the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham.

The last plague was the death of the first-born both of man and beast; Exod. xii. 29; when God, having removed every obstacle that mercy had thrown in the path of justice,' made a way to his indignation,' which then rushed forth like a fiery stream. An unlimited commission was given to the destroyer, who at midnight passed through the land, and gave the fatal stroke in every house. 'While all things, O Lord, were in quiet silence, and that night was in the midst of her swift course, thine Almighty word leaped down from heaven out of thy royal throne, as a fierce man of war, into the midst of a land of destruction, and brought thine unfeigned commandment as a sharp sword, and, standing up, filled all things with death: and it touched the heaven, but it stood upon the earth :' Wisdom, xviii. 14. Pharaoh and all his servants rose up in the night: there was a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt; and universal consternation reigned, inferior only to that which is to extend its empire over the world, when the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised.' May we be saved, like Israel, in that hour, through the blood of the true paschal Lamb, slain to take away the sins of the world! When I see the blood,' says Jehovah to his people, I will pass over you.'

52. But made his own people to go forth like sheep; and guided them in the wilderness like a flock: 53. And he led them on safely, so that they feared not; but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. 54. And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to

this mountain, which his right hand had purchased. 55. He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

Having related the punishments inflicted on Egypt, the Psalmist returns to those mercies experienced by the Israelites, when God overthrew their enemies, took them under his protection, fed and conducted them in the wilderness, brought them to the promised land, expelled the heathen, settled his people, and at length fixed his residence on Mount Sion, which is represented as the conquest and acquisition of his own arm; since the victories of Joshua, &c. were all owing to the divine presence and assistance. The Christian church, after her redemption by the blood of the Lamb,' passed three hundred years in a state of minority, as it were, and under persecution, which, with allusion to what befel Israel of old, is called in the Revelation, her flight and abode in the wilderness. Rev. xii. 6. At length the true Joshua,' or 'Jesus,' 'brought her into the possession of the Gentiles;' see Acts, vii. 45; and she enjoyed a temporary rest and prosperity. But no terrestrial Canaan, no secular advantages should make us forget, as the Jews did, and as Christians are apt to do, that the church is in the wilderness while she is in the world; and that 'there remaineth yet' another and far more glorious 'rest for the people of God,' after which they ought ever to be aspiring. See Heb. iv. 9.

56. Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: 57. But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they

were turned aside like a deceitful bow. 58. For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.

The Israelites, when settled in the promised land, soon showed themselves to be the genuine descendants of those men who tempted God in the desert. We can hardly read two chapters in the book of Judges, but we meet with the words, 'And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord.' For this, their frequent revolting, they are compared to a deceitful bow,' which, when put to the trial, is sure to disappoint the archer, either dropping the arrow at his feet, or carrying it wide of the mark. Their zeal and love were either wholly relaxed and enervated by sensuality and indolence, or else turned aside, and misplaced on false objects of worship. Thus, in the present decline of religion, the devotion of the Romanists hath attached itself to saints, angels, and images; while that of Protestants sleepeth, and must be awakened. In what manner, is known to God only.

59. When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: 60. So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; 61. And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.

Rebellion against God will, sooner or later, draw down his vengeance, and cause the most beloved nation to be abhorred' by him: he will forsake the place of his residence, the tent placed among men,' where he dwelleth by his Spirit; and the church, by which his 'strength' and his glory' are

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manifested to the world, shall go into captivity, and the enemy's hand.' All this we are taught by that which came to pass in Israel, when, for the sins of priests and people, the ark of God, which then abode in Shiloh, was suffered to fall into the hands of the Philistines: I Sam. iv. The present state of Jerusalem, and of all the once-flourishing eastern and African churches, speaks aloud the same awful and concerning truth. He that hath ears

to hear, let him hear.'

62. He gave his people over also to the sword: and was wroth with his inheritance. 63. The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage. 64. Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.

These verses refer to the slaughter of Israel by the Philistines, which was an effect of divine wrath, compared here, as elsewhere, to a consuming fire; they refer likewise to the death of old Eli, of Hophni and Phinehas, and the widow of Phinehas, who expired in childbed, on hearing the mournful news : 1 Sam. iv. History abounds with the tragical stories of wars and captivities: Scripture informs us, they are the judgments of God against sin. But calamities affect us not, till they become our own it is well if they reform us, even when they do become so.

65. Then the Lord awaked, as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man, that shouteth, by reason of wine.

While, by God's permission, the Philistines were chastising his people for their sins, he held his peace, and seemed unconcerned, as one asleep.

But when due chastisement has brought the delinquents to themselves, the cries of penitent Israel awakened, as it were, and called forth the zeal of the Lord of Hosts, to vindicate his honour, and deliver his servants: and then the vigour of his operations were such as might be compared to the alacrity and courage of a mighty champion, when refreshed and inspirited by wine, he attacks his adversaries, and bears down all before him. Under all our sufferings, let us rest contented with this assurance, that God acts the part of a father; and will therefore remove the rod, when it has answered the end proposed.

66. And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.

The former clause of this verse may be rendered, 'And he repulsed, or, drove his enemies back;' as Psalm, ix. 3. 'When mine enemies are turned

back;' the word 8 being the same in both places. But as that part of the sacred history is here alluded to, in which the Philistines are said to have been plagued with 'emerods,' or hemorrhoids, while the ark was amongst them, the passage is generally rendered, as in our translation, and supposed to intend that particular plague. Thus much, however, is certain, that Dagon fell before the ark, which his worshippers were glad to send back, with acknowledgments of the vengeance inflicted on them by the superior power of the God of Israel, who could punish where, and when, and how he pleased. See 1 Sam. v. vi.

67. Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim. 68. But chose