should perish after his example. The event indeed shews how- vain any attempt on their part would have been. And does not this convince us, that, when the measure of any person's iniquities is full, he shall in no wise escape the vengeance of his God ? Whatever obstacles may appear to He in the way, and whatever barrier an ungodly world may have, or think they have, for their defence, God will surely make a way for his in- dignation : opposing myriads shall be only as the stubble before the consuming fire : " though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished." Let any one, dreaming of security, go and behold the stones in Gilgal: let him ask of Jordan, " What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? and thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back? " and then let him add with the Psalmist, " Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the pre- sence of the God of Jacob f." We may further ask,
Who can ever fail, that trusteth in him?
There might have been some hope of crossing the ford, as the spies had done, if the river had not overflowed its banks : but now it seemed to present an insurmountable obstacle to their passage, especially considering that their cattle and bag- gage were to be taken over with them. But this generation were not like those who had perished in the wilderness ; they had learned to confide in God : and God interposed for them in a way winch they do not appear to have at all expected. It had been promised indeed that they should pass over Jordan, and that no opposition should be made to them in their pas- sage ; for that their enemies, " through fear and dread, should be still as a stone" till all the people should have completely passed g: but they do not seem to have had any precise idea of the way in which the promises should be accomplished : nor, on the other hand, do they appear to have entertained any doubts but that they should be brought over in safety. Their confidence was well rewarded; and the very impediments which obstructed their progress served only to display and magnify the power of God.
Thus, whatever difficulties his people may have to surmount, they may at all times adopt the triumphant language of the prophet, " Who art thou, O great mountain ? before Zerub- babel thou shalt become a plain :" and they may assuredly expect, that He who has " laid the foundation, will finish it, and will bring forth the head-stone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace, unto ith!"]
But these monuments were intended also, 2. As memorials of his love — [The conduct of Israel in the wilderness abundantly shewed, that God had " never set his love upon them for their
f Ps. cxiv. 1—7. « Exod. xv. 13—17. h Zech. iv. 7—9.