The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

24 SERMONS.To confer together, was therefore the habitual cuftomof thofe ferious perfons mentioned in the text," Then they that feared the Lord, fpake often one toanother :" Then, when the Jewifh church was ex-They had lately been deliveredceedingly corrupted :from a tedious captivity, but they foon tranfgrefledthe commandments, and defpifed the ordinance oftheir Deliverer. Their words " were (hout againftthe Lord :" They faid, " it is vain to ferve God,and what profit is it, that wx have kept his ordinance,and that we have walked mournfully beforethe Lord of hofls ?" They called the proud happyyea '* they that worked wickednefs were fet up," advancedto worldly honour and riches ;yea " theythat tempted God" by heinous fins were delivered,delivered from the punifhment which their crimes deferved:for even then, the judges were partial in theirdecifions, and " caufed many to ftumble at the law;"and therefore God threatens " to come near to themto judgment *, and I will be a fwift witnefs againftthe forcerers, and againft the adulterers, and againftfalfe fwearers, and againft thofe that defraud the hirelingin his wages, and that opprefs the widow andthe fatherlefs, and that turn afide the ftranger fromhis right, and fear not me, faith the Lord of hofts.'*Such was the profanenefs, the profligacy, and iniquityof the Jews, in that corrupted age ; but there wasftill a number who feared the Lord; that is, who werefmcerely religious, M'ho were influenced by the authorityof God, and ftudied to do his will : It is notto be doubted, that thefe would be at all poflible panisto reclaim the impious, the debauched, and unjuft,among whom they lived j but they were efpeciallycareful to fortify their own minds under the hardfhipsthey fuffered ; to confirm one another in religion andgoodnefs j to ftrengthen tlieir refolution againft thedangerous infe^lionof vice*, to have their underftandingsfurther improved in knowledge, and their hearts