and on him had been executed the very curse denounced by Joshua^. At that time I suppose that the water and the ground were cursed by God, agreeably to what he had threat- ened by Moses ^: so that in that instance was fulfilled what David has spoken, " He turneth a fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein"^." And cer- tainly the beauty of the situation could but ill repay the loss sustained by the infliction of this curse. But, as the miracle shews us, God was both able and willing to remove the evil, when he was applied unto in the exercise of faith.]
But have not we far greater evils to be removed ?
[Behold what has been inflicted on mankind on account of sin. How dead are the souls of men, which, at their first creation, were as living springs of all that was good! Behold, too, how barren are their lives in respect of all the fruits of righteousness, which originally, when in Paradise, were pro- duced by them ! True, indeed, there is somewhat of man's primeval beauty still adhering to him : and if we had respect only to his faculties, as compared with all other parts of the terrestrial creation, we should say of him, " Behold how beau- tiful he is, as my lord seeth!" But, "his heart, alas! from whence are the issues of life," is become " deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked"^;" yea, "it is full of evil %" and "out of it proceed all manner of abominations ^" As to any thing truly spiritual, it is a perfect desert ; so barren, that not one "just work, or one good counsel, or one holy desire," is produced by it. And to what a vast extent are these evils felt! Not only those who are in immediate contact with us, but the whole world, feel the bitter consequences of the change that has taken place in us, and of the curse that has been in- flicted on us : and, if a remedy be not applied, the sad eflPects will be continued to all eternity.
And can these evils be removed ? Yes, and shall be, if only we apply to God in prayer and faith.]
But in this miracle we further see,
II. That there are no means so weak, but God can render them effectual to the desired end — How utterly inadequate were the means by which this miracle was wrought !
[There was no power in salt to render the water sweet, or the ground fertile : or, if there had been any suitableness in
^ Compare Josh. vi. 26. with 1 Kings xvi. 34, .
^ Deut. xxviii. 2—4, 11, 15—18. <= Ps. cvii. 34.
fi Jer. xvii. 9. e Eccl. ix. 3. *■ Mark vii. 21 — 23,