The various miracles wrought during the Babylonish captivity, strange as they may appear to have been, vindicate their authenticity by the circumstances which called them forth; and by the beneficial purposes to which they were subservient. It was through their operation that the divine plan received its final accomplishment.

Notwithstanding the miracles recorded in the old Testament appear, in their collected state, to have been numerous, yet when we reflect that not less than fifteen centuries elapsed, from -the commencement to the final accomplishment of the divine plan, respecting the Jewish nation, we have reason to be surprised at the comparative paucity of their number. After those occasional appearances to the patriarchs, natural causes were permitted to operate for a series of years, without any ostensible intervention of the Almighty. In the cruel treatment received by Joseph from his brethren; his being sold for a slave; being stationed in the house of Potiphar; his exciting the impure desires of a lascivious woman by his personal attractions; and his subsequent imprisonment from a spirit of -revenge, we perceive the subserviency of human passions to the purposes of God. When Joseph Ffo

was raised by the immediate interposition of providence from a dungeon, and placed next to the throne of his sovereign, he was recompensed for his distinguished virtue, and rendered a public blessing by the wisdom of his administration; and a new train of events was again made to prepare the way for the promotion of the great plan, apparently according to the natural course of things. The famine in Egypt, and in the neighbouring countries, became the occa sional cause of an interview between Joseph and his brethren, which issued in the removal of Jacob and his family from their native land, and was thus introductive of a new and important epoch. The contempt in which the occupation of an herdsman was held by the Egyptians, and the Hebrews being, for several generations, in a state of abject slavery, preserved the race from becoming deeply contaminated by the Egyptian superstitions, without any obvious necessity for a miraculous interference; nor do we learn that it was exerted. Although a rapid series of miracles was manifestly necessary, to liberate these people from a state of bondage; and many difficulties were to be surmounted by supernatural means, as laws were to be instituted and habits formed, before their introduction into the land promised to their fathers, yet

the midst of these divine interpositions, a gular economy of miracles, if we may use the irase, is observable. Thus the miraculous pply of manna was continual, because it was ntinually necessary, being a substitute for rain and pulse; when the people became staonary, and had leisure to slay their cattle, the rovision of Quails was suspended; but it reurned when they were upon the journey. The ommunications to Moses the leader and legisator, were perpetual and abundant, because very institution was to be introduced and esablished, by his instrumentality; but when established, it was expected to operate according co its latent powers. Divine communications accordingly became less necessary, and were more sparingly granted to the succeeding prophets; yet they were always proportionate to the exigencies of the case. The history of all the kings of Israel manifests, that from the introduction of a monarchical form of government, to the Babylonish captivity, that is, during the space of about four hundred years, natural causes were permitted to operate in a powerful manner, with varied effects. But when the grand plan was in danger, and miraculous intervention became necessary; and when human propensities and follies plunged this people into idolatrous practices, to a degree

which threatened a total apostasy, then, and then only, were they checked in their sinful career by preternatural interpositions. The miracles performed during the Babylonish captivity were few, but momentous; and they operated according to the natural influence of striking events, upon the minds of their sovereigns the Chaldeans, upon surrounding nations, as well as upon the captives.

It is also remarkable that, in the performance of these miracles, natural means were rendered the mediums of operation, wherever there was an obvious adaptation. In the miracles performed before Pharaoh, many of the judgments inflicted corresponded with the calamities incident to the climate of Egypt, and the peculiarities of the country.* The miracle consisted in the extent and boundaries of their operation; the most distressing of them being confined to the Egyptians; their being produced upon a particular occasion, and to answer a particular purpose;-being predicted;-a pause being allowed for consideration, and their being removed at the instant of intercession. When the destructive swarms of locusts were introduced, Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east * See Note P.

wind all that day, and all that night, and when it was morning the east wind brought the locusts." Upon the temporary remorse, and at. the earnest intreaty of the panic-struck Pharaoh, "the Lord turned a mighty west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red Sea; there remained not one locust in all the land of Egypt." The passage of the Israelites through the Red Sea was in like manner effected by the power of an eastern wind, which prepared a dry path, and it was by the influence of a western wind that the waters were made to return opportunely, and overwhelm their pursuers.

These modes, adopted by the great God of Israel, are perfectly consonant with his character as the sovereign agent through universal nature; but they are directly contrary to the expectations of the inconsiderate, and the pretensions of every impostor. He who has pre-ordained whatever shall come to pass, reveres his own wise arrangements; he will not interrupt the course he has appointed, until the exigencies or follies of mankind, shall have rendered a temporary interference necessary for the object in view, and most conducive to their good nor will he exert new powers where those in existence can be rendered efficient. Silly mortals

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