lso shalt be
ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria. Have I been a
barren wilderness, or a land of darkness unto thee? Wherefore say my
people, We are lords, and will come no more to thee? Can a maid forget
her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me,
days without number.' Jeremiah 2. 'They say, If a man put away his
wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return
to her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? But thou hast
played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again unto me, saith
the Lord. Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me. My Father, thou
art the guide of my youth?' What can I say to such grace? Thou art
infinite in thy mercy to pardon, and in thy power to save. Such has
been my character, and such the amazing mercy of my offended God.
Often, often has he pardoned, restored, blessed, and made me happy.
But Oh, just is the renewed charge against me. 'For the house of
Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously with me,
saith the Lord. They have belied the Lord, and said, It is not he,
neither shall evil come upon us.' 'Go and proclaim these words, and
say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not
cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord,
I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that
thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God; and ye have not
obeyed my voice, saith the Lord. Turn, O backsliding children, for I
am married unto you.' Jer. 3. What, O what can I say to such grace?
Truly, thy ways are not as our ways, nor thy thoughts as our thoughts.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are thy ways higher
than our ways, and thy thoughts than our thoughts. Oh, how is my guilt
aggravated by all this grace; and yet thou callest, _Return;_ and
thou thyself turnest me. I do, O Lord God, merciful and gracious, I do
acknowledge my iniquity; every time I turn back my eyes upon my past
life my sins rise in magnitude, heightened by more enlarged views of
thy goodness. It is of the Lord's mercies that I am not consumed,
because his compassions fail not.

"A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplication
of the children of Israel, for they have perverted their ways, and
they have forgotten the Lord their God. Yes, thou hast, my gracious
God, granted repentance. Thine eye has seen the tears I have shed;
thou hast given me a co