[ 606 J S E R M O N I. IsAI AH lvii. 17. 13. For the iniquity of his covetousness was.I wroth, and smote him ; I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly ii the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him : I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him, and to his mourners. YOU have here an account ofan ancient, beloved, and privileged people of God, that seemed to offend by a perpetual backsliding. Jer. viii. 5. There was iniquity found amongst them in a departure from the Lord their God. They turned aside from the Lord through many lusts, and amongst the rest the love of money is named, " for the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth,' &c. This prevailed in their hearts ; this run through the whole course of their lives; this discovered itself in their actions: the Lordwäs angry, and he chastened them with tempo - ral punishments, " for the iniquity of his covetousness I " was wroth and smote him';" but this availed little, this was not sufficient to reclaim them, he therefore' inflicted a spiritual judgment upon them, I was wroth and I " hid my face from then.» Yet still they " went on fro- " wardly in the way ,of their own hearts," turning from 'the living God, and pursuing their own pernicious de- vices. Now mark what course God takes with them : Well, saith he, since nothing will do, since I have smitten, -and they have not returned to me : since I have hid my -face from them, and they have not sought after me; since neither temporal nor spiritual judgments have any force on them, I will take another method, I will overcome them with overflowing kindness : "I have seen his ways " and I will heal him." But he will be ready to wander' again, therefore I will lead him : there have been many of this people that have begun to mourn under my chas- tisements, and perhaps their friends have mourned and grieved upon their account : I will restore joy unto them
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