2 Kings 18

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XVIII.—God never makes a full end of his people, however sinful; but provides them relief in one part of the world when he almost extirpates them in another. Nay, in the darkest times he can raise up the most burning and shining lights. His grace can enable them to overcome the strongest obstacles, and to persevere to the end. Never therefore need they fear who boldly trust on God in the path of duty. No length of custom can ever consecrate an evil practice. If our parents have dishonoured God, it is our honour to be unlike them. And fidelity in God’s service will be ever accompanied with his blessing. And yet to prove their faith and constancy, and to punish an hypocritical generation, they who are most zealous for God may be reduced to such difficulties as will make them stagger, and sinfully yield. But flying to human confidences instead of God will but bring on us the ruin which we seek to avoid. The most solemn treaties, or largest ransoms, make little impression on conquering tyrants. Never then let any rob God to procure temporal advantages. What an unruly evil is an insolent tongue! It casts for firebrands, arrows, and death, against God and men: and readily it upbraids the people of God with their greatest honours. Little reason has one power to vaunt against another; for soon may they be equally weak as well as equally treacherous. Great boasters are seldom even ordinary actors: and flattering tongues and pompous promises ought never to be trusted. How affecting is to bear, though often improper to answer, virulent reproaches of God and people! Silence is the best answer to insolent abuse. It but exasperates to answer him according to his folly. behalf the prayers of Jesus Christ and is ministers and people. Thus trusting God, we shall never be confounded; while those, who lift up their tongues, guist him, shall bring down swift vengeance on their own heads. Wicked men are to defy God, and are fond of trumpeting forth their own praise. Just before their ruin their blasphemy and pride ordinarily swell to the highest. But, while we have a prayer-bearing God to address in our trouble, let us always be confident. If the great object of our requests be the manifestation of his way, we shall certainly be heard: and often God’s returns to the prayers of us. 5 c 1. to inculcate this in the most earnest and solemn manner. In dying moments it is the greatest mercy, and should be our greatest desire, to have all our hopes founded on Jesus’ blood, and attended with the testimony of a good conscience: and to have the consolations of God enabling us to triumph over the natural fears and pains of death. How useful is prayer: it can prepare us for death, and recover us from distempers which are in themselves deadly. And God grants with pleasure his people’s requests, and bestows on them exceedingly above what they ask or think. At best, our life is limited: it is short and had need into friendship by the wicked: and the best of men are apt to be thus ensnared especially by their own pride. But, if we walk in pride, God will certainly abuse us or our seed. And what has ministered to our vanity and self-confidence will ere long cover us with confusion. May God then make us to accept of the punishment of our iniquity! We have cause of thankfulness if we are but out of hell. But outward quietness and gospel preaching are singular mercies which we can never sufficiently acknowledge. 7