Hosea 8:14

REFLECTIONS

READER! Was there ever a period in the Church of Christ, when those that are divinely inspired, and called to the office of ambassadors for Jesus, needed to set the trumpet more powerfully to the mouth, and to call upon the sinners in Zion to be afraid for the impending judgments of God? Surely the Lord hath a controversy with the people, and he will plead with Israel. But, blessed Jesus! how sweet and refreshing doth it become to thy faithful ones, however few in number, that the interests of thy redeemed are safe, neither shall hell's gates prevail against the Church of Jesus. The enemy may have a momentary triumph; the adversaries of God's people seem to rejoice. The Church languishes in all her borders. But there is a set time to favour Zion, and in due season the Lord will arise to manifest his sovereignty, and the lighting down of his glorious arm. In the sure expectation of this, let God's tried ones repose, looking unto Jesus, who is both the Author, and Finisher, of faith. Shortly he will come to take out of his kingdom all things that offend; and prove himself to be the whole of salvation to his redeemed. In that blessed day of God, may it be the felicity, both of him that writes, and him that reads, (if the Lord will), to be found among the ransomed of Zion, that shall return with songs of everlasting joy upon their heads, when sorrow and sighing, sin, sickness, and death, shall be known and felt no more.