Jeremiah 13:27

REFLECTIONS

MY soul! while reading the sad history of the Church, in this period of it, and beholding Jerusalem as a marred girdle and a bottle spoiled; oh learn from hence what nature is in itself in all ages; when the preventing and restraining grace of God is withheld! How poor, and weak, and blind, and wretched! Oh! thou who alone canst keep from falling; give me Lord I pray thee grace, that darkness come not, and my feet stumble not upon the dark mountains!

And shall not my soul take occasion from the review of this solemn Chapter, to look up to Jesus with encreasing earnestness, and beg of him for Zion in the present day? Dost thou say Lord now as thou didst by thy servant the Prophet then; where is the flock that was given, the beautiful flock? Behold it Lord, I would say, let thine eye pity and compassionate it. It is indeed scattered in this dark and cloudy day. But wilt thou not gather it, and bring it home, and build it up, and command pastors after thine own heart, to feed it with true understanding and knowledge? Oh! precious Lord Jesus, thou great Shepherd of thy sheep; be not wrath very sore, neither remember iniquity forever. Behold! see we are all thy people.