places in which, thou mayest be tempted to forget thy vow, and to break thy engagements. Set up God in thy heart, and in thy house. Pray for and with thy family. Assemble them together, and offer with them the voice of prayer and praise. Present thy words, accompanied with the meditations of thy heart, to the God that heareth prayer. Yes, thou wilt find family religion the best bond of domestic peace, the best comfort in domestic afflictions, and the best security for the continuance and increase of domestic, happiness; while it will afford thee an important advantage for constant growth in grace, and the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Ever, then, say with Joshua, 66 as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Then mayest thou look forward, as he did, with tranquillity and hope to the day of thy departure. Falling asleep in Jesus, thou shalt at length, through Him, awake to a joyful resurrection,

JEPHTHAH.

Search the Scriptures", was the injunction of our Lord to those who were the subjects of his personal ministry; nor was it confined to them; -it unquestionably extends to, and is as binding upon, all Christians now, as it was upon those to whom it was at first addressed. But not only is the sacred volume to be searched, that is, to be studied with humility of mind, and devotedness of attention, by the disciples of Jesus Christ; but if they would become "wise and understanding" in the oracles of God, they must neglect no means that Providence affords them of penetrating their true signification; and this they are often enabled to do by means of sound exposition of the text. "The word of God is, indeed, like himself, pure

John v. 39.

and perfect;" but, as clouds and mists frequently obscure the sun, so time and circumstances have thrown a veil over the Scriptures, which has in many parts rendered them obscure; and an explanation of the Scriptures, if not necessary to lead a teachable inquirer into the knowledge of essential truth, is yet highly useful in order to enable him to understand the Scriptures, and to make profit of them to practical as well as doctrinal purposes.

These observations apply with much force to the history and character of Jephthah,—which we proceed briefly to detail, and to illustrate. We find them recorded in the eleventh chapter of the Book of Judges.

Jephthah was the son of Gilead. Gilead's wife, we read, "bare him sons, and when they grew up they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, "thou shalt not inherit in our father's house, for thou art the son of a strange woman," by which is to be understood, a woman not of the same country as Gilead. "So Jephthah fled from his brethren unto the land of Tob." In process of time, it seems, the Ammonites made war against Israel; and the elders of Gilead, knowing Jeph

thah to be a man of approved courage and skill, sent to him," Come and be our captain that we may fight with the children of Ammon." The Gileadites were not less glad to recall Jephthah in danger, than they had been forward to expel him in the season of peace.-Necessity often drives men to seek help from those whom in their wantonness they have despised. Reader strive so to conduct thyself towards all, that thou give not just ground of offence to any. Jephthah replied to the elders of Gilead in the language of remonstrance and reproach, reminding them of their past unkind and unjust treatment of him. "Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?" Reader! apply this language to thyself, to thine own case! Speak with thy conscience-look backward, and look inward! Didst thou never in thy days of health and worldly prosperity, in effect, thrust out God from thee! practically saying, I desire not the lot of the inheritance of the people of the Lord. I will walk after the devices and desires of my own heart! and hast thou not, when thou hast been reaping the wages of folly, gone to Him whom

thou hast offended and besought his aid; and yet been long in evil case? Marvel not that the God of mercy should for a time hide his face from thee. “Surely, O God, it is but justice, if thou be not found of those who are glad to lose thee; it is thy mercy, if, after many checks and delays, thou wilt be found at last." Reader, when thou art so unhappy (for vice is misery) as to fall from thy God, go to him in a spirit of repentant sorrow, and persevere in supplicating mercy however long may be the time ere the light of his countenance shine upon thee!

To the just remonstrance of Jephthah the elders replied by a promise of making him head over all the inhabitants of Gilead, and by a solemn pledge that they would do this. "Then he went with them; and the people made him head and captain over them ;"" and Jephthah," it is added "uttered all his words before the Lord in Mizpeh;" from which it is evident that he was a man of true religion. The people had done all that they had promised, but he would not enter upon the important duties that now devolved upon him,

'Bishop Hall.