Numbers 22

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXII.—Relations by blood are sometimes the bitterest enemies to one another; and seek to ruin those who might expect kindness from them. The most awful things in religion, imprecations of divine wrath not excepted, are often transformed into ordinances of the devil: and sinners, with great expense and toil, court the assistance of hell, when they might have freely from heaven whatever they need. Yes, great men, who scorn to worship their Maker, frequently cringe as slaves to the very slaves of the devil! What inestimable value do carnal men put upon earthly riches and honours, as if these were sufficient to determine to any thing! And there is great need to realize eternal things, that nothing temporal may be able to decoy us. But religion is sometimes put on as a cloke by those who have no real regard to it. And the most presumptuous claims to God, and pretence of high regard to his will, are used when they would gladly counteract it. Wicked messengers indeed rarely report the whole of the truth as it really is: and the Lord often apparently indulges dissemblers in their own way, and permits them to follow the course which he had once prohibited; and how fond are they with eagerness to follow his permission, and even go beyond it! The brute creation are often endangered, and suffer for man’s sin; even by the wickedness of those to whom they have been assistant. But vain is every attempt to destroy the church while her God can so easily check it. In the most unexpected form he can rebuke such as think to oppose him, however hearty sinners may be in their evil work, or liberally kind to such as they hope will assist them in it