Isaiah 65:7
Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom. Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.
The chapter containing the verse places its promise of animals living peaceably together in the new earth, not in the present mortal world. The iniquities of people together with the iniquities of their fathers are written before the Lord and kept in a record for judgment. That record preserves secret purposes and motives in an unerring register until God brings the hidden things of darkness to light and reveals the counsels of the hearts.
Every person's work passes in review and is registered for faithfulness or unfaithfulness with terrible exactness opposite each name. The entry includes every wrong word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin with artful dissembling. It includes neglected heaven-sent warnings and reproofs, wasted moments, unimproved opportunities, and influence exerted for good or for evil with its far-reaching results, all chronicled by the recording angel.
Applied to failure to seek the lost sheep, those who neglected that duty bore guilt for it and had to see and acknowledge their wrong before George Lay could be reached. The chapter speaks in a most decided manner to God's people, especially those in high positions carrying great responsibilities who have disregarded reproof, calling them to stop complaining and evil working, to put away the evil of their works, and to come nigh, repent and be converted, because their ways are not accepted of God. When those words are taken and obeyed, the Lord will appear for the conviction and conversion of souls, and a reformation will go through the congregation of Israel.