Ezekiel 20:4-7

The Lord seems to appeal to the Prophet for his judgment to decide the equity of the Lord's cause; and, in order to enable the Prophet so to do, the Lord enters upon their history, from the servitude of Israel in Egypt, from the first moment of the Lord's forming them into a Church, when He promised them Canaan. There is great beauty in the expression of the Lord's espying Canaan. The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof. But espying Canaan as the glory of all lands, means, that there the Lord would make known His more especial presence, and there fix His sanctuary among them. I pray the Reader to observe and take notice with me, of the several parts of the divine mercy. The very choice of Israel, and forming them into a Church as His people, resulted from His own free sovereign mercy. Deuteronomy 7:7. And the manifestation which the

Lord made of himself to Israel was altogether originating in His own mind, no merit of theirs moving him to it. His entering into covenant with them, and the assurance He gave of His favor, all these were so many evidences of the divine mercy, and wholly to be referred into His own sovereign will and pleasure. Malachi 1:2; Romans 9:15.