Ezekiel 29

Ezekiel 29:4-7

By my providence thou shalt march out of thy army against the Cynomans, on the west of Egypt; and lead along with thee intrudes of thy subjects. But the terrible ruin of this thine army shall prove the remainder to rebel, and never cease their war against thee till thou and he party be utterly ruined. And the Egyptians shall see themselves punished for encouraging the Jews to rebel against the Chaldeans to their own hurt

Ezekiel 29:16

They shall no more appear proper assistants to the Jews, nor tempt them to recommit their former wickedness, in distrusting God’s promises and assistance, or in trusting to Heathen helpers, and copying after their idolatries

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXIX.—It is a mercy to foresee the failure of created confidences, when we are most tempted to depend on them. But highly criminal is it for men, even the greatest, to pride themselves in their prosperity, as if they had not received all from God and that only in loan. Quickly may they expect to lose that which they refuse to hold under him. Alas, how fluctuating are the affections of our most ardent lovers and greatest admirers! They may one day risk their life to assist our ambition, and the next pull us from our station and being on earth. And too often do subjects ruin themselves by foolish adherence to sovereigns, or by undutiful rebellions against them. Nothing is more provoking to God, and injurious to mankind, than to deceive those who put confidence in us. And it is a mercy for the world when he strips those of their power who exercised it in tyrannizing over, or deceiving, their neighbours. Yea happy is it to have those created comforts and confidences removed from us which estranged us from God. But how alarming is it to ON 1 Cor. 9.4. * Or M-mpin. Is. 19. 3. Jer. 2. 16. 4. 44. 1. and 46. 14. Hos. 9. 6. behold Egypt, the most ancient enslaver of God’s people for about an hundred years, already more than two thousand years in the basest servitude to Chaldeans, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Saracens, and at last to Maniluk and Turkish slaves! —At the most terrible expense and pains are men bent to destroy one another. And yet, while they are pursuing their covetous and ambitious views, they are but the tools of a sovereign, a wise, a just, an angry God. And often God rewards their services with wealth or honour in this world, and yet with damu-tion in the next. It is well if he, in wrath, remember mercy; and it is a happy presage when his faithful ministers are divinely countenanced and encouraged in their work. only envied, them; 1-9. (2) After shewing him how much he