Base Conduct and the Declaration of Love

But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob: but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.—Isaiah 43:22.

"God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew."— Romans 11:2. Zealous professors may become shameful apostates. God's own children may awfully backslide from him, and sadly decline in their love to him and service of him. Such a conduct is most base to the best of beings, most ungrateful to the most loving Lord and Saviour, most wounding to sensible, gracious hearts: but such wandering sheep shall hear the faithful shepherd's voice, and shall return with weeping and supplications. Slighted mercies, forfeited privileges, neglected means of grace, indifference to the cause of Jesus, and growing weary of the Saviour's ways and service, bear sad witness against the soul.

A little self-examination will discover that such a one hath found other lovers; with them he is delighted, and after them he hath gone. If the life of sense prevails against the life of faith, the lusts of the flesh are preferred to spiritual delights; carnal, worldly company is more relished than the communion of the saints; fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness is more attended to, than fellowship with Jesus: if the private duties of the closet, the public ordinances of God's house are forsaken: if to all this there is an indifference and unconcern of soul, can the solemn charge of our Lord be heard, "Thou hast been weary of me," without pleading guilty? Be astonished, O heavens, at this! Weary IN serving the Lord may be the Christian's experience through infirmity; but to be weary of the Lord himself, the Lord of every perfection, the God of all mercies, the Father of all consolation, the only Saviour of our souls, our only hope in time, our all in eternity; to be weary of, to grow shy to such a being, O what shall one say! truly, love is patient and prayer powerful; but for the love of the Father, and the intercession of Jesus, such a soul might, ere this, have reaped his deserts in torments, and been weary of his punishment in hell. But O, after such base conduct, hear the declaration of LOVE—"I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions, for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." verse 25. Therefore there is hope, grace reigns, grace abounds, mercy is free, proclamation is made. "Return, (such a temper must be changed, or death cannot be hopeful, nor eternity desirable), return to the Lord THY God, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity." Hosea 14:1.

Where should my foolish passions rove!
Where can such sweetness be
As I have tasted in Thy love,
As I have found in Thee!

Wretch that I am, to wander thus
In chase of false delights!
Let me be fasten'd to Thy cross,
Rather than lose Thy sight.

Make haste my days to reach the goal
And bring my heart to rest
On the dear centre of my soul,
My God, my Saviour's breast.

William Mason, A Spiritual Treasury for the Children of God, Volume 1, April 28