2 Kings 5

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. V.—Greatness and wealth avail so little to make men happy, that they cannot preserve them from the sorest and most loathsome calamities. God can make the captivity and distress of his people an useful mean for spreading this knowledge of himself; and even out of the months of bed-s and cucklings he can perfect praise. It is a great privilege to have servants who know God, and seek the welfare of the family. Men are generally willing to try every expedient, and bestow the utmost expense and trouble, to obtain a cure of their bodily distempers; but how few regard the worth or welfare of their souls! and how readily carnal men fancy that supernatural benefits must be purchased by carnal profits! Men who are conscious of their ill deserts often tremble at every shadow, and disquiet their minds, by misinterpreting the most innocent intentions of their neighbours. But God, in mercy, oftentimes helps the wicked far beyond what they have reason to expect. And ministers ought to seize upon every opportunity of manifesting the power and grace of God; but never ought they to sully their character by a complaisant crouching to the pride of great men. Proud spirits readily interpret the least suspected slight into an heinous affront: and the wise in their own conceit often ruin themselves by contempt of the simple dictates and ordinances of God. But O the riches of his grace, that stops our course when we forsake our own mercy! It is happy for proud and passionate masters to have servants faithful, calm, and prudent, to offer them an advice: and we see here the happy consequences of sometimes attending to it. Hopeful is our case if we once submit to God’s method of relief: for by what simple means can he effect the most wonderful deliverance. Never then let me, through the pride of my heart, reject his means of salvation, or stumble at the simplicity of a crucified Redeemer: his blood and spirit can cleanse the foulest leprosy of sin, and restore the most diseased sinner; and I am bid only to wash and be clean. Never let me wish to prescribe to him, in the paths of his providence, who can thus, by the weakest means, produce the greatest ends, and manifest his power and glory. That knowledge of God which is obtained by such an experience of his goodness will always be most fruitful, while holy gratitude disposes us to a careful performance of duty both towards God and men; leads us to regard the prayers of God’s people, to remember past transgressions with grief, and to resolve for the future to abstain from all appearance of evil. But alas! that these, who have most and best instructions and examples, should have all lost upon them! Parents and masters cannot convert their children or servants. Covetousness tempts to lying, and almost every other evil; and one sin always leads on to another. Hope of concealment and impunity is a great encouragement to do evil. But short-lived, transitory, and bitter in the end, is prosperous wickedness: and how often men, by their covetousness and falsehood, entail plagues on themselves and their posterity! 4