Revelation 9:21

REFLECTIONS

READER! behold how the Lord's judgments rise higher and higher, in the scale of punishment! The four first trumpets were bringing forward very awful visitations in the earth, but those two of the woe trumpets, how far have they already exceeded in affliction! And who shall say what yet remains to be unfolded, before the period of the sixth trumpet is finished! Let you and I pause, as we contemplate the subject. Let us behold and look behold over the long space of so many centuries which have run out, since at the voice of the sixth trumpet sounding, the Lord Christ gave command, to loose the four angels at the river Euphrates. Contemplate what ravages have been made! what slaughters followed. And yet no reform, no repentance, no one effect of contrition produced, by the chastisement! Let us next look at home. Doth not the question arise, nationally considered, what then are we better than they! No, in no wise. What, though the worship of images is not by law established, and prayers to images and saints we are not commanded to do, yet, is the Lord Jesus Christ more honored than before? Is his Godhead, and his blood and righteousness, considered by all ranks of our people, as the very foundation of the faith once delivered to the saints? Alas! how greatly the reverse in this Christ-despising day and generation! And while like a flood, the awful heresy of denying his Godhead is running through the land, and threatens to carry all before it, there are no laws of restraint to stop the pulpit or the press, from saying or doing as their corrupt nature unsubdued by grace may tempt them, against the glorious Person and finished salvation of the Lord Our Righteousness. And what may we suppose will follow such daring ungodliness. Surely, if we calculate from what is past, what is probable to follow, before the sixth woe trumpet hath finished his period, very desolating consequences may be looked for. The ear of faith may hear that voice which was once heard and again and again repeated; and never more suited than now. Shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord, shall not my soul be avenged of such a nation as this.

One sweet thought will comfort the Lord's faithful ones, under all. Jesus is as the helm. All plagues, whether locusts or men, whether fire or sword, have their power from him. The Church of God is still the Church of God, and everyone is sealed by him. Oh! the precious assurance. Here then Reader, every child of God may safely say with the Prophet, Lord! in the way of thy judgments have we waited for thee.