ceding that of my text, by this prophet, who was one of the most zealous of God's servants, that I cannot forbear laying a few of the verses before you. I am sure, they are too plain to stand in need of a comment.

Having, in the first chapter, published his high commission, he proceeds with a noble and exalted vehemence, in the cause of his God, to expostulate with the people for their ungrateful returns to all the divine favours. He earnestly exhorts them to repent while the door of mercy was yet open, and strives to work upon them by every possible motive. In case of their compliance, he proposes to their hopes the most alluring rewards. In case of their neglect, he alarms their fears with a prospect of the most dreadful punishments.

But let us hear himself-Standing forth as the messenger of the great Jehovah, in the midst of his people, burning for their good, and deeply labouring with the vast weight of his subject, he proceeds as follows, in the adorable name of his maker

"Then said the Lord unto me-Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of this land; and I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me.

Gof cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the Lord, I remember the kindness of thy youth, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. Israel was (then) holiness

unto the Lord and the first fruits of his increase.

• Chapter

+ Chapter II.

And what iniquity have your fathers (or you now) found in me that you are gone far from me, neither say where is the Lord that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts, in which no man dwelt? I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruits thereof. But, when ye entered in, ye defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination. And the priests said not, Where is the Lord?"

Now let me plead with you, Oh my people! Pass over" the isles of Chittim; send unto Kedar," and all the country round about, "and see if there be such a thing" as this. Have these "nations changed their gods, which yet are no gods?" But my people have been more foolish still. "They have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. Be astonished at this, O ye heavens, and be ye horribly afraid! For my people have committed two evils. They have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewn out for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water."

Now, for these iniquities of Israel, “ The young lions have roared upon him: They have made his land waste; his cities are burnt, without inhabitant. The children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head. I have smitten your children, and they have received no correction. The* showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; but thou refusedst to be ashamed. Upon every high mountain, and under every green-tree, thou hast played the harlot. And yet after all these

• Chapter III.

things, I said, return, O thou backsliding Israel! for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and will not keep anger forever. I will take you, one of a city and two of a family, and bring you to Zion; and will give you pastors according to my heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."

Thus far the prophet, in a tender and affectionate strain, hoping to win and to allure his people to repentance. But finding all arguments of persuasion ineffectual to move their hardened hearts, he soon afterwards assumes the voice of terror and judgment, and breaks forth in the deepest agitation of soul, on a nearer view of that ruin which he saw ready to involve them.

My bowels! my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise within me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Destruction upon destruction is cried, for the whole land is spoiled-I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish of her that bringeth forth her first child; even the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself and spreadeth forth her hands; saying, Woe is me now, for my soul is wearied because of murderers!"

At lion out of the forest shall slay my people. A leopard shall watch over their cities, and every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces. I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel. It is a mighty nation whose language thou knowest

not; a people that cometh from the north country; rising up from the sides of the earth; who lay hold of the bow and the spear; whose voice roareth like the sea; who are cruel and have no mercy; at whose fame your hands shall wax feeblet, and they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat."

"And when it shall be said, Wherefore doth the Lord these things unto us? You shall answerLike as ye have forsaken me and served strange gods in your own lands; so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours. For, fear ye not me, saith the Lord? Will ye not tremble at my presence, who have placed the sand for the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree that it cannot pass it? But this people are more unruly than the sea itself." " They are revolted and quite gone. As a fountain casteth out her waters, so Jerusalem casteth out her wickedness"-" They trust in lying words; saying the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord! They steal, they murder, they commit adultery, and swear falsely and walk after other gods; and then they come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name;" as if the bare profession of religion would justify them in "all these abominations-But I will cast them out of my sight, as I have cast out all their brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim. Therefore, pray not thou for them; neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me; for I will not hear thee-They slide back by a per

Chapter VI. † Chapter V. + Chapter VII.

|| Chapter VIII.

petual back-sliding; they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return;" they are even more stupid than the brute creation

"For the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times, and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgments of the Lord," nor regard the merciful visitations of my power! Why, then, should they say "we are wise, and the Law of the Lord is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it, and the pen of the scribes is vain." Where is their wisdom, when the very fowls of the air reproach them with folly; observing the times and the seasons; while this people is deaf to all the calls of my providence. They boast that my "Law is with them," and value themselves upon the many exalted privileges which I have given them. But what do these avail, unless to increase their guilt? The Law is become as a dead letter, when it produces no effect upon the life and morals. In vain have I given it to them, and the pen of their scribes has preserved it in vain. For where are its fruits? Look at those who are called wise men. Behold, they are ashamed; they are dismayed; they are taken;" All their schemes are unsuccessful. "There is no wisdom in them;" and how should there be any, seeing, "they have rejected the word of the Lord," which is the only foundation of all wisdom? They are all corrupt; "from the least even to the greatest they are given unto covetousness;" and, what is worst of all, the very priests and prophets, who should probe the sore to the bottom, are content with some transient or superficial VOL. II.