with inclination and habit, must be the foundation of our cleansing
ourselves from filthiness of flesh and spirit. The call to repentance
needs the promise of pardon and divine help to purifying in order to
become a gospel. And the call to 'repentance toward God, and faith
toward our Lord Jesus Christ,' is what we all, who are 'laden with
iniquity,' and have forsaken the Lord, need, if ever we are to cease to
do evil and learn to do well.

As with one thunder-clap the prophecy closes, pealing forth the eternal
alternative set before every soul of man. Willing obedience to our
Father God secures all good, the full satisfaction of our else hungry
and ravenous desires. To refuse and rebel is to condemn ourselves to
destruction. And no man can avert that consequence, or break the
necessary connection between goodness and blessedness, 'for the mouth of
the Lord hath spoken it,' and what He speaks stands fast for ever and
ever.




THE STUPIDITY OF GODLESSNESS

'The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel
doth not know, My people doth not consider.'--ISAIAH i. 3.


This is primarily an indictment against Israel, but it touches us all.
'Doth not know' _i.e._ has no familiar acquaintance with; 'doth not
consider,' _i.e._ frivolously ignores, never meditates on.