BY JOHN FLAVEL.
THE Word prohibits your trust and confidence in the creature, even the greatest and most powerful among creatures (Ps. cxlvi. 3). It tells us it is better to trust in the Lord than in them (Ps. exviii. 8). It forbids our confidence in those creatures that are most nearly allied and related in the bonds of nature to us (Mic. vii. 5). It curseth the man that gives that reliance to the creature which is due to God (Jer. xvii. 5).
Consult the events of providence in this case, and see whether the Word be not verified therein. Did you ever lean upon an Egyptian reed, and it did not break under you, and pierce as well as deceive you? Oh, how often hath this been evident in our experience! Whatsoever we have over-loved, idolised, and leaned upon, God hath from time to time broken it, and made us to see the vanity of it; so that we find that the readiest course to be rid of our comforts is to set our hearts inordinately or immoderately upon them: for our God is a jealous God, and will not part with His glory to another. The world is full of examples of persons deprived of their comforts, husbands, wives, children and estates upon this account, and by this means. If Jonah be overjoyed in his gourd, a worm is presently prepared to smite it. Hence it is that so many graves are opened for the burying of our idols out of sight. If David say: “My mountain shall stand strong, I shall not be moved,” the next news we shall hear is of darkness and trouble (Ps. xxx. 6, 7). Oh, how true and faithful do we find these sayings of God to be! Who cannot put to his seal and say: “Thy Word is truth” (John xvii. 17).—Divine Conduct or the Mystery of Divine Providence.
In the family of grace there is discipline, and that discipline is severe enough to make it an evil and a bitter thing to sin. Our present grief is meant to bring us to repentance, that we may not be destroyed with the wicked.—C. H. Spurgeon.