Ezekiel 21

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXI.—There is great need that ministers should use great plainness of speech in dealing with souls; should observe God’s hand in his public judgments, in which even the godly share with the wicked: and should deny themselves, and be affected with their messages, in order to edify others. Alas! infinite is their danger who have God against them. Nothing can defend them from his righteous and terrible judgments. And, while wicked men abound every where, his wrath shall follow without restraint. Nor is it proper to be jovial, but penitent, when his judgments are abroad in the earth, in order to vindicate his perfections. But it is matter of comfort to saints that all judgments are managed by Christ, the Son of God, and their Husband and Saviour; and that to them they are but corrective trials, not blows aimed for their destruction.—God can easily force the most proud and crafty plotters on earth to court his direction in their concerns, and lead them even by events apparently fortuitous to his proper work. None are more ready to despise God’s warnings than perfidious and profane swearers. And in none do these sins look worse that in magistrates and ministers who profess the true religion. But, if men despise the warnings and offers of God’s grace, they shall be seized by his vengeance; and none are so high but God can debase them, nor any so low but he can exalt them. Pride goes before destruction; and before honour is humility. At what pains and cost do men destroy one another! But, if all overturnings in the world make way for Christ, the rightful Sovereign of nations and churches, and his gracious designs, let us be therewith content.—Nevertheless, let the proud reproachers and oppressors of God’s people, who wish to extirpate his and their name from the world, remember their iniquities will but draw similar vengeance on themselves, and neither rights nor possessions on earth will avail them any thing