Deuteronomy 23

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXIII.—It is unseemly for saints to connect themselves in intimacy or marriage with profane persons, but whoremongers unnaturally mark their innocent posterity with shame and disgrace. God severely resents the injury done to his people in the day of their distress. But we ought quickly to forget the evil done to us by our relations or others; and carefully to remember the favours which we have received. Purity and cleanliness should be studied together with godliness, as they are both healthful and honourable, especially that of the heart and life, before God. How becoming is a tender compassion towards the afflicted, especially young converts to Christ! For great is the mercy of God to such—he will never deliver up a poor fugitive, that flees to him from the servitude of sin, or of the broken law. Let me admire his grace, and imitate his goodness—let me carefully abstain from fleshly lusts, which provoke God, and war against my soul. In all my dealings, let brotherly love continue. And, if I have vowed unto the Lord, let me in no wise go back. Let me be kind to strangers, ready to distribute, and never insist upon trifling rights and claims. 3 E