502 A SERIOUS ADDRESS TO thee ; be not dismayed, for I am thy God. My strength is sufficient for thee : I will help thee ; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righ- teousness. They that war against thee shall be as nothing; for I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, and make my strength perfect in thy weak- ness. I will bring thee by the way thou hast not known. I will make darkness light before thee, and crooked paths straight : when thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and when thou walk - est through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee: fhr I am the Lord, thy Saviour, and thy God. I have carried thee from the womb, and even to hoary hairs will I bear and deliver thee. " Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted and drunken, but not with wine; I will not contend for ever, neither will I' be always wroth ; lest the spirit should fail before me, and the soul which I have made. I turn the water of affliction into the wine of con- solation. Behold, I take out of thy hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury ; thou shalt no more drink it again ; I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thy soul: and, in the room of it, I give thee the cup of the new testament in my blood, shed for the remission of sins : it is now ready, draw near drink thou of it, and taste that I am gracious. " Come near, that I may speak a word in season to thy weary spirit. Why standest thou afar off? Come near, T sav, that my soul may bless thee. Let me show 'thee my glory, and proclaim my soul - reviving name : " The Lord ! the Lord God ! merciful and gracious, long suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, and forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin !" Let me wash thy heart from iniquity, guilty sinner; for unless I wash thee, thou. hast no part with me.. Unless thou art born again of water and of the Spirit, thou canst not see the kingdom of God. But this is the covenant of promise which I make with thee : I will sprinkle
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