Jeremiah 2:37

REFLECTIONS

PAUSE my soul over the Prophet's sermon, and remark how graciously the Lord pleads with his people for their good; how reluctant the Lord seemeth to give them up, and with what gentle expostulations he reasons with them, on his patience and their determined obstinacy.

Look through the history of the Church then, and look to the Church now: and ask and see, whether we are in better circumstances than they, or more deserving? Did ever Zion languish more than in the present hour? Were ever the interests of Jesus less regarded? Where shall we direct our attention to find any that prefer the prosperity of the Church above their chief joy? My soul! what sayeth thine own personal experience to this statement? While thou lamentest in secret, the little conquests of Jesus's grace in thine own heart; canst thou say, as one of old did, in beholding the sorrowful state of the Church around thee: rivers of waters run down mine eyes because men keep not thy law. Alas! who is grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

Oh! thou great Head of thy Church, and of thy people! Oh! Lord Jesus! take to thyself thine own glorious cause, and come forth by thy Holy Spirit, in the midst of thy Church! Remember Lord when Israel was holiness unto the Lord, and the first-fruits of his increase. And as all Israel's holiness was in thee, and is in thee forever: do thou Lord stir up to thyself an holy zeal, in the hearts of thy people. Thou knowest Lord, that were we to wash with nitre and take much soap, still would our iniquity be marked before thee. Take away therefore Lord all our iniquity, and receive us graciously, and turn to thyself a people with one consent, to call on the Lord: so shall thy name be praised from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same; and the name of our Lord Jesus shall be great among the Gentiles. Amen.