This was designed of God, and agreeable to the prophecies And it justifies the inference drawn from it in the text We shall shew I. That Christ is precious to believers We might suppose he would be so to all men; but he is not Nevertheless he is so to all that truly believe— The history of the Old Testament affords abundant proof of this [Abraham rejoiced to see his day, though at a distance Job delighted in death as the means of introducing him to his presence Moses esteemed reproach for his sake David regarded nothing in earth or heaven in comparison of himd Isaiah exulted in the prospect of his incarnation-] The New Testament scriptures confirm it [The virgin, while he was yet in her womb, sang his praises The angels congratulated the shepherds on his incarnations The just and devout Simeon after seeing him, could depart in peaceb John baptist, as the bridegroom's friend, rejoiced in his voicei How precious was he to that Mary who was a sinner!k St. Paul counted all as dung for the knowledge of him, was willing to be bound, or to die for him, and knew no comfort like the expectation of being with him The glorified saints and angels incessantly adore him"-] The experience of living saints accords with that of those who have gone before" a John viii. 56. ' Phil, iii. 8. Acts xxi. 13. 1 Thess. iv. 18. m Rev. v. 12, 13. n There are many to whom he is run preciousness itself; who account him as the pearl of great price, desire to know more of him, grieve that they cannot love him more, think afflictions good when they lead to him, and despise all in comparison of him. The world even wonders at them on account of their attachment to him II. Why he is so precious to them They have reason enough for their attachment- [He is infinitely above all created beauty or goodnessShall they then regard these qualities in the creature, and not in him? Whosoever views him by faith cannot but admire and adore him-] They love him for his suitableness to their necessities [There is in Christ all which believers can wantNor can they find any other capable of supplying their need Hence they delight in him as their "all in all"] They love him for the benefits they receive from kim [They have received from him pardon, peace, strength, &c. Can they do otherwise than account him precious?-] We may rather wonder why all do not feel the same attachment III. Why he is not precious to others There certainly exists no reason on his part; he is good to all But unbelievers cannot love him 1. Because they have no views of his excellency [The god of this world has blinded them that they cannot see him How then should they esteem him, whose excellency they know not? They must of necessity be indifferent to him, as men are to things of little value-] 2. Because they feel no need of him [Christ is valuable only as a remedyP Nor can any man desire him as a physician, a fountain, a refuge, unless he feel some disease, some thirst, some danger-] APPLICATION [All, who have any spiritual discernment, feel a love to Christ • 2 Cor. iv. 4. ? Isai. xxxii. 2. He is beloved of the Father, of angels, and of saints- And shall any, who do not account him precious, be objects of his regard? Surely his final decision will correspond with that declaration Let all then believe in him, that he may become precious to them Nor let any be dejected because they cannot delight in him as they wish The more we love him, the more shall we lament the coldness of our love In a little time all the powers of our souls shall act without controul Then shall we glory in him with unrestrained and unabated ardour-] 1 Sam. ii. 30. LXXXIII. GOD'S COMPASSION. Hos. xi. 7-9. My people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them unto the Most High, none at all would exalt him: [yet] how shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger. THE riches of divine grace are manifest in all the promises But they are more eminently displayed in the manner in which the promises are given God often introduces them after an enumeration of his people's sins The passage before us well exemplifies this remarkGod has been contrasting his kindness to Israel, and their ingratitude towards him In the text he sets forth their wickedness with all its aggravations a See similar instances, Isai. xliii. 22-25. and lvii. 17, 18. Yet all this is preparatory, not to an heavy denunciation of his wrath, but to the tenderest expressions of paternal love I. The conduct of men towards God The ten tribes, since their separation from Judah, had become idolaters Yet God calls them his people because they had been admitted into covenant with him, and still professed to be his Thus all who call themselves Christians are "God's people❞— But they "are bent to backsliding from him" [The ungodly are justly compared to an unruly heiferThey will not submit to the yoke of God's lawsTheir whole spirit and temper is like that of Pharaoh The "bent" and inclination of their hearts is wholly towards sin An outward conformity to God's will they may approve→ But they have a rooted aversion to spiritual obedience-] Nor can they by any means be prevailed on to "exalt and honour him" [They are "called" frequently by God's ministersThey are exhorted and intreated to return to the Most High But neither promises can allure nor threatenings alarm them They turn a deaf ear to all admonitions— They will not "exalt" God in their hearts and lives-] This is almost universally the conduct of mankind [There are a few indeed who desire and delight to serve God They wish him to be the sole Lord and Governor of their hearts It is their study to exalt him both in their words and actions But these are few in every age and place So few, that, in comparison of the rebellious, they may be said to be "none at all"—] What might such persons expect at the hand of God? II. God's conduct towards them How different are God's ways from the ways of man! Instead of executing vengeance in a moment, He deliberates [Admah and Zeboim were cities destroyed with Sodom and Gomorrah And such monuments of wrath do the unregenerate deserve to be But God knows not, as it were, how to inflict the deserved punishment He calls to mind that they are his people He hesitates, like a parent, that is about to disinherit his son Thus is he distracted between his affection for them, and his regard for his own honour"-] He relents [To accommodate himself to our weak comprehensions he speaks of himself after the manner of men He cannot endure the thought of making men the objects of his everlasting displeasure Thus did Jesus weep over the murderous JerusalemAnd thus do the bowels of our Father yearn over us-] He resolves [Often has "the fierce anger" of the Lord been kindled against us Yet many times has he turned away from his wrathful indig nations Often, when his bow was bent, has he forborne to strikeHe waits, in hope that he may yet return to him— His language to his rebellious creatures is the same as everi INFER 1. How precious in the sight of God are the sculs of men! Son [When it was necessary for man's salvation, God gave his Nor did he then deliberate, " how shall I do this?"— Neither did he relent, when he laid our iniquities on him1Yea, he was even pleased in bruising his own Son for usTM— • The repetition of their names, "thee, Ephraim, and thee, Israel," seems to import tenderness and affection towards them. d Thus also in Hos. vi. 4. e Luke xix. 41. h Ps. vii. 11, 12. 1 Mark xiv. 35, 36. f Jer. xxxi. 20. i Jer. ii. 12, 13. g Ps. lxxviii. 38. This is the proper sense of Isai. liii. 10. |