[2.] It was a frontier town, the first that kept them from entering far into Canaan, being the first city of Canaan on the west side of Jordan, by wliich the people entered into the land ; and until this rub and impedi- ment was taken out of the way, they could not safely make any further passage. Now, if they should miscarry in their first attempt, it would, in the eyes of the Canaanites, bring a disreputation upon their arms and contradict the report of the mighty wonders that were wrought for them ; and in the eyes of the Israelites it would be a great discouragement to their faith. Therefore, in this first attempt, God would open a safe and ready wayand passage to his people,and by this victory give them a pledge of further mercy. And therefore, upon their faith and obedience to God, the walls fell flat to the ground, Joshua vi 20, for nothing can stand before the power of God and the faith of his peo])le. Now this gave great courage to Israel to see that God owned them in it ; but it was a
VeU. 30.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. 19
great terror to tlie Canaanites ; for in fighting against his people, they were to fight with God.
3. The manner, how it was accomplished — ' After it was compassed about seven days : ' where take notice of the means and time.
[1.] The means is intimated in the word, ' They were compassed about.' To understand which, we must have recourse to the story. They had a special command from God to walk about Jericho, and had a promise that it should fall down flat, Joshua vi. 4, 5. Now their faith was manifested by obedience to his command and dependence upon his promise. The means may be considered negatively or posi- tively ; what they did not. and what they did.
(1.) Negatively, what they did not. (1.) They make no trenches to keep themselves safe. (2.) They stand not in battle array to repel the excursions of their enemies, but march on one after another in the order prescribed : Joshua vi. 9, ' The armed men went before the priests that blew the trumpets ; and the rear-ward came after the ark, the priests going on and blowing with the trumpets.' (3.) They lay no formal siege to assault the city ; set no engines of battery against the walls. (4.) The people raised, no cry to create terror : Joshua vi. 10, ' And Joshua had commanded the people, saying. Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word come out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout, then shall ye shout.' It was meet that no noise should be heard, but that God's voice should be attended upon with silence and quietness on the people's part, that it might visibly appear their enemies were not overcome by the power of men, but of God. So that, by this negative view, we see the victory was not to be accomplished by force of arms, effusion of blood, or any other means wliich carnal reason or common sense would suggest ; for God, without blow or bloodshed, can bring mighty things to pass.
(2.) Positively, what means they used : nothing but a procession of the ark, and armed men, and seven priests with seven ti'umpets of rams' horns sounding to them. Silver trumpets were not used, though in a general case they were prescribed : Num. x. 9, ' And if you go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets, and ye shall be remembered before the Lord your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.' And an instance of the success of it we have in the Jews' war against apostate Israel, when they say, 2 Chron. xiii. 12, ' And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you : 0 children of Israel, fight ye not against the Lord God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper.' This promise annexed to the signs was fulfilled, and was a type and pledge of God's blessing when his ministers stir up his people against Satan, sin, and antichrist, wherein the Lord will be with them and bless their labours. This was to be ordinarily done by silver trumpets, but in this case God would try them by more despicable means, by trumpets made with rams' horns. And then the ark followed the priests, which was a special evidence of God's presence among them ; for when the ark was lifted up, the priests were to cry, ' Else up. Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered, and let them that hate thee flee before thee,' Num. x. 35._ A type of Christ's ascension and conquering the enemies of our salvation ;
20 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. LXIV.
as ye shall see the same words are used, Ps. Ixviii. 1, ' Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered ; let them also that hate him flee be- fore him.' And that jisalm is a prophecy of Christ's ascension, as appears by the 18th and 19th verses, compared with Eph. iv. 8-10. As the ark was among the Israelites, so is Christ among his people ; and what ground the church had because of that pledge of God's pre- sence to expect deliverance, we have the same ground, yea, a more sure ground of confidence in Christ. Whenever he begins to stir and show himself, woe be to those that oppose his kingdom and interest in the world ; he hath the same care, jwwer, and faithfulness towards his people that ever he had at first. When he ascended up to heaven, he went thither conquering and triumphing, and still can subdue and conquer a rebellious world to himself. Well, in this order they went round about the city for six days together ; and the event suc- ceeded : this was to prove their faith the more, and to try their obedi- ence and patience.