Jeremiah 8:22

REFLECTIONS

BEHOLD my soul, from the perusal of this Chapter, what a poor, ignorant, unthinking, and improvident creature is man! The birds of the air, and the beasts of the field, do, by instinct, what man by reason, now in his fallen state doth not do. If the winter approacheth, the swallow seeks a warmer climate. If a storm falls, the cattle flee to the barn, or to the hedge for shelter. But neither the winter of life, nor the storm of threatened judgments, prevail upon the sinner, void of grace, to flee from the wrath to come.

But is not the Lord in Zion? Is not her King in her? Shall there be balm in Gilead, and yet no remedy be applied? Shall Jesus indeed, the great Physician be there; and the health of his redeemed not be recovered? Oh! let thy name, thou dear Lord, be as ointment poured forth, that by the quickening and regenerating influences of thy blessed Spirit, such views of our misery, by reason of the fall, may open before us, and such a sense of thy suitability to all our wants may appear, and become desirable; that apprehending thee by faith, in thy Person, work, and offices, and in all thy relations, righteousness, and grace, our souls may find a recovery. Speak blessed Lord to my heart, to my conscience; and while thou speakest, in the same tender words as of old, to the diseased; wilt thou be made whole? Oh! give me grace and faith, in lively exercise, to answer and to believe, and to depend upon thy sovereign, power to heal. Oh! let me know thee by that precious name, Jehovah Rophe! And let me hear thy gracious voice as to Israel, saying, I am the Lord that healeth thee! Amen.