2 Kings 1:18

REFLECTIONS

BEHOLD, my soul, awfully behold, in the sad example of Ahaziah and his captains of fifty, with their fifties, how sin hardens the heart, and renders men ripe for punishment! See in them thine own picture by nature; and, but for grace, how justly the features would be marked still. To what a desperate length should I have run, had not the mercy of my God interposed, and stopped me in my daring career! Enlisted under the banner of sin and Satan; wearing his livery, and equipped with his armour, bow readily in those days of unregeneracy, should I have contended with his faithful servants, and from ignorance, malice, and deceitful lusts, have dared to oppose all that was gracious. Blessed Jesus! at what expense of love, of grace, of mercy, and of blood, hast thou re deemed me, and made the deadly weapons of opposition fall from my hands.

To whom but thee, thou Holy One of Israel, who hast made our peace in the blood, of thy cross, shall I ascribe this great salvation? Yes! blessed Jesus! thou, and thou alone, as thy Father's precious gift to poor sinners, art the sole deliverer of the captive; for thou hast indeed taken away the captives from the mighty, and the prey of the terrible thou hast delivered. And now, Lord! what is the language of my heart, but like the poor submissive suppliant at the foot of Elijah, I would say to thee, as he did to the prophet; let my life, I beseech thee, be precious in thy sight. Oh! Jesus! thou Man of God, thou Man at God's right-hand, who art fellow to the Lord of Hosts; again I say, as he did, let my life be precious in thy sight! Haste then, cone down quickly, O Lord, and let my soul live before thee. So shall I live to thy glory while here below, and to thy redeeming praise when thou shalt take me to thyself above.