Numbers 25

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXV.—If the devil’s agents prevail not against the church one way, they will try another. But let us remember that no enchantment can hurt us but that of our own lusts; that one sin leads to another; and that few temptations are more dangerous than the lustful love of women. If once the heart be ensnared, the miserable slave of lust and beauty may be enticed to any thing sinful. Nothing more endangers the soul’s final apostasy from God than yielding to the solicitation of fleshly lusts; nor doth any thing more effectually secure the vengeance of God, and damnation of hell. Yea, general distempers and loathsome diseases are the fruit of general and loathsome iniquities; and such sinners quickly become impudent in their crimes. It is necessary therefore to punish sins with great impartiality, as the higher men are the more aggravated and hurtful ‘is their offence.’ A well-timed and prudent zeal for the honour of God, in opposition to prevailing abominations, is a remarkable blessing to nations and churches. And God greatly honours and rewards such as dare to be bold and impartial in his cause for ridding a land of sin, and rescuing it from plagues. But friendship in sin quickly issues in mutual hatred and ruin: and tempters to sin are tormented with trouble. But in Phinehas may I not discern Jesus, whose zeal for his Father’s house, and for the destruction of sin, and the salvation of men, did as it were consume him? who, for destroying the works of the devil, hath everlasting honours bestowed upon him and his spiritual seed: and an everlasting covenant of priesthood established with him as the reward of his work? T T