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.
When a man has done all that lies in his power to make peace, when he has even suffered what he ought not to have suffered in order to produce peace with one who has offended him, suppose that after that he comes to the offender, and he says, "Let us be friends," and the person turns on his heel, and says, "I have too much to do to attend to you," or suppose that he says, "I do not want any of your peace; it is nothing to me, I have other things to think of;" and suppose that this generous-hearted one should say, "But incline your ear, and come to me; hear what I have to say; come now, and let us reason together;" and suppose that the man says, "I want none of your reasoning, I care nothing about all this talk, I do not believe it; it is all an idle tale, and I want to hear nothing of it;" and suppose that this generous person should follow him, and entreat him, persuade him, implore him, plead with him, and still use a thousand arguments of lovingkindness with him. "Ah!" say you, "that is not like man. "No, it is not; but he who deals in mercy with you is "God, and not man," and therefore he importunes you who have long resisted him, and begs you even now to listen to him, and even now to turn unto him. Listen to his own words, "Turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" These are the pleadings of God himself with men who have sinned against him. If you pleaded for mercy at God's feet, and were importunate with him, that would seem natural enough; but for God to plead with you, and to beseech you to accept his mercy, is supernatural and divine.  IX. Yet again, remember that MEN WOULD NOT RESTORE AN OFFENDER WITHOUT A SEASON OF PROBATION. 