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Neither are such applications of Scripture history calculated, in themselves, to carry conviction to a heart of unbelief. They are rather meant for the instruction of those who, with the apostle, are ready, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ to go on to perfection." And to those, who search these histories with a humble mind, every hour which is devoted to the investigation will discover much to excite admiration of the wisdom, and power, and mercy of God, and much to lead them on from strength to strength.

After all, our researches will have been but vain and empty words, if we overlook the important moral lessons, which the historical as well as the doctrinal parts of the Bible are all calculated to enforce. Practical improvement is not always, nor generally, in proportion to the means of grace. It is a melancholy truth, but it is truth, that great labour may be bestowed to understand the more mysterious parts of holy writ; much sagacity may be displayed, much patience, much research: yet the heart may all the while be lamentably deficient in those graces, which the most simple Christian, who reads and believes his Bible, may have been enabled, through the Spirit of God, to attain.

"Heb. vi. 1.

"Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth: and if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know."0 We are too apt to rely upon the advantages which we possess, as if we had already secured the benefits which, we know, are in our power. But others before us have had means of grace, which they neglected, and therefore fell. The Israelites came out of Egypt with a mighty hand and a stretched-out arm; they all were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea: they did all eat the same spiritual meat; and all drank the same spiritual drink: "But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness." P

"Now these things were our examples." We may not be tempted in the same manner in which the Israelites were tempted of old: but temptations will not fail to attack every man, by the sin which does most easily beset him. We may not be tempted to worship strange gods: for the nations around us, with whatever purity, at least profess the faith of Christ. But we may "lust after evil things as they also lusted." "The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" still surround us, still solicit, still mislead. We may

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o 1 Cor. viii. 1, 2.

p 1 Cor. x. 5.

a 1 Cor. x. 6.

r 1 John ii. 16.

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tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted:"" requiring still some new sign to satisfy the morbid cravings of scepticism, or refusing to obey what we are conscious is given by the authority of God. We may "murmur" at his Providence, "as some of them also murmured:"t we may give ourselves over to intemperance, or to uncleanness, or to "covetousness, which is idolatry:"" and we may be ready, as often as the invitation is sounded in our ears, to fall down and worship the golden image, which avarice or luxury has set up.

If we do, we at least sin not in ignorance; we have read the word of God; we have often heard his warnings against sin; and his threatenings against the sinner: we have read of the fearful judgments which befel the Israelites: the serpents which slew the idolators: the destroyer which destroyed the murmurers. "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to

$ 1 Cor. x. 9.

1 Cor. x. 10.

Col. iii. 5.

escape, that ye may be able to bear it."* The way may be difficult, it may be dangerous but still there is a way, which none, who seek it with sincerity, shall fail to discover; and none, who pursue it with faith, shall fail to keep unto the end.

* 1 Cor. x. 11, 12, 13.

LECTURE XVIII.

THE

DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM HISTORICALLY TYPICAL OF ALL TRUE BELIEVERS: CANAAN OF HEAVEN: JOSHUA OF CHRIST.

GAL. iv. 24.

Which things are an allegory.

It was observed in the preceding Lecture, that the people of Israel is set forth in Holy Scripture as, in some measure, typical of Christ; and that the events which occurred to them, in their delivery from Egyptian bondage, and their wanderings in the desert, are adduced by the writers of the New Testament, not only as warnings to mankind in all ages, but also as having some designed connection with the events of the Gospel history, and the institutions of the Christian Church. In other parts of the sacred volume, this comparison appears to be extended to that period of the history of the Jewish nation, which recounts their entrance into the promised land.

Several portions of Scripture bear reference to this subject. A part of the Epistle to the

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