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I. IT IS MATTER OF JUST COMPLAINT AND REPROACH FOR ANY PEOPLE OR PERSON NOT TO HEARKEN TO THE VOICE OF GOD.

1. What it is not to hearken to the voice of God (Jeremiah 7:23, 28).

(1) His instructing and informing voice. That which discovers the nature of God, and our duty.

(2) His commanding voice, unto the authority whereof we all owe utmost obedience and subjection.

2. How this appears to be such just matter of complaint from God, and reproach unto us, who are guilty of it.

(1) Whose voice it is you refuse to hearken to (Hebrews 1:2).

(2) What kind of voice it is. How gentle, obliging, beneficent, condescending.

(3) Who they are that are said to refuse to hearken to the voice of God. "My people Israel." Christians succeed in their privileges, not only as domestic servants, but as children, visibly related to God, as our Father by the covenant of baptism. And shall not children receive the instruction of a parent?

II. FOR WILFUL SINNERS TO BE GIVEN UP TO THEIR, OWN HEARTS' LUSTS, AND TO BE LEFT OF GOD TO WALK IN THEIR OWN COUNSELS, IS ONE OF THE MOST TREMENDOUS JUDGMENTS THAT CAN BE THREATENED OR INFLICTED IN THIS WORLD.

1. What it is for God to give up any to their own hearts' lusts.

(1) Such persons are cast out of God's special protection and care, and so are exposed to wander and go astray, and so are more easily assaulted and overcome by the devil, who seeketh whom he may destroy.

(2) They are left of God under the dominion and power and tyranny of their own lusts.

2. The severity and terror of this judgment (Proverbs 1:23; Hebrews 10:26; Luke 19:41, 42).

(1) Take heed not to pass a definitive sentence against yourselves concerning the state of your own souls as to this judgment.

(2) Apprehend the danger of approaching to it if you are under any ill symptoms of that kind, and beware of those things that have a tendency to so sad a doom.

(3) Diligently improve the means you are yet under by the warnings of the Word, convictions of conscience, and the motions of the Divine Spirit, that you may effectually prevent it. That as it is not your case for the present it never may be so.

3. By what steps or degrees God doth usually proceed in inflicting such a judgment as this.

(1) When God forbears to afflict, and to restrain men from sin, by the rod of correction and the rebukes of His providence; or doth not sanctify such rebukes for their reformation.

(2) By taking away the external means of knowledge and grace, or otherwise disposing of persons so as they cannot enjoy such seasons (Acts 19:9).

(3) God is said to pour upon men a spirit of slumber and deep sleep, to suffer them to harden their hearts, and stupefy their own consciences the more by everything they enjoy; so that though the external means be continued, yet none of the Divine messages will be received, nor the most useful ministry do them any good: nor the providential goodness of God lead them to repentance. Inferences: —

1. How much to be pitied is the ignorance and folly of sinners that are afraid of any other calamity more than this.

2. How unreasonable is the displeasure and anger of men at the sharpest methods of Divine grace that would bring them to repentance.

3. How wretched and dangerous is their mistake who think their case good because their consciences now trouble them no more.

(John Shower.)

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KJV: But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

WEB: But my people didn't listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me.