2 Samuel 13

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XIII.—Righteous, but awful, are the judgments of God; especially when he punishes sin with sin, and that remarkably similar! Children are apt to imitate their parents’ sins without imitating their repentance. And near relatives should be cautious that their tender affection does not degenerate into lawless lust. How unbridled is lust when once indulged! the body often suffers through vile affections: and no station can render the man happy whose lusts rage within him. A wicked and subtle friend, who leads to or flatters in sin, is a dreadful curse. Such as harbour no ill designs themselves are often made instruments of iniquity by the crafty sinner, as they are most unsuspicious. Deeds of filthiness seek for secrecy. It is therefore extremely dangerous for those who have youth and beauty to be alone with the wanton. But nothing can be more barbarous and foolish than, for a momentary gratification, to ruin a character, render a companion infamous and miserable, and rush into everlasting ruin. Yet where lust rages men are insensible of fear or shame, and deaf to all the remonstrances of reason and religion: though the pleasures of lust are quickly turned into loathing and hatred; and nothing is reckoned too shameful or cruel to be done to the object of it. The neglect of magistrates to punish infallibly occasions more, if not worse, crimes: and yet how hard for them to punish, in their children, crimes copied after their own! Revenge is often deep rooted, and masked with pretences of friendship; yea, the longer it is concealed, it often burns the more fiercely: and drunkenness remarkably exposes sinners to death, and ripens them for hell. None are more ready to imbrue their hands in our blood than our companions in luxury. What certain griefs, but uncertain comforts, are the children of the best and greatest! How kind is it to sympathize with the afflicted, and to comfort them the best way we can! And how strong is parental affection, which cannot be extinguished by the most horrid and unnatural crimes! 2