Sound Repentance the Right Way to Escape Deserved Ruin

Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my Soul depart from thee, lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

WHoso shall view over and attentively consider the whole trace and series of Gods dealing with, and dispensations towards his Covenant People (however as to them they have somtimes issued very dreadfully) will find them giving in clear and abundant testimony to the Truth of that of the Psalmist, Psal. 145. 8. The Lord is Gracious, and full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great mercy. Among many other passages in the sacred story to this purpose (purposely kept upon the File for the use of the Church in all Ages, and for ours upon whom the ends of the world are come) (he whose compassions have been ever of old, using the same tenor of tender dispensations towards his People now as then) the Text now read, as also what we find in the foregoing Chapters, make this very evident, and apparent. You may see in the first Chapter Gods calling, instructing, and encouraging the Prophet, as to his Office and Work, or as to his Office-work, he being one of those Messengers of whom you have mention made, 2 Chron. 36. 15. That the Lord God of their Fathers sent unto them, rising up betimes, and sending, because he had compassion on his People, and on his dwelling Place. You may see in the second Chapter Gods earnest and affectionate p. 2expostulation with his People by him, as to his antient love and kindness to them, and their notwithstanding causeless Revolt and Apostacy from him: Go cry in the ears of Jerusalem, &c. Vers. 2. &c. God Rings such a peal in Jerusalems ears by the Prophet throughout the Chapter upon this account, as one would have thought, should have reached, and pierced, should have thirl'd and thaw'd their very hearts; you may see in the third Chapter, God inviting and perswading them to Repent and turn to him with Promises of gracious acceptation, vers. 1. 12. Also pleading with them his Covenant-relation, and merciful propention towards them, vers. 14. &c. You may see in the 4. Chapter, God adding further to his former Promises, Promises to Promises, vers. 1, 2. and threatnings to his Promises, as in the sequel of that Chapter, if by any means, fair or foul he might induce or necessitate, draw or drive them to Repentance: You may yet see in the fifth Chapter, Gods lothness to proceed against them to destroy them; his exceeding readiness, his desirousness of pardon and spare them: Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem▪ and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof if ye can find a man, if there be any, that executeth Judgment, that seeketh the truth, and I ◊ill pardon it, vers. 1. God speaks as one agrieved to punish them, as one ready to pardon them upon low termes; and earnestly looking about if haply he might find something why he might do it: In this 6. Chapter, while yet there is any hope we have God still pursuing the matter with them, laying close siege unto them, putting home his threatnings, lowdly alarming them with his Judgments, plainly warning them of the worst that was to be expected, and unavoidably coming upon them, if not prevented solemnly, and earnestly admonishing them to bethink themselves, be advised that it might not come to that. This is in general the sense & intendment of the Text and Context, but to take a little more particularly view of it we have here:

p. 21. In the beginning of this Chapter an exceeding lively, sensible, starting and awakening representation made of the siege p. 3and sack of Jerusalem, the miserable destruction by the Babylonians, impending them, O ye Children of Benjamin gather your selves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem; he bids them flee out of Jerusalem to escape the danger, or rather the sense of it seems to be that they should gather themselves to go out of the City to make good their fronteers, and stand upon their defence against the enemy; as it is said of the Moabites, that when they heard the Kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on Armour and stood in their borders, 2 King. 3. 21. Blow the Trumpet in Tekoa, that is give the alarm, which as now commonly by the beating of the Drum, was then done by the blowing of the Trumpet, Ezek. 7. 14. And set up a sign of fire in Beth-haccorem, as is wont to be done at this day to give notice of any sudden invasion, for evil appeareth out of the north and great destruction. Under all these terms, rallying of Men, sounding of Trumpets, firing of Beacons, Military usages, in such cases the Prophet notably sets forth what a dreadful alarum the Nothern Army should give them. The state of Jerusalem thus invaded, is expressed, vers. 2. I have likened the daughter of Sion to a comely and delicate▪ Woman; as in respect of Gods benign and gentle dealing with her, so in respect of her abuse of Divine goodness, and indulgence to Pride, Luxury, Wantonness, &c. The Shepherds with their Flocks shall come unto her, they shall pitch their tents against her,, round about they shall seed every one in his place; the words either plainly shew Jerusalems utter destruction, she should be so destroyed, that sheep should seed in her, jam seges est ubi Troia fuit, or under the similitude of the Shepherds, and their Flocks pitching their tents against her, round about the Caldeans with their Armies, the Captains with their Companies which should begirt them round, and besiege and hem them in on every side is set forth and expressed: It followeth, prepare War against her, arise and let us go up at noon; Wo unto us for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out, arise and let us go up by night, and let us destroy her Palaces, wherein is to the life described the zeal and spirit p. 4of the enemy to the work their restless industry at it day and night, and their very impatiency with themselves that they had not effected it; all tending to set forth the woful destruction that their enemies should work them.