2 Kings 6

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. VI.—It is comfortable to see Christ’s disciples increase in the worst of times: but often his chief favourites are in very poor outward circumstances. Nor in evil times ought a minister to grudge if his own hands must minister to his necessities; but it ill becomes him to be an idle vagabond, or slothful loiterer. Things borrowed ought to be carefully preserved. And it is extremely galling to an honest or generous mind to hurt his neighbour. How restless are the enemies of God’s people! But it is easy for God, who knows all things, to frustrate their counsels, by warning his servants of them: and it is salutary to attend exactly to his admonitions. On the contrary, it is mad impiety for the mightiest to attempt fighting against God and his servants. When there is at best but little faith, the mind is easily overwhelmed with consternation, and tempted to despair of divine protection. But they who are strong ought to pray for the weak, and bear with their infirmities. Clear views of God’s sovereignty, power, and kindness, and of his angelic guards, can effectually remove our slavish fear of temporal calamities. How often they who fight against God are given up to stupidity and strong delusions; and find themselves conquered or ruined where they hoped to triumph! But, if we have our enemies at our mercy, it is best to render them good for evil, and thus soften and captivate their hearts. But no kindness will long impress a hardened and obstinate foe. And how dreadful is the scourge of a furious war! It may quickly render us destitute of our necessary food; and raging hunger may prevail against the strongest natural affection. None know what miseries await them before they die. And in our distresses, particularly those of our soul, if God be not our friend, vain is the help of man. Unhumbled sinners are apt to attribute their troubles to any cause but the real one, their sins; and to turn that revenge on the innocent which is due to their sinful self. The sole sins penders of God’s judgments are often culminated and persecuted, as if they were the guilty cause thereof: and the most useful are reckoned the very pest of society. But dreadful is the case when disappointments render men desperate with rage against God; the view of whose hand should make them resigned and whose abundant mercy should encourage their patience and hope