Jews who were resident among them. (Acts xiii. 43; xvi. 14; xvii. 4, 12.)

At this day the Jews, in the same manner, prepare the way for the Gospel. They maintain the Divine authority of the law and the prophets, which testify of Christ; they are a living demonstration of the truth of prophecy; they exhibit in their character and condition the leading facts of the New Testament; and in these respects are Christ's witnesses. Their testimony is unintentionally and unwillingly given, as it was in ancient times; but given it is, by the overruling providence of God, and that upon a wide and extensive scale. Notwithstanding their perverseness and unbelief, they are still, in an important sense, "beloved for their fathers' sakes;" the vail will therefore be ultimately taken from the Jewish heart," and so all Israel shall be saved." (2 Cor. iii. 16; Rom. xi. 26, 28.) In the mean while, every practicable effort ought to be made by a Christian people to convince the Jews of the Messiahship of Jesus, and thus to effect their conversion to Him. They are, indeed, under a Divine malediction; but it is not absolute. Christianity never appeared in a more perfect form than in the apostolic church at Jerusalem immediately after the Pentecost; and its members belonged mostly to the Jewish race. (Acts ii. 41-47.)

CHAPTER VII.

THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD WITH RESPECT TO NATIONS IN GENERAL.

We have seen that it pleased God to enter into a covenant with the tribes of Israel, so as to promise them temporal blessings in rich abundance as the reward of obedience to the laws which He gave them, and to threaten the infliction of temporal calamities as the punishment of transgression. His dealings with them as a nation were therefore in many respects peculiar, and are not strictly applicable to other civil communities. Yet to every nation His providential care is directed; for all men are the creatures of His power, partakers of His goodness, under the control of His almighty hand, dependent upon Him for all their enjoyments, and accountable to Him as "the Judge of all the earth."

No nation can exist without government, which is therefore declared to be an ordinance of God; and the men who are entrusted with the administration of it are called His "ministers," appointed "for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well." It is also said of Him, as a general declaration, applicable to hea hen nat ons, and to Christian communities, as well as to His covenant people whose rulers were of His special appointment, "He setteth up

kings." (Dan. ii. 21.) To Nebuchadnezzar, the heathen monarch of Babylon, the prophet Daniel said, "The God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory." (Dan. ii. 37.) Of him also God Himself said, "I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant;" "and all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son." (Jer. xxvii. 6, 7.) The emperors of pagan Rome, and their deputies in the provinces of the empire, are spoken of also as the servants of God's will; and they were to be obeyed and prayed for in that character. (1 Tim. ii. 1, 2; 1 Peter ii. 13, 14, 17.) "Knowest thou not," said Pontius Pilate to our Saviour, "that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above." (John xix. 10, 11.)

Statesmen endued with wisdom, sagacity, foresight, and a patriotic spirit, who can form a just judgment of the course of events, so as to prepare for every emergency, are raised up by the good providence of God, and as such should be thankfully received whenever they appear. "He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding." (Dan. ii. 21.) When Saul was anointed to the kingly office, "God gave him another heart," qualifying him for the regal duties to which he was now called. (1 Sam. x. 9.) By the same means David was "wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth." (2 Sam. xiv. 20.) "God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore;"

far surpassing all ordinary bounds. (1 Kings iv. 29.) "And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment." (1 Kings iii. 28.)

From these examples we learn that men who are called to the exercise of civil power, whether as kings, or as ministers of state, need special wisdom and sagacity, which they ought to ask of God, so that all their official acts may tend to His glory, and the welfare of the people over whom they are placed. Subjects should also ask of God heavenly wisdom and guidance for their rulers, to whom the interests of the public are confided. Praise and thanksgiving are no less due to God for wise and upright rulers, whose acts conduce to the general benefit of the community. "I exhort therefore," says an inspired apostle, " that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. ii. 1-4.) Every national benefit comes from God, whatever may be the medium through which it is conveyed; and to Him therefore the glory is due.

Next to civil rulers, as necessary in order to the wellbeing of a nation, are military and naval commanders. Till the reign of righteousness shall become universal, the science of war must be maintained, both as a means of defence against foreign aggression, and as an auxiliary to the civil power. The profession of arms is not

deemed generally favourable to Christian piety; yet armies have presented many examples of spirituality of mind, of pure morality, and of holy zeal; and even heathen soldiers have been honoured, in the use of arms, as instruments of good in the hands of Divine providence. A remarkable example of this we have in Naaman, "captain of the host of the king of Syria," who was cured of his leprosy in the time of Elisha. He "was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour." (2 Kings v. 1.) We have no reason to regard this as a solitary case. Many a man who knows not God is a means of fulfilling God's purp ses of justice and of mercy, and of rendering valuable services to his country, and even to the world.

God's providential dealings with the heathen nations of antiquity present a striking combination of righteous anger and tender compassion. They lost the knowledge of God; and this loss was at once their sin and punishment. There was a time when all the inhabitants of the earth knew God, and the kind of service that He required of them and would accept. But as the recollection of an infinitely holy and just being, always present with them, inspecting their conduct, and holding them responsible for every temper, word, and work, interfered with their sinful habits and pleasures, "they did not like to retain God in their knowledge," and therefore, as much as possible, dismissed all remembrance of Him from their minds; never mentioning His name, never meeting together to celebrate His worship, never teaching their children to fear and love