Judges 2

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. II.—Inexcusable are the sins of such as enjoy the aracles of God: and it is but madness and self-deceiving to expect advantage from friendship with the enemies of God around us, or our own corruptions within us; for, in offending God by one sin, we provoke him to give us up to a greater, with the misery which attends it. And none know how brutish in sin they may become if once given up to their heart’s lusts; nor what plagues and misery they may meet with in their course. What pains God uses to check his people’s sinful rebellion against him, or revolting from him! And deep are the impressions of his rebukes when effectually blessed. But even then not our sars, however sincere and penitential, but the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, can make us pure from our iniquity. Faithful ministers and magistrates are a beneficial restraint upon nations and churches: yet we may commonly observe that the power and life of religion rarely flourish in a place for more than one generation at a time. And it is an awful sign to this effect when young ones grow up in ignorance and forgetfulness of God and his mighty works. But how infinite the extent of God’s mercy and patience! he bears with, and even pardons and delivers, transgressors in the moment of their greatest extremity; and calls and blesses instruments for that end. But, Lord, what are men! they often become more hardened under such mercies and judgments—at the hazard of provoking thee to the uttermost, they return again and again to the very abomination for which they had formerly smarted! No wonder then that they are given up to uncommon rage of lusts, or of lasting punishment. A P