continued application of ftrict difcipline, and the conftant difplay of miraculous power, they were brought at length to be tolerably well attached to his government, and established in his pure worship.

When they became thus tractable, dutiful and obedient; and had approved themfelves as fit agents for carrying on the purpofes of his providence; God then conducted them towards the land of Canaan→ the place of their destined habitation; and affured them, if they continued faithful, of their speedy conqueft and poffeffion of it.

And, here, to engage their reliance upon him, and to strengthen their confidence the more in him, he recounted to them his former promises; and appealed to their own experience how punctual he had been in the accomplishment of them. He put them in mind, that, though he had been obliged to chaftize them for their benefit, and even to cut off from among them the refractory and infectious; he had nevertheless been ftill true and faithful to his word; ftill careful of the main body; fince it appeared by the VOL. I. mufter

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mufter now taken, that their number on the whole was nearly as great, if not greater than it was before. And if, in a ftate of difobedience, they were not diminished by the hand of God; they might well conclude, that, in the prosecution of their duty, they fhould never be deftroyed by the hands of

men.

But, notwithstanding the conclufion they might draw from hence; as the undertaking they were foon to enter upon was seemingly difficult and full of danger, fo God was pleased to afford them ftill more obvious proofs, and to fupport them by still more animating encouragements. He led them on against several powerful, idolatrous nations who opposed and obftructed their paffage and over these he vouchfafed them au eafy conqueft, as a pledge of their future fuccefs in Canaan. For they muft needs look upon what he had now done, as an earnest of what he had promised to do farther, for them.

2 Comp. Numb, xxvi. 51, 62. with Exod. xxxviii. 26.

Such

Such then was the progrefs of divine administration, during the abode of the Ifraelites in the wilderness. And from the whole tehour of this adminiftration it appears; that the great point, which God had more immediately in view, was to fit and difpofe this wavering people to answer the end for which they were chofen that his chief point was, to humble them, and to prove them" to bring them close, and attach them, to himself; that, being at length firmly bound to his fervice, they might be ready and willing, as it was defigned they fhould; to promote his true religion and worship, in opposition to the reigning idolatry:

And upon this foundation it is eafy to account for all the statutes and judgements he gave them; and for all the preffing exhortations to the careful obfervance of thofe statutes and laws. It is eafy to account for the eminent bleffings annexed to obedience; and for the curfes denounced against vice,

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and apoftacy". It is eafy to account for the ftrict prohibition of all communication with the idolatrous nations; for the feeming severity of commanding their cities to be all destroyed, together with the monuments of their fuperftitious worship; and also, for the abolition of all customs, which had any reference to fuch practices. The neceffities of the times, the welfare of religion, and the improvement of the world, called for these things. For they were all, either so many motives to, and enforcements of, true piety; or prudent cautions, and needful barriers, against the encroachments of wickednefs and idolatry.

Thus then we see what proper provifion was continually made for the knowledge and adoration of the true God, among his peculiar and chofen people; and how well they became qualified thereby to advance the defign and purpose of his providence, with re

b Deut. xxviii. 1- -68.

Ibid. vii. ---5.

d Ibid. xii. 1- 3.

e Ibid. xiv. 1. 3.-xvi. 21, 22,

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gard to the rest of the world. And knowing now that it was in his purpose from the beginning, to make "all the nations of the earth finally bleffed" through this difpenfation; what thanks fhould we render to the Lord for his goodness; who, notwithstanding the favours he fhewed to the Ifraelites, "had still provided fome better and nobler thing for us that they, without us, might not be made perfect."

Now to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be ascribed, as is most due, all hopour and glory, world without end. Amen.