persion were also threatened to their posterity, that is, if they should go on in the same spirit of rebellion, and fill up the measure of their fathers' iniquities; which they have since done, and are accordingly" overthrown among the nations, and scattered

among the lands" to this day. But do not thou suffer us, O LORD, to despise that " pleasant land," which thou designest to be the inheritance of thy saints; whatever obstructions may be thrown in our way, suffer us not, through sloth and cowardice, to "disbelieve thy word," to doubt the accomplishment of thy promises, or to "murmur" against thy dispensations.

28. They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead. 29. Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions; and the plague brake in upon them. 30. Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgement; and so the plague was stayed. 31. And that was counted unto him for righteousness, unto all generations for

evermore.

By Balaam's advice, Numb. xxxi. 16. the Moabites and Midianites sent their daughters among the people of Israel, who soon yielded to the temptation, and fornication ended in idolatry; nay, perhaps it might be a part of the Moabitish ritual; as we know it was among the religious services paid by the latter Heathens to some of their deities. By the "sacrifices " of the dead," may be meant sacrifices which were offered either to dead idols, or to men deified after death. To punish this apostasy, the wrath of Jehovah went forth, and 24,000 perished by the plague,

which at length ceased, when Phinehas had "exe"cuted judgement" upon Zimri and Cosbi, who seemed, indeed, to call aloud for it, by indulging their lawless passions in the midst of so grievous a calamity, at a time when the whole congregation were humbling themselves before God at the door of the tabernacle. "Wherefore," saith God, "be"hold I give unto him my covenant of peace; and " he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the "covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he "was zealous for his God, and made an atonement "for the children of Israel:" Numb. xxv. 12. It is most probable, as Dr. Hammond observes, that Phinehas, being the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, was one of the judges of Israel; and if so, he had a clear commission for what he did, from Moses, who had said to the judges of Israel, Slay

ye every one his man, that were joined to Baal"peor:" Numb. xxv. 5. The case of Phinehas, therefore, is no precedent for uncommissioned zealots. In general we learn from this part of the sacred history, how accepsable to God is a well-timed zeal for his service; as also, how dangerous it is to converse too freely with those of the other sex, especially when they have been educated in a false religion, or in no religion at all.

32. They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: 33. Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

This instance of disobedience was, in point of time, prior to that mentioned in the preceding verses.

It is related, Numb. xx. 2-13. The spirit of Moses, though he was the meekest man upon earth, was so exasperated and imbittered by continual murmurings and rebellions, that he is charged with "not having believed God, to sanctify him in the eyes of the children of Israel;" and he was, on that account, denied the honour of bringing them into the land of promise. He had been commanded to smite the rock, that water might come forth. In anger he smote it twice, thus upbraiding the people: "Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out "of this rock?" He showed not that affiance in God, that disposition to glorify him before his people, which became him in the execution of his office. "The wrath of man" found admission, and that "worketh not the righteousness of God." Thou, blessed Jesus, art the only perfect pattern of patience and love; O grant to all, but above all, to the pastors of thy flock, a "spirit" not easy to be “ provoked,” and lips not hasty to" speak unadvisedly.”

34. They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them: 35. But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. 36. And they served their idols; which were a snare unto them.

When the iniquity of the Canaanites was full, it pleased God to extirpate the race, and Israel was commissioned to execute upon them the vengeance determined. But the conquerors suffered themselves frequently to be seduced into all the abominations of the conquered, and spared their idolatrous altars, till themselves came to bow down before them. Judg. ii.

2, 3. The Canaanites, against whom we Christians militate, are our lusts, which, if they are spared and treated with, will prove "a snare" to us, and in time become our masters. Mercy shown to them is cruelty to ourselves, and will always be found so in the end.

37. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils: 38. And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

It is plain, that the "devils," mentioned in the former of these two verses, are "the idols of Canaan," mentioned in the latter. The word translated" devils," is, literally, "the pourers "forth;" by which it is highly probable, that the idolaters meant the great agents of nature, or the heavens, considered as giving rain, causing the earth to send out springs, and to put forth her increase, vegetables to yield and nourish their fruit, and animals to abound with milk, for the subsistence of their young*. Idolatry being a work of the devil, it is true, in fact, that what is offered to an idol, is offered to the devil; though the word,, doth by no means imply it. We stand astonished, doubtless, at this horrid, barbarous, and unnatural impiety of offering children by fire to a Moloch: but how little is it considered, that children brought up in the ways of ignorance, error, vanity, folly, and vice,

* See the account given of the word by the learned and ingenious Mr. Parkhurst, in his excellent Hebrew-English Lexicon.

are more effectually sacrificed to the great adversary of mankind!

39. Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions. 40. Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people; insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance. 41. And he gave them into the hand of the heathen, and they that hated them ruled over them. 42. Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand. 43. Many times did he deliver them, but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity. 44. Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry. 45. And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies. 46. He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.

This is an epitome of the history of the Israelites, from the time when they took possession of Canaan, downwards. Transgressions brought on chastisements; chastisements produced repentance; and repentance obtained mercy. For their last and grand rebellion against the Son of God, and their King Messiah, whom they murdered, the sore burden of Heaven's displeasure hath now rested upon the nation these seventeen hundred years; but their eyes are not yet opened; their hearts have not, hitherto, relented. How hath the "wrath of Jehovah been "kindled against his people, insomuch that he hath "abhorred his own inheritance!" How hath he

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given them into the hand of the Heathen, and