nefs, difplaying the most amiable fimplicity of man-` ners, and unfeigned mutual love, in the exercises of well-doing. Upon all this glory

Shall be a defence. The word translated defence, is ́ derived from one that fignifies to cover. In this fenfe it is used by the patriarch Jacob; who fays concerning his fon Benjamin, The Lord fhall cover him all the day long. The word before us fignifies a covering, and, by an eafy tranfition, a defence, for which purpose a covering is frequently intended. The ex-, preffion, as already hinted, alludes to the cloud which: covered the tabernacle of old, wherein was the ark,, the glory of Ifrael, which prefigured the true glory of the church. As that cloud formed a covering, or defence, upon the ark, fo the almighty God, whofe peculiar prerogative is to give existence to things which formerly had not a being, and to form things of preexiftent matter, which had not the leaft tendency to become what it is formed; in like manner, I fay, the all-powerful God will create a defence upon his people's glory. This defence fhall be extended, in a peculiar manner, to their immortal fpirits; for the Lord fhall preferve them from all evil: he fhall preferve their fouls. Their bodies alfo are under his protection; for he keepeth all their bones, not one of them is broken. Over their reputation he likewife forms a defence; for thou, Lord, fhalt keep them in fecret as in a pavilion, from the ftrife of tongues. About their houfes and poffeffions he maketh an hedge, in which there is not one gap through which an adverfary may enter. As the mountains are 'round about Jerufalem, fo the Lord is round about his people, from henceforth even for ever t. No weapon formed agaiaft them,' however fharp, and actively employed, fhall ever profpert. Let all thofe then who put their truft in God, rejoice: let ⚫ them ever fhout for joy; because thou, Lord, de

6

• Deut. xxxiii. 12. + Pfal. cxxv, 2. G g

+ Ifaiah liv. 17.
•fendeft

fendeft them: let them alfo who love thy name, be joyful in thee. For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous, with favour wilt thou compass him as with a 'fhield.'Truft then in God at all times: ye people, pour out your hearts before him: God is a refuge in the Lord is our defence. Among men the defence of their glory and privileges cofts very dear. That we may be protected by government, we fupport it with a confiderable portion of our property: whereas God is gracioufly pleased to create a defence upon our highest glory; and only requir eth, that we ask his protection, truft in him for fafe ty, and use the means he hath prescribed.

6 And there fhall be a tabernacle for a fhadow in the day-time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from ftorm and from rain,

The subject introduced in the preceding verfe is here amplified.Under the former difpenfation, the church enjoyed the privilege of a tabernacle, made by divine appointment, according to the pattern which God fhewed to Mofes in the Mount. After the children of Ifrael entered the wilderness, and received the law from Mount Sinai, they were employed in providing materials for this ftructure; which were curiously wrought, and richly ornamented, by Bezaleel, under the infpection of the Jewish lawgiver; who ordered every thing relative to its beauty, order, and ornaments, as the Lord commanded. The hiftory of its erection is the chief fubject of the latter part of the book of Exodus. This tabernacle was intended to be a visible pledge of the prefence of God among that people, which conftituted their protection and defence, as we learn from the prayer presented to God, at its removal from one place to another, recorded Numb. x. 35, 36. In this view, it proved the means of confirming the faith and hope of Ifrael in the di

* Pfal. v. 11, 12.

vine prefence, and powerful protection of Jehovah. It was the place appointed for the performance of all the ordinances of divine worship, where the book of the law was kept, where the people brought their offerings, and the priests prefented them before the Lord in the manner they were directed. It was the sanctuary and dwelling-place of the Most High, where he met with his people, converfed with them, and fanctified them by his glory; which afforded them a powerful motive to awe and reverence for God, and to holiness and purity of conduct, Above all, it was chiefly defigned to be a continual representation, and inftructive type, of the Son of God's dwelling upon earth, in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man, as a glorious demonstration of his love and grace. In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead; through him all his peculiar people have accefs to God, with their fpiritual facrifices; from him they enjoy the most agreeable protection; and by him they have the most fubftantial proof of the love of God, which paffeth knowledge. This is the true tabernacle, of which, we fuppofe, our prophet speaks, when he fortels, that it fhall be

For a fhadow in the day-time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain. The heat of perfecution, which was to distress the church of Jesus Christ, at the period to which this prophecy looked forward, is doubtlefs the heat here meant. It arofe from the intense hatred of the kings and princes of the earth, glowing with indignation against the disciples of the Son of God; and from the fiery darts of the evil one, which were directed against them. These things are very properly fignified by the heat of the fun, which fcorches thofe who are exposed to its penetrating rays without fhadow or covering, efpecially in warm eaftern countries. In like manner, those who are exposed to the heat of perfecution, are haraffed and tortured by inftruments of cruelty, uniefs protected by fome kind hand. By the storm

and

and the rain may be intended, thofe awful divine judg ments, and general calamities, fuch as war, famine, peftilence, and the like, whereby God corrects the nations, and chaftens them for their fins. Like a storm, and a deluge of rain, they spread defolation and ruin wherever they fall, and are attended with many dreadful confequences. Hence the awful declaration, Upon 6 the wicked he fhall rain fnares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempeft: this fhall be the portion of their cup*. Alluding to the fame metaphors, God, by the prophet Ezekiel, threatened to punish the land of Magog: And I will plead against him with peftilence and with blood, and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailftones, fire and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myfelf, and fanctify myfelf, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they fhall know that C I am the Lord.'-In fuch calamitous feafons it is foretold, that the great Meffiah fhall be for a fhadow, a place of refuge, and a covert

In warm climates, where the fcorching rays of the fun beat with great vehemence on the weary traveller, ready to faint with heat, a fhadow is highly valued. Hence the Hebrew word tranflated defence (Numb. xiv. 9.), fignifies alfo a fhadow, as you fee it rendered on the margent of fome of your Bibles. The Son of God, by tabernacling among men, in human nature, interpofed between them and the hot difpleasure of the Almighty, which they had incurred by tranfgreffion.This tabernacle is likewife foretold shall be a place of refuge. The expreffion may allude to the cities of refuge, appointed under the law; of which we read, Numb. xxxv. 11.-14. Thefe were erected, by divine appointment, upon confpicuous high grounds, where they might be feen at a great diftance: they were to be fo fituated, that a perfon might reach one of them in a fhort time, from the + Ezek. xxxviii. 22, 23.

* Pfal. xi. 6.

moft

moft diftant corner of the land: they were required to be cities of the Levites, from whom thofe who fled thither might enjoy the benefit of inftruction: the roads leading to them were ordered to be made good; and ftones fet up, to give direction to those who reforted thither for protection. Such a place of refuge is the true tabernacle here spoken of, which is the only fufficient fanctuary from ftorm and rain. It was erected by divine appointment; and elevated, that it might draw all men unto it: thither men are commanded to flee for refuge: the way is clearly marked out in the gospel, by which the prisoners of hope are to turn to this strong-hold, where they are affured of inftruction, which fhall make wife unto falvation.Thefe predictions received a partial accomplishment, in the peace and fafety which the churches in Judea, Samaria, Galilee, and other places enjoyed, under the special protection of divine providence, and the extraordinary proofs with which they were favoured of God's gracious prefence. And afterward, when the heat of perfecution arofe, Jefus Chrift afforded comfortable shelter and defence to his church, and preferved it from thofe fevere judgments which overturned the Jewish state. And bleffed be God, that, in following ages, the church of Chrift hath happily experienced the farther fulfilment of these promises, the completion of which we are ftill admitted to behold.Let us be deeply fenfible of our need of these precious bleffings: let us highly prize them, and earnestly feek to enjoy them. It is only thofe who are weary, that will feek reft: it is only thofe who fee they are in danger, that will flee to a place of refuge: it is only they who are convinced a ftorm is approaching, that will look for fhelter. Affected with a deep fenfe of the divine difpleafure to which we are expofed by fin, let us have immediate recourse to Jefus Chrift, repofe ourfelves under his refreshing fhadow, and thankfully accept of the refuge and covert he affords from inpending calamity and danger.

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