Christians often treacherously depart from God; the voice of godly sorrow.and prayer is sometimes heard from those, who have been most wicked: they have indeed perverted their ways, and forgotten the Lord; and they humbly eonfess it.
“Let such then without delay come unto the God of Israel for salvation, that ‘* their backslidings may be healed.” —Sincere. penitents renounce all other hopes of salvation, as well as their idols and iniquities—Whilst men harden themselves in sin, contempt and misery are their portion: but when they are covered with shame and confusion before God, they enter upon safety, comfort, and honour: for *¢ he that *¢ covereth his sins shall not prosper, but he that confesseth ‘© and forsaketh them, shall have mercy.” (Noles, Prov. XXvill. 13. 1 John i, 8—10.)) NOTES.