had originally been given by the Redeemer. The nation had sunk into evil; and a more than ordinary display of Superintending Providence was necessary to recal them to their allegiance; and deliver them from their adversity. Gideon, as the mind most adapted to this design, was selected; and Christ, who had not disdained to reveal Himself to the Patriarchs and to Moses, descended now to one, who in the iniquity of his nation, perhaps stood singularly remarkable for his piety and truth. The frequency with which the name of JEHOVAH is attributed to him, would indeed of itself, were there no other reasons, be almost conclusive of the fact; for it cannot be viewed otherwise than as a striking improbability, that an inspired historian should designate by the incommunicable name of Jehovah one, whom he had just before spoken of as a visible angel; unless he felt assured, that it was really an incarnation of the Eternal Deity. Neither can such language as the following." The Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, &c."-be uttered by any other than He who had the authority to promise the coming triumph, and intended to be present when that triumph should be achieved. In regard, however, to this latter particular, we are left in no doubt whatever of the Person under whose directions the victory was really gained; for after many visions vouchsafed to him in regard to the plans he should adopt, and the precautions he should use, we find this distinct affirmation of the presence of Jehovah immediately before the battle with the Midianites: "And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord (JEHOVAH) said unto him, Arise, get thee down

unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand."*"The angel" and "the Lord," as in former instances are one, and centre again in the Deity of Christ.

We pass cursorily over the next descent, both because it differs in no essential particular in its mode from the two instances, which have just been examined; and because it conveys no additional or enlarged ideas of the powers exercised by Christ on earth in these early ages. It is the announcement to the wife of Manoah of the birth of Samson. As in the former examples we have alluded to, the angel seems to have appeared at first under the guise of a prophet or holy person. This was the character in which she received him; though, at the same time, it is evident, from the terms in which she related the interview to Manoah, that her mind was affected by the solemnity of his appearance in a manner for which she could not well account. "A man of God came unto me," is her language, "and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name: But he said unto me; Behold, thou shalt conceive and bear a son."t

Subsequently, in consequence it would seem of the earnest supplications of Manoah, that God would again send the messenger "the man of God," to give them more minute directions, than those he had already communicated, as to the ordering and nurture of the child; the angel a second time appeared unto them. The required directions are given; and the Holy Messenger is again about to depart, when Manoah urged him to stay and receive the accus* Judges vii. 9. + Judges xiii. 6.

tomed rights of hospitality. This he refuses; though with a view to make him cognizant of his real character, and to raise his thoughts up to a right elevation and sense of the signal mercy, which had been shown to him, he replied, "I will not eat of thy bread; and if thou wilt offer a burnt-offering, thou must offer it unto the Lord. For Manoah knew not," it is added, "that he was an angel of the Lord."

A thought of the truth, seems to have flashed across the mind of Manoah, on this answer; and he eagerly enquires the name of the angel, in order that when the promise which he had given them should be accomplished, they might do him honor. What the reply of the angel? Is it such as would give God the honor, by declaring that he is his instrument

one of the created hosts which environ his throne in heaven? Is it such as would give to Manoah an idea, that he was a subservient Being at all?-By no means. His reply is of a nature, which was calculated to impress his mind with the notion that he was God; the same God, who had so often descended to the succour and faith of his forefathers; and that his name, as he had formerly intimated to Moses, (I am that I am) was not to be profaned by the lips of man. "Why askest thou my name," he replies, "seeing it is secret?" A closer translation, according to the margin of the Bible, would be " seeing it is wonderful." ( distinctus, admirabilis)—and in this sense, it gives the lead to the expression in the succeeding verse; that when Manoah offered a kid to the Lord, "the angel did wondrously;" for when the flame went up towards heaven from off the altar, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar.

But whether it be read "secret;" or "separated," or "wonderful," we cannot look upon the answer in any other light, than as implying the presence of One, far higher than any of the ministering Intelligences of the Eternal; nor indeed, in receiving it under the marginal title, can we forget that the name of "Wonderful," is one by which Christ has especially been distinguished by the prophet; and tallying as it does with the manifestations which have undoubtedly been made by Him, we feel no reluctance of judgment in ascribing to Christ-as in accordance with these past instances-the vision vouchsafed to Manoah.

Our attention is next drawn to the call of Samuel. It is a vision of great importance; both as to the time, and the mode of its exhibition. The time;-since the Israelites, permanently established in the land of Canaan, had begun to enjoy a real state of quiet and repose, after an almost incessant series of conflicts and oppressions and judgments for their evil deeds in the sight of God. They were on the eve of entering upon that change of government, as the fruit of their inactivity and peace, which existed until their captivity: the change from theocracy to the dominion of an earthly king. The mode; —since, while it is distinctly affirmed, that the revelation was made by a voice, thrice repeated; and which, from the very nature of the attendant circumstances, must have been audibly uttered; it is stated throughout, not that an angel spake, or the voice of an angel; but that the Lord (JEHOVAH) called unto the infant prophet, and proclaimed the decrees which he was about to confirm. In point of time therefore this vision is of great consequence, as carrying on the

Р

revelations of God, through another of those great divisions, into which the Jewish history was so remarkably broken. The life of Samuel may be considered the commencement of a new era in the annals of Israel. They have passed from the single family of Abraham, into the captivity of Egypt. From Egypt into the wilderness. From the wilderness into Canaan. Christ has protected and guided them through every external change. He has been at one time, their King and God; and has raised from time to time, as seemed most expedient to his own wisdom, prophets and judges, who might carry his designs into effect, for the prosperity of the nation. But they are about to enter upon a new state; they demand an earthly king; one who shall govern them on the same principles as do the monarchs of the nations by whom they are surrounded; and in the powerful language of Scripture reject God from being their King."

66

The call of Samuel therefore seems one of those breaks in the history on which it is right to pause, in order that the integrity of Christ's Revelations may be preserved; lest the Father should be supposed in this place to resume the government of his people, on similar grounds to those which we discussed on the giving of the Law:-as a juncture peculiarly worthy of his own personal agency. And this is the more necessary, from the strong and marked terms in which the call of Samuel is recorded. It came to pass, that when Samuel was laid down to sleep, the Lord (JEHOVAH) called Samuel."*

66

In reality however no change has taken place.

*

1 Sam. iii. 3.