Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applied unto unconverted sinners, and saints…Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applyed unto unconverted sinners, and saints…

2. IN such a time the true Israel of God, the Elect themselves, are apt to be overtaken with the Sins of the whole, and so to Backslide from God, and so to fall into Spiritual Decays. So Israel had now done, though she had not absolutely broken Covenant with God; He was yet unto her The Lord thy God, yet she ⟨p. 70⟩had fallen by her Iniquity. Times of public Apostasy are often accompanied with partial defects in the best; Because Iniquity aboundeth, the love of many shall wax cold, Mat. 24. 12.

2. IN such a time the true Israel of God, the Elect themselves, are apt to be overtaken with the Sins of the whole, and so to Backslide from God, and so to fall into Spiritual Decays. So Israel had now done, though she had not absolutely broken Covenant with God; He was yet unto her The Lord thy God, yet she ⟨p. 70⟩had fallen by her Iniquity. Times of publick Apostacy are often accompanied with partial defects in the best; Because Iniquity aboundeth, the love of many shall wax cold, Mat. 24. 12.

3. WHEN God designs to heal the Backsliding of his People by Sovereign Grace, he gives them effectual Calls unto Repentance, and the use of means for their Healing: So he doth here by his Prophet, O Israel return, take with you words. And if I could see that God did stir up his Faithful Ministers to apply themselves in a peculiar manner, unto this Work of pressing vehemently all their Congregations with their Duty herein; and let them know, that there is no other way to prevent their Ruin, but by returning unto the Lord, according to the ways of it here prescribed; I should not doubt but that the time of Healing were at hand.

3. WHEN God designs to heal the Backsliding of his People by Soveraign Grace, he gives them effectual Calls unto Repentance, and the use of means for their Healing: So he doth here by his Prophet, O Israel return, take with you words. And if I could see that God did stir up his Faithful Ministers to apply themselves in a peculiar manner, unto this Work of pressing vehemently all their Congregations with their Duty herein; and let them know, that there is no other way to prevent their Ruine, but by returning unto the Lord, according to the ways of it here prescribed; I should not doubt but that the time of Healing were at hand.