[2.] We come to the time — ' After they had compassed about the eity seven days.' They were every day to make this procession once ; and the event appeared not till the last and seventh day. No reason can be given why it must be the seventh day but God's will ; only a septenary is a sacred number. On the seventh day, when the signal fore-appointed was given, the people gave a shout, and the event suc- ceeded ; the walls fell down.
Now, from the means thus positively considered, I might observe two things —
(1.) That the means seemed ridiculous in the eye of reason; for what could seven priests blowing of seven rams' horns be to overturn such great and strong walls ? But God's command and promise will do great matters, for he can bring his ends to pass by means that have not any natural aptitude and fitness thereunto. And the apostle saith, 2 Cor. X. 4, ' The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.' And faith must use such means as God hath appointed, though they seem weak.
(2.) Though these means seem ineffectual at first, yet we must tarry God's leisure ; they will succeed in time, and they shall do what God intendeth to do by them. The walls of Jericho shall not fall down till the seventh day God hath his set time to bring his people out of Egyptian bondage, and he kept touch to a day, though he seemed almost to break his word, for it was night before they went forth : Exod. xii. 41, ' And it came to pass, at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt' And so in many other cases. Our times are always present with us out of impatiency of the flesh, when it may be God's time is not yet come. But they that would faithfully promote the interests of Christ's kingdom must tarry God's leisui'e.
Doct. That it is the property of faith to adhere faithfully to the in- terest of Christ's kingdom, quietly waiting for his salvation.
The business of the apostle in this chapter is to confirm the minds of the believers in adhering to Christianity against the temptations of that age, which were of two sorts — (1.) The slender appearance of the
VeR. 30.] SEKMONS UPOX HEBREWS XI. 21
growth and progress of that religion ; the chnrcli of God being but as a grain of mustard-seed cast into the ground, and coming up at first but with a few slender stalks and branches, which promised no great increase. (2.) The other temptation was the manifold oppositions they met with ; their profession exposing them to great troubles, tlierefore they were quite discouraged, some began to forsake the assemblies of the faitht^il, and to be weary of persecuted Christianity. Now, to cure them of this disease, he shows them what faith hath done in all ages, and what great things have been accomplished by weak means, whilst God's people had a heart to depend upon him ; and among the rest, he produces this instance of the taking and demolishing of Jericho by the blowing of rams' horns. If this instance were useful for them, it is so for us ; for all ages have their discouragements, and feeble minds soon faint and give out upon the least opposition. There- fore let us see what we shall learn from thence. I shall lay down seven propositions —
First, That Christ's purpose after his ascension Avas to destroy the kingdom of darkness. This is evident: Ps. ex. l' 'The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool/" Christ upon the throne hath enemies here in the world, but in due time they shall be his footstool. He shall gain upon op- position, and against opposition, and by opposition ; and they shall be so far from overturning his throne, that his enemies shall be a step or footstool to get into it. The same is emblematically set forth, Rev. vi. 2, ' And I saw, and behold a white horse : and he that sat on him liad a bow ; and a crown was given unto him : and he went forth con- quering, and to conquer.' This is a notable representation of the rise and progress of Christ's kingdom ; he comes forth upon a white horse, and his furniture is a crown and a bow. His crown notes his dignity, and his bow the armour and weapons whereby he promotes his authority: Ps, xlv. 3, 4, 'Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, 0 most Mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously, because of truth, and meekness, and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.' Christ is furnished to subdue and conquer, and bring as many as he pleases into a subjection to his kingdom ; for it is added, ver. 5, ' Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies ; whereby the people fall under thee.' He hath weapons to wound the consciences of sinners, and pierce deep into their hearts. Having a grant of a kmgdom over the nations, his design is to conquer and carry all before him, and he will do it.