2 Kings 13

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XIII.—How obstinately do men cleave to that which is evil! When idolatry is once rooted in a nation, nothing but the power of God can extirpate it: and, when men make themselves wicked, God will make them base and miserable. But he is ready to hear the prayer of distress. His mercy abounds even to the chief of sinners. But they, who after both judgments and mercies continue in their sin, may expect to have at last judgment without mercy. How sovereignly God magnifies his servants, or renders them obscure, as he pleases! In what diversified forms they leave this world! Evident marks of God’s favour and image are impressed upon some ministers and saints, that even wicked magistrates or others are in conscience constrained to honour them, and lament the loss of them: and what instruction, deliverance, and victory, might kings obtain by an intimacy with such! The death-beds of noted ministers are useful schools of important wisdom: but the removal of the few faithful is a great weakening to the defence of a nation. Their loss is felt in death, who when alive were neglected. God himself, however, liveth as our protector and deliverer: and, when his everlasting arms are employed in our favour, nothing can detain or withstand us. But alas! our confined desires and expectations often cramp our distinguished mercies. We improve not the offers and advantages which God puts into our hands, and often we grieve him and his servants, by losing our mercies for want of desire to obtain them. The death of God’s eminent servants is frequently marked with tokens of wrath against their nation or church. And even a prospect of victory over one enemy is attended with trouble from another. But what blessings are good men, by their former examples, instructions, and prayers, even after they are dead! And quickly is the fate of the most powerful and conquering nations reversed when God pleases. But does not this Elisha present before us a figure of the great God our Saviour! How abundant his fitness for his work! He was endowed with the Spirit above measure. Ardent was his zeal for God, and tender his compassion towards destitute, grieved, fainting, and endangered men. How express and solemn was his call to his offices, which was confirmed by numerous and diversified miracles! Coming after the New-Testament Elijah, John Baptist, he was solemnly initiated to his work on Jordan’s bank. By his complete robe of righteousness he divided the depths of wrath and Jordans of trouble. By his new covenant of salt, and the grace thereof, he rectifies the bitter waters and barren soil of law precepts and curses, and of multiplied troubles. By his streams of gospel truths, ordinances, and influences, break forth in the wilderness for perishing sinners; and the barren Gentile world he makes a joyful mother of Christians, and these fruitful in good works. To destitute souls and churches he multiplies their oil of grace, till there be no more room to receive it. By his word he often quickened the dead; and many such his death discharged from their graves. By his death and intercession he quickens millions dead in trespasses and sins. By his word he sweetens our bitter lots of temptations and troubles; he restores our sinking spirits, and supplies our famine souls. Multitudes of Gentile sinners he freely cures of their sinful leprosy, complete purification in the river of his blood and spirit; and renders the hearty worshippers of the true God. He is the strength and protector of church, who gives his people victories, ruins their enemies, and manages nations around for their good. How terrible is the resentment of heaven against his injuries! They that mock him are rent in pieces, while there is none to deliver them. Those ministers, who preach for filthy lucre, or who by error and falsehood wound his honour, shall infamously perish in their sin. They attend his ordinances with malignant intentions shall be smitten with a blindness and delusion. They who discredit his word, or despise his pretentious fulness, shall see it with their eyes, but never share of its benefits. Tremendous vengeance befell Judas who betrayed him; and awful is the curse that has fallen on the Jews who reviled, disbelieved, and persecuted him; and which shall last fall on all his obstinate despisers. 6