that in other places, particularly Zech. v. 3. the word NAKAH fignifieth TO MAKE VOID, and TO CUT OFF, by altering the tranflation of these words, puts them in a posture of looking directly at the goodness of God, and not with an oblique glance. He renders them thus, EVACUATING, CUTTING OFF, or DESTROYING; he will not evacuate, cut off, or destroy; visiting the iniquities of the father upon the children unto the third and fourth generation: Making this the fense, "So great is God's goodness, that even when he is angry, and punisheth, yet he will not utterly overthrow He vifiteth, indeed, the fins of the fathers upon the children; but it is to the third or fourth generation only, not forever." Now, according to this interpretation (which, for ought I know, may be well received) the expreffions import an eighth branch of divine goodness, viz. CLEMENCY IN CORRECTING, here fet forth by a general declaration, and by a particular inftance: First, By a general declaration, in thefe words, VENAKKEH LO JENAKKEH, deftroying he will not deftroy; that is, altogether, * &c. Though this last view of the words be plaufible, I do not fee any reafon for going into it. It is undeniably certain, that the fubject of which God fpeaks is SIN, rather than ungodly men, or his ownL

* Dr Arrowfmith's Armilla Catechetica, p. 223. et

people: And that which he declarés concerning it is, That HE DOES NOT APPROVE OF IT ;—he must neceffarily CONDEMN IT; as he is of PURER EYES THAN TO BEHOLD EVIL.

-Laftly, He is "the Lord God-VISITING

AND

THE INIQUITIES OF THE FATHERS UPON THE CHILDREN UNTO THE THIRD FOURTH GENERATION *." Here it Here it may be proper to enquire, What we are to understand by VISITING; and how fuch a vifitation can confift with the rectoral juftice of God? Divines are not a little divided about the extent of this punishment, whether it be temporal or eternal. And there is fome difficulty in reconciling this character, which God takes to himself, with that declaration which he makes concerning his government: "The fon fhall not bear the iniquity of the father." To remove which, fome alledged, that Ezekiel fpeaks of eternal punishment, and Mofes of that which is merely temporal: But this folution does not appear to be folid. The perfons to whom Ezekiel addreffed himfelf, taxed the divine government with injustice, in punishing that generation for the iniquities of former ones: The prophet, therefore, gave them to know, that they were far from being innocent in their own perfons. Ezekiel fpeaks of temporal punishment, then, as well as Mofes; even the Babylonifh captivity, and all concomitant plagues. The perfons

Exod. xxxiv. 7.

Ezek. xviii. 20.

vifited,

vifited, I humbly judge, are fuch as are partakers of their father's fins by IMITATION, not by IMPUTATION: And the vifitation is not merely temporal, but alfo eternal. It is not to be wondered at, if perfons, who ferve themfelves heirs unto their father's fins, by walking in their ways, be vifited with fuch plagues as thefe iniquities incur: For example, The pofterity of Cain were not only punished with the flood, but alfo by being caft out of the Church, when their father was caft out from THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.-The justice and equity of this procedure will appear, if we confider that children have guilt enough of their own to procure all the vengeance inflicted on them: And their guilt is particularly aggravated, as they did not take warning by the dreadful example of their ancestors; but ftill profecuted their fatal courfes *.

2. THE other party is Mofes, and all Ifrael with him: "After the tenor of thefe words I have made a covenant with thee, and with Ifrael t." The various capacities and relations in which they ftood; and the various branches of their character, have been confidered in the

* Vid. ZANCHIUM, De Lege Dei. De Secundo precapto. p. 272, 273. CALVINUM, Harmon. Pentateuch in Precapt. Secund. DURHAM on the Second Command

ment.

+ Exod. xxxiv. 27.

Sf 2

former

former part of this Differtation: Wherefore, I proceed,

SECONDLY, To confider the CONTENTS of this Covenant, which are,

I. A SOLEMN declaration, on the part of the Son of God, on the one part.

1. HE declared, " before all the people, I will do marvels, fuch as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art fhall fee the work of the Lord: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee *." Some expofitors explain this promife of all the miracles done for them in the wildernefs, and in putting them into poffeffion of Canaan: But, to me, the bleffing intended appears to be, God's gracious prefence, for which Mofes made fuch earneft interceffion in behalf of the congregation. The work of Jehovah is faid to be MARVELLOUS and TERRIBLE. The first of thefe terms is not always taken in a bad fense: Sometimes it denotes gracious and miraculous operations in favour of his Church, as well as his And the aVengeance on his enemies †.

bode of the Son of God in the pillar of fire, and in the pillar of cloud, was marvellous in the eyes of all Ifrael: Nor was it more terrible

*Exod. xxxiv. 10. + Pfal. xl. 5. cxviii. 23.

to

to the Church than comforting to every genuine believer. The other term is expreffive of that reverence and regard which is due unto the perfon and work of Jehovah: And the phrafe might, with full as much propriety, be rendered, "It is a venerable thing;" or, "He is a venerable. perfon whom I am adorning unto thee *."

2. HE renewed the promise of victory over the nations of Canaan. This promife was firft made to Abraham, and had been often renewed to his feed, as we have feen. The renovation of it, at this time, was an amazing proof of divine faithfulness and fovereignty to his people: Though they rebelled against him, yet he did not deliver them into the hands of their enemies; but ftill gave them a new affurance of victory over them.

* The term denotes VENERABLE as well as terrible, Gen. xxviii. 17. Exod. xv..11. And that which our translators render THING is N, or else they supply it Either of which are abfurd. It is much more proper to understand it of a PERSON than of a THING: And no other perfon can be understood, or intended, than the Angel of the Covenant, who dwelt in the bufh, and in the most holy place.-That which is promised concerning this perfon is, to PREPARE and ADORN him. Y "Interdum ORNATUS eft magis eft quam affectionis," G. Robertfon, Thefaur. in vocem. Now, the preparation of the habitation of the Shechinah to dwell in the congregation of Ifrael, was a folemn prelude of the PREPARATION of Chrift's human nature, which was decorated by the Father, that his divine nature might tabernacle in it in the fulness of time.

ON