1 Samuel 4

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. IV.—Lesser judgments only exasperate hardened sinners against the Lord, instead of making them search their ways and return to him, while those, who are most destitute of the power of godliness, glory to, and trust to, their external forms and privileges.—Sinners are often perfectly secure when their destruction comes upon them as a whirlwind. And a good cause may fearfully suffer for the wickedness of those who espouse it. But, very justly, the first and sorest judgments light on the heads of wicked and unfaithful ministers; and quickly they, who refused to shed the tears of godly sorrow, are made to shriek under the strokes of judgment. How near the heart of exercised saints do the ark and church of God be! Yet God pursues his offending servants to the very brink of eternity, with awful frowns and fractured strokes; and, if they will be unfaithful, they must die without comfort. Pregnant women have need to be in readiness for death: for in an hour which they think not the Son of man may require their soul. But how great is the misery of a nation when the ordinances and presence of God, which are the glory thereof, are taken from it! Draw near, ye careless, ye indulgent parents, and tremble; behold in what ruin to your family and nation your conduct may have! •