REFLECTIONS

READER, how truly blessed is it to see, in the rise and fall of nations, that the Lord is carrying on his own gracious purposes; that all the events of nations, kingdoms, and empires, are but ministering to that little handful of people, whom God hath formed for himself, and to show forth his praise! The mind is lost in amazement, when beholding the love, and care, and the watchings over of the Lord upon his Israel. It was said of them, as a distinguishing feature of character, that they should dwell alone, and not be reckoned among the nations. And uniformly through the Bible, we find this to be the case. In God the Father's purpose they thus have all along moved on. In Jesus love, and grace, and favor, everything is made to minister to them. And in the mercy, teachings, and influences of the Holy Ghost, all his tendencies are towards them. So that if the overthrow of nations shall promote Israel's welfare, the Lord overthrows them. If the prosperity of nations become necessary to humble Israel, the Lord brings this to pass also. In all things, and by all means, Jehovah is forwarding his gracious designs for his Church, and the final happiness of Zion, and of the redeemed of the Lord, is at the bottom of all the dispensations and providences going on throughout the world. Reader, think of this; carry the thought with you wherever you go; bring it into recollection whatever history you read, of the nations that are past, or of the nations now existing; and while the solemn thought is deeply impressed both upon your mind and my own, oh! for grace to inquire and search diligently, whether we are of the true Israel of God? If we are not of this world, but Jesus hath chosen us out of the world, what have we to do with its customs, and its pleasures and pursuits? Surely we cannot have a more decided testimony, than when sitting aloof from all its unnecessary concerns. If Jesus be our portion, then our intimacy will not be great with those, who have their portion only in this life. O how sweetly doth Jesus call to his hidden ones, who dwell indeed, but do not belong, to the men of Tyre, and of Zidon, in the present day: Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising