And in the instance before us it is perfectly evident, that the design of the Holy Spirit was to present us not with a civil but with a RELIGIOUS HISTORY. What is omitted shews at once what the history is not; and what is actually recorded shews as evidently what it is. Concerning the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, his might, his wars, and his conquests, the very subjects upon which an ordinary historian would enlarge, the sacred history is only not altogether silent; and it refers us for transactions of this kind to records which are not at present extant. Those subjects meanwhile which it stays to notice fall under the two great heads to which almost the whole of sacred history may be referred-THE WAYS AND THE ATTRIBUTES Of God, and THE NATURE AND CONDUCT OF MAN. Here is the whole of the history. Jeroboam "did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sinh:" the usual brief but emphatic description of the conduct of prince and people with respect to the besetting sin of the kingdom of Israel. Again-" he restored the abolition of the Mosaic Economy, for some time after the commencement of the Christian religion, furthered the Divine purpose of gradually shading off the Mosaic into the Christian system. » Ver. 24. : coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain :" here it would seem as if the historian was about to enlarge upon the accustomed topics of ordinary history; but not so, for he continues," according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gath Hepher. For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel. And the Lord said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven; but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash .' This second portion of the history of this reign is clearly an account not of the wars and the prowess of the king of Israel, but of the mercy and longsuffering of God. And this is the whole of the history. And it evidently relates in its two portions to the ways and conduct of God and of man, the two great leading subjects of all sacred history. This instance accordingly has been selected not for its importance, but for its clearness. But of so much consequence is it to the right understanding and proper use of the sacred Histories of the Old Testament, that their distinctive character as RELIGIOUS HISTORIES should be practically impressed upon our minds, that, obvious as this truth may Ver. 25-27. appear, it deserves to be illustrated by some further instances and observations. And, indeed, however obvious this truth may appear, it has been often misapprehended, and is not unfrequently misapprehended still d. And whilst these misapprehensions Even the pious and learned Bishop Patrick, in the Preface to his Commentary, thus recommends the study of the Pentateuch. "In which we are so particularly instructed by Moses, as by no other author, nor by all the authors that are, or have been known to be, extant in the world. For to him we owe the knowledge of the beginning of the world; of the first parents of mankind; the inventors of arts; the original of nations; the founders of kingdoms and empires; the institution of laws; the fountain of religious rites; yea, of all the ancient mythology; and, which is most considerable, the means of propagating that sense of God and of religion, which mankind brought into the world with them; and how it came to be corrupted.....Whose account of the families by whom the earth was peopled after the flood is so surprisingly agreeable to all the records that remain in any language of the several nations of the earth, that it carries with it an uncontrollable evidence of his sincerity and truth, as well as of his admirable universal knowledge. For, as there is no writer that hath given us an account of so many nations and so remote as he hath done; so he hath not satisfied himself with naming them, but acquainted us with their original; and told us at what time, and from what place, and on what occasion, they were dispersed into far distant countries. And this with such brevity, that he hath informed us of more in one chapter than we can find in the great volumes of all other authors; having shewn us from whom all those people descended, who are spread over the face of the earth from the Caspian and Persian sea to Hercules' pillars (as the appear, it deserves to be illustrated by some further instances and observations. And, indeed, however obvious this truth may appear, it has been often misapprehended, and is not unfrequently misapprehended still ". And whilst these misapprehensions Even the pious and learned Bishop Patrick, in the Preface to his Commentary, thus recommends the study of the Pentateuch. "In which we are so particularly instructed by Moses, as by no other author, nor by all the authors that are, or have been known to be, extant in the world. For to him we owe the knowledge of the beginning of the world; of the first parents of mankind; the inventors of arts; the original of nations; the founders of kingdoms and empires; the institution of laws; the fountain of religious rites; yea, of all the ancient mythology; and, which is most considerable, the means of propagating that sense of God and of religion, which mankind brought into the world with them; and how it came to be corrupted.....Whose account of the families by whom the earth was peopled after the flood is so surprisingly agreeable to all the records that remain in any language of the several nations of the earth, that it carries with it an uncontrollable evidence of his sincerity and truth, as well as of his admirable universal knowledge. For, as there is no writer that hath given us an account of so many nations and so remote as he hath done; so he hath not satisfied himself with naming them, but acquainted us with their original; and told us at what time, and from what place, and on what occasion, they were dispersed into far distant countries. And this with such brevity, that he hath informed us of more in one chapter than we can find in the great volumes of all other authors; having shewn us from whom all those people descended, who are spread over the face of the earth from the Caspian and Persian sea to Hercules' pillars (as the |