And are not these multiplied upon our land at this time? Surely the displeasure of God can scarcely ever be more strongly displayed, than it is in the calamities under which we now groan b.]

But that none may yield to desponding fears we shall point out,

II. How it is to be averted

Repentance towards God and faith in Christ are the means prescribed by God. But it is not a slight and superficial use of these means that will suffice; we should solemnly devote ourselves to God in a perpetual covenant—

[Not that we should attempt to renew the covenant of works. That would make void the Gospel, and seal our eternal condemnation. Nor should we think to add any thing to the covenant of grace. That was once made with Christ, and is ordered in all things and sure. But we should patiently and deliberately renounce all our former ways. We should seriously give up ourselves to God as his redeemed people; and entreat him to perfect us in any way which he shall see fit.]

Such covenants as these have often been made by the most eminent saints

[Under the Old-Testament dispensation they were judged acceptable to God. Omitting many other instances, we may notice the solemn covenant of Asa1. We may notice also that which was entered into by Josiah m. Isaiah and Jeremiah speak of the making of such covenants as characteristic of the gospel times". St. Paul highly commends the conduct of the Macedonians on account of their having thus given themselves up to God; and recommends a similar practice to all Christians of every age and nation P.]

Nor can we doubt of their acceptableness to God

[Hezekiah manifestly supposed that God would accept him in this duty. It was recommended to Ezra in circumstances where there was but little hope remaining. And God himself expressly enjoined it as the means of averting his displeasure: not that we are to suppose that there is any thing

h Of course, these strong expressions must be modified according to circumstances.

meritorious in such an act; but it tends, of itself, to the humiliation and confirmation of our souls, and will be both accepted and remembered by our covenant God and Fathert.] These means being at once so scriptural and so important, let me now in CONCLUSION urge upon you the adoption of them

We admire the tender and affectionate address of Hezekiah to the priests. And with similar concern would we now invite you to the performance of your duty. "Let this now be in all your hearts:" for,

1. There is no time for delay

[Many are "negligent" at present in expectation of a more convenient season; but who can assure himself that he shall be alive on the morrow"? or that, if he be, he shall have an inclination to that from which he is now averse? or that God will grant him the aids of his Spirit, which are now contemned? The voice of God to every one is, Seek me to-day, while it is called to-day. With respect to the nation, who can tell how soon the cloud that hangs over us may burst, and overwhelm us utterly? Let us follow the example of the repenting Ninevites. If "it be in our hearts to make a covenant," let it instantly be done. Let me address all of you as a father, and entreat all of you as 66 my sons and daughters to "neglect your duty no longer;" but "now" while we are yet speaking, to surrender up yourselves to God with full purpose of heart.]

2. If we neglect this duty, we cannot hope to escape the wrath of God

[Sodom was destroyed, because they laughed at God's threatenings as idle tales: and the strongest empires, in succession, have fallen a sacrifice to their sins. Who then shall protect us, if we continue to provoke the Majesty of heaven? But, whatever be the fate of the nation, we must all appear at the judgment-seat of Christ: and there none will be acknowledged as his people, who have not voluntarily taken him for their Lord and Saviour. If then ye have any regard for your eternal welfare, neglect him no longer; but, in the penitent language of the prophet, devote yourselves to his service".]

3. If we heartily engage in this duty, we have nothing to fear—

[Were such a covenant general through the nation, God

t Deut. xxix. 12, 13. y Jonah iii. 5-9.

x Heb. iii. 13, 15.

u Jam. iv. 14.

z Ps. cxix. 60.

a Isai. xxvi. 13.

would soon remove his judgments. But whatever come upon the land, God's faithful people shall be objects of his favour. Though they may be involved in the general calamities, they shall be comforted with the divine presence". They need not therefore be agitated with fear on account of God's displeasure in this world; nor have they any thing to dread in the eternal world. Let us then enter into this matter with our whole hearts, and pray day and night for grace to perform our vows. Unfaithfulness to our engagements will incense God still more against us, and provoke him to inflict yet heavier judgments upon us. It were even better never to have vowed, than to vow and not pay. He however, who puts it into our heart to make, can enable us to keep, our covenant. Let us then engage simply in dependence on the divine strength; but found all our hopes of acceptance on that better and unchangeable covenant, which Christ has entered into on our behalf.]

b Ps. xxxiv. 18, 19. c Mal. iii. 17. e Eccl. v. 5. 2 Pet. ii. 21.

d Jer. xxxiv. 18-20. f Jude, ver. 24.

CCCCXXII.

RESTORATION OF THE TEMPLE WORSHIP BY HEZEKIAH.

2 Chron. xxix. 20-29. Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord. And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he-goats, for a sin-offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the Lord. So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar; they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar. And they brought forth the he-goats for the sin-offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them: and the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt-offering and the sinoffering should be made for all Israel. And he set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets. And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. And Hezekiah commanded to offer the

burnt-offering upon the altar. And when the burnt-offering began, the song of the Lord began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel. And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt-offering was finished. And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.

AMONGST the most eminent of the kings of Judah was Hezekiah. Of several indeed is it said, that they did that which was right in the sight of the Lord; but it was a high commendation of Hezekiah, that he did so "according to all that David his father had done." He came to the throne under the greatest disadvantages. His father had exceeded in wickedness all the kings that had been before him; and had caused all public acknowledgment of Jehovah to cease from the land. Under such circumstances it might have been supposed that Hezekiah, at the age of twenty-five, would have been infected with the prevailing impieties of his father's court, or, at all events, that he would not have dared to stem the torrent of iniquity that had borne down all before it: but no sooner was he placed upon his father's throne, than, even in the first year, and the very first month of his reign, he ordered the temple to be opened, and all the defilements that were in it to be removed, and the worship of the Most High God to be restored. Though there was not that alacrity amongst the priests that might have been expected, the work was soon executed, and in sixteen days the temple, with all its vessels, was prepared and sanctified for the service of God. The very next day, Hezekiah, having his heart set upon the blessed work, early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord." The service which they performed on this occasion is related in the words which we have read: and it will serve as an excellent pattern for us on this occasion".

" rose

a On the re-opening of a Church after it had been shut up for repair, in 1802.

There are three things in particular to which we would call your attention:

I. Their numerous sacrifices

[For the sin of a priest or of the whole congregation one bullock only was prescribed to be offered by the law: but the impieties of the nation having exceeded all bounds, and been of long continuance, Hezekiah judged that seven bullocks, and an equal number of rams, and lambs, and he-goats, should be sacrificed as a sin-offering to the Lord: and of all of them in succession it is particularly recorded, that "their blood was sprinkled on the altar." When the he-goats were offered, it is further noticed, that "the king and the congregation (by their representatives) laid their hands upon them. Such was the way in which " an atonement was offered, and reconciliation made for all Israel.”

And who does not here see the gospel method of reconciliation with God through the great Sacrifice which was once offered on Mount Calvary? This it was which the sacrifices under the Law shadowed forth; and this it is which opens a way for our restoration to the divine favour. "We are reconciled to God through the blood of the cross." By this one offering there is a new and living way consecrated for us through the veil; and by it sinners of every description may draw nigh to God with full assurance of faith.

But here let me particularly call your attention to those two points, the sprinkling the blood upon the altar, and the laying of their hands upon the victims. Never must we draw nigh to God on any occasion without adverting to these significant emblems, or rather without realizing that which was here figuratively proclaimed. We must sprinkle the altar of our God with the Redeemer's blood: we must actually bear in mind, and expressly declare before God, that all our hope of acceptance with him is through the atoning blood of Christ. That sentiment must be so fixed in the mind, and rooted in the heart, as never to be lost sight of for one moment. The repetition in our text shews us what must be continually repeated by us in every approach of our souls to God. As "without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins," so without an express affiance in that blood as the only ground of our hopes there can be no application of that remission to our souls O that this might be duly borne in mind by every one of us! But we must also with deep penitential sorrow transfer our sins to the sacred head of Jesus. "On him were the iniquities of all laid by God himself;" and we also must lay our iniquities upon him in the exercise of humble faith. It is

b Lev. iv. 3, 14.