Joshua 9

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. IX.—While the people of God are busied in their sacred devotions, the wicked of the world are often occupied in plotting or attempting their destruction. And, while infatuated with malice and revenge, they are generally unanimous against God, his cause and people. But God, in great wisdom and kindness, commonly restrains the more formidable attacks of his enemies till he has prepared his people to receive them. When alarmed by God’s mighty works in favour of his chosen, men are sometimes ready to solicit their friendship, even by hypocrisy and deceit; while those, who pretend to do us most honour, are inwardly the readiest to impose upon us. Pretences to religion and antiquity are extremely deceiving; and, when persons have once begun to lie, it is hard to say where they may stop. Good men may often be deceived by such pretences: for the wisdom of the serpent, even in them, is not always trained with the harmlessness of the dove. And those who are honest themselves and forward in their actions, are more apt to be imposed on by solemn pretences to religion, and appearances of simple honesty, especially when they do not acknowledge the Lord, that he may direct their paths. Covenants once made should be fulfilled with tenderness: and great care ought to be taken that peace and fidelity may go hand in hand. But how amazing are the dispensations of providence, in the superabounding of grace where sin did much abound! By fraud Jacob obtained the blessing, which consecrated him and his seed to be the peculiar people of God: and by fraud these accursed Gentiles of Gibbon obtained a covenant, which issued in their attendance on the courts of God, as figures of the gathering of the nations to Christ and his gospel-church. Him that cometh to Christ he will in no wise cast out: and if he receive us we need never complain of the cross which he lays on us. If we serve him we may bless the day in which carnal liberty is exchanged for spiritual subjection