Deuteronomy 31

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXXI.—It highly becomes ministers, or others, to exert themselves to their utmost, that their church and nation may be happy after their death: and when they become more active in the Lord’s work as their end approaches, and wish others the happy enjoyment of that comfort and honour which God hath denied to themselves, it is both honourable to the cause of God, and strengthening to his people. Great pains ought to be taken to make those of the present or rising generations to understand, believe, and obey, God’s word: and certain is our success when God is our assistant, and we do nothing but what he has commanded. And, the more experience we have of gospel liberty, the more shall we delight to hear and obey him. God graciously warns men of their sin and danger before it come upon them; yet so desperate is the wickedness of men, that they ruin themselves by their apostasy from God, after their own vows, and the most solemn and often-repeated warnings of God and his faithful ministers. These exactly correspond together in discovering the sure consequences of sin, and leave the blame of their ruin entirely upon themselves. It is necessary therefore that God’s truths be laid up in men’s heart and conscience, that they may hear, and fear, and do no more wickedly