Judges 5

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. V.—God must have all the glory of his work; whoever be the instruments, the success is entirely owing to him. His new favours should occasion an affecting remembrance of former ones, and of our relation to him as our God: and the heights of his mercy should be compared with the depths of distress into which our apostasy from him hath brought us.—Oh! What woes befall people in every place and station when God departs from them! They have no comfort, no safety, no protection left. And, though the enemies of the Lord are unanimous and hearty against him and his interests, yet certain is their final destruction, since even the irrational creation stands ready armed to destroy them. Eminent and lasting honours await those who heartily espouse the cause of Christ when it is in great danger, and who are determined to conquer or to die; but shame and curses shall descend on those who, for their ease or carnal advantage, remain neutral and unconcerned. Such as would save their lives by their cowardice or carnal fears shall lose them; and such as are afraid or ashamed to join God’s people in an evil day shall be held as deserters from God’s camp and treated accordingly. Death makes easy work with the mightest heroes: and bitter is the meeting with terrible disasters, when our vain hopes of success, glory, and wealth, are wound up to the highest. But how bright and lasting the glory of such as fight the good fight of faith, and work by love to the Lord! Their path is like the rising sun, shining brighter and brighter to the perfect day