Jeremiah 49

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XLIX.—With strict jealousy God remarks the injuries done to his distressed people. And in very different forms he plagues and terrifies them who had plagued and terrified his favourites, while the losses of the injured are repaid out of the unjust gains of the injurers. It is therefore vain for backsliders from God to indulge pleasure, or to trust in any created enjoyment. When God lays countries desolate, widows and children are peculiarly miserable. O how great is the kindness of God, that invites such to be trusted to his care! But it is impossible to avert or withstand his angry blow, since he can make his weakest instruments too brave and valiant for the mightiest onposer, and can pull men from the strongest fortifications. And if his dearer favourites, or persons less guilty, he punished, it is in vain for us to hope for an escape. Yea, if he continue his hand on us, we can never recover from our ruins, but must be dreadful and lasting monuments of his vengeance—All earthly joy, pomp, power, or bravery, in the day of his wrath, do but render our ruin more dreadful. Nor can the most securely situated, or the most inoffensive, escape from his anger. The most retired are forced into the open world, and made to share in the common misery. And God often wonderfully debilitated nations before he signally advances them