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endeavours to fecure itself against their affaults-but we know how to prevail against those spiritual wickedneffes, which war against our fouls. No evil can furprife us, if we watch-no evil can burt us, if we pray. THE enemy was fubtle, and malicious. They shall neither know nor fee, till we come in the midst of them and flay "them." Open force is not fo dangerous, as fecret diffimulation. They would feem Jews, while they were Moabites and Ammonites, and would come under the disguise of brethren for purposes of murder.

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NEHEMIAH, aware of the impending danger, calls together the faithful people of GOD-bids them remember the LORD, who is great and terrible, and fight for their brethren, their fons, and their daughters, their wives, and their houses. Motives like these cannot fail of infpiring courage cannot but animate the weakest

heart

heart-Nothing can excite the militant foul to ftand faft in the day of adverfity fo much, as the remembrance of that infinite power and wisdom, which can either avert, or mitigate, or fanctify it.

THE talk is now divided: each zealous Hebrew is a workman and a foldier. What an image is here of that Church, where every one labours, invested with christian armour-where every one fo works, that he is ready to ward off all affailants-where diligence is not hazardous, nor valour fruitless!

BUT what can weapons avail, if there are no means to warn us against an enemy? Without a trumpet, we are armed in vain. The work is large, and we are separated one from another-only the facred trumpet of GoD calls us to affociate for our mutual prefervation. Woe be to the watchman, if the found he gives be uncertain! Woe be to the people, if, when they hear the found, they resort

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not to the fignal! United forces may profper-fingle oppofition is defperate. All hands and hearts muft meet together in the cause of truth, and of GOD.

DISCOVERED ftratagems are already in a great measure prevented. The adverfaries of Jerufalem hear that the city hath warning. They relinquish their execrable purpose-they depart in fhame and confufion.

NEHEMIAH, delivered from the impending danger, completes the fortifications of the holy city. No longer is fhe a reproach to the nations of the earth. All is accomplished which can tend to the peace, the welfare, the dignity, the fecurity, of Sion. And now, what reward shall be given to the deliverer of his country? What bright recompence fhall crown his affiduous labours? He needs, he feeks, he will accept no other, than is afforded by the confcious feelings of his heart. He calls upon his GOD to think

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on him for good-to keep in memory what he hath done for his brethren.

BLESSED are they that always keep judgment, and do righteoufnefs! They fhall be thine, O LORD, in that day when thou makest up thy jewels. Thou shalt remember them with thy peculiar favour-thou fhalt vifit them with thy falvation. They fhall fee the felicity of thy chofen-they fhall rejoice in the gladness of thy people-they fhall give thanks with thine inheritance.

LI.

ESTHER. *

WHAT bounds can be affigned to human ambition? Ahafuerus, king of Perfia, whofe empire was extended to the most distant regions of the globe, prepares to add yet other provinces to

THE exact period, when the transactions took place, which form the fubject of this and the following contemplation, is not properly afcertained. According to Dean Prideaux, Esther flourished be tween the departure of Ezra, and that of Nehemiah for Jerusalem, (a conjecture in fome meafure fupported by Neh. ii. 6.)

The Editor has contented himself with following the arrangement of Bishop Hall, but does not altogether subscribe to his opinion, that Xerxes, the fon of Darius, is the Ahafuerus of Holy writ.

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