syria. We may suppose that it was publicly delivered, so that Rab-shakeh and the other generals, with their army, heard it. The latter part of the prediction was calculated to inspire fresh spirits into the people of Judah, who, without doubt, were in great consternation on account of the formidable army..by which they were besieged.

SECTION CIII.

THE ASSYRIANS SMITTEN.

From 2 Kings. Chap. xix.

AND it came to pass that night that the angel of the LORD went out and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand; and when the people of Judah arose early in the morning, behold, their enemies were all dead corpses *.

So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and, dwelt at Nineveh.

And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him, with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS..

The Divine promises made by the mouth of Isaiah, were soon fulfilled. It seems that Sennacherib shortly followed his letter, and was preparing to attack Jerusalem; but before the Assyrians, could have time to commit any hostilities, the greatest part of their, army was miraculously smitten.

п

* I have taken the liberty of changing the expression here, aċcording to the obvious meaning of the text.

"From

the passion

Proud fleets, des

"From this wonderful defeat of the mighty Assyrian army, we may learn, that as the LORD stills, at his plea1.0 the sure, raging of the sea, and the noise of the waves; in like manner he stills the raging of the people. When of men are most inflamed, and their designs just ripe for bursting into execution, often by some unex-' pected interposition, he calls upon the world to observe, that there is ONE higher than the highest upon earth, who can frustrate their devices in a moment, and command the earth to be still before him. tined to carry destruction to neighbouring kingdoms, may cover the ocean; He blows with his wind, and they are scattered. Mighty armies may go forth to the field in all the glory of human strength, but the issues of battle are with Him. He gives to some slight event the thousand unpower of deciding the fate of nations. A seen ministers stand by to be the instruments of His power, in humbling the pride, and checking the efforts of the wrath of man; as in the instance of haughty Sennacherib, and that boasted tempest of his wrath, which he threatened to pour on all the Jewish nation. It was allowed to prevail against the Israelites, as a punishment for their incorrigible wickedness, and was employed as an instrument of discipline and correction to the king and people of Judah, in order to produce in them proper reflections upon their duty, and their past errors; as they wisely considered it in this light, and humbled themselves before the LORD, he graciously restrained the remainder of Sennacherib's wrath; and made it the mean of advancing the temporal prosperity of his faithful people, and of confirming the truth of his holy religion and his almighty power."

1.

*

*Psalm lxxvi. 10.

"Let

"Let this history, therefore, lead us to a religious contemplation of the hand of Gop, in all the transactions of the world. Let us not censure Providence, on account of any seeming disorders and evils which at present take place the plans of Divine wisdom are too large and comprehensive to be discerned by us in all their extent; and where we see only by parts, we must frequently be at a loss in judging of the whole. The way of GOD is in the sea, and is path in the great waters; His footsteps are not known.* But although thou sayest thou canst not see Him, yet judgment is before Him; therefore trust thou in Himt. Whatever distresses we suffer from the wrath of man, we have ground to believe that they befall us not in vain. Let us then study to gain the protection and favour of the ALMIGHTY, If He be for us, who or what can be against us? Let us pursue the measures which He has appointed for obtaining His grace, by faith, repentance, and a holy life, and we shall have no reason to be afraid of any evil tidings: our hearts will be fixed, trusting in the LORD; and we need not fear what man cau do unto us.

ور

These Reflections which are taken from a Sermon of an eminent Divinet, are particularly suitable to the present times, when we are threatened with invasion and destruction by a proud and haughty foe, who hath already been sent by the ALMIGHTY though he thinketh not so, to destroy nations not a few.

* Psalm Ixxvii. 19. † Job xxxv. 14.

Dr. Blair.

END OF THE THIRD VOLUME.

. Bryer, Printer, Bridge-street, Blackfriars, London.