The devoted nations might think themselves secure from the armies of Israel, while Jordan, burst ing over his banks, remained such a mighty barrier; but what madness seized them, to combine for battle against a people before whom Jordan's rapid stream recoiled back, and let thein pass over dry shod! This madness is only equalled and exceeded by sinners who defy Omnipotence amidst the bright displays of his power, challenges the Eternal to combat, and run on the thick bosses of his buckler.

When, then, men of such an insignificant city as Ai put three thousand of the conquerors to flight, and made them leave thirty-six of their heroes dead behind them, it might perhaps raise the drooping spirits of the Canaanites, and confirm to them, that their foes were not invincible. But, when they hear that Af is smitten, all the kings on this side Jordan, in the hills and valleys, of every people, and from every quarter, forget their former animosities, and jarring interests, and unite against the common foe! This has been the case in all ages of the world, that the powers of the earth have combined against the people of God, and, in slaying the saints, like Herod and Pilate, have been reconciled among themselves.

But, while this league is forming, Gibeon, a royal city, makes peace with Joshua. Here I speak not of the cheat with respect to the children of Israel, but of the change with respect to the Gibeonites, full of noble lessons and instructions. The inhabitants of a free, a royal city, are made hewers of wood, and drawers of water, for the house of God. But the meanest employment in the palace of a king is honourable; how much more in the house of the King of heaven! Better serve in God's house, where

there is safety, than enjoy the freedom of Gibeon, that ends in destruction.

Though the men of Gibeon seem chief in the embassy, yet they forget not three other cities, where their countrymen dwelt, and all are included in the league. So those that seek mercy for themselves at the throne of grace, will not forget their friends, their acquaintance, their fellow-creatures. In the prayers of every Christian, the salvation of souls, and the prosperity of Zion, will find a place.

The same tidings came to Gibeon, and the kings, but had different effects; the kings prepare for war, but Gibeon sues for peace. Just so, the gospel softens some, and hardens others; is to one the savour of life, to another the savour of death.

When the kings hear that Gibeon has made peace with Israel, they resolve to attack Israel in their new allies, perhaps under pretence of breaking the league, and deserting the common cause. Thus, when a soul leaves the service of sin, the men of the world, and the powers of darkness, immediately set upon him, and attack Christ in his members.

Gibeon is no sooner in safety by being at peace with Joshua, than she is in danger by the kings around her. So, when a soul has peace with God,. he may expect persecution from the world, and through much tribulation to enter into the kingdom.

The kings make war against Gibeon, and Gibeon, who, a few days before, was among the accursed Canaanites, can now send to Joshua, "Slack not thy hand from thy servants, come up quickly, and save us." This is a surprising change of circumstances, but disappears before that change, when he who was lately of the family of hell, can send the cry of faith Gg

to heaven, and say to Jehovah, Slack not thy hand from thy servant, from thy son, but come and save me.'

Joshua and his chosen warriors attend, and deliver their new allies from their formidable foes; and, in destroying the five kings that intended to sack Gibeon, a mighty wonder takes place; the sun stands still in the midst of heaven, and lengthens out the day, to complete the glorious work. But, in the work of our redemption, the Son of God comes down, and shines the Sun of Righteousness in our hemisphere, and will shine through all the gospelday, till our spiritual enemies are cut off, and we put our feet on the neck of all our foes. Then shall we dwell securely in the land of promise, and serve for ever in the house of God.

MEDITATION CXXXVII.

ON THE AUTHOR'S FIRST USING GLASSES.

Feb. 27, 1780.

Now those that look for me look out at the windows begin to be darkened; a sure presage that they shall shortly be closed in death. It is time now that the things of this world should lose their charms, when I must look at them through glasses; and high time that heavenly things should ravish me, since I am so near a future state.

Though my sight needed no such assistance, I might soon sleep in death. But, by my growing blindness, I may see, that I must soon cease to behold man, with the inhabitants of the earth. When

the ear grows deaf, the taste dull, the limbs weak, the grinders few, and the eyes dim, to be still charmed with sensual things, is a case melancholy beyond description. The young and strong, since they know that they are mortal at every period of life, should never be surprised by death; but, for an old man, whose senses begin to fail, to be taken at unawares by death, is consummate folly.

In proportion as my sight fails, I must hold objects more distant from me, in order to collect the rays, and view them distinctly; which may admonish me, that the longer I live in the world, the things of time should be seen as standing at greater and greater distance from me; that a final separation between us must ere long take place; and that therefore my meditations should be directed towards another state.If my eye has not been satisfied with seeing good, by this time it may be fatigued with scenes of vanity and sin, and has cause to long for nobler prospects.

Instead of being struck wholly blind by my advance into years, I am only deprived of so much sight, to teach me to prize and improve what is left, and prepare me for losing the remainder in death. While I bless heaven for this invention, which makes old age so comfortable, I bewail the wastes of my youthful period, which I cannot now recall; but, could I call to the youth of every station, and of every land, I would say, Read much, read seriously, read for eternity, while your sight is in its prime. It is affecting to carry mine eyes in my head, and my sight in my pocket, since, if I go abroad without my glasses, I cannot read a word in the book of life till. I return; but then, let me have my memory stored with the word of promise, the words of the Holy One.

Such is the vanity of our mind, that we study to conceal our decline in life from our fellow-creatures, who suffer in the same decline, and perhaps are also struggling to conceal it; but, by our use of glasses, we proclaim to all, our walking on the margin of the grave, and that we are grown old.

If accustomed to glasses awhile, I may perhaps forget these reflections, and the growing frailty of my frame; but, let me never put the glasses on my nose, without minding that death will shortly lay his hand on mine eyes, and close them up for ever. O! then, as the eye of my body grows daily more dim, may the eye of my soul grow daily more bright, and, forbearing to look on the things which are seen, which are temporal, fix on the things which are not seen, and which are eternal. And when the day comes in which I shall take the last glance of created things, the parting look of all my friends and relations, however near and dear, may my soul, in the broad day of eternity, in the noon-day beams of glory, lift up her unclouded eye, and feast on all the perfections of God, on all the beauties of the Lamb, and be like him for ever, because she sees him as he is.

To some old men their sight returns again, but their youth is departed for ever: So is it this day with me; my youth is gone, and I am well advanced in life, and, in the view of a better life, would bid farewell to this, and welcome old age and death.

The various periods of life that are marked with decline, are but like the stages and mile-stones by the way, that tell me how near I am to my journey's end, to my Father's house; and this of which I now write, is one of the last stages. But, no matter how frail this body grow, which is to be fashioned