Judges 13:21-23

The effect upon the minds of those persons was as might be expected. Never will the soul lay lower, than in the moment of receiving signal mercies. It is difficult to say, which to admire most, the fear of the man, or the faith of the woman. Nothing can be more admirably expressed, than the well-grounded confidence of the woman. Surely the Lord's acceptation of an offering, must carry with it a conviction of love to the person offering? And never, at such a time as this, when there was no open vision, would the Lord have shewed them such gracious things, had he not intended mercy. Reader! do not overlook the personal instruction this view of the subject brings. If you have ever tasted that the Lord is gracious: if you have been let into the sweets of God's grace in Jesus: if in times past you have been led to view the loveliness of Jesus, and have seen a suitableness and an all-sufficiency in Him for salvation: seek for that sweet office of the Holy Ghost, I mean as the Remembrancer of Jesus, to live upon these things, when you cannot see them. Recollect, that though your views differ, Jesus is the same. carry these things about with you, to help the mind in a dark and cloudy day. And learn to say, as the wife of Manoah did, If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have shewed such things, neither have received Christ, the great sacrifice, at your hands.