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_, (chapter xxii. 11, 12.) Although _he consumed them, yet they refused to receive instruction; they made their faces harder than a rock――None repented him, but every one turned to his course, as a horse rusheth into the battle_, (Jeremiah v. 3. chapter viii. 6.) _I have given you want of bread in all your places, yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord. I have also with-holden the rain from you when there were yet three months unto the harvest――I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: your gardens and your vineyards, the palmer worm devoured.――I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of_ Egypt; _your young men have I slain with the sword――I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew_ Sodom _and_ Gomorrah, _and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning; yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord_, (Amos iv. 6‒11.) 16. In consequence of their resolution not to return, they would not endure sound doctrine, or those that spake it. They _said to the seers, see not, and to the prophets, prophesy not unto us right things――Speak unto us smooth things――Cause the Holy One of_ Israel _to cease from before us_, (Isaiah xxx. 10, 11.) But _they hated him that rebuked in the gate, and they abhorred him that spake uprightly_, (Amos v. 10.) Accordingly, _thy people_, (saith God to _Ezekiel_) _still are talking against thee, by the walls, and in the doors of the houses_, (chapter xxxiii. 30.) _And_ Amaziah _the priest sent to_ ♦Jeroboam, _king of_ Israel, _saying_, Amos _hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of_ Israel; _the land is not able to bear all his words. Also_ Amaziah _said unto_ Amos, _Go flee thee away into the land of_ Judah, _and prophesy there. But prophesy not again any more at_ Bethel, _for it is the king’s chappel, and it is the king’s court_, (chapter vii. 10, 12, 13.) From the same spirit it was that they said of _Jeremiah_, _Come and let us devise devices against him――Come and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words_, (chapter xviii. 18.) Hence it was that he was constrained to cry out, _O Lord, I am in derision daily; every one mocketh me. Since I spake, the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision daily: For I heard the defaming of many, Fear on every side: Report, say they,