I will not execute the fierceness of my anger. I will not return to destroy Ephraim: For I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of you; And I will not come in wrath.
I have always felt, in my own mind, that it was one of the clearest proofs that I had God's forgiveness of my many sins, when I was trusted to preach the gospel. I should think that, if a prodigal came back to his father, the old gentleman would kiss him, and receive him, and rejoice greatly over him; but the next Saturday, the market-day, the old gentleman would say, "I cannot send young William to market; that would be putting temptation in his way. Here, John, you have always been with me; go to market, and buy and sell for me, for all that I have is thine. William, you stay at home with me." He might not let him see all that he meant, but he would say to himself, "Dear boy, he is hardly fit for that great trust; I love him, but still I hardly dare trust him as much as that." But see what my Lord did with me; when I came home to him as a poor prodigal, he said, "Here is my gospel, I will entrust you with it; go and preach it." I bless his name that I have not preached anything else, and I do not mean to begin to do so.
