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Hard, O Lord, are not thine eyes, upon the truth! Thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his Spirit by the former prophets; therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts. Jer. 5. 3. Zech. 7. 12.

And Stony. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Ez. 36. 26.

It is full of Vanity and Iniquity,―—And if he come to see me he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad he telleth it. Ps. 41 6.

Of Pride,-The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after GoD: GoD is not in all his thoughts. Ps. 10. 4.

of Covetousness,-Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin: beguiling unstable souls an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children. 2 Pet. 2. 14.

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Of Mischief,-Which imagine mischief in their beart; continually are they gathered together for war. Ps. 140. 2.

Of Deceit,-Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour : with flattering lips, and with a double heart do they speak. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things. Prov. 12. 20. Ps. 12. 2, 3.

Of Evil and Madness.-This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one

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event unto all yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. Eccl. 9:3.

REFLECTIONS.

From this Scriptural view of the UNRENEWED HEART, it appears, exactly FITTED,-justly DESERVING, and certainly EXPOSED, to endure "indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish," in time and to ETERNITY. No wonder that unrenewed persons are deeply distressed when their HEARTS are shewn them by the Holy Spirit. The efficacy of Christ's BLOOD,-divine POWER,-and FREE GRACE, are supereminently displayed when sinners hearts are RENEW

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NOTE. F.

Let those who have been SPIRITUALLY ENLIGHTENED, remember their increased obligations, and be careful to walk worthy of their high vocation.

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Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day we are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praise of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of GOD which had not obtained mercy, but now have

obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers, and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Ye are the salt of the earth : but if the salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted: it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 1 Thes. 5. 5-10. 1 Pet. 2. 9-12. Mat. 5. 13-16. Rom. 13. 11-14. 1 Pet. 1. 18-23.

NOTE G.

The AUTHOR and means, nature and fruits, of EVANGELICAL REPENTANCE briefly stated.

JEHOVAH, Father-In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if GOD peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. 2 Tim. 2. 25.

Son,-Him hath GoD exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Acts 5. 31.

And Spirit, For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live. Rom. 8. 13.

Giveth repentance by the means of his word writ ten,-The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise

the simple. And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead. Ps. 19. 7. Luke 16. 31.

And dispensed-And many of the children of Israel, shall he turn to the Lord thy God. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto GoD, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Lnke 1. 16. Acts 26. 18.

Self examination,-Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Lam. 3. 40.

Conviction of sin-What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Is. rael, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house. 1 Kings 8. 38.

Self Loathing,-And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed. Ez. 20. 43.

Sincere confession,-And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Lev. 13. 45. Is. 64. 6.

Fervent Petition,-And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, Goo be merci. ful to me a sinner. Luke 18. 13.

Turning to God, And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be my people, and I will be their Gon; for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. Jer. 24. 7.

In heart,-I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee. Set thee up way marks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest; turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities. Luke 15. 18. Jer. 31. 21.

And in life, united, constitute genuine repentance. I entreated thy favour with my whole heart; be merciful unto me according to thy word. I thought on my ways and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandPs. 119. 58-60.

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NOTE H.

A brief statement of the Author, the means, the nature, the evidences and the privileges of genuine FAITH.

We are required to have strong,-He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to GOD. Rom. 4. 20.

Steadfast,-Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 1 Cor. 16. 13.

Persevering,--For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joining and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him. Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Col. 2.5-7.

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