composed, which will be sung once more upon the destruction of another Egypt, and upon the completion of a better salvation: " Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power; thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them; they sank as lead in the mighty waters," Exodus XV. The manner of Israel's obtaining this victory is worthy of our observation. Israel wins the day by fearing, crying, and running away; while Pharaoh loses the battle, his own life, and that of all his army, by triumphing, boasting, and pursuing. And what army, except the Israel of God, ever made such a slaughter without blood, without a sword, and got such a victory without a blow? And we are under the same captain, commander, and leader, now. Our Lord, singlehanded, without any to help, overcame Satan, and all his devils with him. He overcame the world, and all the serpent's seed that is in it. He overcame death and the grave, and then ascended to heaven with a shout; the Lord with the sound of a trumpet; and led captivity captive; and then sends his Spirit upon rebels, telling them that his victories are placed to our account: "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." And our victory in every skirmish depends upon fearing the Lord, crying for help, and running to him for support, succour, and safety. And he that confides in his Lord's love not only wins the field, but never diminishes aught of his strength; for

"We are more than conquerors through him that hath loved us." So much for the war at the Red Sea.

Now for the brooks of Arnon; where we have an account of another war of the Lord, and of another victory obtained. "Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon. Behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle. This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee," Deut. ii. 24, 25. The wonder that appears in this account is, that the Captain of our salvation had given into their hand Sihon before they had seen him. He had given them also his land before they entered into it, and the victory before the sword was drawn. The next wonder is the quick dispatch of the messengers of dread and of fear, which were to reach the nations that were under All these were to hear the the whole heavens.

report of Israel, and should tremble and be in anguish because of them. And I do not think this war is quite endea' yet; for, although it be true that "the earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof: if not, where, and who is he?" yet I think that God's Israel are still fighting to gain the possession that God has given them. There is a new earth that we

look for, according to his promise, wherein dwelleth righteousness, or righteous persons, possessing righteousness. The heirs of promise look for this. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." This promise is by no means fulfilled in the present state of things; for, if there be any of the meek and quiet who have any worldly possessions, none fall a prey to the litigious so much as these. But there is another earth: "Behold,” says God, "I create new heavens, and a new earth. But be you glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy." Hence we read, in John's visions, of the new Jerusalem being let down from heaven as a bride adorned for her husband, and of a great shout on the occasion, saying, "The tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell among them."

This Jerusalem is the covenant of grace, and all the elect are called the children of the covenant, being secured within the bonds of it. These are the bride, the Lamb's wife; for there can be no lawful wife without a marriage covenant. "And, as the new heavens, and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain," Isaiah lxvi. 22.

Jerusalem is created to be a rejoicing, and her people a joy; and indeed there can be nothing else; corruption being put off, and incorruption put on; vile bodies changed, and glorious bodies. fashioned; death swallowed up, and immortal life

brought to light. A fulness of love within furnishes out an everlasing joy to the daughters of this Jerusalem; and Jerusalem herself is to be a rejoicing, because endless love, joy, and gladness, are promised in this covenant, and treasured up in the covenant head and husband of the church; and it will be the husband's delight to fill the soul of his wife with it.

The monster that reigned in this country, by the river Arnon, was Sihon; and neither he, nor any of his subjects, would suffer Israel to pass through their land, though on foot; no bread would they sell them for money, nor one drop of water, though Moses offered to pay for them. And Satan and his seed serve Israel the same way now.

Arise, says God, and pass over the river Arnon, and contend with him in battle. And this is war. And sure I am that this long and lasting campaign is not finished yet. The world, the flesh, and the devil, are still engaged. And there is a kingdom for which we also suffer; and one branch of that kingdom is the thousand years' reign in the new earth; and we must pass through this present world to it, and fight our way, in order to gain and possess it.

Sihon, and all his princes, and all his people, were delivered into the hand of Israel to be slain. Satan and all his principalities are to be bruised under our feet shortly; and power is given us to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and in this conflict there will not be the loss of one single soldier; "For nothing," says

Christ, "shall by any means hurt you." Yea, "we shall judge angels," says Paul; and destruction shall succeed the judgment passed. But the gospel of Christ, and the preachers of it, and the real professors of it, and the very profession that they make, all, all, are a savour of death unto death, both to Sihon and to the Amorites. But it shall be preached and professed in all the world for a witness; a witness in behalf of some, and a witness against others. And Moses and his forces utterly destroyed the whole country, king and people, women and children; they left none alive.

But, for the present, we must do under our Mediator as Israel did under Moses. "And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth, unto Sihon king of Heshbon, with words of peace, saying, Let me pass through thy land: I will go along by the highway. Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink: only I will pass through on my feet. But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the Lord thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day." Ambassadors of peace, and sons of peace, must still send and sound out messages of peace; and it is still seen that words of peace are rejected. God hardens the spirit, and makes the hearts of thousands obstinate, even when words of peace are sounding in their ears. "Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; for I work a work in your days,