2 Chronicles 24

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXIV.—It is a great advantage for young persons to be directed by those who are pious, prudent, and faithful. And the influence of education, the awe or example of friends, may often push those far into external appearances of religion who have no cordial regard to it: nay, in shews of devotion, empty hypocrites may outstrip real and noted saints. How many useful works in church and state would be utterly stopped, if God did not raise up a few active men to carry them forward! But it is an honour to do good in our time by promoting religion: and faithfulness is the great honour, and will be the lasting comfort, of such as are intrusted with public money, or employed in public business. The godly are often honourably interred with an appearance of distinguished respect and grief, and yet their example quickly disregarded. Pretended conversions, and hypocritical strictness, soon issue in fearful apostasy. Many conform to religion when it is fashionable, who are glad of an opportunity to throw off the restraint. What an unspeakable loss to a church or nation is the death of a pious or faithful counsellor! and what plague are complaisant and wicked flatterers! But in times of great degeneration God never wants some faithful witnesses, that they who hate to be reformed must be left without excuse: and great zeal for God is then needful, to oppose the torrent of ungodliness, and to render ministers duly faithful to souls: for ingratitude, injustice, and barbarity, generally attend hatred of reproof and worshipping of idols. And God’s prophets, if faithful, are sure to be marked with suffering or death: but quickly shall God resent the injuries done to the Quickly, and in manifold forms, his vengeance shall overtake the obstinate transgressors: and, when he forsakes men, they become an easy prey to even invader. Often he gives men blood to drink, who have embraced their hands in the blood of his saints; while his vengeance pursues them into everlasting life. And scarcely does any thing more fearfully spread destruction than marriage with wicked women