So very great was to be the predicted flaughter among the Affyrian troops, which, prior to this event, were exceeding numerous, that few perfons of rank and eminence were to remain: their number should be fo very small, that a child, who hath made very little progress in arithmetic, was to be able to reckon and write them. The event exactly correfponded with this prophecy. The Lord of hofts, as here foretold, kindled a fire under the glory of the king of Affyria, which devoured the greatest part of his army, and ftruck with a panic the few that were left, as you read in the history of this overthrow, recorded 2 Kings xix. 35. and following verses. From this prediction, compared with its accomplishment, we learn this important leffon, That when princes become proud and haughty, however flourishing their condition, however powerful their armies, however extenfive their dominions, and fuccefsful their enterprises, the most high God will certainly abafe and punith them. We know the Lord is greater than all gods; for in the thing wherein they deal proudly, he is above them. Pharaoh king of Egypt boafted, that he would pursue and overtake, divide the spoil of Ifrael, and that his hand should destroy them. What followed this vaunting declaration? God did blow with his wind, the fea covered them, and he and his hoft funk like lead in the mighty waters. Zedekiah

king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and Sennacherib king of Affyria, with many others who walked in pride, have all been humbled and laid low, by him who refifteth the proud. Be wife now therefore, O ye kings: be inftructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling *.' And ye, my brethren, talk no more fo exceeding proudly, let not-arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed t.'

* Pfal. ii. 10. 11.

+1 Sam. ii. 3.

20 ¶ And

20 And it fhall come to pafs in that day, that the remnant of Ifrael, and fuch as are efcaped of the houfe of Jacob, fhall no more again flay upon him that fmote them but fhall ftay upon the LORD, the holy One of Ifrael, in truth.

In this and the following verfe, are defcribed the happy confequences of the awful judgment above foretold, refpecting the ftate of the church of God.After this memorable deliverance wrought for the people of God, they fhould withdraw their dependence from human aid, and place' unfufpecting confidence upon his grace, power, and faithfulnefs, who had miraculoufly faved them from impending deftruction. The feafon marked out for this event is thus exprcffed: And it fhall come to pass in that day, or in those days, or after that day, in which the foregoing prediction fhould be fulfilled. Whether we confider the period of time here intended, as very near to, or more re mote from the calamity it was to fucceed, the words must be understood in one or other of the above fenfes. Immediately after the deftruction of the Affyrian army, the prediction before us was partially fulfilled in the reign of Hezekiah, when the remnant of Ifrael, contemplating the wonderful interpofition of Jehovah in their favour, would no more truft in Affyria for affiftance, but ftayed upon God alone, who faved them when they were in the most perilous circumftances. It received a more full completion long afterward, when the New Teftament difpenfation commenced, at the period to which the apoftle Paul exprefsly applies this passage, in the ninth chapter of his epiftle to the Romans, ver. 27, 28. To both these periods, though very diftant from cach other, this prophecy doubtlefs refers. The former, which was at no great diftance from the time in which it was delivered, might chiefly engrofs the prophet's attention; and the literal accomplishment which it

then

then received, ferved as a fpecimen and proof of its progreffive and more perfect completion, chiefly and ultimately intended by its divine Author.-May this prophecy be fulfilled this day, not only in your ears, but in your hearts and lives, by your renouncing all confidence in an arm of flesh, which exposes to the curfe of God, and trufting with all your heart on the Lord; then fhall you never be difappointed of your hope, nor afhamed of your expectation of expectation of mercy, of seasonable deliverance, and eternal falvation.The fubjects of this prophecy are thus defcribed:

The remnant of Ifrael, and fuch as are escaped of the houfe of Jacob. After God hath punished, in perfect righteoufnefs, the enemies of his glory and the felicity of his people, he always referves to himself a remnant, who, having escaped abounding iniquity and defolating judgments, place their truft in him, and return unto him. In that day, at the time his justice punished the Egyptians, his mercy was extended unto Ifrael. When the idolatrous worship of Baal prevailed through the land of Ifrael, God was pleafed to referve to himself a remnant of feven thoufand, who bowed not the knee to that idol. After the Affyrians were overthrown, the houfe of Jacob efcaped. Af ter the Medes and Perfians laid Babylon and her land defolate, In those days, and at that time, faith the Lord, the children of Ifrael fhall come, they and the children of Judah together, and feek the Lord their God: they fhall afk the way to Zion with their faces thitherward *.' After the commencement of the New Teftament difpenfation, and the enemies of the Son of God were overwhelmed by defolating calamities, a remnant, a few remaining of a great number, were faved, as the apostle Paul declares, in the paffage above mentioned: Though the num ber of the children of Ifrael be as the fand of the fea, a remnant fhall be faved f.' In the execution of * Jer. 1. 4. + Rom. ix. 27.

the

the most terrible judgments, God always remembers mercy.. Amidst the deftruction of the old world, Noah and his family were faved: amidst the overthrow of Sodom, Lot and his family were delivered: amidst the unbelieving, impenitent Ifraelites, a rem nant was to stay upon God. The apostle of the Gentiles, fpeaking of this fubject, affirms, That this refidue, which God referves, proceeds from the election of grace, the fovereign good pleasure of God; and if by grace, then it is no more of works, otherwise grace is no more grace.- The perfons spoken of in this verse, are likewise described as the efcaped of the house of Jacob, who happily avoiding the prevailing corruptions of the times, and the defolating judg ments whereby their enemies were deftroyed, fhould be confidered as a firebrand plucked out of the fire *. Aware of the imminent danger to which they were expofed, through abounding infidelity and wickednefs, they cautiously fhunned the general contagion, and were fafely preferved from defolating calami ties.- -Concerning fuch it is foretold,

They shall no more again stay upon him that Smote them: but fhall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Ifrael, in truth. Being convinced of the extreme folly of leaning upon a stay which, instead of fupporting, had fmitten them, they were to truft no more to the power of Affyria for affiftance and defence. In this condition, they should adopt the language recorded Hofea xiv. 3. Afhur fhall not fave us, we will not ride upon horses, neither will we fay any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.' Heartily renouncing all vain fuperftitious confidences, and all dependence on confederacy with the enemies of God, for which Ahaz and his people were distreffed, all their hopes of deliverance and safety should be founded upon God. Truly in vain is falvation hoped

for from the hills, and the multitude of mountains: truly in the Lord our God is the falvation of Ifrael. This remnant was no longer to depend upon foreign connections, national riches, or fuperftitious devotions, for public or private fafety; but to truft in the Lord, that he might remove the evils they felt or feared, and feasonably to confer upon them all the bleffings fuited to their circumftances, firmly perfuaded of his intimate acquaintance with their neceffities, of his faithfulness in performing his promises, of his tender compaffion and infinite ability to affift and deliver. In this manner fhould the remnant of Ifrael ftay upon their holy One, in truth and fincerity, without diffimulation; not merely in pretence or profeffion, but in reality. The expreffion denotes uprightness and integrity, in oppofition to all guile and hypocrify, either in principle or defign, and this fincerity verified by a correfponding converfation and conduct.-Permit me to recommend to you, my friends, this humble dependence upon God, which is at once your indifpenfable duty and real felicity. Truft in him at all times, ye people. Bleffed is the man who trusteth in the Lord. Though you may not poffefs the accomplishments, and enjoy the advantages of fome others of your brethren, yet, by ftaying upon God, you fhall have inward peace and comfort; and, in every condition, he will be your support, who will never fail you. If your burdens are heavy, you are required to caft them upon the Lord, who will fuftain them. In the greatest dangers, you may make a fafe retreat; when you hear evil tidings, you fhall not be afraid; and when others are afhamed of their confidence, you fhall never be confounded. Stay then upon the holy One of Ifrael, in truth and fincerity.

21 The remnant fhall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.