For ourselves, that hear of the destruction of this Jericho, we have heard what Jericho w'as before it was destroyed. For aught we know, God may destroy Jerusalem, as well as Jericho, and by a worse people than them- selves, as the prophet saith, Ezek. xvii. 14, by ' a base people.' It is no matter, though others be worse than ourselves. God, when he plagues his people, will do it by worse than themselves, and cast the rod into the fire when he hath done ; * Asshur, the rod of my wrath,' Isa. x. 5. Therefore let us look to ourselves, that we be thankful to God. It will be no plea that we have been safe thus long, thus many years ; for these people of Jericho, God let them alone four hundred years, as it is in Gen. xv. 16, They were threatened, but ' the sins of the Amorites were not yet full.' Jericho was a part of that country ; but when their sins were full, then they were destroyed. God had patience four hundred years to the sins of the Amorites, to this people ; and at last judgment came upon them fearfully. So howsoever God hath been forbearing and long-sufiering towards us, yet let us look about us ; oh, destruction may be near. It is not sufficient to think that God will destroy antichrist, that the walls of Jericho shall down. He may do that, and yet he may destroy us. There may be danger towards us too ; and it is no comfort to them neither that * That is, ' wicked to excess.' — G.
THE RUIN OF MYSTICAL JERICHO.
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God will punisli ns ; for that easeth not their overthrow neither, ^ for if he do so to the green tree, what will he do to the dry?' Luke xxiii. 31. If his children be whipped with scorpions, what will he do to rebels ? ' If the children of God scarcely be saved, where shall the sinner and ungodly appear ?' 1 Pet. iv. 18. If the children taste of the wrath of God, then the enemies shall taste of the dregs of his wrath. It is no comfort for them, for their doom is set down, ' Babylon is fallen,' Rev. xiy. 8. It will not be so much comfort to us that God will destroy them, as it will be to look to ourselves in time before a peremptory decree come forth, to make our peace with God. The king of Bodom and others were delivered by Abraham, but afterwards we see how fearfully they perished. Pharaoh was let alone for a time, yet after he was destroyed in the sea. Jerusalem bad warning after warning, yet afterwards it was destroyed. So, though we have had deliverance upon deliverance, yet if we make not more of reli- gion, and grow more in detestation of that religion, that God would have us set ourselves against, it will be just with God to punish us, and to lay us open to them that we have sinfully favoured.
Use. We see what great matters faith will do in the use of means, though they be poor, weak, base means. Therefore let us set upon popish reli- gion, in our places and callings, in a spirit of faith, in the use of means ; and let us never think we are too weak ; and now they are mighty and strong. It was said to Luther, when he began to write against the pope, Oh, poor monk, get thee into thy cell, and say, Lord have mercy upon thee ! dost thou think to overcome the whole world with thy writing ? (d). So the walls of Jericho may seem so mighty, the opposite power that we are to set against, as if we should lose our labour to set against it ; but whatsoever is opposite to Christ, we have a promise it shall be overthrown. Let us in a spirit of faith set upon them in the use of means, and God will make it good, as in former times.
And for all other things that stand between us and heaven, all the_ walls of Jericho, all opposition, let us set upon them with a spirit of faith in the use of means ; for he that hath overcome us, * as I said, will by httle and little overcome in us. These corruptions of ours shall fall before the Spirit of God by little and little. And as Haman's wife could tell him, ' If thou begin to "fall before that people, thou shalt certainly fall,' Esther vi. 13 ; so if the work of grace be begun in us, that corruptions begin to fall, undoubtedly and certainly they shall fall. They cannot stand before the Spirit ; for grace is in growing, and corruption is in decaying, continually in a Christian.
Quest. Why doth not God all at once subdue these walls of Jericho in us, but by little and little ?
Ans. 1. God will exercise our faith and patience. We are warriors here in this world. Our life is a warfare, and he will exercise grace in us ; he will have us combat with enemies ; these inward enemies among the rest.
2. Again, He icill let us see ivhat he hath done for us. If we were not exercised with enemies, we should not be thankful sufficient for victory over the devil. When we have been vexed with the devil's temptations, then blessed be God and Christ, that at last these troubles are ceased. How much are we beholden to Christ, that hath freed us from the danger of these ! We are only annoyed with the trouble. This will make us thankful when we have smarted.