tains nothing for the Gentiles. There are lessons laid down for us, as well as for the Jew. Let us see what they are.
We see, in the first place, what distinguishing pri- vileges God is pleased to hestoio on some nations.
He chose Israel to he a peculiar people to Himself. He separated them from the other nations of the earth, and bestowed on them countless blessings. He gave them revelations of Himself, while all the rest of the earth was in darkness. He gave them the law, and the covenants, and the oracles of God, while all the world beside was let alone. In short, God dealt with the Jews as a man deals with a piece of land which he fences out and cultivates, while all the fields around are left un- tilled and waste. The vineyard of the Lord was the house of Israel. (Isai. v. 7.)
And have we no privileges ? Beyond doubt we have many. We have the Bible, and liberty for every one to read it. We have the Gospel, and permission to every one to hear it. We have spiritual mercies in abundance, of which five hundred millions of our fellow men know nothing at all. How thankful we ought to be ! The poorest man in England may say every morning, ^' There are five hundred millions of immortal souls worse off than I am. Who am I, that I should differ ? Bless the Lord, 0 my soul."'
We see, in the next place, what a had use nations sometimes make of their privileges.
When the Lord separated the Jews from other people, He had a right to expect that they would serve Him, and obey His laws. When a man has taken pains with a