, to minister
unto him. This should continue--they should remain a religious family.
Men of piety should always be found among them.

When the prophet had laid these matters before the Jews, he made the
application, and denounced the judgments of God against them, unless
they turned by repentance. "Thus faith the Lord of Hosts, the God of
Israel, Go, and tell the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem--Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words?
Saith the Lord. The words of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, that he
commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day
they drink none, but obey their father's commandment: Notwithstanding
I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened
not unto me."

The prophet then proceeded to remind them of the warnings which had
been given them, and the means which had been used with them, and to
denounce the judgments of God against them--"Thus saith the Lord of
Hosts, the God of Israel, I will bring upon Judah, and upon all the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, all the evil that I have pronounced
against them; because I have spoken unto them, but they have not
heard; and have called unto them, but they have not answered."

If we consider the state of that people, and the advantages which
they had neglected and abused, we shall be convinced that their guilt
was attended with many aggravations--no other people had so many
advantages and means of information; and few beside were equally
depraved.

The family of Rechab might rise up against them and condemn them. That
family had been long obedient to a man like themselves--the
Jews had been disobedient to the God who is above. Jonadab was dead
--if his descendants disregarded his injunctions, he might have no
power to punish their disobedience; but the God of Israel lived--was
acquainted with all their crimes, and able to punish their sin upon
them. Neither doth it appear that the Rechabites had ever been
reminded of the orders of their progenitor, or their obligation to
obey him; but the Jews had been often reminded of their duty; in the
stated, and ordinary means of grace they were daily reminded of their
obligation to obey God; and he had also sent all his servants the
prophets, to call them to repentance; neither had God required such
self denials of his people, as Jonadab of his posterity--yet Jonadab
had been obeyed, and God had been disobeyed! His people "would not
receive instruc