They altogether compose one body in and under Christ-] Their number exceeds all computation [The way to heaven has always been a "strait and narrow way". Yet from the death of Abel their number has been continually increasing— Their collective number is inconceivably great *-—] The saints take the lead in the worship [They are represented as standing nearest to the throneThey begin the song, ver. 5, 9, 10. and the angels join in chorus, ver. 11-13.] There is perfect harmony throughout the whole assembly II. The object they adored Many deny that Christ is a proper object of worshipBut he has ever been worshipped in the church [Paul prayed to him, and received an answer from him f Stephen addressed him, as Christ himself had before addressed the Father The offering of prayer to him characterizes every true Christian -] And he is the object of universal adoration in heaven [He is the person described in the text and context, ver. 6, 8, 9, 12.— The description given is applicable to him alone1—] He is expressly joined with the Father as an equal object of worship [The terms used are the same, and they are addressed alike to both-] The worship they offer him is such as is proper to God only III. The adoration they offered him The heavenly hosts do not offer blind and ignorant devotions They proclaim the Redeemer's worthiness of divine honour [Stronger expressions of adoration are no where offered to the Father The accumulation of words expresses the fervour of their hearts * Their view of his essential glory must convince them of his worthiness But they most admire him in his mediatorial characterThe angels, though not interested as we, gladly unite their praises-] They all join in this unitedly, and with a loud voice [Those from earth, and sea, &c. are the spirits of departed saints All seem to vie with each other without one discordant voice-] INFER bly 1. How great is the privilege of the saints! I [The saints are even now joined to this blessed assem They have the same views of Christ's worthiness and glory— They are engaged in offering the same praises and adora tions They are daily growing in a meetness to join the saints above How glorious, how desirable is this privilege! Let all seek it by faith in the Lamb that was slain-] 2. How astonishing is the folly of the unregenerate! [This blessedness is offered to all who will believe in Christ Yet the unregenerate "make light of it" But would they think it so contemptible if they had such a vision of it as St. John had? Would they despise it if they could see the state of the damned as contrasted with it? May God convince them of their guilt and folly!-] 3. How inconceivably glorious must heaven be! [Here the felicity of the saints is often greatBut hereafter it will transcend our utmost conceptions" Let us frequently rehearse here, that we may be more fit to perform our part on the theatre of Heaven-] To explain each word would destroy the energy of the whole. 1 Heb. xii. 22, 23. m Gen. xxviii. 17. n Here our views are dim (" by faith"), our company few, our associates polluted, our capacity small, our difficulties great, our alloy inseparable, our intermissions frequent, our declensions lamentable: but there we shall see Christ as he is, together with innumerable hosts, each of them shining as the sun; our powers will be wonderfully enlarged; we shall serve him with perfect ease and readiness; and our bliss will be pure and unmixt, without intermission or end, yea, continually, eternally progressive. IX. THE REFLECTIONS OF A PENITENT, &c. Jer. xxxi. 18-20. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke : turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth. Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him: I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord. THERE is a wide difference between ostentatious sanctity and true piety— Hypocrites always endeavour to attract the attention of the world The true penitent, on the contrary, affects privacy and retirement Though cheerful before men, his sorrows are deep before God Were his groanings overheard by the world, he would probably be made an object of pity or derision But God beholds him with pleasure and complacency Ephraim, or the ten tribes, are represented in the text as penitent The secret working of their minds is here opened to our view This accords with the experience of every repenting sinner God declares how acceptable such repentance is in his sight The passage naturally leads us to consider I. The reflections of a true penitent We first see the state of his mind in the beginning of his repentance He reflects on his incorrigibleness in the ways of sin [Men seldom turn to God, till subdued by heavy afflictions * Isai. lxvi. 2. Nor Nor does the rod at first produce any thing but impatience The penitent calls to mind his perverseness under such a state He compares his conduct with an untamed heifer He laments that there is such enmity in his heart against God-] He pleads with God to turn and convert his soul [He feels the necessity of divine grace to change his heart He therefore cries to God, "Turn thou me He reflects upon the progress he has made [He has felt very pungent grief on account of his iniquities d Through the remonstrances of his conscience he has been "ashamed " He has been "even confounded" by discoveries of his own corruptions His constitutional propensities, which were the reproach of his youth, are still his burthen, and his grief-] But he gives the glory of his advancement to God alone [He had cried to God for the gift of converting graceHe now acknowledges that grace to have come from GodHe ascribes his deeper insight into the corruptions of his own heart to the illuminating operations of God's spiritThus he adopts from his heart the confessions of Job, and of Paul -] How The bullock, while unaccustomed to the yoke, rebels against the will of his master: though nourished and supported by him, it will not subserve his interests: when chastised, it rebels the more; yea, repeated strokes serve only to inflame its rage, and to call forth its more strenuous resistance: nor will it ever submit, until it be wearied out, and unable to maintain its opposition. Thus the sinner generally fights against God. C John vi. 44. This is the import of that significant action of "smiting upon the thigh" see Ezek. xxi. 12. The expressions of his grief rise in a climax; he repents, he smites on his thigh; he is filled with shame; he is confounded before God. This, though an afflictive progress, is a salutary and blessed experience; as it argues deeper self-knowledge, and an increasing view of the purity of God's law. Job xl. 4. 1 Cor. xv. 10. How acceptable to God such a penitent is, appears from II. The reflections of God over him The penitent can scarcely find terms whereby to express his own vileness But God accounts no honours too great for such a person He owns the penitent as a " dear and pleasant child" [The lower thoughts we have of ourselves, the higher God has of us— While we are confounded before him, he " rejoices over us with joy". While we are saying " surely such an one as I cannot be a child of God," he delights in testifying that we are his children h God appeals, as it were, to our contrition, in proof that we are his-] He further expresses his compassionate regard for him [The chidings and rebukes of God are all in love1 But the afflicted penitent is apt to complain with Zion of old k God however never feels for us more than when he hides his face from us Like a tender parent, he longs to renew to us the tokens of his love1 The contrite soul may apply to itself those gracious declarations"-] He promises to manifest his mercy towards him [God never will despise the broken in heart". No past sins, however heinous, shall be remembered against them For such God has prepared a glorious inheritance in heaven -] He grants to him all that he himself could possibly desire [What more could the penitent ask of God than an assurance of his adoption into God's family, a declaration of God's love towards him, and a promise that he shall find mercy at the last day? Yet The force of these positive interrogations is the same as if they had been expressed negatively: they import a strong affirmation: see 1 Sam. ii. 27, 28. 'Heb. xii. 6. m Isai. liv. 7, 8. P Matt. XXV. 34. A Isai. xlix. 14. » Ps. li. 17. 1 Isai. xlix. 15, 16. • Isai. i. 18. |