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that the purposes of God with regard to Israel, were not at all accomplished or consummated, whilst they were under the kings; and the religious state of the people had greatly degenerated before the death of Solomon: and when this was the case, their political happiness could not long abide. Immediately the kingdom divided:-that house, of whom the One promised Seed, Christ, was to come, remaining attached to the family of David; whilst the house of Joseph-that of which the multitudinous seed was to come, erected a new kingdom for themselves, under Jeroboam. An ignoble termination was thus made to so glorious a beginning; plainly intimating, that this people had not yet arrived at that for which they were so long under such a careful course of training. Ephraim was separated from Judah-not only in a political, but also in a religious respect. Both houses were, during the reign of their respective kings, taught many severe lessons, as to the unprofitableness of departing from God. Still God was dealing with them in kindness, and preparing them for their different destinies. The Jews, who were not designed to be a maritime people, but a kind of universal medium of communication among mankind by land, were given an entirely inland position; whilst Israel, who were still more extensively to be a band of union to the human race, who were to be spread unto the most distant isles, were, before being taken out of their land, and even from the time they entered it, in the most careful manner, taught maritime affairs,-not only as possessing the small sea of Galilee, but by their being placed all along the upper border of the great, or Mediterranean sea; and in connection with such perfect masters of those matters as were the inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon, by whom, also, their architectural taste had already been considerably improved. The keeping of cotemporary chronicles of their own and other nations,-the art of war,and the power of making expeditions by sea, and of planting colonies,—

[LEC. IV.

and of keeping up an extensive correspondence with distant parts of the world, were especially necessary for them to possess. And all this was, in the kind providence of God, prepared for them before the final breaking up of their nation:-when, for the misimprovement of their many great privileges, they were cast out, and left to become wanderers among the nations. They had been instructed in all that they could receive at home, and had now to go forth on their travels, to learn that, in foreign countries, with toil and trouble, which they would not be taught by more peaceable means at home.-Nor should we forget that they were thus to suffer for the good of others. The casting away of them was to be the riches of the Gentiles, and the restoring of them shall be like life from the dead:

"He will have compassion upon us, He will subdue our iniquities, And thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob,
The mercy to Abraham,

Which Thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old."

The most cursory view of the known history of Israel may convince, that they cannot be found among an inferior, or even stationary people. They were ever in a state of transition -ever passing on from one lesson to a higher, in the school of their Great Teacher. And in them eminently the saying was to be fulfilled, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Their symbol is the palm tree, that bringeth forth fruit in old age.

They shall be fat, and flourishing; to show that the Lord is upright, my Rock, and no unrighteousness in him."

"This people have I formed for myself, They shall show forth my praise."

They were vessels afore prepared unto glory, and were subsequently to be called, in order that they might be fully fashioned and used, according to the good purpose of God. This was to

LEC. V.]

Ezek. xxxvii. 16; and also before that, in verse 11; and in various other parts of his prophecy. This distinction between the two houses seems to have been made very early. David reigned six years and a half, in Hebron, over the house of Judah, before he reigned the thirty-three years in Jerusalem, over Israel and Judah; (2 Sam. v. 5.) Solomon, his son, reigned forty years. Seventy-three years, in all, the house of Israel remained entire,—when another and more permanent separation took place; a breach, which hath not hitherto been healed. Upon the death of Solomon, when the tribes met together, for the acknowledgment of his son Rehoboam, as king, they presented, as it were, a bill of rights, requesting that their burdens should be lessened. This he ultimately refused, threatening them with still heavier oppression, and a more severe rule, than they had been visited with by his father, (1 Kings xii. 16.) So, when All Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying,

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What portion have we in David?
Neither have we inheritance in the son of
Jesse.

To your tents, О Israel!

Now see to thine own house, David.

So Israel departed unto their tents: but as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them." He afterwards attempted to raise tribute from All Israel, without their consent; but, All Israel stoned Adonijah, who was over the tribute; and Rehoboam himself was glad to get up into his chariot, and flee to Jerusalem. "So Israel rebelled against the house of David, unto this day." We find it then recorded, (verse 20,) that "All Israel called Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, unto the congregation, and made him king over All Israel." Nothing of importance remained to the house of David, "but the tribe of Judah only." It is probable, however, that, ultimately, a portion of each of the tribes was joined to either house of Israel.

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About three times as long as they had been united under the house of David, did Israel and Judah remain together in the land;—separated as to government, and much, also, as to religion. -During this space, of about two hundred and thirty years, many changes took place in the house of Ephraim. They seem to have been continually in movement; but at this time, the spirit of change wrought rather darkly, like the unseemly hearings of the chaotic mass, before beauty covered the face of this fair creation. Amid these revolutions, many, it seems, went over to the house of David, or kingdom of Judah, which was more stationary; and which continued more to cherish the vision of their departed glory, and the hope of its return, in greater brightness, to abide for ever.

The two houses seem to have been intended to fulfil considerably different purposes, in God's economy of grace to the world. Of Judah was to come the One promised Seed, the Heir of all things: of Ephraim, the multitudinous seed, so much promised to the fathers,

-the many brethren, who are also called the Lord's first-born. Judah has been a standing witness to the prophetic word; whilst Israel,—long, to appearance, lost, is to come forth with overwhelming witness to the truth in the latter time. Judah was the first-fruits, gathered in the apostolic age; but Israel is the harvest, to be gathered at the Lord's return. Judah was privileged to carry out the Gospel to the north, and north-west, to the many nations that have come of Jacob; and these are being employed in carrying it out thence, unto all the ends of the earth. Judah and his brethren were to be preserved alive in the midst of famine; but this was to be accomplished by their unknown brother, Joseph, who had been sent before them, and given a headship over the heathen. Judah seems to be given no home but that of his fathers; whilst blessings unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills, are promised to come upon the head of Joseph, upon the crown of the head of him that was

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