as it was in itself, and with its surrounding influences; and the plain truth is, that the adaptation of the whole Hebrew government, in its civil enactments and religious ordinances, to civilize and spiritualize the rising generations of Israel, is so direct and wise, and in its results so effective and successful, that it proves its superhuman origin, and has no lower source than the infinite wisdom, and power, and goodness of Jehovah. The grace of the gospel could not have been reached by the generations of man, and the plan of redemption could not have found an age ready that its wonders should have been wrought in it, except through just such an intervention as the call of Abraham, and the legislation of Moses, and the subsequent teaching of divine prophecy and providence secured.

The Theocracy taught that God was one; was a spirit that could not have any material likeness; and that, though the heaven of heavens could not contain. him, yet that, in very deed, he dwelt with men; and though he did by no means clear the guilty, yet was he the "Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, and forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin." No formal obedience alone could be acceptable, and the very formality of the divinely instituted ritual demanded, and was designed to secure, a pure service of the heart.1 No language can more fully or forcibly enjoin a hearty service, or show

See Ex. xxxiv. 7; Lev. xix. 1, 2; Deut. x. 12-19, xxx. 6; 1 Sam. xvi. 7; Ps. xv. 1-3, li. 1-17; Isa. i. 10-20, lxvi. 2; Joel ii. 12, 13.

the law more completely written on and filling the heart, than such expressions and the experiences recorded by the Psalmist.1

So with the civil and religious polity of Israel: the grand design was the establishment of a free and powerful nation; to cultivate them in the arts of peace, and inculcate pure morality and national piety; and though necessarily, in their ignorance and darkness, appealing to sense, yet in such a way as most effectually to reach, elevate, and purify the spirit. While all the other peoples of the world continued in their idolatry and polytheistic superstitions, the Hebrew people, with frequent lapses and many apostasies, still preserved the faith and worship of the true God, and taught the nations to expect the advent of a Divine Prince and Saviour.

SECTION VI.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE THEOCRACY TO THE
BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY.

THE encampment of Israel at Sinai continued about eleven months, during which period the law was given and the tabernacle made and furnished according to minutely specific directions; and henceforth the established form of worship was maintained,

1 Ps. xix., lxiii., lxxxiv., cxix., &c.

sacrifices offered, and ceremonies observed according to the directions of the inspired Ritual. The Shechina, or bright appearance of God's presence and glory, was perpetually with the nation, and gave to them the direction of their future movements by peculiar indications when to move and where to encamp.' God was thus manifestly in the midst of them, and known by them as Jehovah, their national King and patron-Deity. It was, however, convenient and expedient that a human ruler should be interposed between the divine king and people, and it was the prerogative of God to indicate his will in the determination of whom it should be that they were to acknowledge as his vicegerent in the government. While the transactions at Sinai had been in progress, the will of God had been fully manifested that Moses was his lawgiver and constituted leader. When, afterwards, Moses' authority was questioned and resisted, God vindicated it terribly and effectually.3

1. THE THEOCRACY UNDER MOSES. - Just thirteen months and twenty days from the exodus, the Israelites, by the command of Moses from the Lord, took their departure from Sinai, and the cloud of the Lord was taken up from the tabernacle, and the tribes followed in their prescribed order, with their standards, officers, and people, and the cloud next rested

1 Num. ix. 15-23.

2 Ex. xxiv. 9-18, xxxii. 33, 34, xxxiii. 8-11, xxxiv. 29-35.
3 Num. xii. 1-15, xvi. 1-35.
4 Num. x. 11.

in the wilderness of Paran. So, journeying from day to day direct towards Canaan, they came in a short time to the borders of their promised possession, and a man from each tribe constituted a commission to go through the land and return a true report. Within forty days they return, and report in great praise of the country; but all except two, Joshua and Caleb, are terrified and utterly unmanned by the power of the people and the defence of their cities. "We be not able to go against this people." "We were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." 1

With this report the timid Israelites were overwhelmed with despair, and evince how little they are prepared to conquer their promised inheritance, and take an independent place amid powerful nations. They murmur and clamorously rebel, and determine to make themselves "a captain and return to Egypt." The contradictory report of Joshua and Caleb, and the interposed persuasion of Aaron, and the authority of Moses, avail nothing; they become furious and headstrong in their riotous purpose, and proceed to stone all opposed.2 A more courageous and disciplined generation must come up, or the great designs of their fathers' covenant and promise must fail. In the midst of their turbulent frenzy and obstinacy, the glory of the Lord in the tabernacle suddenly manifested the divine displeasure, and in terrible majesty Jehovah declares that he is about to destroy them

1 Num. xiii. 27-33.

2 Num. xiv. 1-10.

utterly and instantly. Moses interceded, and Jehovah spared, but announced that they should all turn back into the wilderness, and journey and die there in their wandering till another generation should be born and disciplined, worthy with Joshua and Caleb to go over Jordan and plant their divine institutions in the land. While this enunciation was being given, the ten cowardly spies died by a plague from the Lord, and the mutiny was hushed; but the spirit of the people was no more loyal than before. In spite of warnings and prohibitions, they desperately presumed to go against the Canaanites, and ascended "to the hill-top," where the Amalekites and Canaanites discomfit and destroy them.1 There is no alternative to the survivors but to go back to the wilderness till "their carcasses fall there."

"After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years; "2 so God threatened, and so God dealt by them, and effected the necessary training of a disciplined, hardy, courageous generation. In Numbers 3 is given the record of their wanderings and several encampments, and directly under Moses' leading and Jehovah's supervision they gained the confirmed habit of orderly conduct and prompt obedience. By removals and restings of the glory of his presence, the Lord controlled their marches and encampments.

1 Num. xiv. 10-45.

3 Chap. xxxiii.

2 Num. xiv. 34.

And by

4 Num. ix. 15-23.