2 Kings 23

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXIII.—When God’s wrath hangs over our head it is high time to attend to and learn his law; and to concur in hearty and cheerful covenanting with God in Christ. But it is principally God’s love and covenant of grace that binds men fast to him, not their most solemn vows and promises. Nothing tends more to the welfare of princes than their zealous promoting of the true knowledge and worship of God. But alas! what fearful abomination may be found among people who have not entirely abandoned the worship of the true God! And shameful discoveries of these are made whenever reformation is thoroughly attempted. There is therefore need of much knowledge, prudence, courage, and zeal, to carry reformation to a proper pitch. God’s promises and threatenings are all fulfilled at last, notwithstanding the longest delays. Such as truly covenant with God must not only remove corruptions, but restore the purity and strict observation of the ordinances of God and particular regard must be had to the exact observation of the instituted sea of his covenant. God takes a peculiar pleasure to perpetuate their honour will have been sincere and active for him in their generation. But irreversible is the doom of nations when once ripened by wickedness. Often the best of prince must taste a little of their cup, especially if they attempt to help their ungod neighbours. When those who stood in the gap to retard deserved judgments are removed by death, with what tremendous speed do those judgments hasten ruin the guilty! And when neither warnings restrain, nor good example influence, destruction is evidently near