dread of God's judgments clothed themselves in sack-cloth, and cried mightily to God, it is said; that, "God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil that he had said that he would do unto them, and he did it not."[1] But what does the Lord say to his people when they had given up themselves to unrighteousness, and still offered to Him a formal worship. "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations: incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with: it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. And when ye spread forth your hands I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers I will not hear;" and the reason he assigns is: "your hands are full of blood." Hence the exhortation;
12
- ↑ Jonah iii., 10.
