200 Numbers, Xxxv. 24—28. [184.

which arise out of existing circumstances, and are peculiarly worthy of our attention. That our ene- mies are Jehovah's sword, and that he is come forth against us as an avenger, cannot but be confessed : but whether it be for our chastisement only, or for our utter destruction, none can tell. One thing how- ever is sure ; that the best possible method of paci- fying the divine anger, and averting the impending judgments, is, to flee unto the Saviour, and to seek mercy through him. If once we were stirred up, as a nation, to take refuge in him, He who spared re- penting Nineveh, would spare us, and either avert the gathering storm, or deliver us from its dreadful ravages. This is the direction uniformly given us by God himself. Thus he says by the prophet Zepha- niah, " Gather yourselves together, yea, gather toge- ther, O nation not desired ; before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you. Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, seek righteous- ness, seek meekness ; it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger." Again he says by Isaiah, " Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee ; hide thyself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast : for, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the land for their iniquity." Could we but be prevailed upon to follow this advice, we doubt not but that it would be more effectual for our preservation than all the navies that can be built, or all the armies that can be mustered : for if God were for us, none could successfully fight against us. If we were even already vanquished, yea, and led into captivity, still we " should take those captive whose captives we were, and should rule over our oppressors." Let me not however be understood as disregarding the proper means of self-defence : for God saves by means ; and to expect his interposition without using our utmost efforts in our own behalf, would be presumption. — Though therefore we would