God's Work
"Then ceased the work of the house of God." - Ezra 4:24 [KJV] Ah, how distressed was Zion, when this decree took place; and yet the history of the church plai nly proves that the hand of the Lord was in it. My soul, are thine exercises sometimes similar? Doth it seem to thee, as if the work of God in thee was at a stand? Nay, as if it was totally over? Pause; recollect there is a set time to favour Zion. Thy Jesus is of one mind, and who can turn Him? He is everlastingly pursuing the designs of His love. And as Zion was graven upon the palms of His hands, and her walls were continually before Him, when she appeared in her most desolate circumstances; so the work of His grace, in the hearts of His people, doth not remit, though, to thy view, all thy promising beginnings seems to be blighted, and, as it seems in thy apprehension, thou findest growing imperfection. And is not Jesus, by this very means, emptying thee of self, and all the pride of self-attainments? Is He not p