anfwered thee in the fecret place of thunder: 1 proved thee at the waters of Meribah.

God declares his readinefs, at all times, to hear the prayers, and relieve the diftreffes of his people as he did when they cried unto him in Egypt, and in the wilderness, and received answers from the cloudy pillar. In that deep recefs, he had fixed his awful throne, and from thence, on proper occasions, he manifefted his power and glory, protecting Ifrael, and confounding their adverfaries. In Pf. xxix. 6. it is faid of "Mofes, Aaron," &c. "They called upon "the Lord, and he anfwered them: he spake unto "them in the cloudy pillar;" which paffage feems exactly parallel to that in the verfe under confideration-" Thou calledft, and-I anfwered thee in the "fecret place of thunder." He who spake unto Ifrael in the cloudy pillar, hath fince fpoken to us by his Son: he who " proved them at the waters of "Meribah," Exod. xvii. 6, 7. now proves us, by various trials, in the world.

8. Hear, O my people, and I will teftify unto thee: 0 Ifrael, if thou wilt hearken unto me; 9. There fhall no strange God be in thee; neither halt thou worship any frange God. 10. I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

God here addreffeth himself to the Ifraelites, putting them in remembrance of that first and great commandment against idolatry; of his claim to their obedience, as their God and Saviour; and of his being both able and willing to fatisfy the utmost defires and wishes of fuch, as would apply to Him, for

bleffing

bleffing and comfort. Behold, then, the rebellion, the ingratitude, and the folly of that man, who faith, to any creature, "Thou art my God;" who bestoweth on the world that fear, love, and adoration, which are due only to it's Creator and Redeemer; who wafteth his days in feeking after happiness, where all, by their inquietude, acknowledge, that it is not to be found.

11. But my people would not hearken to my voice, and Ifrael would none of me. 12. So I gave them up unto their own heart's luft: their own counfels.

and they walked in

By the fubject of an earthly prince, it is july deemed a great honour, for his fovereign to converfe with him, to counfel, and advife him: but from finful duft and athes, we hear the Majesty of heaven complaining, that he cannot obtain an audience; no one will attend to, or obferve his falutary admonitions. When we fee men enabled, by wealth and power, to accomplish the inordinate defires of their hearts, and carry their worldly fchemes into execution, without meeting with any obftructions in their way, we are apt to envy their felicity; whereas fuch profperity in wickednefs is the fureft mark of divine displeasure, the heaviest punishment of difobedience, both in individuals and communities. "My people "would not hearken to my voice, and Ifrael would none of me: fo I gave them up unto their own "heart's luft: and they walked in their own coun"fels."

13. O that my people had hearkened unto me, and Ifrael had walked in my ways! 14. I should foon

have

have fubdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adverfaries.

Such are the tender mercies of our God, that he is not only careful to provide for us the means of falvation, but represents himself as mourning with a paternal affection over his children, when their frowardneís and obftinacy disappoint the efforts of his love. One cannot help obferving the fimilitude between the complaint here uttered, and one which hath been fince breathed forth, over the fame people; "O Jerufalem, Jerufalem, how often would I "have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye "would not!"

15. The haters of the LORD fhould have fubmitted themselves unto him; or, fhould have failed, or, been fubdued to him; but their time, i. e. the time of his people, fhould have endured for ever.

The tranfgreffions of the church give her enemies all their power against her, calling the avenger from afar, and fetting an edge on the fword of the perfecutor. "Where the carcafe is," where the Spirit of religion is departed, and has left the body to corrupt and decay, "there the eagles are gathered together;" all the inftruments of vengeance, terreftrial and infernal, flock, by permiffion, to the prey. Had not this been the cafe with regard to Ifrael, Jerufalem had continued to be through all ages, what he was in the days of Solomon, the delight of the nations, and the joy of the whole earth.

16. He should have fed them alfo with the finest of the wheat and with honey out of the rock should I have fatisfied thee.

That

That is, the Ifraelites, if obedient, would still have enjoyed the fweets of that good land, in which the Lord their God had placed them, where the fruits of the earth were produced in the highest perfection, and honey streamed from the very rocks, fo that no part of the country was without it's increase. Upon the fame conditions of faith and obedience, do Chriftians hold those spiritual and eternal good things, of which the pleasant fields and fertile hills of Canaan were facramental. Chrift is the "bread" of life, he is the "rock" of falvation, and his promises are as "honey" to pious minds. But they who reject him, as their Lord and Master, must also lose him, as their Saviour and their Reward.

XVI. DAY. EVENING PRAYER.

PSALM LXXXII.

ARGUMENT.

The Pfalmift addreffeth himfelf to judges and magiftrates; 1. he remindeth them of the prefence of that God whom they represent, and to whom they are accountable; 2-4. he exhorteth them to the due discharge of their office; 5. reproveth the ignorance and corruption among them; 6, 7. threateneth their fall and punishment; 8. prayeth for the manifeftation of Mefsiah, and the eftablishment of his righteous kingdom.

1. God

1. God flandeth in the congregation of the mighty: he judgeth among Gods.

Earthly judicatories are the appointment of God. All magistrates act in his name, and by virtue of his commithion. He is invifibly present in their affemblies, and fuperintends their proceedings. He receives appeals from their wrongful decifions; he will one day rehear all caufes at his own tribunal, and reverfe every iniquitous fentence, before the great congregation of men and angels. Unjuft judges must either disbelieve, or forget all this. God is, in like manner, prefent to the heart of each individual; he is privy to the various reafonings and pleadings of grace and nature, of principle and intereft, in that leffer court; and he is a witness of its determinations; which alfo will by him be manifefted to the world, and openly canvaffed, when he fitteth in judg

ment.

2. How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the perfons of the wicked? 3. Defend the poor and fatherlefs: do juftice to the afflicted and needy. 4. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

A charge is here given, by the Spirit of God, to all magiftrates, much like that, which king Jehoshaphat gave to his judges; 2 Chron. xix. 6, 7. "Take heed what ye do; for ye judge not for man, "but for the LORD, who is with you in the judg"ment. Wherefore now, let the fear of the LORD "be upon you, take heed, and do it: for there is "no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor refpect "of persons, nor taking of gifts.". It is the glory

of