Acts 14:28

REFLECTIONS

Gracious Lord! we behold, in what is here said in this Chapter, the true representation of thy Church, in all ages. The faithful sent servants must endure persecution. The pure Gospel of Jesus, will never be relished by the corrupt minds of the unawakened; neither will it be cordially received by those, who desire to add law to Gospel. But, what grace Lord must it be in thee, to overrule the malice of the enemy, when opposing thy truths, in making the flight of thy servants from persecution to minister to thy glory, in dispersing thy word everywhere. Oh! may such views sweetly teach my soul, to cry out with the Psalmist, Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee; the remainder of wrath wilt thou restrain! I see, Lord, by this wonderful work of thine, that so much of the wrath of man as thou wilt convert into good, shall be employed to praise thee; all the further malice intended, shall be driven, like water running to waste, into another channel.

Will it please my honored Lord, to teach my soul to profit, from the changeable opinion of men, as here set forth; first in honoring his servants too much, and afterwards in treating them so cruelly; to leave all confidence in the creature, and live wholly upon my God the Infinite Creator. Precious Jesus! doth not every day's experience with a loud voice proclaim the solemn truth: Cease ye from man whose breath is in his nostrils, for wherein is he to be accounted of? Oh! the blessedness of knowing thee, living to thee, walking with thee, and rejoicing in thee, as the Lord my righteousness. Here let my soul be daily confirmed, and then it matters not, what tribulation I pass through, to enter into thy kingdom! And grant, Lord, to all thy seat servants, the continual manifestations of thy favor, to bear them up, and bear them on, and bear them through, all opposition. Shortly the Lord will come, to take all his redeemed home, both ministers and people, to himself, forever: and then the whole of persecution will end, in an everlasting day of the full knowledge, and enjoyment of may God forever!