2 Kings 17

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XVII.—God tries men with lesser judgments before he strikes the final blow. But such as continue selling themselves to the service of sin will at last share its wages in ruin. How sovereignly God times his tremendous judgments!—In the days of a king better than his fellows, and even by his treachery to a tyrant, the nation is plunged into misery and ruin. What an exact account God keeps of men’s sin, and every aggravation of it! He marks against what mercies, warnings, and judgments, it has been con-itted; and in what different forms: and what influence it has had in the seduction of others. And certain, however slow, is the destruction of apostates from God; and even at distant periods God is preparing for it.—Great is the instability of earthly settlements: and who knows whither the Lord may toss us life? Yet men carry their sins closely with them, go where they will. And ily can God punish those who pollute what belongs to him with their wicked-7 ness. Lions, and all other creatures, are at his call. Satan and men’s lusts often quit a part, that they may not be obliged to give up their whole power and honour. But no external instructions, warnings, mercies, or judgments, will reform sinners from the false or medley religions which themselves have invented. While the religion of Jesus scarcely continues pure for an age, the religion of the devil can flourish with most for many ages together