Page:Query in the Gospel Magazine for October M.DCC.LXXI (1783).pdf/11

 effectually ſecures both it's beauty and fertility in the end.

There is a gracious promiſe made by Moſes to Iſrael, which ought to be much regarded; "and the Lord thy God will put out before thee all theſe thine enemies by little and little." A promiſe which ſets before us the whole work of God in our ſanctification; the agency by which, and the manner how the work is carried on.

Much beauty lies in the promiſe, and this in particular, "thine enemies ſhall be put out before thee;" thou ſhalt ſee thine enemies before they are put out; and as ſure as ever they are brought to thy view as enemies, the Lord thy God will put them out, though it may be by little and little.

God will bring all our inward enemies, every lurking Canaanite to light, before he puts them out, whatever pain the awful diſcovery may give us; for he ſtudies our ſalvation and final poſſeſſion of the promiſed land, rather than our preſent inclination and pleaſure: We would gladly enter into the land at once to poſſeſs it, without ſo much as ſeeing war; but this is contrary to the purpoſe of God. It is the divine purpoſe, that the Canaanitiſh luſts of the human heart muſt all be led to execution firſt; in order to which, they muſt be drawn forth from their dark and deep receſſes, and brought before us, that we may bear witneſs against them of the evils which we have ſuffered on their account, and by their means. If a man is robbed on the high way, in order to bring the villain who robbed him to public juſtice, he muſt confront him before the judge, and ſwear to the reality of the robbery, and identity the perſon of the robber.

But when our gracious Redeemer, by means of affliction, or otherwiſe, brings forth the tions