6Q4 GODS METHOD OF HEALING. will touch himwith my finger, and then he shall read my epistle of love with gratitude and delight, and he shall feet every word that he reads. O ! it is well for us, that we have such. a God as this is, that can turn hearts into flesh when they have almost grown into stone the second time. III. I will heal him ; that is, I will turn his perverted will towards me again. It was once in a state of sinful nature, but I brought him near me, and he has forsaken his God again, and runs astray like a wild ass, snuffing up the wind; but I will recover him, saitli the Lord, and bring him,near to myself Behold, I, even I, am he that blots out thy iniquities, and cancels thy transgressions for my own name's sake. Ephraim has turned aside from me likea backsliding heifer, but I will makeEphraim turn to me and say, Lord, do thou turn me, and I shall be turned. IV. I will heal him. I will mortify his appetite to sin in general, and particularly to his beloved lust, to his dear idol. I might give him up to all the lusts of his own heart, and might say to him, Rebel, what have I to do with thee ? go on in sin, plunge thyselfinto endless ruin, But, saith the Lord,I will touch his heart and his tongue too, and I will make Ephraim cry out, Lord, turn me and I shall be turned. I might send him to the gods whom he has served, and say, go and find comfort from them ; but I, even I will be his God : I know how in- sufficient all creatures are for his relief : I will wean his heart from every other love ; he has indulged a vicious appetite to forbidden and poisonous fruit, but I will prevent,the spiritual mortality, and he shall sit under my shadow with great delight. V. I will heal him ; that is, I will renew all his in- ward passions, I will renew all his affections ; I have done it once already, but he has almost lost the divine tincture, but I will restore it again. He has scattered his soul amongst a thousand vanities, but I will reassume all his faculties into my own hands, and I will create them all anew. He has hoped for peace in the neglect of duty, but I will teach him that there is no comfort in created'things. I will sanctify his joy, his faith, %iis love, and his fear ; he shall fear nothing but my displeasure, and his joy, his faith, and his love shall all make their
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