[What a wonderful sight! the judge trembling before his prisoner! He had sinned in unnumbered instances, and was obnoxious to God's wrath He now heard of the day of retribution, and of the sentence of condemnation under which he lay And now, though he feared no earthly tribunal, he was shaken with terror and with guilt And was not there cause for trembling ?—] He was not, however, faithful to his convictions [One might have hoped that he would have cried out like those of old — But he sought to efface the impression made upon his mind-] He put off his attention to his soul to a more convenient season [What madness was here, to depend on the morrow in a concern of such importance! What season could be so convenient as that he then enjoyed?--- His conscience was then affected, and the Spirit was striving with him Moreover, he had then a faithful and inspired instructor before him Was he more likely to repent when he had seared his conscience, quenched the Spirit, yielded to Satan, and confirmed his evil habits?-- But his future interviews with the apostle were of no avail One of the last acts of his government was marked with oppression and avarice Nor did he spare the innocence which he confessed, and admired d A melancholy instance of judicial blindness!—] APPLICATION Let this history serve as a CAUTION to us [All of us have known, in some measure, the motions of God's Spirit All of us have felt, at times, some general apprehensions respecting the account which we must give at the day of judgment But how many have silenced their convictions, in hopes of finding some more convenient season for attending to them! And how many have died before the hoped-for opportunity arrived! Let © Acts ii. 37. d Ver. 26, 27. Let us beware of this device of Satan, whereby he upholds his kingdom in the world Let us remember, that the same temptations will recur, and the same motives influence us at future periods Let us attend to that salutary advice of the apostleAnd let us seek, without delay, that godly sorrow which worketh repentance unto salvation -] e He does not tempt any to resolve that they will never repent; but takes the more plausible method of insinuating that they will have a more convenient season for repenting. f Heb. iii. 13, 15. 8 2 Cor. vii. 10. XXXIX. THE REMEDY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR SEASONS OF GRACE. Jer. viii. 20-22. The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? EVERY one acknowledges that it is his duty to trust in God But we are prone to creature-confidence Hence we are often left to faint under difficulties from which we might easily have been extricated- Thus the Jews increased their distress by relying on the Egyptians for succour, when, if they would have trusted in God, they might have been delivered The prophet therefore takes up this affectionate lamentation over them I. Who are they of whom it may be said "their harvest is past, their summer is ended, and they are not saved?" In its primary sense this passage is applicable only to the Jews, when they were attacked by the Babylonians But it may be applied to those who have lost seasons of spiritual relief The "summer and harvest" may be considered as seasons afforded us by God for providing for the necessities of our souls Many Many of these we have suffered to pass unimproved and unnoticed They therefore may be said to have lost their summer, &c. who have neglected to improve the seasons afforded 1. By nature [Youth is well fitted by nature for the work of conversionThe mind is then more flexible, the passions more governable, and the conscience more tender But many have lost that favourable season-] 2. By Providence [Mercies are sent by God to invite, judgments to alarmBut many who should have been drawn by them to seek after God, have remained impenitent The sabbath also was instituted by God for the promoting of man's spiritual welfare On that day more especially God calls and converts sinners to himself— But many have let those seasons pass, without obtaining the knowledge of salvation—] 3. By grace [There are times when all experience the strivings of God's Spirit If they improved those seasons, God would "give them more grace" But many stifle their convictions, and "resist the Holy Ghost" They who are in this predicament would do well to reflect on II. The misery of their state The distress of the prophet's mind on account of the calamities that were coming on the Jews is most pathetically expressed But a view of the miseries impending over those who have lost their seasons of Grace might well excite yet more painful apprehensions Their seasons lost are irrecoverable [Present time is often wasted, as though it were of no value But many would be glad on a death-bed to recal the seasons in which they had heard the tidings of salvation, or felt the motions of God's Spirit Such wishes, however, are all in vain—] Their seasons lost may never be renewed A A 3 We [We are apt to promise ourselves days and years to But how often does death disappoint our expectations !-] Every lost season has greatly aggravated their guilt [The means of grace are most important and valuable talents The neglecting to improve them will be severely punished b—] Every season they have lost has hardened their hearts [The word that does not quicken and save will stupify and condemn -] Every lost season has grieved the Holy Spirit more and more [God will not alway strive with those who resist his motions d If he cease to strive with us, our destruction is inevitable-] How should we compassionate those who are in such a state! How should every one adopt the words following my textf! But their condition is not desperate III. The remedy that yet remains for them We might be ready to suppose that such persons were incurable But the animated interrogatories in the text shew the contrary [Christ is a "physician" able and willing to save those who come unto him His blood is a "balm" that heals the most deadly wounds g The true reason that so many die in their sins is, that they will not come to Christ for salvation h Let every one then acknowledge that it is his own fault if he be not saved-] a Acts xxiv. 25. Matt. xiii. 14, 15. 2 Cor. ii. 16. e Hos. ix. 12. Isai. i. 18. 1 John i. 7. b Matt. xxv. 26, 30. d Gen. vi. 3. f Jer. ix. 1. h John v. 40. XL. GOD'S DEALINGS WITH HIS PEOPLE OPENED. Isai. xlii. 16. I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. GOD GOD has fore-ordained every thing which he himself will do " a And he has been gradually unfolding his designs from the beginning The restoration of the Jews from Babylon, and the calling of the Gentiles into the church, were very wonderful events But in them the prediction before us was fulfilled- I. God's dealings are mysterious The dispensations of his providence have been at all times dark [How ill-judged (according to human estimate) was the direction given to the Israelites at their departure from Egypt! Yet it eventually led to their more complete deliverance— How strange do their long wanderings in the wilderness appear! Yet God conducted them by the right way d The present dispersion of the Jews shall enhance the and the glory of their restoration Their degradation shall be their fulness—] mercy The dispensations of his grace are equally inscrutable This is seen in the first quickening of men from their spiritual death [God sets their sins in array before them He charges home their guilt upon their consciencesHe threatens them with his eternal wrath and indignationWho would conceive that these were tokens of his love?How little did the three thousand, when pricked to the heart, imagine that joy was so nigh at handf! How little could the jailer, when about to commit suicide, have supposed that his terror was the first dawn of mercy to his soul & Thus are many still brought to Christ "in a way which they knew not"] It further appears in their subsequent spiritual life [Men usually expect to be led on in a way of peace and joy But c Exod. xiv. 17, 23, 28. Rom. xi. 12, 31. |