declared; for although respect be had, no doubt, to the faith of Joshua in an especial manner, yet that of the whole people is expressed. The city itself was not great, as is evident, because the whole army of the Israelites did compass it seven times in one day; but most probably it was fortified and encompassed with walls of great height and strength, with which the spies sent by Moses out of the wilderness were terrified, Numb. xiii, 28; and it is uncertain how long it was besieged by the Israelites, before God shewed them the way to demolish the walls; for the town was beleaguered by Joshua it may be for some good while before he had the command to compass it, Joshua vi, 1; these walls, saith the apostle, (ETEσɛ) fell down; or as in Joshua ver. 20, Heb. "The wall fell down under it." It intimates the utter casting it down flat on the earth, whereby the people went over it with ease into the city; yet need not this be so far extended, as that no part of it was left standing; for that part of it, for instance, whereon the house of Rahab was built, was probably left standing; but the fall was such as took away all defence from the inhabitants, and facilitated the entrance of the Israelites in various places at once.

§2. This, saith the apostle, was done after they were "compassed about seven days," Josh. vi, 2, 3. The first command of God was to have it done six times in the space of six days, ver. 3; but an especial command and direction was given for that of the sev enth day, because it was to be done then seven times, ver, 4. This seventh day probably was the sabbath; and some mystery is, no doubt, intimated in the number seven in this place. The reader may, if he pleases, consult our discourse of the original and institution of the sabbath, wherein these things are spoken to.

§3. And some things there are wherein the Israel ites did manifest their faith therein.

1. It was on the command of God, and his promise of success, that they now entered the land of Canaan, and began their work and war with the siege of this strong town, not having, by any previous fight, weakened the inhabitants. Here they made the first experiment of the presence of God with them in the accomplishment of the promise made to Abraham.

2. They shewed their faith in their readiness to comply with the way prescribed, of compassing the town so many days with the noise of trumpets, without the least attempt to possess it; for without a respect by faith to the command and promise of God, this act was so far from furthering them in their design, that it was suited to expose them to the scorn and contempt of their adversaries; this way was prescribed to them of God to give them a distinct apprehension, that the work of the conquest of Canaan was his, and not theirs.

3. The same faith is manifest in the triumphant shout they gave, before the walls in the least moved; they used the sign of their downfall before the thing signified was accomplished; and triumphed by faith in the ruin of the walls, whilst they stood in their full strength; werefore the apostle might justly commend their faith, which was acted against so many difficulties, in the use of unlikely means.

§4. Hence we may observe;

1. Faith will make use of means divinely prescribed, though it be not able to discern the effective influence of them to the end aimed at, see 2 Kings v, 14.

2. Faith will cast down walls and strong towers that lie in the way of the work of God; it is true, we have no stone walls to demolish, nor cities to destroy; but

the same faith in exercise is required of us in all our concerns, as was in Joshua when he entered on the conquest of Canaan, as the apostle declares, chap. xiii, 5, and there are strong holds of sin in our minds, which nothing but faith can cast to the ground.

VERSE 31.

By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that believed not, when she received the spies with peace.

$1. The history and faith of Rahab, contained in several propositions. She was a Gentile, an Amorite, an harlot, yet converted to God. $2. Made an excel. lent confession of her faith. §3. Joined God's people. (4. Shewed her faith by her works. $5. The fruit of her faith. §6. Observations.

$1. THE story concerning this Rahab, her faith and works, is at large recorded in Joshua, chap. ii, vi. What concerns the exposition of these words, and the great instance of the grace of God, and efficacy of faith in them, may be comprised in some remarks.

1. Rahab was by nature a Gentile, an alien from the stock and covenant of Abraham; wherefore, as her conversion to God was an act of free grace and mercy in a peculiar manner, so it was a type and pledge of calling a church from among the Gentiles.

2. She was not only a Gentile, but an Amorite; of that race which in general was devoted to utter destruction; she was therefore an instance of God's sovereignty in dispensing with his positive laws, as it seems good unto him; for of his own mere pleasure he exempted her from the doom denounced against all those of her origin.

3. She was (Topvn) an harlot, though it may be not one that commonly and promiscuously exposed herself; ( nobili scortum;) that she kept a public house of entertainment, is evident from the spies going thither; which they did as to such a house; and herein 32

VOL. IV.

have we a blessed instance both of the sovereignty of God's grace, and of its power. No person, no sin, is to be despaired of, in whose cure sovereign almighty grace is engaged, 1 Cor. vi, 9-11.

4. She was converted to God before the coming of the spies to her, by what she had heard of him; his mighty works, and his peculiar owning of the people of Israel; for God had ordained and designed that the report of these things should be an effectual ordinance, both to terrify obstinate believers, also to call others to repentance, and conversion from their idols; to which end, no doubt, it was effectual on others as well as on Rahab; as it was on the Gibeonites in general. Hence those who perish are said to be unbelievers; she perished not with "them that believed not," or who were disobedient; for they had a sufficient revelation of God and his will necessary to their faith and obedience; and their destruction is ascribed to the hardening of their hearts, so that they should not make peace with Israel, Josh. xi, 19, 20.

§2. Rahab upon this first opportunity made an excellent confession of her faith, and of the means of her conversion to God. This confession is recorded at large, Josh. ii, 9-11. She avows the Lord Jehovah to be the only God in heaven above and in the earth beneath; wherein she renounced all the idols which before she had worshipped; ver. 11, and she avows her faith in him as the God of Israel, who had taken them to be his people by promise and covenant, which in this confession she lays hold on by faith; "the Lord your God, he is God," Rom. x, 10.

§3. She separated herself from the cause and interest of her own people among whom she lived, and joined herself to the cause and interest of the people. of God; this also is a necessary fruit. of faith, and an

inseparable concomitant of profession; this God called her to, this she complied with, and this was that which rendered all she did in receiving, concealing and preserving the spies, though they came to destroy her country and people, just and warrantable.

$4. She shewed her faith by her works; "She re ceived the spies with peace." In these few words the apostle comprises the whole story of her receiving them; her studiously concealing them; the intelligence she gave them, the prudence she used, the pains she took, and the danger she underwent in the safe conveyance of them to their army; all which are at large recorded, Josh. ii, see also James ii. Again, it was a work of great use and importance to the church and cause of God; for had these spies been taken and slain, it would have been a great discouragement to the whole people, and made them question whether God would be with them in their undertaking or no; and it is evident that the tidings which they carried to Joshua, and the people, from the intelligence which they had by Rahab, was a mighty encouragement to them; for they report their discovery in her words; they said unto Joshua, "Truly the Lord hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us," Josh. ii, 24; and it was a work accompanied with the utmost hazard and danger to herself; had the matter been discovered, doubtless she, and all she possessed, had been utterly destroyed; and all these things set a great lustre upon this work, whereby she evidenced her faith and her justification; and as this is an instance exceedingly apposite to the purpose of the apostle, to arm and encourage believers against the difficulties and dangers which they were to meet with in their profession; so it is sufficient to condemn multitudes