their differences, and unite as one man; by no means refufing the friendly aid even of infidels and atheists, who are always ready to join in carrying on the war against the common adversary.

6. The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites: of Moab, and the Hagarenes. 7. Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek: the Philiftines, with the inhabitants of Tyre. 8. Affur alfo is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot.

These are the names of the confederates. The Edomites were defcended from Efau, that old original enemy of Jacob; the Ishmaelites from Ishmael, the fon of the bond woman, and fworn foe to Ifaac, heir of the promises; the Moabites fprang from Moab, one of the incestuous children of Lot; the Hagarenes were other defcendants of Hagar; who the Gebalites were, is uncertain; the Ammonites came from Ammon, the fon of Lot, and inceftuous brother of Moab; the Amalekites were the progeny of Amalek, the grandfon of Efau; Gen. xxxvi. 16. the Philistines and Tyrians are well known; and to complete all, Affur, or the power of Affyria, was called in by the children of Lot, the Moabites and Ammonites, to affift in the great work of exterminating Ifrael from the face of the earth. Thefe were the ten nations banded together, by a folemn league and covenant, against the people of God. And as Ifrael was the grand figure of the Chriftian church, which is now "the Ifrael of God," fo her enemies are often represented by the above recited nations, and in prophetical language are called by their names. Every age has it's Edomites, and it's Ith

maelites,

maelites, &c. &c. The actors are changed, and the fcenes are shifted; but the stage and the drama continue the fame.

9. Do unto them as unto the Madianites: as to Siferu, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: 10. Which perished at Endor: they became as the dung of the earth. 11. Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb: yea all their princes like as Zeba and Zalmunna : 12. Who faid, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in poffeffion.

The church, having recounted the enemies which compaffed her about on every fide, looks up for fuccour to that Almighty power which had of old fo graciously interpofed on her behalf, and refcued her from her perfecutors, in the days of Deborah, Barak, and Gideon. See Judg. iv-viii. Fully fenfible, that thofe deliverances were wrought by the immediate hand of Jehovah, fhe offers the prayer of faith for a like manifeftation of his glory, and a like victory over those who intended, in the fame manner, to feize and devour his inheritance. Of how great ufe and comfort are the Old Teftament hiftories to us, in all our afflictions!

13. O my God, make them like a wheel: or, like thiftle-down; as the flubble before the wind. 14. As the fire burneth the wood, and as the flame fetteth the mountains on fire; 15. So perfecute, or, thou shalt pursue them with thy tempeft, and make, or, thou shalt make them afraid with thy form.

The fate of thofe is here predicted, who invade the inheritance of Jehovah, and say, "Let us take to "ourselves the houses of God in poffeffion." The inconftancy and mutability of their fortunes is refem

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bled

bled to "thistle-down," or fome fuch light revolving body, and to " stubble" or chaff, whirled about and diffipated by the "wind:" the fuddennefs, horror, and univerfality of their destruction are fet forth by the fimilitude of a "fire" confuming the dry trees in a" foreft," or fome combuftible matter on the "mountains." Such is the ftorin and tempeft of God's indignation, which pursues and terrifies the facrilegious and ungodly.

16. Fill their faces with fhame: that they may feek thy name, O Lord. 17. Let them, or, they shall be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them, or, they fhall be put to fhame and perish. 18. That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most High over all the earth.

The punishments inflicted by heaven upon wicked men are primarily intended to humble and convert them. If they continue incorrigible under every difpenfation of merciful feverity, they are at last cut off, and finally destroyed; that others, admonished by their example, may repent, and return, and give glory to God. Salutary are the afflictions which bring men, and happy the men who are brought by them, to an acknowledgment of "JEHOVAH our "Righteousness," our exalted and glorified Redeemer," "the most High over all the earth;" whom all must acknowledge, and before whom all must appear to be judged, in the great and terrible day.

PSALM

PSALM LXXXIV.

ARGUMENT.

This Pfalm, for the fubject matter of it, bears a refemblance to the xliid. Under the figure of an Ifraelite, deprived of all access to Jerufalem and the fanctuary, (whether it were David, when driven away by Abfalom, or any other perfon in like circumstances, at a different time) we are prefented with 1, 2. the earnest longing of a devout foul after the house and presence of God; 3-7. a beautiful and passionate eulogy on the bleffedness of his minifters and fervants; 8-10. fervent prayer for a participation of that bleffednefs; and 11, 12. an act of faith in his power and goodness, which render him both able and willing to grant requests of this nature.

a

1. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hofts!

Thus ardently doth a banished Ifraelite exprefs his love for Sion, his admiration of the beauty of holinefs. Nay, Balaam himself, when from the top of Peor he faw the children of Ifrael abiding in their tents, with the Glory in the midft of them, could not help exclaiming, "How goodly are thy tents, "O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Ifrael!" Numb.

xxiv. 5. "How amiable," then, may the Chriftian fay, are those eternal mansions, from whence fin and forrow are excluded; how goodly that camp of the faints, and that beloved city, where righteousness and joy reign triumphant, and peace and unity are violated no more; where thou, O bleffed Jefu, "Lord "of hofts," King of men and angels, dwelleft in glorious majefty, conftituting by thy prefence the felicity of thy chofen!

2. My foul longeth, yea even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out, or, fhouteth for the living God.

It is faid of the queen of Sheba, that upon beholding the pleafantnefs of Jerufalem, the fplendour of Solomon's court, and above all, the magnificence of the temple, with the fervices therein performed, "there was no more fpirit in her." 1 King. x. 5. What wonder, therefore, if the foul fhould be affected, even to fickness and fainting, while, from this land of her captivity, the beholdeth, by faith, the heavenly Jerufalem, the city and court of the great King, with all the tranfporting glories of the church triumphant: while, in her meditations, fhe draweth the comparison between her wretched state of exile upon earth, and the unfpeakable bleffed nefs of being delivered from temptation and affliction, and admitted into the everlasting "courts of Jeho"vah?" Whofe" heart and flesh" doth not exult, and "fhout" aloud for joy, at a profpect of rifing from the bed of death, to dwell with "the living "God;" to fee the face of him," in whom is life, "and the life is the light of men?" John i. 4. Did

the