thers, kept thy law, nor heark- the fruit thereof and the good ened unto thy commandments thereof, behold, we are servants and thy testimonies, wherewith in it: thou didst testify against them. 35 For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.

36 Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou

37 And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion. over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.

38 And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, gavest unto our fathers to eat and priests, seal unto it. LECTURE 742.

The force of our evil recollections.

This confession of sins, and this commemoration of mercies, throws light on many points of the previous history referred to. And more especially it shews us in what aspect the past is viewed by those, who reflect upon it calmly, and reap the consequences of it; and how differently things then appear, as compared to when they are present. The Israelites in their successive generations were dealt with as though they were one single accountable being. They had, and they felt that they had, a responsibility to God, in their collective capacity, as a family, a nation, and a church. If we would endeavour to put ourselves in the like position, and to take to ourselves an interest in the sins and deliverances of our church and nation, how deep would be now our shame for many things which when done were gloried in! how great would be now our thankfulness for many mercies unheeded when received!

We may make a reflexion of the same kind on our own individual responsibility. At different periods of life we are not much more like the beings that we have been, than this generation of the Jews, in their state of depression, was like the same people when in the enjoyment of the kingdom which God was pleased to give them. And if even in this life we come at length, when God is pleased to spare us, to a period of sober thought, in which we look back with agony of regret on things once thought pleasurable, and adore our God with unspeakable thankfulness for mercies which at the time we paid no heed to; how will it be when the soul enters on another state of being? how will it be when Christ shall come to judge the world? It would seem that at such an hour there would need no hell more terrible, no fire more fierce and more unquenchable, than the sinner's own quickened memory, and fruitless remorse. Nor can we well imagine any joys of heaven more acceptable to the sinner saved, than to find that his sins are actually blotted out, and that he has only to thank God for his goodness to all eternity.

A covenant is sealed.

1 Now those that sealed were, one having knowledge, and havNehemiah, the Tirshatha, the ing understanding; son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah, 2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3 Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah, 4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, 8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.

9 And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;

10 And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

11 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah, 12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

13 Hodijah, Bani, Beninu. 14 The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,

15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 17 Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur, 18 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai, 19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 21 Meshezabeel,Zadok, Jaddua, 22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub, 24 Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek, 25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

26 And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, 27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah. 28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every

29 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;

30 And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:

31 And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

32 Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;

33 For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.

34 And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law:

35 And to bring the firstfruits

of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:

36 Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God: 37 And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Le

vites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.

38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes : and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.

39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.

LECTURE 743.

The sin of robbing God.

The points of the Law which these parties engaged to keep were the following: that they would not intermarry with the people of the land, that they would hallow the sabbath, and observe the sabbatic year, that they would charge themselves with the third part of a shekel for the service of God's house, being too poor as we may suppose to pay the half shekel as originally appointed. See Exod. 30. 15., in which we may observe their care to maintain the principle, when they were unable to pay the amount; and I must be so much the more concerned, that in a like duty among ourselves, any should be found, to whom though the amount is no object, the principle appears most unwelcome. But the chief thing on which they dwelt, in this solemn league and covenant, was the rendering due payment of their first fruits, tithes, and offerings, both for God's service in the temple, and for the maintenance of his servants who ministered therein. How greatly they had transgressed in withholding these things may be learnt from the words of the prophet Malachi: "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me even this whole nation." Mal. 3. 8, 9. God forbid that these fearful words should ever be as applicable to Christians as to Jews! God forbid that Christians should ever manifest an especial reluctance to make good that portion of their payments, which has been dedicated to the maintenance of God's ministers! And above all, may God forbid that this nation should incur, by any national enactment, the curse thus recorded against those, who are guilty of robbing God!

A list of those who dwelt in Jerusalem and in other towns. 1 And the rulers of the people over the city. dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities. 2 And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. 3 Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants.

10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin.

11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God.

4 And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah; Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez;

5 And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni. 6 All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men.

7 And these are the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jesaiah. 8 And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.

9 And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer and Judah the son of Senuah was second

12 And their brethren that did the work of the house were eight hundred twenty and two: and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchiah, 13 And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two: and Amashai the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,

14 And their brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight: and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men.

15 Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;

16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God.

17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18 All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.

19 Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their breth

ren that kept the gates, were an thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and hundred seventy and two.

20 And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.

21 But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims.

22 The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God. 23 For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day. 24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.

in the villages thereof,

26 And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Beth-phelet, 27 And at Hazar-shual, and at Beer-sheba, and in the villages thereof,

28 And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof. 29 And at En-rimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,

30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beer-sheba unto the valley of Hinnom.

31 The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Beth-el, and in their villages,

32 And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,

33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.

25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjatharba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages jamin.

36 And of the Levites we were divisions in Judah, and in Ben

LECTURE 744.

The happiness of serving God willingly.

It may seem strange that it should be necessary to cast lots, and to take every tenth family, in order to supply Jerusalem with inhabitants. But we must observe that this place was the chief object of attack on the part of those who were enemies to Israel. And there could not be at the first any advantages of trade in the city, equal to the gain of occupying possessions of land in the country. Stili Jerusalem was the place of which God had said that his name should be there. And Sion was the holy hill on which it pleased Him that the temple should be built, and the temple services performed. This ought to have been enough to fill the city with inhabitants. And considerations such as this ought to weigh with us in choosing the place of our abode, rather than worldly gain or ease or security. Well might the people bless those who "willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem." Happy are we when we discharge any duty to God, of our own free choice, instead of by constraint or by compulsion!