Joshua 8

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. VIII.—Learn, my soul, that whenever I put away the accursed thing I may expect comfort from God: and that such as honour God with the first-fruits of their substance are gainers at last; while those who greedily grasp the Lord’s share become inconceivable losers: that all the people of God ought to strive together in their spiritual warfare: that prudence and caution are as necessary as strength to ensure success: that well-timed yielding procures victory, as well as pacifies great offences: and that divine assurances of success inspire men with courage and boldness, notwithstanding former disappointments. Let me here behold how God qualifies his armies, and infatuates his enemies. Short is the rejoicing of the wicked; and the prosperity of fools will destroy them. But they who fight the Lord’s battles receive their glorious c. reward, when the end of ringleaders in presumptuous rebellion against the Lord is in shame and confusion.—Whatever then God requires me to do, let me do it with all my might. Never let my covenanting with God be deferred till I am settled in the world; and let no carnal concern hinder my regard to the one thing needful. If I am in the way of my duty God will grant me special protection. While I serve God with his own, and depend on the atonement of his Son as the foundation of all my reconcilement and relation to him, and fellowship with him—while I heartily believe and consent to his will—let me do everything in his worship exactly according to his prescriptions; and be careful that my wife, children, and servants, be acquainted with his word, and attending on his worship, as well as myself