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her interefts, for whom the world itself was DISC. created, and is preferved. Her foundations, as they are to laft when the world is ended, fo were they laid before it began, as the Scriptures teftify, when they tell us," that "we are faved and called according to the "divine purpofe and grace given us in "Chrift Jefus before the world began;" when they affure us, that GOD "hath "chofen us from the beginning;" when they style the Gospel "the everlasting co"venant," and 'Chrift, "the Lamb flain ." from the foundation of the world." Creation was pofterior to the covenant of grace, and the first step in the execution of it. The world was enjoyed but for a little seafon by man in his ftate of innocence, and has ever fince fympathized with him in the mifery of his fall, but is still preserved as the scene on which the mighty work of his redemption is carrying on, until it be finally accomplished. At that day and hour cometh the end. When the fulness of the Gentiles fhall be come in, and all the Ifrael of Gop fhall be faved, the heavens fhall pass

away

DISC. away with a great noife, and the elements XV. fhall melt with fervent heat; the earth alfo and the works that are therein fhall be burnt up.

Nor indeed can we proceed far in the facred history, before we meet with an awful exemplification of this great truth, a ftupendous prelude to that final destruction which awaits the world, and to that complete falvation which is then to be wrought for the church. When the earth was defiled by the abominations of it's inhabitants, when the fins of men had burst the fountains of the great deep, and opened the windows of heaven, and called forth a deluge to cleanfe her from her corruptions; when neither the riches of the wealthy, nor the power of the mighty, nor the wisdom of the wife could fave them a fingle moment from the hand of death; — then appeared the inestimable privileges of the faithful, the incomparable pre-eminence of the church. Small and contemptible as the then feemed, being reduced to the holy fa

XV.

mily in the ark, yet, fafe in the protection DIS C. of her GOD, fhe weathered the ftorm which laid the world in ruins, and rode in triumph over the wreck of univerfal nature. New heavens, as it were, and a new earth arofe, for her fake, out of the confufion of the old; the covenant was renewed; fhe was bid to look upon the rainbow, and remember the promise; the morning stars once more fang together, and all the fons of GOD fhouted for joy.

In the difperfion of the nations from Babel, regard was had to the after difpofition of things in the Ifraelitish church; for which reafon Mofes begins his fong with it. "When the most High divided "to the nations their inheritance, when he

feparated the fons of Adam, he fet the "bounds of the people according to the "number of the children of Ifrael."

Who can read the lives of those fathers

of our faith, the ancient patriarchs, "when they were but few men in number, yea

DISC.

XV.

very few, and strangers in the land," without perceiving how highly they were accounted of in the fight of GOD? "He "fuffered no man to do them wrong, yea, " he reproved kings for their fakes; saying, "Touch not mine anointed, and do my

prophets no harm." They were honoured in the kingdoms through which they paffed as mighty princes of GOD: when injured, they put to flight through faith the armies of aliens; they were suffered to intercede for finful cities, and fuch as belonged to the holy family were fent out of the overthrow, when the deftruction of those cities, by the enormity of the crimes of the inhabitants, was rendered inevitable: they were made inftruments of preserving whole nations alive in the time of dearth, of informing princes concerning the will of heaven, and teaching fenators true wisdom ; they were revered by crowned heads, and Pharaoh difdained not to receive a bleffing from Jacob.

Egypt, at that time one of the most renowned

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nowned and mighty kingdoms of the earth, DISC. was appointed to be the fcene, firft of the chastisement, and then of the deliverance of the people of GOD, by a series of the most astonishing miracles that ever were wrought in favour of Ifrael. A new king arose, who knew not Joseph, but looked with an evil eye on the prosperity of the church, as likely in time to prove detrimental to the ftate, forgetting that GoD protects those who protect her. Worldly wisdom chose rather to risk his displeasure by oppreffing her, by fetting over her taskmasters to afflict her with burdens, and by making the lives of her children bitter with hard bondage. But the fighs and cries of the afflicted church came up before GOD, and the vengeance of Heaven foon demonstrated the folly of the Egyptian politics. The Lord awaked as one out of fleep, and made bare his arm in the defence of his people. The wretched monarch still withstood the power which controlled all the operations of nature, and hardened his heart against the goodness which by fo doing called him to repent

VOL. III.

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