chapter vii

. 4.)

15. Thus it was that they hardened themselves in their wickedness. _They are impudent children_, saith God, _and stiff-hearted_, (Ezekiel ii. 4.) _Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush_, (Jeremiah iv. 15.) _I have spread out my hand all the day to a rebellious people, that provoketh me to anger continually to my face_, (Isaiah lxv. 2, 3.) _They will not hearken unto me, saith the Lord, for all the house of_ Israel _are impudent and hard-hearted_, (Ezekiel iii. 7.) _Since the day that their fathers came forth out of the land of_ Egypt _unto this day, I have sent unto them all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck; they did worse than their fathers_, (Jeremiah vi. 25, 26.)

They were equally hardened against mercies and judgments. When he _gave them rain, both the former and the latter in his season_; when _he reserved unto them the appointed weeks of the harvest_, filling their hearts with food and gladness, still none of this _revolting and rebellious people said, Let us now fear the Lord our God_, (Jeremiah v. 23, 24.) Nor yet did _they turn unto him_ when _he smote them_, ( chapter ix . 9, 13.) _In that day did the Lord call to weeping and to mourning: and behold joy and gladness, eating flesh and drinking wine; let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die_, (