FIFTHLY.—The tender mercy of God the Saviour appears as remarkable in their deliverance; in the remembrance of his covenant of old, with their fore-fathers; his good hand was seen in bringing them out of trouble, although they had brought these troubles on themselves—what a solemn, but gracious proof; “O! Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself! but in me is thine help.” And what encouragement does this give to poor backsliders to return to Jesus, their first husband; for although they have brought these troubles on themselves, yet Jesus is ready to deliver them! What a striking account does the pious Nehemiah give of the conduct of the Israelites, and the goodness of God to man—9th chap. 28th verse; “But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee, therefore thou leftest them in the hands of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them; yet when they cried unto thee thou heardest them from heaven; and many times thou didst deliver them, according to thy tender mercies.” SIXTHLY.—I remark again, that our God has ever manifested himself a God, hearing prayer: the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, and the Lord sent a prophet to them; and after reproving them, we have an account of a deliverer, raised up by the Lord himself. What encouragement does this give to us in all our trials, without and within, whether in body, soul, circumstances, family, or nation. God has even condescended to hear the cries of many who had no grace, yet, led by the light of nature to call on him in trouble; and will he turn a deaf ear to his saints in trouble? surely not. Believer, the remedy’s before thee—PRAY.