same time, made to ourselves and our own habits of thought and action, of Life and conversation: Since They were Written under DIVINE Inspiration equally for our Instruction and Admonition. And when we know These Things, (and so manifest are They for such Great and Gracious and Eternal Purposes, that he who runs may read Them ;) happy, and only so, shall we be, if we act upon Them. And, on the contrary, wretched and miserable, and so everlastingly shall we be, if, as we have means and opportunity, and according to our ability in our several circumstances and situations, we regard Them not. ** St. Luke, in conclusion of his Gospel Record, after a like description of CHRIST's Benediction to His Disciples, and His Ascension in their Presence, adds, "And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and were continually in the Temple, praising and blessing GOD. Amen!"-Chap. xxiv. 52, 53. Such is the effect of Faith; such the fruit of Holiness. There is a Joy unspeakable and Full of Glory, a Peace, that passeth the unspiritualized Man's understanding, a Hope, that almost realizes the Happiness of HEAVEN, which belong to them who, from their hearts, believe in the Necessity and Sufficiency of CHRIST's Mediation, and who, in submissiveness to The DIVINE Will, and in subjection to CHRIST's Authority, go the Way That He hath Appointed for them; neither Principalities nor Powers, neither derision nor scorn, neither evil report nor malicious persecution, neither pains nor bonds, nor even Death itself inducing them to turn away either to the right or to the left from such faith and obedience unto Holiness. St. John, or his Disciple, to whom he confidingly delivered the manuscript of his Narrative of The Gospel, terminates his Record of The Gospel by this solemn verification of It, and with an assertion of the unnumbered and numberless Works and Manifestations of the Wisdom and Goodness of the Soul-Loving JESUS, saying, "There are also Many Other Things, Which JESUS Did, the Which, if They should be written every One, I suppose that even the World itself could not contain the Books, that should be written. Amen!”—John xxi. 25. Thus difficult does it seem to the Evangelist's mind to select, from So Rich and Exhaustless a Mine, the Treasures Which should do the fullest Justice to The DIVINE Mission of The SON of GOD. But happily, Enough is thus Furnished, under The HOLY SPIRIT's Guidance, to convict the heart of sin; to stir up the spirit of repentance ; to awaken a sense of hopelessness of DIVINE Favour, but through The Great and Gracious Peace Offering Made in the Mystery of the Condescending Merey and Love of The SON of THE MOST HIGH. And justly is The Gospel Interpreted as The Blessed Tidings of Reconciliation and Everlasting Peace unto All, who, with meek hearts and firm faith, so receive and apply It. Let us, therefore, "hold fast the faith, as There Proposed, in the Unity of The SPIRIT, and in the Bond of Peace; adding to that faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience Godliness, and to Godliness Brotherly kindness, and to Brotherly kindness charity;" that, believing in the Mercies of The FATHER, our CREATOR, and trusting in the Merits of The SON, our REDEEMER, and yielding to the Guidance of The HOLY SPIRIT, our SANCTIFIER, we may have the Assurance of Eternal Salvation and Sanctification. Thus will not CHRIST have Suffered for us in vain ; but we shall be Restored to the Likeness of His NATURE, and may cherish the hope of sharing the Riches of the Fulness of His Favour in Time and in Eternity. Amen! So be it, in Thy Mercy, and in Thy SON's Love, O LORD GOD ALMIGHTY! THE END. 765 INDEX TO THE SCRIPTURAL HISTORIES OF ABRAHAM AND DAVID. SECOND EDITION. CONTENTS OF THE HISTORY OF ABRAHAM.- Introductory Remarks on the Connection of Abraham and David, both Prophetically Abraham's birth and marriage Removal from Ur to Canaan The ALMIGHTY's Communing with Abraham, and His Signal Benediction. His piety and mode of worship Address in adjusting a strife between Lot's and his Servants His military courage and skill in the rescue of Lot from captivity, and forbearance Dedication of a Tenth of the Spoil to the Minister of GOD. Intercession with GOD for a lineal Heir, lest the Steward should succeed to his effects Abraham's belief in The DIVINE Promise, and The ALMIGHTY's Estimate thereof Abraham's mode of relieving his Wife Sarah from the offensive manner of Hagar, her Bond-Woman, towards her His prayer for Ishmael, his Son by Hagar The Renewed Promise to and Covenant with Abraham, and the Appointed Change in his and his Wife's names Circumcision instituted Abraham entertains The SON of GOD and attendant Angels DIVINE Testimony to Abraham's Family and Household arrangements Supplication to have the Impending Judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah Averted Abraham's disingenuousness with Abimelech, in calling Sarah his Sister Birth of Isaac: his Circumcision Hagar's mockery of Sarah on becoming a Mother; Sarah's resentment; effect on Abraham's remonstrance on the violence shown by Abimelech's Servante Accommodation between them The great Trial of Abraham's faith and obedience unto Holiness, when Called to sacrifice his Son Isaac The progress towards the Appointed Place of Offering Recall of The DIVINE Injunction Substitution of a ram for an offering 10 to 13 12 13 DIVINE Estimate of such obedience, and Promise of endless Generations to Abraham, Abraham's treaty for a Family Sepulchre His anxiety and arrangement to secure a suitable Wife for his Son Isaac. Embassy sent to his Native Land for that object The Negotiation and securing of Rebekah, of Abraham's Kindred, by a Peculiar True and lively faith in CHRIST constitutes a Title to be of the Spiritual Seed of Its prominent connection with That of The MESSIAH DIVINE Appointment of him to be King on Saul's disaffection to GOD's Command The Prophet Samuel's anointing him as the Chosen amongst Jesse's numerous Sons, GOD's Previous Annunciation of His Preference for David St. Paul's confirmation of Such Preference, and of David's being the Line of The Saul's mental malady consequent on GOD's Rejection of him David called on to calm its disturbance by the influence of music Affection entertained for David by Michal, Saul's other Daughter Saul's malignant purpose in turning this incident to David's destruction 41, Further success against the Philistines Saul casts a javelin at David, which he avoids, and escapes Michal's contrivance to defeat Saul's purpose to sacrifice David to his jealousy Saul informed thereof Saul sends Messengers and goes himself to Ramah: Prophetic Influence produced on All David removes from Ramah, and has an interview with Jonathan David's Expostulation at Saul's unmerited treatment of him: Jonathan's promise Jonathan's pledge to David to give him every countenance and succour in his power, Plan suggested by David to Jonathan to sound Saul, by Jonathan's permission for Jonathan arranges to give secret intelligence to David of Saul's feeling on David's Result of the first day of the Festival On the second day, when Saul informed by Jonathan, the violence of the King's 47, 48 48, 49 Jonathan's fulfilment of his promise to David 49, 50 46 47 50 Affecting interview between Jonathan and David, and the piety it exhibiteth David's flight to Achish, King of Gath, and feigns madness to escape being treated His escape to the Čave of Adullam David's Brethren join him, and about 400 Supporters: their character His intercession to have protection given to His Father and Mother by the King of Moab David's removal to the Land of Judah by the warning of the Prophet Gad 5-1 ment Doeg's betrayal of David's reception by Ahimelech and the Priest of Nob Fell destruction both of the Priests and of the Inhabitants and City of Nob David's Followers beset him with their fears; and David again seeks for and obtains David's rescue of Keilah, and acquisition of great spoil David having fears that the Inhabitants of Keilah might betray him to Saul, David in the Wilderness of Ziph: Interview there between Jonathan and David: David removes to En-gedi, where Saul seeks him; but is himself surprised in the Saul, stung with Self-condemnation, acknowledges David's righteousness; proclaims 56 57 Death of Samuel, and his burial, and the general lamentation thereat Nabal's stern and insulting rejection of David's embassage Abigail's wise conduct on the occasion, in her personal intercession with David to David's pious acknowledgment of Abigail being thus Made an Instrument in GOD'S Abigail cautiously apprizes Nabal of the imminent danger that had been averted David advances on Saul's retirement, and, taking Abishai with him, has Saul in his David's remonstrance with Abner, the Captain of Saul's Host, for leaving the King David's expostulation with Saul for his unjustifiable hostility Saul's confession of his error; he pronounces a blessing on David David's continued fear of Saul leads him to seek refuge in Philistia, with Achish He obtains a grant from Achish of the City of Ziklag David's subtle invasion of the Geshurites, Gezerites, and Amalekites, and false repre- War between the Philistines and the Israelites renewed; and Achish purposes On the death of Samuel, and on Saul's having put away the Wizards of the Land, upon 72, 73 74, 75 76 Remonstrance of the Princes of Philistia with Achish for Countenancing David; and 76, 77 78 79 |