tenor of conduct?-Who has not often been conscious of secret declensions, and "backslidings of heart?"-] To both these descriptions of people does God address an earnest and impressive exhortation [God well knows the danger to which all are exposed when they have turned aside from him-Nor does he "will, in any instance, the death of a sinner, but rather that he should return and live"-Hence, instead of saying, as we might well expect, Depart from me, he invites us to return-He would have us not only to take his yoke upon us, but to draw in it with pleasure and delight-To enforce his exhortation, he adds a most encouraging promise-Well might he threaten us with the dreadful consequences of our transgression, and address himself only to our fears-But he is a God of infinite compassion,and would rather win us by love-Our backslidings have made a deadly wound in our souls, a wound which, if not speedily closed, will destroy us for ever-Behold, what astonishing mercy! he promises to heal us; to heal the guilt of our sin by the blood of Jesus, and the power of it by his good Spirit-Such is his gracious declaration to us at this instant; and such is the encouragement which he affords to all who have departed from him-] Having seen the condescension of God, we can be at no loss to determine II. The effect it should produce upon us If we have the smallest spark of ingenuity within us, his goodness must of necessity produce 1. A ready compliance with his will [Such was the effect upon those addressed in the textAnd, whenever the word is applied with power to our souls, the same effect will be visible on us-We shall no longer keep at a distance from God, but return to him with our whole hearts-Filled with astonishment at his forbearance towards us, and solicitous to experience the renewed expressions of his favour, we shall say, "Behold we come unto thee"-No pleasures of sin will be suffered to detain us from him-Having tasted the gall and wormwood of a backslidden state, our souls will have them still in remembrance"-We shall determine with the church of old, "I will return unto my first husband, for then it was better with me than now"] 2. An unreserved surrender of ourselves to his service [The love of Christ has a constraining power, which, if not irresistibly, yet invincibly impels us to live unto him-Let Hos. ii. 7. it once be "shed abroad in our hearts," and we shall instantly exclaim with rapture, "My Lord, and my God"-" What have I to do any more with idols," will be the natural effusion of our souls-We shall feel an holy indignation at the thought of having so long "provoked the Lord to jealousy;" and shall address him in the language of his repenting people, Other Lords beside thee have had dominion over us, but by thee only will we make mention of thy name-] APPLICATION 1. To those who are deliberately resisting the will of God [While casting off the restraints of God's law, and following the dictates of your own will, you conceive yourselves to be enjoying perfect liberty-But such liberty is the sorest bondage-A subjection to sin is a vassalage most abject in its nature, and most fatal in its consequences-Would to God that the slaves of sin would reflect a moment what master they are serving, and what wages they are likely to receive!-Soon would they then cast off the yoke which their own lusts have imposed, and seek for freedom in the service of their GodAwake, ye deluded sinners, and return to him, whose "yoke is easy, and whose burthen is light"-] 2. To those who, having begun to serve God, are drawing back from him ["Who hath bewitched," who hath infatuated your depraved hearts?" Hath God been a wilderness to you," that you are tired of his service?s—“Is there indeed no profit in serving him?"-We will venture to put the matter to this issue, Are you as happy now in your departure from God, as you were when you were endeavouring to walk with him?Has your return to secret neglects and sinful indulgences been attended with a proportionate increase of peace and comfort? -Sure we are that none can truly affirm this to have been their experience-If your consciences be not altogether seared, your wounds are festering at this instant-Beware then lest God leave you to be "filled with your own ways" "_That would be the greatest curse that can be inflicted on you-O return immediately to God; and he will heal your backslidings and love you freely-] 3. To those who are maintaining a stedfast walk with God [Thrice happy souls! ye are highly favoured of the Lord Say, Have ye not already the recompense in your own bosoms? Is not his service perfect freedom?-Be thankful then to God who enables you so to live-Be fearful of any thing which may "grieve that Holy Spirit, by whom ye are sealed"Watch against secret backslidings in their very first beginnings -Be more and more diligent in every good word and work—. "Be stedfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; and be assured that your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord"-] CCCCXXXVII. THE SCRIPTURES RECOMMENDED Deut. xi. 18-21. Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thine house, and upon thy gates. That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth. TO have the holy oracles in our hands is one of the greatest advantages that we enjoy above the heathen: a due improvement of them therefore will be expected of us. The Jews, who were in like manner distinguished above all other nations upon earth, were required to shew the most affectionate, obediential regard to the writings of Moses. But the injunctions given to them with respect to the revelation they professed, are still more obligatory on us, who have the sacred canon completed, and, by the superior light of the New Testament, are enabled to enter more fully into its mysterious import. The words which we have just read point out to us I. Our duty with respect to the word of God A revelation from heaven cannot but demand our most scrious attention 1. We should treasure it up in our hearts [It is not sufficient to study the scriptures merely as we do other books; we must search into them for hid treasures," and lay up "in our hearts," yea, in our inmost "souls," the glorious truths which they unfold to our view; and be careful never to let them slip. They should be our delight, and our meditation all the day.d] 2. We should make it a frequent subject of our con versation [It is to be regretted that there is no other subject so universally prescribed and banished, as that of religion. But, if we loved God as we ought, we could not but love to speak of his word, that word which is our light in this dark world, and the one foundation of all our hopes. When Moses and Elias came from heaven to converse with our Lord, the prophecies relating to the sufferings and glory of Christ were their one topic of discourse. Thus at all times and places should our conversation be seasoned with salt, and tend to the use of edifying. If it were thus with us, God would listen to us with approbation," and Jesus would often come and unite himself to our company.] 3. We should bring it on all occasions to our remembrance [The Jews, putting a literal construction on the passage before us, wrote portions of God's word on scraps of parch ment, and wore them as bracelets on their wrists, and as frontlets on their heads. But we shall more truly answer the end of this commandment by consulting the scriptures on all occasions as our sure and only guide. There are many general precepts and promises which we should have continually in view, as much as if they were fixed on our doors and gates; which also, as if fastened on our foreheads and our hands, should both direct our way, and regulate our actions.] 4. We should instruct the rising generation in the knowledge of it [All are solicitous to teach their children some business, whereby they may provide a maintenance for their bodiess and should we not endeavour to instruct them in the things relating to their souls? Abraham was particularly commended for his care with respect to this: and the injunction in the text, confirmed by many other passages,' requires that we b Prov. ii. 1—4. e Luke ix. 30, St. Mal. iii. 16, 17. Heb. fi. 1. d Ps. cxix. 92, 97. Eph. iv. 29. Gen. xviii. 19. should "diligently" perform this duty. Nor should we imagine that the mere teaching of children to repeat a catechism will suffice: we should open to them all the wonders of redemption, and endeavour to cast their minds, as it were, into the very mould of the gospel.] In the close of the text we are directed to bear in mind II. Our encouragement to fulfil this duty This unfeigned love to the scriptures will be produc tive of the greatest good 1. It will tend greatly to our present happiness [A peaceful enjoyment of the promised land, and of all the good things of this life, was held forth to the Jews as the reward of their obedience: but we are taught rather to look forward to the possession of a better country, that is, an heavenly, Nevertheless, "godliness has at this time also the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come:" and therefore we may properly consider the present benefits arising from a due attention to the scriptures. Suppose then that the blessed word of God were regarded by us as it ought to be, that it engaged our affections, entered into our conversation, regulated our conduct, and were instilled into the minds of the rising generation, would not much light, obscene, and impious discourse be suppressed? Would not sin of every kind receive a severe check? Would not many of the diseases, the troubles, the feuds, and the miseries that result from sin, be prevented? Would not many of the judgments of God which now desolate the earth, the wars, the famines, the pestilences, be removed?" Would not, in numberless instances, knowledge be diffused, consolation administered, and virtue called forth into act and exercise? Would not our children, as they grow up, reap the benefit of such examples?" Let any one judge impartially, and say, whether a due regard to the scriptures would not greatly meliorate the state of society, and of every individual, in proportion as his life was conformed to them?"] 2. It will secure an inheritance beyond the grave [The earthly Canaan was typical of heaven; when therefore we see the possession of that good land promised to the Jews, we must, in applying the promises to ourselves, raise our views to the Canaan that is above. Now what are the means which God has prescribed for the securing of that glo m 1 Tim. iv. 8. Ver. 13-17. |