Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc18/v20200

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 4KB | 67 lines

20200
 #5-15 The sacrifice, especially the evening sacrifice, was a
 type of the blessed Lamb of God, who in the evening of the
 world, was to take away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Ezra's
 address is a penitent confession of sin, the sin of his people.
 But let this be the comfort of true penitents, that though their
 sins reach to the heavens, God's mercy is in the heavens. Ezra,
 speaking of sin, speaks as one much ashamed. Holy shame is as
 necessary in true repentance as holy sorrow. Ezra speaks as much
 amazed. The discoveries of guilt cause amazement; the more we
 think of sin, the worse it looks. Say, God be merciful to me a
 sinner. Ezra speaks as one much afraid. There is not a surer or
 sadder presage of ruin, than turning to sin, after great
 judgments, and great deliverances. Every one in the church of
 God, has to wonder that he has not wearied out the Lord's
 patience, and brought destruction upon himself. What then must
 be the case of the ungodly? But though the true penitent has
 nothing to plead in his own behalf, the heavenly Advocate pleads
 most powerfully for him.
20211
 * Ezra encourages to reformation. (1-5) He assembles the people.
 (6-14) Reformation effected. (15-44)

 #1-5 Shechaniah owned the national guilt. The case is sad, but
 it is not desperate; the disease threatening, but not incurable.
 Now that the people begin to lament, a spirit of repentance
 seems to be poured out; now there is hope that God will forgive,
 and have mercy. The sin that rightly troubles us, shall not ruin
 us. In melancholy times we must observe what makes for us, as
 well as against us. And there may be good hopes through grace,
 even where there is the sense of great guilt before God. The
 case is plain; what has been done amiss, must be undone again as
 far as possible; nothing less than this is true repentance. Sin
 must be put away, with a resolution never to have any thing more
 to do with it. What has been unjustly got, must be restored.
 Arise, be of good courage. Weeping, in this case, is good, but
 reforming is better. As to being unequally yoked with
 unbelievers, such marriages, it is certain, are sinful, and
 ought not to be made; but now they are not null, as they were
 before the gospel did away the separation between Jews and
 Gentiles.

20216
 #6-14 There is hope concerning people, when they are convinced,
 not only that it is good to part with their sins, but that it is
 necessary; we must do it, or we are undone. So rich is the
 mercy, and so plenteous the redemption of God, that there is
 hope for the vilest who hear the gospel, and are willing to
 accept of free salvation. When sinners mourn for their sins, and
 tremble at the word of God, there is hope that they will forsake
 them. To affect others with godly sorrow or love to God, we must
 ourselves be affected. It was carefully agreed how this affair
 should be carried on. That which is hastily resolved on seldom
 proves lasting.

20225
 #15-44 The best reformers can but do their endeavour; when the
 Redeemer himself shall come to Zion, he shall effectually turn
 away ungodliness from Jacob. And when sin is repented of and
 forsaken, God will forgive it; but the blood of Christ, our
 Sin-offering, is the only atonement which takes away our guilt.
 No seeming repentance or amendment will benefit those who reject
 Him, for self-dependence proves them still unhumbled. All the
 names written in the book of life, are those of penitent
 sinners, not of self-righteous persons, who think they have no
 need of repentance.