was a testimony of divine acceptance to Phinehas himself0, and (as long as the priesthood should last) the means of maintaining peace between God and his people : it also shadowed forth that better priesthood, which should be the means of reconciling the whole world to God, and God unto the world.
This priesthood, we know, was typical of Christ; but, whether the giving of it in consequence of " the atonement made" by Phinehas was typical of him, we cannot say: but this is clear, that the giving of the priesthood to Phinehas, as a reward for the zeal he had exercised, was intended to shew, to the re- motest ages, that "it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thingd;" and that they who serve God with their whole hearts, shall have the most intimate access to him in this world, and participate his glory in the world to come: " they shall be kings and priests unto their God for ever and ever."]
We cannot reflect on this history without seeing in a striking point of view,
1. The danger of indulging sin in ourselves — [Whilst the Israelites were obedient to the divine com- mands, they were safe : God turned all the execrations of their enemies into blessings e. But when they allowed themselves to be tempted by the Midianitish women, they fell from one sin to another, and provoked God himself to become their enemy. Happy will it be for us, if we learn from their experience to resist iniquity in its first approaches ; lest we fall and perish after their example. And let not this caution be deemed un- worthy the attention of any. If David, and Solomon, were betrayed into the most grievous iniquities by means of their ungoverned appetites, who is he that shall think himself secure? Solomon's description of an abandoned woman is but too just; " Her heart is as snares and nets, and her hands as bands*:" he tells us too, that " many strong men have been slain by her; and that her house is the way to hellg." Many who once appeared to be in the way to heaven, have found this to their cost: and many of us who are yet out of hell, owe it more to the long-suffering of God than to any virtue of our own. Let such persons then be thankful to God for his mercy; and, " if any man think that he standeth, let him take heed lest he fall."]
2. The duty of restraining sin in others — [Wherefore were these rewards conferred on Phinehas, but
to shew the world the acceptableness of such services as his? And to what purpose has he committed the power of the sword to magistrates, if they are not to be a terror to the workers of iniquity? This power is a talent for which magistrates are
c Ps. cvi. 28—31. d Gal. iv. 18. e Deut. xxiii. 5.
f Eccl. vii. 26. s Prov. vii. 24 — 27.
m 2