496 A SERIOUS ADDRESS TO Lord ; speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, That her warfare is accomplished, and her iniquity is pardoned*; for, in me, she bath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. He is well pleased for my righteousness' sake, I have magnified the law, and make it honourable : I have been lifted up, and. now I draw all men unto me. My delights are with the sons of men, and therefore am I exalted, that, I may have mercy upon them. Behold, I come with a strong hand; my reward is with me, and my work before me. Every valley shall be exalted, every mountain and bill shall be made low; the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain : my glory shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. 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. Seek ye me while I may be found, call upon me while "I am near : return unto me, and I will have mercy upon you ; and though ye have only done evil before me from your youth, I will abundantly pardon : for my thoughts are not revengeful as your thoughts, nor my ways unloving as your ways : in me ye shall be saved with an everlasting salvation. " Come therefore unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest : my yoke is easy, my burden light, anà my rest glorious. ,Ho This part of the address is almost literally transcribed from the scripture, and it is designed for none but Mourners in Sion, dejected sinners, who are backward to come to Christ that they may have life. These want line upon line, and invitation upon invitation ; and it is well if after all, they are encouraged to come. As for full souls, I know they-will loathe this honey-comb. But while they complain it has too many cells, and ° they are filled with the same thing ; some poor hungry hearts will say, ' One thing is needful for us. We cannot have too much virgin honey ; its sweets make amends for the want of variety. If the manna falls abundantly round our tents, it will stir us up to praise, and. not. to murmur. Fullness of the bread of life will not make us wax fat and kick like'Jeshurùtm, but bless God for his rich profusion. With the disciples, we shall even gather the frag. ments, that nothing be lost.'"
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