Ezekiel 33

Ver. 10, 11. They cavil, and say if we are thus miserable, and are long punished for our iniquities, how can we be ever delivered and restored to prosperity? But how assuredly that I take no pleasure in punishing you, wicked as you are; but had rather you should repent of your wickedness, that I might accomplish my promises of mercy to you. Why then do ye not, without a moment’s delay, heartily repent and return? Why do ye continue to ruin yourselves, and provoke me to destroy you? N. B. The death and life here, as well in chap. xviii. and iii. primarily denote the temporal misery or happiness of the Jews: the first of which might have been prevented, and the latter might have been obtained, by repentance and righteousness, though not properly evangelical or infallibly persevering

Ezekiel 33:24

They whom the Chaldeans have left in the desolated country of Judea, far from lamenting their sins and desolations, and the captivity or death of their brethren, boast that, being Abraham’s seed, and especially considering their number, they shall be able to keep possession of the country. 90

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXXIII.—One faithful minister or magistrate may be of great service to a country or nation. Yet much care and faithfulness is necessary in the work of either. And it is a great mercy that, when they cannot be so useful to others as they wished, they may save themselves. They, who have hardened themselves in presumption, generally at last sink into, and harden themselves in, despair. Yet certain and delightful is it that God hath no pleasure in the ruin of sinners; and that he is infinitely sincere and earnest in his calls to repentance. But sinners must repent or be damned. Holiness and happiness, obstinate sinning and misery, are inseparably connected in God’s purposes, oracles, and providences; nor does the escaping one stroke secure the hardened transgressor from imminent ruin.—To what a fearful pitch of profaneness are they arrived, who can make common calamities the matter of their joy, or important discourses the object of their derision! And yet faithful ministers are a common object of contempt and hatred, and a common subject of discourse in the places where they live. And, alas, many pretend great fondness for God’s ministers and ordinances, who have no real love to them! Oft hearers have their fancies pleased, who never get their consciences touched, the hearts renewed, or lives sanctified, by what they hear. And nothing more effectually prevents the efficacy of the gospel than a covetous heart. But neither scoffers nor hypocrites shall be able to defeat the threatenings of God and they, who would not improve his mercies, shall know their value by wanting them