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heritage of Jacob thy father: for ‘the mouth of the Lorp hath spoken it.
1 ah CHAPTER LIX.
Impiety, and multiplied iniquities, assigned as the causes of all the calamities endured by the professed people of God, \—15. Promises that God would rescue his church ; take vengeance on his enemies ; widely diffuse truth and holiness ; stop the torrent of impiety and wickeuness ; and preserve true religion, by his word and Spirit, to the end of time, 16—21,
EHOLD, *the Lorn’s hand is not shortened, *that it cannot save ; neither ‘his ear heavy,
that it cannot hear : 2 But “your iniquities have separated between
105:9—11. 135:12. 136:21,22. Jer. 3:19. 2 1:20. 40:5. Mic. 4:4, Matt, 24:85, a 50:2, Gen, 18:14, Num, 11:23. Jer, 82:17, b 63:1. Heb. 7:25. ¢ 6:10. Matt, 13:15. d See on 50:1, Deut. 32:19. Josh. 7:11,12. Prov. 15:29. Jer, 5:25,
wives, children, domestics, and dependents, with peevish or bitter words, perverse and severe actions, nay, sometimes with enormous injustice: nor are they more ostentatious in religion, to get the good opinion of ministers and Christians, than vociferous in rage and debates.
But it is an invariable rule, that “he shall have judgment without merey, who hath showed no mercy :” (Note, Jam. 2:8—13, v. 13.) God will not forgive our trespasses, if we do not heartily forgive our brethren ; and he will mete to us in the measure which we have meted tothem. (Votes, Matt. 6:14,15. 7:1,2. 18:31— 35.) No expressions of humiliation then can prove that man.a true penitent, who does not ‘loose the bands of wick edness,” renounce his gainful iniquities, and aim to mortify his strongest lusts.
No man’s faith justifies him, which does not ‘t work by love ;” he who loves God will love his brother also; and he whd loves his brother, will do him no injury, but will be ready to do him all the good he can.
The professed church of Christ has been too long amused with fasts and external austerities in some instances, whilst men found pleasures in other things far more suited to their carnal minds ; fasts employed as the cloak of avarice and oppression, and the very watchword of persecution.—Yet let us not confound the abuse with the use, of this scriptural method of express ing our godly sorrow and humiliation; but, rejecting the fast which the Lord has not chosen, let us attend to that which he approves and accepts.
V. 8—14. When the external expressions and means of repentance, faith, and grace, are accompanied with the mor tification of sin, reformation of life, and abundant exercises of love to the poor and needy; despising, neglecting, and excluding none from our affection or assistance, according to our ability ; we may expect consolation in the ways of God.
Such conduct proves our sincerity, and honours the Lord, and he will honour and protect us on every side; our prayers will then be answered, our tribulations removed, or an wle= quate support afforded; by the light of God’s countenance we shall pass through every dark scene ; he will provide for our wants, make our souls like a watered garden, and honour us with usefulness in his church; (JVotes, Cant. 4:15,16.
Jer. 31:10—14.) for “the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.” Many professed Christians prove themselves hypocrites by a contrary conduct: and many real Christians walk uncomfortably all their days, because their liberality is disproportionate to their affluence: their evidence of sincerity in their professed love of Christ, is therefore low; they little honour God and he little honours them; he dispenses consolation to them, according to their niggardliness to his poor people.—Experience evinces, that they, who in humble faith and love, ‘draw out their souls to the hungry,” and abound most in “devising liberal things,’ are most comfortable, and most honoured to be useful in the church of God ; (a sweet reward to their benevolent minds!) and often they have the most outward peace and prosperity.
Let us then avoid, with equal caution, pharisaical pride, 4nd antinomian sloth or selfishness: and let those, who walk uncomfortably, examine whether their conduct towards their poor brethren do not point out at once the reason, and the remedy.—True faith unites justice, mercy, and piety: in proportion as we are spiritually minded, we shall hallow, honour, and delight in the sabbaths of God; and, laying aside all employments,
leasures, or discourse, which can interrupt our sacred rest in him, we shall seek communion with him in his public and private ordinances: without any other remission, than what is really necessary, or what is a work of love to the souls and bodies of our neighbours and fellow Christians. ‘Thus we shall learn to delight in God, and to anticipate heaven; we shall obtain the victory over the world, sin, and Satan; we sha follow those, “who through faith and patience inherit the promises ;” and we shall at last be ‘numbered with his saints in glory everlasting ;’ for ‘the mouth of the LorD hath spoken it.” ’ fi
NOTES.—Cuap. LIX. V. 1, 2. This chapter conti nues the subject of the preceding ; and begins witha fata reply to those, who complained that God did not roman a fasting and prayers. (Note, 58:3,4.) What has therefore been observed, of the times to which that refers, applies to this also: and as the latter part of this chapter, and the whole of that which follows, must be understood of the millennium ; so (whatever reference there may be to previous situations uy the Jewish or Christian church,) there is some reason te
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youand your God, and your sins have ‘hid his ace from you, that he will not hear,
3 For tyour hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; fyour lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverse-uess.
4 None éealleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth : they "trust in vanity, ‘and speak lies ; “hey conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
5 They hatch !cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is ‘crushed breaketh out into a viper.
6 Their 'webs shall not become garments, ™neither shall they cover themselves with their works : "their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence zs in their hands.
7 ‘Their feet run to evil, "and they make haste to shed innocent blood: ‘their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; ‘wasting and Sdestruction are in their paths.
8 The ‘way of peace they know not; and there istno ‘judgment in their goings: they have made them "crooked paths: *whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. [Practical Observations.)
9 7 Therefore Yis judgment far from us, neither
£1:15,21. Jer. 2:30 £2. 7:2. Matt, 27:4, 4:2.:3,13, Mic. 6; . h 30:12, Job . Ps. 7:14. Prov.
5:1,4,5. F248; lS. Psi
115. | Or, adde asif there brakeoutaviper. | 2 :12—14. 67:12. 64:6. Rom, 3:20—22. 4:6—8. Pi) n 5:7. Gen. 6:11. Ps. 58:2, 7:11,23. Am, 3:10. 6:3, Mic. 2:1—3,8, 3:1—11. 6:12, Hab, 1:2—4, 3,4. o Prov. 1:16. 6;17,18. Rom, 3:15,16, p 3. Je :17, Lam, » Matt. 1—37, Rev. 17:6. q Prov, 15:26, + Mark 7; . ¥ 60:18, Rom, 3:16, § Heb. breaking. 8 Prov. 3:17, t 14,15. 5:7. Jer. 5:1. Hos. 4:1,2, Am. 6:1—6. Mate. 93.23. || Or; right. Ps.58:1,2. u Ps. 125:5, Prov. 2: x 48:22. 57;20,21. y Hab. 1:13. 2 5:30. Job 30:26. Jer. 8:15, 14:19. Am. 5:18—20, Mic, 1:12. 1Thes.5:3. a Deut. 28:29, Job 5:14, Prov. 4:19, Jer. 13:16, Lam. 4:14, Am,
Iuuke 1:79, Rom.
think, with Vitringa, that the low state of the Reformed or Protestant churches, antecedent to that event, is here predicted. If we refiect on the state of these churches, in respect of evangelical truth and vital religion, we must be convinced, that they have lamentably declined since the reformation: and though popery may perhaps have lost ground, though that is very doubtful, yet infidelity, skepticism, Socinianism, impiety, and vice of every kind, have exceedingly increased.
The true people of God are indeed chiefly to be found in those churches: yet they are verging, further and further, from the purity and strictness of the Gospel, in every respect ; except as toleration has for a time supplanted the monster persecution: and even this great advantage is attended with an indifference about divine truth ; or rather an indifference what errors are maintained, provided men be not zealous for the doctrines of the reformation.
We have also reason, from several prophecies, to expect still greater departures from the faith; and grievous calamities to be brought on the nations adhering to the gospel, from those who openly oppose it, whether papists or infidels.
It may therefore be supposed, that the Holy Spirit predicts these things in the former part of this chapter, as introductory to the most glorious state of the church on earth: and no events can be mentioned, which are so answerable to what is here foretold, and so connected with what next follows, as to be put in competition with what has been mentioned.—But, whatever be the prophetical meaning of the passage, it contains a sermon generally useful to the church, in all her calamiues and distresses.—The prophet reminds the people, not to ascribe the duration of their atilictions, or the delay of an answer to their prayers, to the Lord’s want of power or inclination to deliver them, or to his inattention to their requests; but wholly to their unrepented iniquities, which separated between them and the God whom they professed to worship, and provoked him to hide his face and reject their petitions.” (Marg.
Ref. Notes, 50:1—3. Jer. 5:20—25, vv. 24,25.)
V. 3—8. ‘The foregoing chapter contained a severe reproof of the Jews, for their hypocrisy. ... This chapter centains a more general reproof of their wickedness, bloodshed, violence, falsehood, and injustice. At v. 9, they are introduced as making an ample confession of their sins, and deploring their wretched state in consequence of them. On this act of humiliation, a promise is given, that God 1n his mercy and zeal for his people will rescue them from this miserable condition ; that the Redeemer will come as a mighty hero to deliver them; he will destroy his enemies, convert both Jews and Gentiles to himself, and give them a new covenant and law, which shall never be abolished.’ Bp. Lowth. The professed people of God, here described, were guilty of *aurders, rapines, perjuries, lies, and impiety: none of them demanded justice on delinquents, or pleaded for the truth
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doth justice oveitake us: ‘we wait for light, but behold obscurity ; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.
10 We *grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noon-day as in the night; we are %in desolate places as dead men.
11 We ‘roar all like bears, and “mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none ; efor salvation, but it is far off from us.
12 For ‘our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and Sour sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, "we know them:
13 In transgressing and ‘lying against the Lorn, and ‘departing away trom our God, 'speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
14 And ™judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
15 Yea, "truth faileth ; and *he that departeth from evil "maketh himself a prey: and the Lorp saw it, and it “displeased him that there was ne judgment.
16 “I And Phe saw that there was no man, and
8:9, John 11:9,10. 12:35,40. 1 John 2:11. b Lam.3:6. c 51:20, Ps. 32;3,4. 38:8, Hos. 7:14. d 38:14. Job 30:28,29, Jer. 9:1. Ez. 7:16. e bs. 85:9, 119:
5. £ 1:4. Evra 9:6. Jer. 3:2, 5:3—9,25—29.7:3—10, Ez. 5:6, 7:23. 8:8—16, 16:51 ,52. 22;2—12,24—30, 23:2, &c, 24:6—14. Hos.4:2, Mutt. 23:32,33. 1 Thes. 2:15,16. g Jer. 14:7. Hos. 5:5, 7:10. Rom. 3:19,20. h Ezra 9:13. Neh. 9:33. Dan. 9:5—8. i 32:6, 57:11. Ps, 78:36. Jer. 3:10, 42:20, Ez. 18:25, Hos. 6:7. 73
13. 11:12. Acts 4. k 31:6. Ps, 18:21. Jer, 2:13, 3:20, 17:13, 32:40. Ez. 6:9, Hos. 1:2. Heb. » | Jer. 5:23, 9:2—5, Matt. 12:34—36. Mark 7:21,22. Rom, 3:10—18. Jam, 1:15. 3:6. m4.5 1U:1,2, Ps, 82:2—5. Ec, 3:16. Jer. 5:27,28, 31, Am. 5:7,11,12, Mic 3:9—11, 7:3~5, Hab. 1:4. Zeph. 3:1—3, n, 48:1. Ps. 5:9, 12:1,2. Jer. 5:1,2, 7:28. Hos. 4:1,2. Mic. 7:2. o Hub. 1:18,14. Acts 9:1,23, Rom, 8:36, Heb. 11:36—:38. 1 John 3:11,12. 1 Or, is accounted mad. 2 Kin 9:11. Jer. 29:26. Hos. 9:7. Mark 3:21. John 8:52. 10:20. Acts 26:24. 2 Cor. 13, ** Heb. was evil in his eyes. Gen. 38:10. 2Sam, 11:27. 1 Chr. 21:7. mare gins, p 50:2, 64:7, Gen, 18:23—32. Ps, 106:23. Jer. 5:1. Ez. 22:30. Mark 6:6
Ez. 22A—16,24—30.) They trusted in vanity and deceit and used lying pretences in defending their conduct; they conceived mischief to their neighbours in their hearts, and thence brought forth iniquity in their lives. (Vote, Jam. 1: 13—15.) With great ingenuity and assiduity they accomplished those projects, which proved pernicious or useless 3 “hatching cockatrice’ eggs, and weaving the spider’s web? so that he who shared in the fruits of their labour, was seduced into destructive errors and iniguities, or involved in ruin; and when advantage was expected, from their ingenious schemes and persevering efforts, and the egg, so to speak, was hatched, a viper burst forth for their destruction.
Nor could their ingenuity in devising schemes, (as the spider frames its web from its own bowels,) to deliver or save them. selves, become garments to cover them, or their own works justify them: indeed they would appear to be works of injustice and violence. (Notes, 28:20. 57:11,12.) They lost no time, and spared no pains to do evil, and to shed innocent blood: all their thoughts were employed about iniquity ; and whereyer they went, devastation and destruction attended their paths.
They had no acquaintance with the ways of peace, judgment, and justice; and they walked im such crooked and winding paths of subtle polivy and selfishness, that none, who go in them, can know any thing of peace with God, or true peace of heart and conscience. (Notes, 48:20—
22. 57:20,21. Ps. 125:4,5. Rom. 3:9—18.)—Alas! now exe actly does this correspond with the conduct and character of very numerous protestant Christians, in every quarter of the globe.
V. 9—15. The pious remnant here lament the public calamities, the decay of religion, and the darkness which rests upon their path. (Votes, 50:10,11. 58:3—12.) Because of the enormous wickedness of the professed people of God, he stood at a distance; and did not execute judgment bee tween them and their avowed enemies, and they were uns justly oppressed without redress.
They waited for more prosperous times and brighter prospects; but the darkness continued to increase: they groped for the wall to lean against, or to direct their path; or they wandered out of the way like blind men: they stumbled at noon, as if it were midnight; that is, they were at a loss and made fatal mistakes in the most obvious matters: (Votes, Deut. 28:29. Job 5:L1—16, v. 14.) and they were neglected, as the dead are cast out into unfrequented places.
Their loud complaints were like the “roaring of bears,” their continual lamentation like the ‘mourning of doves ;” (Note, 38:14,15.) whilst they in vain waited for judgment, and deliverance from their oppressors. But they confessed that by their multiplied sins, of which they were conscious, and which testified against them, they deserved all their sufferings.
For rebellion, nypocrisy, apostacy from God, oppression, fraud, false-eather the truth of God’s word, or the truth of the causes | witness, and every kind of injustice, abounded among th which came berore them. (Notes, Jer. 5:1,2,26—31. 7:3—11. | so that truth and equity were openly perverted, trampled om
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wondered that there was no intercessor : %therefore
his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
17 For the put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head ; and he put on *the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad twith zeal as a cloak.
-18 "According to their “deeds, accordingly he will repay, *fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompense.
19 So yshall they fear the name of the Lorp from the west, and his glory from the rising of
§2:10. 63:3—5. Ps. 98:1. r 11:5. 51:9, Job 29:14. Rom, 13:12—14. 2 Cor, 6:7.
ph. 6:14. 1 Thes. 5:8. Rev. 19:11, s Deut. 32:35—43. Ps, 94:1. 2 Thes. 1.8. Heb. 10:30. t 9:7. 63:15. Ps. 69:9. Zech. 1:14. John 2:17. u Job 34:11, Ps, *8:24—26, 62:12. 329, Matt. 16:27
“eb, recompenses - 19:25,26. 63
Pa, *3, 6:12. 38:18. Nah. 1:2. Luke 2 ey. 16:19. 19:15. M4—1, 49:12. 66:18—20, Ps, 22:27. 102:15,16. 113:3, Dan. 7:27.
or banished. ‘Justice is described as if it were afraid to venture itself among such a crew of miscreants. Lowth. All sincerity and integrity were openly renounced; and if any one ventured to be so singular as to make a conscience of his duty, he became a prey to his less scrupulous neighbours, or was treated by them as a fool or a madman, And no wonder, that the Lord was displeased, at beholding such enormous wickedness among those who professed to be his worshippers.
V. 16—19. When it might have been expected that the Lord would denounce or inflict the severest vengeance on those who had so greatly provoked him}; behold he appears to introduce the most glorious triumphs of his grace! (Notes, 43:22—28. 44:1—5,21,22.) When none in comparison were left to protest against the wickedness which prevailed, or to intercede with God to interpose and fulfil his promises: (Notes, 64:6—8. Jer. 5:1—6.
Ez. 22:30.) then his own arm would effect the salvation which he intended: and his righ-tevus regard to his promises, to the cause of godliness, and the honour of his law, and his just indignation against his enemies, would sustain him! His fixed purpose of executing justice on some, and of saving others, would be as his breastplate and helmet: but vengeance would be as his military vest; and zeal for his own glory would be conspicuous above all, as acloak. (Notes, 11:2—5. 63:1—6,v. 5. Ps. 93:1,2. 104:1,2.
Rev. 19:11—16.) Thus armed for the conflict and prepared for judgment, be would deal with men according to their deeds ; executing vengeance upon his obstinate enemies, to the most remote regions of the earth, and receiving humble penitents to his mercy and favour.
Then would men fear and worship his name from the most western regions to the most eastern; for instance, Britain, America, the East Indies, China or Japan: and at the very time when Satan, the great enemy of God and his church, would come in to bear down al! before him, by an inundation of antichristian superstition infidelity, impiety, and wickedness; “the Spirit of God would lift up a standard,” and call together his armies, to oppose his progress and subyert his cause. (Notes, 11:10.
£z. 38: Dan. 11:40—45. Joel 3:9—17. 2 Thes. 2:8—12. Rev. 12:13—17. 17:15—18. 19:11—21. 20:7—10.)—There
can be no doubt the grand accomplishment of this prophecy is future; and as they, among whom iniquity so abounded antecedent to this happy change, are spoken of as the professed people of God, and never accused of idolatry ; and as the Lord is represented as wondering, that there was no intercessor among them; it is more natural to interpret it of corrupt and degenerate protestants, than either of the Jews, who are avowed enemies to Christianity ; or of papists, who retain the idolatrous worship of images, saints, and angels. (Notes, 57:9—14,17,18. 58:1.)
V. 20,21. The coming of the divine Redeemer in human nature for our salvation, seems to be here immediately predicted ; yet.along with the effects of his gospel in the primitive times, and in all succeeding ages; and with reference to his coming, by the power of his Spirit, to purify, deliver, and enlarge his church. (Notes, 16—19, 11:1—9.) Jenovan here covenants with Christ as our Surety, and with those true Israelites who turn from their transgressions by faith in his name, tocontinue the Spirit which rests on Christ, and the words or doctrine which he has delivered to his church, among his spiritual seed, in the mouths of his ministers who preach it, and of his people who profess it, from age to age, to the end of the world: so that ‘* the gates of hell shall never
revail” against his truth and grace; but there shall always
ea remnant to believe, profess, obey, and preach the gospel, through successive generations: till that period arrives before predicted, but more fully declared in the next chapter; when the cause of truth and righteousness shall gain a decided, universal, and permanent victory. (Noles, Rev. 11:3—18.) —* These verses are expounded by St. Paul, of that general restoration of the Jenin nation, which he assures us shall come to pass in the latter times. Rom. 11:26,27. ... God’s promises are only made to the penitent.’ Lowth.
Unto them that turn from. transgression in Jacob, (20) “Shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” Rom. 11:26. (Notes, 1:25—27. Ez. 36:25—27. 37:23—28. Zech. 12:9—
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the sun: when ‘the enemy shall come in like a flood, *the Spirit of the Lorp shall tlift up a standard against him.
20 And "the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and ‘unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lorn.
21 As for me, ¢this is my covenant with them, saith the Lorn; *My Spirit that is upon thee, and fmy words which I have put in thy mouth, shal] not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the Lorn, from henceforth and for ever.
Mal. 1:11. Rev. 11:15. 2 Rev, 12:10,15—17, 17:14,15. a L1:10. Zech. 4:6, 2'Thes, 2:8. Rev. 20:1—3. f{ Or, put himto flight, b Ob. 17—21. Rom, 11:26, 27, ¢ Deut, 30:1—10, Ez, 18:30,31. Dan. 9:13, Acts 2:36—39. 3:19,26. 26:20, Tit. 2:11—14, — d 49:8, 55:3. Jer. 31:31—34, 32:38—41. Ez, 36:25—27. 37:25—
27. 39:25—29. Heb. 8:6—13. 10:16. e 11:1—3. 61:1—3. John 1:33, 8:34. 4:14, tee ehout 8:9. 2 Cor, 3:8,17,18. f 51:16. John 7:16,17. 8:38. 17:8. 1 Cor.
33, &e.
14. Rom, 11:25—32.)—Thy seed, &c. (21) Notes, 53:9,10. Ps. 22:30,31. Heb. 2:10—13. 1 Pet. 2:9,10. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V. 1—8. When our troubles continue, notwithstanding our prayers and expectations of deliverance, we should examine seriously and earnestly into the cause.
We may be sure, that ‘* the Lord’s hand is not shortened, .. . neither his ear heavy ;” he is as able to save, and as ready to hear prayer, as in former times; but iniquity, unrepented, unmortified, unpardoned iniquity, will separate between our souls and God, and cause-him to hide his face, and to refuse any comfortable answer: so that nothing but true repentance and faith in Christ can remove the separation, and make way for returning peace. (Notes, Josh. 7:10—12. P. O. 10—18.)— Alas, what crimes have in every age filled and defiled the earth!
But it is most lamentable, that the professed worshippers of God, who have the purest creeds in their books, and the most scriptural administration of ordinances among them; and who protest against heresy, superstition, and idolatry, with decided vehemence and pertinacity; are often guilty of multiplied murders, rapines, oppressions, perjuries, hes, blasphemies, and impieties!
Nay, these criminals often escape with impunity, and have able advocates retained to extenuate their guilt, and varnish over their crimes: while scarcely any venture to “call for justice, or plead for truth, throngh fear of reproach, and of formidable enemies!
But, except the grace of God convert the heart, men will in one way or other ‘trust in vanity and lies,” ‘conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.".—Not only do we find enormous wickedness among rapacious oppressors, and powerful wasters of mankind: the schools of philosophers often produce more specious, but still more fatal instruments of destruction. With exquisite ingenuity and persevering application, studious men hatch impious and infide! systems: these gratify the curiosity, pride, and presumption of man, and are congenial to his carnal mind and soothing to his conscience.
Compositions of this fatal tendency are often framed with the most specious arguments, ornamented with enchanting elegance, and varnished over with plausible pretensions to * candour, liberality of sentiment, and free inquiry. On this delicious poison numbers feed and perish; in these nests are hatched basilisks and vipers, the brood of the old Serpent; and from thence they break forth with envenomed teeth, to destroy the souls of men.
Others are not employed in so pestiferous a manner: but they ingeniously weave a spider's web, and compared with their own schemes of self-effected salvation, they despise that ‘trighteousness of God, whicn is unto all and upon all that believe.” (Notes, Rom. 3:21—
26. 10:1—4.) Yet their webs shall not become garments; neither shall any of their devices cover the shame of their nakedness, or preserve them from detection and the wrath ot God. (Notes, 28:20. Rev. 3:17—19.) And it is observable, that protestants, who have renounced the Reformers’ doctrine of justification by faith, through the righteousness of Christ alone, to trust in their own works, are in general remarkably defective in the very appearance of good works.
Many of them deem it very meritorious not to perpetrate such crimes, as would expose them to the lash of human laws; and many of them “ do works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.” Indeed the feet of every man, who is destitute of the Spirit of Christ, “run swifily to evil” of one kind or another: and the history of mankind and daily observation show, that where the restraints of fear, shame, ana human laws are removed, and men can do it with impunity-their mad passions render them in haste to shed innocent blood.
But while they waste and destroy othes, regardless alike of justice, truth, and humanity ; they are themselves strangers to peace and comfort; others watch their opportunity of retaliation ; and their crooked paths lead them faz aside from the way of peace and salvation. (Vote, Ps. 11y
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i sy) 9—21. When the general character of any church or
community where Christianity is professsed, becomes corrupt
and abandoned, it is reasonable to expect, that tt will be left
in the hands of its enemies: and vain will be the hope of
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