January 9

assembly. The reproaches of them that reproach Him should fall upon them.

Those that represent strict piety as needless precision, should remember that nothing less is required of us than to avoid the appearance of evil, to walk circumspectly, and to be always abounding in the work of the Lord—We are to regard His word as we keep the tenderest part of the tenderest member of our body. “Keep my commandments, and live; and MY LAW AS THE APPLE OF THINE EYE.”

JANUARY 9.—“Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.”—Psalm ixxiv. 14.

WHAT creature in the animal world is intended by leviathan we cannot absolutely determine. We have a general description of him in the book of Job; but even this leaves the learned divided, some pleading for the crocodile and some for the whale. But it is not necessary to be a naturalist in order to be a Christian; and it is pleasing to think that though in the Scripture there are things hard to be understood, they do not affect the foundation of our faith and hope. The truths contained in the sacred volume are plain in proportion as they are profitable, and we are at no loss for an answer to the question, What must I do to be saved? Though we know not where heaven is, we are clearly informed how we may attain it. Though we are uncertain about leviathan, we are sure of the Consolation of Israel—“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”

Whatever be the animal intended, his name is here used to represent Pharaoh with all his policy and power, as we see from the verse immediately preceding: “Thou didst divide the sea by Thy strength: Thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.” Then it is added: “Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.” Who were the people inhabiting the wilderness? First, the birds and beasts of the desert. These found a fine feast in the destruction of the king and his army, whose carcasses, thrown on shore and remaining unburied, were greedily devoured by them. Secondly, the Jews themselves. They might very properly be said to inhabit the wilderness, because it was their present residence, and because they were, instead of speedily travelling through it, to sojourn there for forty years. Now Pharaoh and his host became meat for them, literally and morally. Literally, as they derived from the spoils of the foe a supply of means to sustain them, of attire to clothe them, of weapons to defend them, of silver, and gold, and jewels, to enrich them. Morally, as they derived from the event food for their gratitude, faith, hope, and joy, not only for the time being, when they sang His praise, but in all future perils and exigences. Hence in the days of Isaiah we find the Church pleading with God in allusion to it: “Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon? Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for

the ransomed to pass over? Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away."

There is a people now inhabiting the wilderness. They are Christians. Whatever the world may be to others, and who are called "men of the world," it is no better than a wilderness to those who are born from above, and bound to the land of promise. They feel and confess it to be such, not only from the privations and trials they meet with in it, but from the principles and dispositions of their new nature.

And is there no leviathan whose heads have been broken in pieces for them, and from which they have been furnished with meat? Are there no past deliverances, no former mercies, upon which their souls can feed? Let us think of the redemption of the cross. Here their Lord and Saviour seemed conquered, but he gained a complete victory. He bruised the serpent's head; and through death destroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. Now, said He, is the judgment of this world, now is the Prince of this world cast out; and I if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. Angels are not concerned here, and yet the transaction seems food for their minds, and fills them with admiration, love, and praise; and therefore they desire to look into these things. What relief and satisfaction then must it yield to those who live thereby! To see the curse not only defeated, but turned into a blessing; to see where sin abounded grace much more abounding, and the fall made the occasion of improving their original condition—what wonder if they exclaim, God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!

We may also notice their deliverance from their natural state. He hath delivered us, says the Apostle, from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. And we are to look to the rock whence we were hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence we are digged. The review will be every way useful. What can feed our humility more? or our gratitude more? or our confidence more? or our rejoicing more? or our zeal more?

There are also Providential interpositions. Who has not some of these to remember; in which God turned the shadow of death into the morning; and made a way the most strange and gracious for our escape? Whoso is wise, observes these things; and in looking back upon life, is able to see how many events, which perplexed and alarmed him at the time, afterward ministered to his faith and hope in God. David could say, it is good for me that I have been afflicted. Paul had a thorn in the flesh; but it preserved him from pride, drove him to prayer, and obtained for him the assurance of all-sufficient grace. What pleasure and profit must Joseph have derived from all the difficulties that tried him, yet issued not only in his release, but advancement and glory! He can break the heads of any leviathan; and out of the eater bring forth meat—

"Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace: Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face"

VOL. I.