have dominion over the Nobles among the People: The LORD Made me have dominion over the Mighty. Out of Ephraim was there a Root of them against Amalek: after thee, Benjamin, among thy people: out of Machir came down Governors; and out of Zebulun, they that handle the pen of the Writer: and the Princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the Valley. For the Divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart. Why abodest thou among the sheep-folds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the Divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the Sea-shore, and abode in his breaches. Zebulun and Naphtali were a People, that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the Field. The Kings came and fought: then fought the Kings of Canaan in Taanach by the Waters of Megiddo: they took no gain of money. They fought from Heaven: the Stars in their courses fought against Sisera: the River of Kishon swept them away, that ancient River, the River Kishon. O my Soul, thou hast trodden down Strength! Then were the horse-hoofs broken by the means of the prancings, the prancings of their mighty Ones. • Curse ye Meroz!' said the Angel of The LORD: Curse ye bitterly the Inhabitants thereof! because they came not to the help of The LORD, to the help of The LORD against the Mighty. Blessed above Women shall Jael, the Wife of Heber, the Kenite, be! Blessed shall she be above Women in the tent! He asked water, and she gave him milk: she brought forth butter in a lordly dish: she put her hand to the nail, and her right-hand to the Workman's hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera: she smote off his head; when she had pierced and stricken through his temples. At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell; where he bowed, there he fell down dead. The Mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, 'Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of his chariots?' Her wise Ladies answered her; yea, she returned answer to herself, 'Have they not sped: have they not divided the prey: to every Man a Damsel or two! Sisera a prey of divers colours; a prey of divers colours of needle-work; of divers colours of needle-work on both sides; meet for the necks of them, that take the spoil!' So Let all Thine Enemies perish, O LORD! But Let them, that love Him, be as the Sun, when he goeth forth in his might!' And the Land had rest forty years-Judges iv. v.-' -The Revelation was not Made in the first instance to Barak; and therefore did he require Deborah to confirm her reception of It by accompanying him to the battle. And on her consenting, his faith arose to the fulness of obedience unto The DIVINE Commission. Not the slightest faltering or hesitation, but the onward confiding course, which a Reliance on The ALMIGHTY's Power, and a desire to be the Instrument of His Will, inspire. Barak was thus justly pointed out by the Apostle as an Instance and Example of vital Faith in the Power and Truth of GOD; regarding Him as in a peculiar degree The GOD of Israel; and doubtless depending on His Performance of His Gracious Promises of Salvation unto His Chosen People.-—On the Israelites returning to their evil ways and to the neglect of the worship of GOD, He, at a later period, Delivered them over to the Philistines, their Oppressors; to whom they were subject forty years. And suffering thus from their faithlessness, when again they cried unto The LORD in penitence He had Compassion on them, and Sent His Angel, who appeared unto the Wife of Manoah, which was of the Family of the Danites, and she was barren; and the Angel said unto her, 'Behold now thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive and bear a Son: now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine, nor strong drink ; and eat not any unclean thing! For, lo, thou shalt conceive and bear a Son

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and no razor shall come on his head for the Child shall be a Nazarite unto GOD from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.' Then the Woman came and told her Husband, saying, ‘A Man of GOD came unto me; and his countenance was like the countenance of an Angel of GOD, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was; neither told he me his name: but he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive and bear a Son: and now drink no wine, nor strong drink; neither eat any unclean thing: for the Child shall be a Nazarite to GOD from the womb to the day of his death.' Then Manoah entreated The LORD, and said, ' O my LORD, Let the Man of GOD, which Thou didst Send, come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the Child, that shall be born!' And GOD Hearkened to the voice of Manoah: and the Angel of GOD came again unto the Woman, as she sat in the field: but Manoah, her Husband, was not with her: and the Woman made haste and ran, and shewed her Husband, and said unto him, 'Behold, the Man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day! And Manoah arose, and went after his Wife, and came to the Man, and said unto him, Art thou the Man that spakest unto the Woman?' And he said, 'I am.' And Manoah said, 'Now let thy words come to pass! how shall we order the Child, and how shall we do unto him?' And the Angel of The LORD Said unto Manoah, 'Of all that I said unto the Woman, let her beware! She may not eat of anything, that cometh of the vine; neither let her drink wine, or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing! All that I commanded her let her observe.' And Manoah said unto the Angel of The LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee until we shall have made ready a kid for thee!' And the Angel of The LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt-offering, thou must offer it unto The LORD.' For Manoah knew not that he was an Angel of The LORD. And Manoah said unto The Angel of The LORD, 'What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?' And the Angel of The LORD said unto him 'Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?' So Manoah took a kid with a meat-offering and offered it upon a rock unto The LORD: and the Angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his Wife looked on: for it came to pass when the flame went up toward Heaven from off the altar, that the Angel of The LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his Wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground. But the Angel of The LORD did no more appear to Manoah and his Wife. And Manoah said unto his Wife, 'We shall surely die, because we have seen GOD!' But his Wife said unto him, 'If The LORD were Pleased to Kill us, He would not have Received a burnt-offering and a meat-offering at our hands; neither would He have Shewed us all These Things: nor would, as at this time, have Told us Such Things as These.' And the Woman bare a Son, and called his name Samson. And the Child grew, and The LORD Blessed him. And The SPIRIT of The LORD Began to Move him at times in the camp of Dan-Judges xiii. And then follow the descriptions of his many and successful assaults upon the Philistines, until yielding to the influence of a fascinating but artful Woman, he became their Victim, had his eyes torn from their sockets, and was made the Drudge and the Mock of his vindictive Enemies. But still his faith in the Power of The AL MIGHTY to Render him the Instrument of Deliverance to his Countrymen failed twenty years. But his weakness was in the inordinate love of Woman, without Indeed his wisdom, as his might, was manifest, and he judged Israel regard to her faith, or religious principles. And when a Captive and in fetters of brass, the Lords of the Philistines gathered themselves together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon, their god, and to rejoice; for they said, 'Our god hath

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delivered Samson our Enemy into our hands.' And when the People saw him, they praised their god; for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our Enemy and the Destroyer of our Country, which slew many of us.' And it came to pass when their hearts were merry, that they said, 'Call for Samson, that he may make us sport!' And they called for Samson out of the Prison-house; and he made them sport; and they set him between the pillars. And Samson said unto the Lad, that held him by the hand, Suffer me, that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them!' Now the House was full of Men and Women; and all the Lords of the Philistines were there and there were upon the roof about three thousand Men and Women, that beheld, while Samson made sport. And Samson called unto The LORD and said, 'O LORD GOD, Remember me, I pray Thee, and Strengthen Me, I pray Thee, only this once, O GOD, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes!' And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the House stood, and on which it was borne up; of the one with his right-hand, and of the other with his left: and Samson said, 'Let me die with the Philistines.' And he bowed himself with all his might; and the House fell upon the Lords, and upon all the People that were therein: so the Dead, which he slew at his death, were more than they which he slew in his life. Then his Brethren, and all the House of his Father came down and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol, in the burying-place of Manoah, his Father-Judges xvi. 21 to 31.--Though experiencing Such Oft-times Deliverances from The ALMIGHTY, the Israelites still again returned to their evil courses; and being therefore Forsaken of Him, they again fell a prey to their Enemies. But again they repented, and turning from their idol-worship unto The True GOD, they said unto Him, 'We have sinned! Do Thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto Thee! Deliver us only we pray Thee this Day!' And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served The LORD. And His SOUL was Grieved for the misery of Israel. Then the Children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the Children of Israel assembled themselves together and encamped in Mizpeh. And the People and Princes of Gilead said One to Another, 'What Man is he that will begin to fight against the Children of Ammon? He shall be Head over all the Inhabitants of Gilead.' Now Jephthah, the Gileadite, was a mighty Man of valour. And it was so, when the Children of Ammon made war against Israel, the Elders of Gilead went to Jephthah; and they said unto Jephthah, Come and be our Captain, that we may fight with the Children of Ammon!' And the Elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, 'We turn unto thee, that thou mayest go with us and fight against the Children of Ammon, and be our Head over all the Inhabitants of Gilead.' Then Jephthah went with the Elders of Gilead; and the People made him Head and Captain over them. And Jephthah uttered all his words before The LORD in Mizpeh. And Jephthah sent Messengers unto the King of the Children of Ammon, Saying, 'What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me to fight in my Land?' And the King of the Children of Ammon answered unto the Messengers of Jephthah, 'Because Israel took away my Land, when they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto Jordan. Now therefore restore those Lands again peaceably.' And Jephthah sent Messengers again unto the King of the Children of Ammon, and said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the Land of Moab, nor the Land of the Children of Ammon: but when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the Wilderness unto the Red Sea, and came to Kadesh, then Israel sent Messengers unto the King of Edom, saying, 'Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy Land.' But the King of Edom would not hearken thereto.

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And in like manner they sent unto the King of Moab; but he would not consent. And Israel abode in Kadesh. Then they went along through the Wilderness, and compassed the Land of Edom, and the Land of Moab; and came by the east side of the Land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not within the Border of Moab; for Arnon was the Border of Moab. And Israel sent Messengers unto Sihon, King of the Amorites, the King of Heshbon and Israel said unto him, 'Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy Land into my Place!' But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his Coast; but Sihon gathered all his People together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against Israel. And The LORD GOD of Israel Delivered Sihon and all his People into the hand of Israel; and they smote them. So Israel possessed all the Land of the Amorites, the Inhabitants of that Country; and they possessed all the Coasts of the Amorites, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and from the Wilderness even unto Jordan. So now The LORD GOD of Israel hath Dispossessed the Amorites from before His People Israel. And shouldest thou possess it? Wilt not thou possess that, which Chemosh, thy god, giveth thee to possess? So whomsoever The LORD, our GOD, shall Drive out from before us, them will we possess. And now art thou anything better than Balak, the Son of Zippor, King of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them? While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her Towns, and in Arver and her Towns, and in all the Cities that be along by the Coasts of Arnon, three hundred years? Why therefore did ye not recover them within that time? Wherefore I have not sinned against thee: but thou doest me wrong to war against me! The LORD, The JUDGE, be JUDGE this day between the Children of Israel and the Children of Ammon.' Howbeit the King of the Children of Ammon hearkened not unto the Words of Jephthah, which he sent him. Then The SPIRIT of The LORD came upon Jephthah; and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the Children of Ammon. And Jephthah vowed a vow unto The LORD, and said, If Thou shalt without fail Deliver the Children of Ammon into mine hands; then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the Children of Ammon, shall surely be The LORD's: and I will offer it up for a burntoffering. So Jephthah passed over unto the Children of Ammon to fight against them and The LORD Delivered them into his hands-Judges x. 10 to 18; xi. 1 to 32. Jephthah thus manifesting the fulness of faith in the Power and Efficacy of The DIVINE Countenance.- -The whole of David's life manifested a firm dependance on The DIVINE Word; and generally a most devoted submission to The DIVINE Will, and Reliance on Its Protection. In the very opening of his military career, when opposed to the gigantic and mail-clad Goliath, the Champion of the Philistines, David said to him, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield. But I come to thee in the Name of The LORD of Hosts, The GOD of the Armies of Israel, Whom thou hast defied. This day will The LORD Ďeliver thee into mine hand, and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee: and I will give the carcases of the Host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the Air, and to the wild beasts of the Earth; that all the Earth may know, that there is A GOD in Israel: and all this Assembly shall know, that The LORD Saveth not with sword and spear: for the Battle is The LORD's, and He will Give you into our hands.' And it came to pass when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted and ran toward the Army to meet the Philistine; and David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face

to the Earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their Champion was dead, they fled. And the Men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron. And the Children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent-1 Sam. xvii. 45 to 54.- -Samuel, in urging his Countrymen to put away their strange gods, and Ashtaroth, from among them, and to return unto The LORD with all their hearts, and prepare their hearts to serve Him only, declared, in all the confidence of a lively faith, that GOD would Deliver them from the hand of their Enemies, then also the Philistines. And when the Children of Israel had so done, Samuel said, 'Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto The LORD.' And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before The LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against The LORD!' And when the Philistines heard, that the Children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the Lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the Children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. And the Children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to Cry unto The LORD, our GOD, for us, that He will Save us out of the hand of the Philistines!' And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt-offering wholly unto The LORD; and Samuel cried unto The LORD for Israel. And The LORD heard him. And as Samuel was offering up the burnt-offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But The LORD Thundered with a great Thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and Discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. And the Men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them until they came under Beth-car. Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, (the Stone of Help,) saying, 'Hitherto hath The LORD Helped us !' So the Philistines were subdued: and they came no more into the Coast of Israel; and the Hand of The LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel; and the Cities, which the Philistines had taken from Israel, were restored to Israel from Ekron even unto Gath; and the Coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines-1 Sam. vii. 3 to 14.And of the Prophets-and a bright Scroll indeed do they form; Moses and his leading Predecessors have been, with the exception of Job, before considered, and many of his Successors, until and inclusively of David. Of Job, the faith he exemplified by his devout patience, was indeed its fruit. And that faith presented to his Spiritual vision That REDEEMER, Whose Day he so triumphantly exulted in, assured that he should behold Him and rejoice in His Advent. I know (said he) that my REDEEMER Liveth, and that He shall Stand at the Latter Day upon the Earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see GOD'-Job xix. 25, 26.Solomon had faith in a Judgment to Come, and declared, that the Righteous hath hope in his death-Prov. xiv. 32; for The LORD Loveth him, that followeth after Righteousness-xv. 9. By Mercy and Truth iniquity is Purged. And by the fear of The LORD Men depart from evil. -xvi. 6. Towards the conclusion of the Collection of the Proverbs of Solomon, the words of Agur, as a Prophecy, are introduced; and, though in his humility