plan of Providence always to insure success by miraculous interpositions.

During the life of Joshua, and of the Judges that immediately succeeded him, although there were several instances of an idolatrous propensity, and of partial deviations from the ordinances of Moses, yet, as a nation, "the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord, that he did for Israel." But when "all that generation were gathered to their fathers, there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel." Their history informs us that the degeneracy was rapid and extensive. They were sometimes severely punished by unsuccessful wars; and sometimes deliverers were raised up to prevent their being totally subdued by their enemies; by which their independence as a people would have ceased, and the plans of Providence would have been frustrated. The success of Deborah the prophetess was a remarkable instance of this kind. "She prevailed against Sisera, the captain of Jabin, king of Canaan, and who had for twenty years

* Judges ch. iv.

mightily oppressed Israel." It was through the medium of a prophet, that Gideon was appointed to deliver Israel from the oppression of the Midianites; and the interpositions of Providence in his favour were many and striking.

The character, qualifications, and important services performed by the prophet Samuel, who was destined to new model the government, under the divine direction, have been particularly noticed in the preceding epitome of the Jewish history.

The diversities of character and talents, and the consequent diversities of conduct under

monarchical government, frequently demanded directions, admonitions, and restraints. Wherever there is a power merely human, there will be a strong propensity to abuse it; and the abuse of uncontrolled power must be productive of the most pernicious consequences. Even the pious David, required the admonitions and severe reproofs of a prophet. During the early reign of Solomon, and while he conducted himself in a manner correspondent with the superior wisdom with which he was endowed, he was honoured with evidences of the divine favour; but, upon his being seduced into idolatrous practices, Abhijah the prophet was ordered to predict the division of his king

dom, which took place in the succeeding reign, and was the occasion of so much subsequent wickedness and misery.

Thus were the holy men of God empowered to act as legislators, rulers, judges over Israel, and also, upon some occasions, to make important changes in the state. When the government had acquired a due consistency, and was firmly established, they no longer acted as judges, rulers, and authoritative directors, but they appeared in the important character of inspired monitors. Of this we have already adduced several instances. The total apostasy of the ten tribes, and the successive impieties of their sovereigns, the many dangerous aberrations of the kings of Judah, would have proved fatal to the cause of Monotheism, had not inspired prophets arisen at different periods, to bear witness to the truth, to admonish, to threaten, to console, and to encourage.

Some of these prophets were raised up for particular purposes. Thus we hear no more of Jonah than that he was appointed to preach repentance to the inhabitants of Ninevah; and we are told that in consequence of obedience, their destruction was deferred for the space of forty years. As far as the prophecies of Joel relate to the period in which he lived," they fore-,

tel calamities, denounce judgments, and promise future blessings," without the immediate application of them to any particular people. Hosea chiefly admonishes the ten revolting tribes, and exposes their enormities with all the poignancy of language. The denunciations of Amos are directed against the kingdom of Israel, predicting its total overthrow. They extend also to the Syrians, Tyrians, and inhabitants of Palestine, and other surrounding nations, who had been the principal seducers of Israel. Several of these prophets explicitly foretel the miseries that should befall the house of Judah and the city of Jerusalem, for their repeated rebellions and superficial reformations; and warn them that nothing can prevent their captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, but a speedy repen

tance.

The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, possessed large portions of the prophetic spirit, and in a manner peculiarly adapted to their respective situations. Isaiah began to prophesy in the last years of Uzziah. He lived through the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, to the times of Manasseh. He exerted all the zeal and energy with which he was so eminently inspired, in pious admonitions, counsels, warnings, and also in the administration of comfort,

during a long series of years, according as the character and conduct of princes and people might demand. Isaiah was the friend and counsellor of the good Hezekiah, and inspired him with courage to resist the boasting Sennacherib, by the assurance that his numerous and proud hosts should be destroyed, by the immediate hand of Providence. His prophecies embraced the history of all the nations that had an intercourse with Judea. They were not only directed against the Moabites, and the countries immediately contiguous, but they extended to Asyria, to Egypt, to Ethiopia. He was empowed to protract the life of Hezekiah; to predict the captivity of his descendants; the restoration of the Jews from their captive state; their return to Jerusalem, under the patronage of the great Cyrus, king of Persia, and the total destruction of their oppressors. His censures of idolatry were peculiarly severe and poignant: his promises of reconciliation with heaven by repentance, were most encouraging; and he described their future peace and prosperity, in the most glowing colours. His prophecies, which relate to future ages, and to blessings reserved for Gentile nations, were numerous and striking; of which we shall hereafter produce instances..