2 Chronicles 15

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XV.—Let me observe that God grants peace and victory to his people to animate them to their duty; that none ever seek him in vain; but that the case of churches and nations is extremely bad when God forsakes them; and that the hurt which we or others have sustained by sin ought to deter us from it. God’s work must be done with unanimity, cheerfulness, and resolution; and we must draw as many as we can into it. He must be served with the first and best of what providence brings to our hand. And all our religious performances are to no purpose except they be hearty and sincere. Notwithstanding the high obligations of God’s law on our consciences to the whole of our duty, it is often necessary that we bind our souls to it by bonds, oaths, and covenants, with God, in order to fortify us against temptation, and engage us to holiness: or to renew those public covenants into which our father is entered themselves and us. Public covenanting with God is of great use in times of reformation; and ought always to be grounded on the covenant of grace and the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ; performed with much knowledge, faith, integrity, delight, and cheerfulness; and nothing engaged to in it but what is plainly warranted by God. It is both an honour and happiness for nations to be under such vows. And great care, faithfulness, and impartiality, ought to be exercised in extirpating idolatry, and in punishing obstinate idolaters for their treasonable rebellion against God, the King of kings. National piety procures national happiness; yet none experience the real pleasures of religion but such as are sincere and upright in it: to such, though they be not sinless, God’s service brings its own comfort and reward along with it. 4