Micah 6:16

REFLECTIONS

READER! what are all the controversies the Lord hath with his people, but on account of their transgression and sin? And how gracious must it be in God, still to bear with his people, and not cast them off as their iniquities deserve! And may it not be said, as in this Chapter, so in all ages of the Church, was there ever mercy like that which the Lord hath manifested to his Church? How tenderly doth the Lord call upon the people to become witnesses against themselves, and to his grace and kindness towards them? How did the Lord then, and how doth the Lord now, guard and fence his redeemed from all the Balaams and Balaks that would destroy them. And what doth the Lord require in return? Surely nothing but what common policy and common honesty would direct, even if thankfulness to the Lord was out of the question. Can we show justice to men, if we keep back and withhold justice to God? Convinced as we must be, that thousands of rams, and ten thousands of rivers of oil, can be no acceptable service to the Lord; shall we not delight to offer that which is? And if infinite love, and infinite grace hath provided a full ransom for sin in the blood of Christ, shall we not in justice confess, that without it we are lost forever? If Jehovah hath set forth Jesus as the first born in the womb of mercy, yea, mercy itself in all the fulness of it, shall we not love Jesus for his great salvation, and God the Father for giving it? And if all that is required of a poor sinner, that is so poor and insolvent that he hath nothing to bring, is, to do this justice, and love this Jesus, and to walk thus humbly with his God; can there be terms more gracious, more blessed, and condescending? Lord! give both to Reader and Writer this grace, that we may hear the Lord's voice thus crying to the city, and under divine wisdom, see thy name, and rejoice in thy salvation. Amen.