Jeremiah 16:21

REFLECTIONS

My soul! gather from the Lord's precept, to his servant the Prophet; not to marry, nor mingle with the nations of the captivity; how much it concerns thee, to sit aloof, and as much detached as possible, from all persons, and all things, which might have a tendency to draw thine affections from the Lord! Remember, that thy Maker is thine husband. And doth he not say to thee, as to the Church of old, thou shalt abide for me many days: thou shalt not play the harlot: and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee. Precious Lord Jesus! blessed be thou, for thine infinite condescension. Oh! give me grace ever to keep it in view, and to call to mind; wherever I am, or however engaged, amidst the Babylons of this wilderness-state, that my indigence, Jesus neither overlooks, nor despiseth; but will keep me during the captivity, and at length bring me out of more than the Egyptian bondage. Neither in the house of mourning, or of feasting, would I lose sight of my Lord! And oh! grant, that I may constantly have the grace of faith in thee; that the peace in Jesus way be never lost sight of, no not for a moment. But oh! let my constant song in this house of my pilgrimage, be, the Lord liveth that hath brought the souls of his people, from the north, and from all lands whither they had been driven; and now brought them into the liberty, wherewith Jesus makes them free. Yea, they shall dwell in their own land, even Emmanuel's land, forever. Amen.