CHAP. IX.. The Gospel is therefore good news to all; and the invitations are directed to all, &c. c HAVE I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die, saith the Lord God, and not that he should return from his ways, and live? a For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God; wherefore, turn yourselves, and live yeb say unto them, As I live saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways, for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Return thou backsliding Israel, saith Jehovah, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you; for I am merciful, saith Jehovah, and I will not keep anger forever. d The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, (as some men count slackness) but his long suffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. e Seek ye Jehovah while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, & the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my a Ezek. xviii. 23. b Ezek. xviii, 32. jer. iii, 12. 2 Pet. iii. 9. c Ezek. xxxii. 1o ways, saith Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts..f Hearken unto me ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness, I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry, and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.g Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which satisfieth not hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. b Look unto h me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth for I am God, and there is none else. b ; In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. i Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst; but the water that shall give him, shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. j Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and f Isa. lv. 6, 7, 8, 9. Isa. xlvi. 12, 13. b Isa. lv. 1, 2, 3 Isa. xlv. 22, i St. John, vii. 37, 38. j St. John, iy. 14. I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burthen is light k How beautiful upon the mountains, are the fcet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings, of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God. reigneth! And the angel l said unto them, (the shepherds) Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. mr And Jesus came, and spoke unto them, (his apostles) saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth; go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: n. Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. o. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come. p It is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you :: And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. q And ye shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem and in Mat. xi. 28, 29, 30.. / Isa. lii. 7. m Luke, ii. 10. 11. xviii. 18,19. o Mark, xvi. 15. Mat. xxiv. 14. 9 St. John, xyi, 7, 8.. n Mat. Mark, xii all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. s Doth not wisdom cry, and understanding put forth her voice? She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. She crieth at the gates at the entry of the city, at the coming in of the doors. Unto you, O u men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. O ye simple, understand wisdom; and ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from ever: lasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. Then was I by him, as one broughtup with him; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him, rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. Now therefore, hearken unto me, O ye children, for blessed are they that. keep my ways. v Come eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. Forsake the foolish and five, and go in the way of understanding. w Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready, come unto the marriage: but they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise. Then the master of the house being angry, said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither, the poor and the maimed, aud the halt and the blind. Acts, i 8. t Prov. viii. 1-4. u Prov viii. 22 23. vii. 30, 31, 32. Prov. ix. 5, 6. x Mat. xxii. 4, 5, And the o Prov. servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the Lord said unto the servant, Go out unto the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. x Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they who were bidden were not worthy, Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the high ways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good; and the wedding was furnished with guests..y And I (John,) saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people; saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come, and worship him that made heaven and earth, and the sea and the fountains of waters. z And the spirit and the bride say, Come and let him that heareth say, Come; and let him that is athirst, come; and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. a * Luke, xiv 21, 22, 23. y Mat. xxii. 8,9, 10. 2. Rev.xiv. 6,7 Rev. xxii. 17. |