I. Evidences of the fact; from the history, 1. of Abraham and II. The evidence, although partial, sufficient. not restricted to the histories of chosen persons; 2. but these persons chosen for the sake of mankind at large; 3. wherefore the interests of all, and especially of Christians, concerned in the histories of the first elect people. P. 67. III. Conclusion. 1. History, and these histories in particular, peculiarly fitted to display the Divine loving-kindness. 2. The ON THE USE AND VALUE TO CHRISTIANS OF THE OLD HISTO- I. As to the history of Providence under the earlier dispensa- tions, good or ill desert how far attended by outward prosperity or adversity; 1. under the Mosaic system; 2. among the apostate Patriarchal churches; 3. among nations or individuals before the II. Points of agreement and difference in the administration of Providence under the Christian and under the earlier dispensa- tions. 1. This life always a state of probation. 2. The consti- tution and course of nature always the same. 3. Special inter- positions under the Gospel, not known, but not improbable; yet (as to external retributions) more rare, because, 4. the character of III. Hence, 1. the Historical Scriptures how to be applied to the circumstances of Christians, (with respect to probation, I. Proofs of the Divine faithfulness, in the fulfilment of re- corded promises, supplied by, 1. the structure of the Historical books; 2. the structure of Prophecy; 3. the history of the Jewish Church, under the temporal sanctions of the Law. P. 116. II. Conviction of the Divine faithfulness strengthened by recorded examples of trust in God's promises. 1. Instances of this faith. 2. Their peculiar value. P. 124. III. Uniform preservation of the principle of faith under all dispensations. 1. Apparent contrast between the covenants of faith and of works. 2. Yet the principle of faith maintained before the Law, and under it. 3. Faith necessarily the principle of Religion, as the instrument of justification, and the basis of I. On the fact, that there are anticipations of Christian truth in these Scriptures. 1. Instances in the text. 2. Intimations of the Christian doctrines of sanctification and eternal life; 3. of I. Preliminary considerations. 1. Two leading opinions stated II. Distinction drawn between, 1. the sin and trespass offerings III. This negative character of the Mosaic atonements; 1. a preparation of the Jew for Christianity; 2. illustrative of the DISCOURSE I. 1 GENERAL DESIGN OF THE OLD SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 2 KINGS Xiv. 28. Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel? THE Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel has not been preserved. The sacred volumes which are extant under the title of the Books of Chronicles, and which supply many of the omissions in the Second Book of Samuel and in the First and Second Books of Kings, do not record the affairs of the kingdom of Israel: after the completion of the reigns of David and Solomon, they are occupied exclusively with the history of the kings of Judah. And in no other part of sacred history is the reign of Jeroboam son of Joash touched upon. Yet he was no inconsiderable prince, we may presume, who recovered Damascus for Israel out of the powerful B 2 hands of the kings of Syria; and his reign was extended to one and forty years, exceeding in duration that of any of the kings who preceded or followed him on the throne of Samaria. The reign of David continued during nearly the same period of time, but the history of his reign occupies the whole of the Second Book of Samuel, and all the historical portion of the First Book of Chronicles; whilst that of Jeroboam is comprised in a single chapter, and indeed in seven brief verses of one chapter. Now this is merely one instance out of a thousand IN THE HISTORICAL SCRIPTURES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT which may illustrate their DESIGN-the design, that is to say, not of the sacred historians themselves, but of Him by whose gracious inspiration these portions of holy Scripture were given for our learning. Of His designs the writers themselves were often no doubt unconscious. Their very ignorance of His ultimate purposes might often further them; and the undesignedness, as it has been termed, of many parts of sacred history, both in the New Testament and in the Old, belongs in fact to His design". a See remarks (from Duchal) in Paley's Evidences, Part ii. c. 3. on the Historians of the New Testament not considering the effect of their statements, the objections that might be raised against them, &c. And in like manner the Apostles' ignorance of the |