Luke 12

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XII.—How absurd is hypocrisy, seeing God is omniscient, and will in the last judgment publicly expose our whole conduct! It is highly unbecoming to distrust his care for, and assistance of, us in every duty, or to fear men more than him; and infinitely dangerous, not to prefer the care of our soul to every thing else. There is great need of watchfulness and fidelity in religion, since Christ will certainly own or reject us in the other world as we do him in this. And with humble confidence may we commit our souls to that Saviour who eagerly desired to undergo the worst of deaths for the salvation of sinners; and to that heavenly Father whose kind providence extends to the meanest creature, and has prepared for us an everlasting kingdom. Surely this is worthy to be sought for as our principal treasure, and prepared for as our inexpressible happiness. Why should we set our hearts on worldly portions, which only procure envy and contention; or which, by their abundant increase, precipitate their owners into everlasting perdition. And it is base and shameful when ministers neglect their infinitely-important work, and perplex their minds, or waste their time, in civil affairs. Yea, the more light men sin against, the greater will be their punishment. Alas that, while Jesus Christ died to reconcile men to God, and to one another, men’s lusts, passions, and prejudices, should make his conciliating gospel an occasion of strife and confusion! But, if we be persecuted for a prudent and disinterested adherence to truth, he will enable us to defend our conduct. How perversely men are set against the Saviour, when they hate and persecute their nearest relations for his sake! And many are very prudent with respect to temporal, and fools with respect to spiritual and eternal, concerns. Sinners are in unceasing danger of falling into the hand of God’s just vengeance. And if, in their present day of grace, they do not, through faith, obtain reconciliation with him, unavoidable, unsupportable, and endless, must be their ruin. Alas, who amongst us can abide with devouring fire, or dwell with everlasting burnings!