friend0. And what greater encouragement can we desire, than that which the text affords ? Others may fall ; but we shall be " covered, and kept in safety p :" others may aposta- tize to their perdition ; but we shall be preserved through faith unto everlasting salvation q.]
0 1 John i. 3. p Isai. liv. 17. i 1 Pet. i. 5.
Deut. xxxiii. 25. As thy days, so shall thy strength be.
PREVIOUS to his departure from them, Moses pronounced a blessing on all the tribes of Israel. The blessing to each was appropriate and prophetic. That assigned to Asher was, that his posterity should be numerous and happy ; that his provision should be abundant, and his strength, under every emer- gency, fully adequate to the occasion. It is thought indeed by some, that the promise, " thy shoes shall be iron and brass," referred to mines in that part of Canaan which should be allotted to them : but it appears to me to import rather, that they should be possessed of great power ; and to agree exactly with that address of the Prophet Micah to Zion, " Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion! for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass ; and thou shalt beat in pieces many people a." Then the meaning of our text will be clear ; namely, that whatever difficulties they might have to contend with, they should find their strength sufficient for them.
Now, though many parts of the blessings here pro- nounced were doubtless so peculiar as to have no reference except to the particular tribe to which they were addressed, yet such parts as were of a more general nature may, without impropriety, be more largely applied to the Israel of God in all ages. Such parts will be found in almost all the addresses to the different tribes ; and the promise in our text most assuredly admits of such an interpretation. The promise made to Joshua, " I will not fail thee, nor
a Mic. iv. 13.