we have sinned, we shall sorrow too. Whatever reminds us of our guilt, will touch the springs of unfeigned regret the very place where mischief has been devised, and iniquity practised, will be memorable to us as the scene of undissembled grief. It will pain our hearts, that even in "the high places"-the house of God-where we have assembled, professedly on business the most sacred, the adorable Object of worship has been disregarded and dishonoured. While thus affected, our compunction will doubtless be attended with earnest supplication and prayer. "The sacrifices of God," those which he requires of men, and which, through the Mediator, he deigns to accept, "are a broken spirit. A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou will not despise *."

We notice,

II. The gracious LANGUAGE OF GOD to these backsliding children :-" Return, and I will heal your backslidings."

Here is,

1. A friendly call: "Return."-Doubtless authority marks this word, and the word of Jehovah is never to be trifled with. It is an invitation given ; but it is also a command, which may not be slighted; a solemn charge, which cannot with impunity be refused. Authority attends it—but chiefly kindness; and two things are clearly intimated-that there is a way of return-and that we have asssurance of welcome.

What, then, is the way of a sinner's return to God? We learn it from the Gospel; and this points directly

* Psalm li. 17.

to the Lord Jesus Christ: "I am the Way;-no man cometh unto the Father but by me

Under the Old Testament dispensation, as well as now, Christ was the way to God. He was prefigured by ancient sacrifices, foretold by all the prophets, expected by the whole church. To them he was the Messiah that should come; to us he is come; and in his ability to save we rejoice-" to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by him." Coming to God by Jesus Christ is believing in him as the only Saviour, resting on his atonement, praying to the Father in his name, pleading what he hath done and suffered in behalf of transgressors, and depending for acceptance and favour only on his mediation. Is this what you have learned, and what you cordially approve? The way to God by Jesus Christ, is that which God himself hath appointed, which his Gospel makes known, which his people love, and which reflects the highest glory on his character as the God of salvation.

But coming to God in this way, we are assuredly welcome.-Much might be said in proof of this, but does not the fact speak for itself? Should we be urged to return if this were not the case? The prodigal son-was not he welcome to his father? Yes, most heartily welcome: "When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him t." What does this teach, but the readiness of God to receive the penitent, be they ever so unworthy, ever so vile? Let us apply this to ourselves, and make a proper use of the encouragement it gives. Let us take with us words, and turn to the Lord, and say unto him, "We

* John xiv. 6. + Luke xv. 20.

have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sight; yet, for the sake of Jesus, take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously.” No man ever approached God in the way of his own appointment, and was not accepted. Make the trial: his good word warrants the most lively hope. "Turn you at my reproof: behold! I will pour out my Spirit unto you; I will make known my words unto you*." "Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindnesst." We read of some who were encouraged in their distress by the report "that the kings of the house of Israel were merciful kings:" the God of Israel is infinitely more merciful than the best of her kings. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; to our God," in the name of Jesus the Mediator, "for he will abundantly

pardon +."

Here is also,

2. A precious promise: "I will heal your backslidings."

What does this imply, but that backsliding wounds the soul? It inflicts a disease, a dangerous and fatal disease. "Thus saith the Lord; Thy bruise is incurable, thy wound is grievous." One of the prophets describes the condition of a sinful people thus: "The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head, there is no soundness in it; but wounds and bruises, and putrifying sores." Another remonstrates with the same people, and says, "O Israel, return unto the + Joel ii. 13. ‡ Isai, lv. 7.

* Prov. i, 23.

Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity." Yes, iniquity is a fall the most serious, and in its effects most destructive! Well might the Psalmist Lord, be merciful unto me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee*."

pray;

But the promise before us implies that God is ready to restore health and cure." Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?"

There are both :

"The only balm is sov'reign grace;

And the Physician God;"

the great God, even our Saviour. "I will heal your backslidings." See a transgressor, languishing under the disease of sin, bruised and wounded by his iniquity, weeping and making supplication to his offended Father: his Father listens to the language of his tears, he attends to the voice of his supplication, and replies, "Return, and I will heal." His name is Jehovah-Rophi, "the Lord that healeth ;" and, in proof of the all-sufficiency of his power and grace, he urges this remarkable inquiry; "Is there any thing too hard for me?" "I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou has 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." a broken-hearted penitent. "Is Ephraim my dear son? - For, since I spake against him, I do earnestly remem

Such is the language of And mark what follows: Is he a pleasant child?

ber him still; therefore my bowels are troubled for him: I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord *."

It is also implied in the text that God engages to counteract the effects of sin.-These effects are numerous and destructive. Sin not only dishonours God, and wounds the soul, but it creates a thick cloud of mental darkness: it is the fruitful source of trouble and unspeakable disquietude. Hence the

prophet asks, "Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God?" And he affirms, "Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know, therefore, and see, that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God t." Yes, sin brings its own punishment along with it; gall and wormwood are the ingredients of its cup. But when the Lord promises to heal backslidings, he engages to extract this bitterness, to avert this punishment. If he correct, it shall be in measure; and if he frown, it shall be in covenant love, mercy, and truth.

You observe, the promise here is not indiscriminately given; it is to the sinner that returns to God: "Return, and I will heal your backslidings."—He does this by an act of sovereign favour: "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the scat." He thus heals, by producing

* Jer. xxxi. 18-20. ↑ Jer. ii. 17-19.

Mic. vii. 18, 19