2 Chronicles 19

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XIX.—God often deals better with his people than they deserve; and brings them home in safety, when their apparently less endangered companions are sent into death and damnation! But they must expect if entering into friendship with the haters of God that it will expose them to manifold sufferings on earth, though not to hell. It is an honour when sufferings cannot discourage ministers or their children from faithfully reproving the greatest. And it is a great mercy for an offender to meet soon with a faithful reprover: and no less wise, to receive sharp reproofs as a singular kindness; and to improve them, and the just commendation mingled with them, in a speedy returning to the Lord, and an activity to his service. What a blessing to a nation is it to have proper courts of judicature every where established, and causes decided with the strictest impartiality! And great ability and integrity are necessary to qualify judges in either church or state, as they have to answer to God for all the crimes they connive at or overlook. Yes, it is needful to keep the affairs of church and state duly disengaged the one from the other. And to render judges upright in their administration, they ought to consider God as their pattern, witness, and rewarder; and his glory as the end of their work