1 Samuel 1

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. I.—A divided family is most unhappy: and they bring upon themselves redoubled trouble and vexation who dare transgress God’s institution of marriage in order to obtain redoubled pleasures. Rarely do we behave aright under either remarkable prosperity or remarkable adversity: under the former the heart swells with pride; under the latter it sinks and rends with discontent and murmuring. The fretfulness of our temper often lays us open to continual unrasiness; and the unthankfulness of our heart doubles our affliction by overlooking our mercies. But sinful and hurtful is that grief which diverts us from our duty to God, and imbitters the comfort which we have in him. Our most deserved crosses are abundantly mixed with undeserved mercies; and religion and reason will afford us a cure. Distress ought to make us double our diligence in attending on the ordinances of God. Fervent prayers and solemn vows are often means of relief to broken spirits; yea, it is peculiarly becoming, under sore trials, and amidst general apostasy and profaneness, to be punctual and earnest attenders on the ordinances of God. But base and devilish must that spirit be which can take pleasure to vex the distressed in mind, even when they are attending upon God’s solemn worship. It is more becoming to balance others abuse with our tender affection, and do all that we can to comfort those who are cast down. For peculiarly afflicting is it to perplexed souls to have the godly, and even ministers, misinterpreting their wrestlings with God as hypocrisy and wickedness. Yet, however distressing, injurious reproach should always be answered with the greatest candour and meekness. And men, convinced of their mistake, should turn their sinful censures into fervent prayers for the persons injured. Devotions towards God ought to be preferred to every convenience of our own. Early and earnest devotions are the best presages of happy days and successful undertakings; and nothing but works of necessity and mercy ought to detain us from the solemn worship of God. With the most distinguished expressions of gratitude ought we to commemorate the mercies which we have received in answer to our prayers. Children ought to be carefully trained up, not merely with an eye to the law of nature, as they are ours, but chiefly with an eye to the covenant of grace, as they are given to God. And with great care and expedition ought we to perform our vows, particularly in the solemn surrender of our children to God