Ezekiel 23:49

REFLECTIONS

READER! what are your own views of human nature at large, in reading the sad account of sin and rebellion in this Chapter? And yet more what think you of the Israel of God, in beholding the baseness here manifested by a professing people to the God of Israel? What will any man think of taking confidence in himself, after such views of a fallen nature. Reader! is it not enough to cause every believer to go softly all his days? And will not such humbling representations of nature, serve, through grace, to keep open a perpetual spring of repentance and sorrow in the soul? Will it not prove, under God, the best and strongest of all arguments to hide pride from our eyes, and to divorce the heart from all legal frames and self-righteousness? Will it not also prompt the soul to look to God continually for grace, that by his Holy Spirit, we may be enabled to mortify the deeds of the body and live, in a suitable deportment of holy conversation and godliness? Above all, can anything tend equally to endear Christ in all his loveliness, and in all his glory? Oh! precious, precious Jesus! how doth every view of ourselves and all around us, bring home with increasing conviction in the soul, the absolute need we have of thee, and thy great salvation? Oh Lord! let the great improvement of this Chapter, and indeed of all thy Holy Scriptures, be to lead our hearts to thee; to live upon thee, to walk with thee, and everlastingly to enjoy thee, as the whole sum and substance of all our happiness. Truly blessed Redeemer, thou art indeed the all in all to thy people: and most gracious was it commanded the Church, to call thee by thine adorable name: the Lord Our Righteousness.