Jeremiah 17
SIBVer. 1, 2. Their proneness to idolatry is deeply rooted in their hearts, and marked on the multitudes of their altars; and they continue in it from generation to generation
Jeremiah 17:5-8
They, who, instead of depending upon God, depend upon human powers for help, shall not only be disappointed of that safety and prosperity which they expected, but shall bring upon themselves the lasting miseries which they thought to have escaped; but they who trust in the Lord shall prosper in their undertakings, and be safe and happy when all around them are in distress
Jeremiah 17:12-18
O Lord, who hast long dwelt with us in thy tabernacle and temple, and in whom we hope for all necessary blessings, they that apostatize from thee, the infinite source of pure and lasting consola- 2 tions, shall be disgraced, contemned, and destroyed. But do thou, the object of all my praises, deliver me from the injuries which I suffer from this malicious people, and effectually grant me comfort. They insolently deride me, as if the threatenings which I denounce would never be fulfilled. But I have patiently persevered in delivering thy messages to them, without ever desiring to bear one message of destruction, or to see it executed; and I have never spoken but as directed by thee. Do thou therefore acknowledge, protect, and comfort, me, while they malign, terrify, and persecute, me. And let these my persecutors be disgraced, perplexed, terrified, and fearfully destroyed
REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XVII.—Sinful corruptions are deeply rooted in men’s hearts, and fixed in their practice, though sin effectually robs us of every thing valuable. There is great malignity and hurt in trusting to creatures. It draws our heart from God, the blessed ALL and IN ALL. But much satisfaction and success attend a solid dependance upon him alone as our God. Alas! what an unsearchable fund of all manner of deceiving and desperate wickedness is an unrenewed heart! But all is naked and open before the righteous Judge of all, and punisher of the wicked. And dreadful is the curse annexed to ill-gotten riches, as well as to resting on self-righteousness. Great is the esteem which saints have for the temple, the ordinances, the Christ of God. And, while he is the hope, the praise, the healer, and the Saviour of his people, he is the awful, but just, punisher of his and their enemies. A fearful portion of debasement, terror, and ruin, shall earthly men, and apostates from God, receive at the last. When they become incorrigible, their damnation slumbereth not. And O the strength of indwelling corruption, that makes even precious prophets sinfully fret when they meet with much opposition in the execution of their office. Great is the mercy that God does not always employ them in the unpleasing messages of wrath. Alas, the folly and wickedness of nations—of Britain—in disregarding God’s sabbaths, when such important blessings to courts, kingdoms, and churches, attend the careful sanctification, and such fearful miseries attend the profanation, of it!