2 Kings 9

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. IX.—God’s ministers must communicate their labours and honours one with another; and must discharge their office in a faithful, prudent, active, and disinterested manner, let men account them mad, or any thing they please. To what terrible lengths professors of the true religion go before God entirely rejects them from being his people! But such as rule ought to consider God as the source of their power, and to use it humbly for his glory. To what fearful work God sometimes appoints magistrates! and there is need of great singleness and steadiness in executing it. To ask advice from our equals or inferiors is the most effectual method to procure their consent; and matters of importance ought to be transacted with proper secrecy and dispatch. Tottering is the throne of wicked kings; and terrible destruction hangs over the sinner’s head! But persecutors of God’s people are reckoned by him the most heinous offenders; and they who persist in their impenitence will be rooted out at last; and companions of fools shall be destroyed along with them. Solid peace can never consist with wilful sinning, let sinners wish and expect it as they will: and whoredoms, which are now men’s pleasure, will shortly issue in everlasting pain. Providence strangely connects the circumstances of men’s punishment with those of their crimes and his own thronquings; and all things work for their overthrow whom he hath devoted to destruction. Themselves are made to rush on their ruin: and God’s instruments of wrath may be insulted, but will not be intimidated. Wickedness and wretchedness are really inseparable, and at last meet in fearful forms. Painting and pampering do but ripen for tremendous woe. And, though for a time sinners may lift their heads high, they will shortly be brought low in death, and still lower in hell: and not only their corpse, but their memory, shall rot and perish. And, whether instruments intend it or not, the word of the Lord shall have its full accomplishment. 4 z