eadfast in his covenant; but he, 'being full of
compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not.' Many a
time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. They
forgot God their Saviour, who had done great things for them; they
transgressed his commandment, and in their heart turned back again to
Egypt; they brought upon themselves many afflictions, and many times
did he deliver them; they provoked him with their counsel, and were
brought low for their iniquity; nevertheless, he heard their cry, and
repented according to the multitude of his mercies; while the blood of
bulls and of goats typified the great propitiatory sacrifice, by which
'God can be just and justify the ungodly.' By this name was the Lord
God, merciful and gracious, known in the pleasant land; and by the
same sacrifice, the blood of Christ, which cleanseth from all sin, was
typified. Psalms 103, 51.

"The prophets prophesied in his name. 'All we, like sheep, have
gone astray, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He
was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities;
the chastisement of our peace was laid on him, and by his stripes we
are healed.' 'Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a
ransom.' Even backsliders, among whom I stand chief, have been
recalled. 'My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me
the fountain of living waters, and have hewn out to themselves
cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. Is Israel a
servant; is he a home-born slave; wherefore is he spoiled? Hast thou
not procured this to thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy
God, when he led thee by the way? And now what hast thou to do in the
way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in
the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river? Thine own
wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove
thee. Know therefore, and see that it is an evil and bitter thing,
that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in
thee, saith the Lord God of hosts. For of old I have broken thy yoke,
and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon
every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the
harlot. Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how
art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?
Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou a