nowned and mighty kingdoms of the earth, DISC.

was appointed to be the fcene, first of the
chastisement, and then of the deliverance of
the people of GOD, by a series of the most
aftonishing miracles that ever were wrought
in favour of Ifrael. A new king arose, who
knew not Jofeph, but looked with an evil
eye on the profperity of the church, as
likely in time to prove detrimental to the
ftate, forgetting that GoD protects those
who protect her. Worldly wisdom chofe
rather to risk his difpleasure by oppreffing
her, by fetting over her taskmafters to afflict
her with burdens, and by making the lives
of her children bitter with hard bondage.
But the fighs and cries of the afflicted
church came up
before God, and the ven-
geance of Heaven foon demonstrated the
folly of the Egyptian politics. The Lord
awaked as one out of fleep, and made bare
his arm in the defence of his people. The
wretched monarch ftill withstood the power
which controlled all the operations of na-
ture, and hardened his heart against the
goodness which by fo doing called him to
repent-

VOL. III.

Y

XV.

DISC. repentance. The event was, as it ever will XV. be in the end, that the church was deli

vered, and her oppreffors destroyed. The Egyptians fank like lead in the mighty waters, while Ifrael, ftanding triumphant on the oppofite fhore, fang hallelujahs to the Lord GOD omnipotent.

Ifrael thus brought out of Egypt was conducted through the wilderness, the fame Lord being her light and her salvation, her fupport and refreshment, and came to the borders of Canaan at the precife time when the iniquity of the Amorites was full, and the harvest ready for the fickle. The judgment therefore determined was executed upon them by the sword of Joshua, or rather the fword of God in his hand. For as it was Jehovah who "overthrew Pharaoh "and his hoft in the Red Sea," and "led

his people through the wilderness," fo was it he who "fmote great nations, and flew mighty kings, Sihon king of "the Amorites, and Og the king of Bafan, " and all the kingdoms of Canaan." The

promife,

promise, "I will never leave thee nor for- DISC.

fake thee," was made good. The power of faith prevailed to the cafting down of strong holds, and the blast of the trumpets from the mouths of the priests, founded by divine command, was fufficient to level the walls of Jericho.

After the settlement of the people in the promised inheritance, the nations around them were from time to time made the instruments of punishing them when they rebelled against the Lord their God. When they returned to him, his favour returned to them, the light of his countenance quickly dispelled the darkest clouds of public calamity, and brake forth upon them by the means of deliverers raised up to chastise the infolence of their enemies, and restore peace and profperity to Ifrael. But the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, of Jepthah, and of David, who having fubdued all his enemies, left his fon Solomon in a manner univerfal monarch over the whole earth, all the kings of which, as it

XV.

DISC. is faid in the book of Chronicles, fought

XV.

his presence. And indeed the glory of his reign fo far exceeds that of any which we hear of before or after it, that Ifrael in his days feems intended to give us fome idea of the church triumphant, as she will appear when, the last enemy being vanquished, and death fwallowed up in victory, the son of David fhall manifeft himself in the new Jerufalem as the prince of peace, and reign for ever and ever, king of kings, and lord of lords.

From this time, we find the Almighty employing, in their turns, the four great monarchies, to protect or annoy, to cherish or chaftife the church, as there was occafion. And we hear him making in effect by his prophets the fame declaration concerning each of them, that he made before by the mouth of Mofes concerning Pharaoh. “In

very deed, for this caufe have I raised

thee up, to fhew in thee my power, and "that my name may be declared through "all the earth.”

The

XV.

The idolatries and iniquities of the ten DISC. tribes, confequent upon their defection from the house of David, and the temple at Jerufalem, called for vengeance. And lo! the Affyrian stands ready to execute it, waiting only for the divine command. At the time appointed it is given. The Lord lifteth up an enfign to the nations from afar, and muftereth the hofts to the battle, making them the weapons of his indignation to destroy the whole land. Because the children of Ifrael had finned against the Lord their GOD, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, therefore the Lord was very angry with Ifrael, and removed them out of his fight. They returned no more to that pleasant land, nor faw again their native country. What a fine inftance does the Affyrian afford us of the manner in which Providence, ufing the inftrumentality of man's free choice foreseen, caufes all the fchemes of worldly politicians to work together for the accomplishment of his defigns, while they are only attending to their own interefts!