in accordance with its spirit. As life could not be taken away in any manner without God, apparently the most accidental, he said, when ordering their jurisprudence, "If a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand, then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee" (Ex. xxi. 13).

This promise was made while the people were yet at the base of Sinai. When the forty years they were to traverse the wilderness had nearly expired, the Lord gave them special directions regarding the cities of refuge; and as he is the source of all mercy, we find, when the land was marking out by lot after its conquest, he commands their appointment-six cities, three of them to be situated on the eastward of Jordan, and three westward of that river. They were within half a day's journey of every part of the land; the roads to them were always to be kept in good repair, and all along at intervals, way-posts, inscribed "Refuge," were set up, lest he who fled for his life should have a moment's hesitation; he had been guilty of murder-one of the greatest crimes; the nearest kinsman of the deceased, the avenger of his blood, commenced pursuit of him with inexorable purpose the instant he heard of his relative's death; he was liable to be taken at every step, until he arrived at the gate of the city of refuge; within its precincts, he was safe. There might be only one manslayer in the whole nation of Israel; years might pass away without there being any, but every child of Adam is in danger, not of the death of the body only, but of the soul; for he has broken the commands

of God equally binding as "Thou shalt not kill;" he has not done everything for the glory of God; he has not obeyed him constantly, nor loved his neighbour faithfully. The penalties of the holy law he has broken pursue him at every step; and death, in a variety of forms, at every moment of the day and night, is ready to bring him under the weight of Divine indignation denounced against all disobedience. Justice is inexorable, but mercy has provided a refuge; and it is Jesus-he says, "Come unto me, and ye shall have life;" "I am the door, by me if any man enter in he shall be saved." O sinner! flee from "the wrath to come." As the panting traveller hurried on to the privileged city, and, regardless of distance, or the relaxing energies of his wearied limbs, rested not till within its walls; so give not sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids, till you are by faith at the cross of Jesus; then you shall have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to that blessed hope set before us.* Joshua was a type of Messiah in conquerJudg. xvi. ing numerous foes, and in bringing his people into the promised land-but he never warred alone; he was always accompanied by brave commanders, many

Samson.

* Avenging murder upon the next of kin is practised at the present day by a numerous people, whose origin and characteristics are given in the Bible-the Arabs, but sometimes upon an innocent person, if the guilty one cannot be found. An affecting instance of this occurred some years ago, as a caravan with travellers to Judea was crossing the great desert. An Arab had been murdered, and his next of kin, assisted by his tribe, arose to avenge it. The sheik of the caravan was observed to be in great depression of mind, and anxious to proceed as quickly as possible, and to get into concealed places; strange Arabs were seen hovering about with dark looks and angry mutterings. The next morning, the obliging, courageous sheik was found dead, covered with many wounds.

soldiers-the host of Israel. In the life and death of the athletic and unhappy Samson, the type is completed, for he was always a single combatant; and in him we are foreshown Messiah when he "trod the winepress alone, and of the people there was none with him." Samson slew more at his death than all he slew in his life; so the death of Messiah was the climax of his victories-for then Satan and his hosts, as well as wicked men, were defeated, although that was their "hour and the power of darkness;" for he arose unharmed from the tomb; thenceforth salvation through his death has been proclaimed, by which the captives of Satan are set free, and the enemies of righteousness are destroyed.

Samuel.

When Samuel was about twelve years of 1 Sam. iii. age, the Lord called him by name from above the mercy-seat, and revealed to him his purpose regarding the family of Eli. Samuel's piety was as eminent as it was early, being an humble resemblance of him who at the same age "must be about his Father's business,” and who astonished all who heard one so young, "at his understanding and his answers.'

Samuel, as a prophet, received many revelations from God, which he delivered to the people, and thus foretold future events, and instructed them. As a priest, he offered sacrifices; and he was judge, or chief magistrate over Israel, until Saul was made king. He united three offices in his person, and was a type of Messiah, as the Prophet, Priest, and King of his Church, and of each believer.

David.-1 Sam. xvi.

Many occasional prophecies there were, but Samuel was the first of a successive line of prophets to predict Messiah. The prophet Samuel anointed David to be the future king of Israel, when he was taking care of his father's sheep. Seven years after, he was anointed in Hebron, and began to reign over Judah. In seven years and a half more, he was again anointed king over all Israel. From his humble, sincere, fervent piety, and loving spirit to his enemies, as well as friends, he was called the man after God's own heart. In him much was blended to make known Messiah-his name David (beloved) is one of his by which the Father spoke of him to the world. The promise of his birth to the patriarchs was, that it should be amongst their descendants; that promise was now limited to the family of David.

Although it was the poor man's condition he was pleased to take when he dwelt on earth, the honours of noble birth also were his, for he was descended from an ancient and royal line. David was eminently a type of him as a King. Christ was anointed not with oil, but with the Holy Spirit, on the day of his entrance upon his public ministry. David subdued his enemies, and ruled over a willing people; so Christ subdues the enmity of the human heart to his government, and makes a people willing to serve him "in the day of his power."

Many of the circumstances of David's life as a monarch, were such a portraiture of the vicissitudes of his glorious descendant, that in writing the Psalms, he often interweaves them, until compelled to drop the notice of his

own career, by the surpassing greatness of the King who shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever. Some of them are wholly a description of him and of his Church; in many of them those themes are more briefly introduced. One name given to the Church is taken from the name of David's city-Zion.

Brook Kidron.

David, in a time of great affliction—fleeing 2 Sam. xv. 23. from the conspiracy of his son, passed over brook Kidron, and so wide-spread and deeply felt were his sorrows by his faithful subjects, that they in all the surrounding country wept. In this, he was a type of him whose griefs must not be undeplored, who passed over the same brook when his soul was "exceeding sorrowful, even unto death;" and although the Jews as a nation, and their rulers, were so callous, yet many wept and bewailed his sufferings.

Messiah's throne

In this psalm, David's mind was carried established from the contemplation of the enemies he Psalm ii. might have when seated on the throne of Israel, to the opposition the king should meet who was coming to govern the dispositions of men-to subdue pride, and implant humility and contrition of heart-to make hatred yield to benevolence and love; earthly-mindedness to heavenly thoughts and desires,-to turn them from the paths of sin and sorrow, and guide them into the ways of holiness and peace. These changes were not desired by the inhabitants of earth; they were incensed against him who came with irresistible power to make them; but with what reason could the unhappy and ignorant worshippers