If they fell off and degenerated afterwards;

new," and more

I

if, upon the acceffion of a arbitrary, “king into the throne of Egypt;" one who knew not," that is, as Onkelos * explains it, who approved not the statutes of, Jofeph; if at this time, I fay, they began to relapfe into vice and fuperftition; how kindly and beneficently was it ordained by heaven, that the Ifraelites fhould then dwell among them-hold up to them the light of truth and fhew them the paths of virtue and goodness?

That the Ifraelites then kept firm to their religion, and held forth to their neighbours a good example (however they might afterwards be infected by them) is a point which admits of no difpute. It is plainly implied in the counfel of this "new king," that, finding them a diftinct people, he had made fome attempts to abolish the diftinction; to incorporate them with the reft of the nation, and melt them down into the common mafs. But, in the fure confidence they had, of being

• See Ex. i. 10. and the Commentators thercon.

brought

brought at length out of that land; their diftinction and religion they would still preserve. And this, I apprehend, was the first and chief occafion of their afflictions; though afterwards aggravated on other accounts. Thefe afflictions however, among other ends, afforded them fair and frequent opportunities of difplaying many noble, though paffive virtues. And their difperfion through the land opened at the fame time a still larger and wider field, wherein they might fow the feeds of religion. Nor did the feeds they fowed entirely perish. They ftruck root among the people; and produced at length no inconfiderable harveft to the Lord. For when the Ifraelites departed out of Egypt, we are exprefly told, that a great multirude went also with them;" who are all, with good reason, fuppofed, to have been fo many profelytes to the true religion.

• Exod. I. 18. 14.-V. 12.

Exod. xii. 38. Heb. "A numerous mixture." The Targum of JONATHAN makes them numerous indeed. Vide in loc. Of thefe how many foever they were, STRABO, on the strength of ancient tradition, fays, that, being inftructed by Mofe, they renounced their idolatrous worship, and accompanied him in his march out of Egypt." Geogr. lib. xvi p. 760, &c.

Thus

Thus then we fee, which was the point to be cleared, that the patriarchal difpenfation was graciously planned for the general benefit of the nations: that it was calculated to correct their idolatrous opinions, and to reform their vitiated manners: that it was defigned to infpire the heathens with a due fense of the being and providence of God; and to confirm his peculiar and chosen people in the belief of the promised Redeemer. In fhort, that it was meant and fitted for the improvement of all-to prepare the world for the reception of that grand bleffing, which was to be poured upon it in the fulness of time.

Ends thefe, great and good-truly worthy of their divine author! and ends, which, accomplished, claim our warmest and most grateful praise.

Therefore, to God the Father, God the Şon, and God the Holy Ghoft, be afcribed, as is moft due, all honour, glory, &c. Amen.

SER

!

SERMON

IX.

JUDE, ver. 7.

Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them, in like manner giving themselves over to fornication, and going after firange flesh, are fet forth for an example, fuffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

I

T was observed in a preceding Discourse, that the confufion of languages, a and the divifion of nations confequent thereupon, were attended, among other effects, with this great and peculiar advantage-" that God could at any time, when a people became incurably wicked, cut them off by a fignal deftruction,

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