Page:The rock of wisdom.djvu/80

 dealt with the trangressors of his law in the Old Testament, but now he often suffers sinners to prosper in this world, rewarding them for some little good they have done, and reserving their punishment for the other world, through your own faults, and because you resisted his grace. It may be an expression which may either be understood as spoken by the sinner, blessing, that is, flattering himself in his sins with the imagination of peace, and so great an abundance as may satisfy, and, as it were, consumed all thirst and want; or it may be referred to the root of bitterness spoken of before, which being drank with sin may attract, and by what means consume such as thirst after the like evils, as much as to say such things belong and are known to God alone; our business must be to observe what he has revealed and manifested to us, and to direct our lives accordingly, although the dwelling of God be above in heaven, his arms are always stretched out to help us here below: and what consolation is this for the cross bearing soul, for he said in this language "I will be with you in the sixth trial and in the seventh I will not leave thee. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." Moses, the servant of God being a great witness, for after he had finished the work with honor and dignity, God saw cause to conceal his remains in a grave unknown to men or devils. This last chapter of Deut. in which the death of Moses is related, was written by Joshua or by some of the prophets. By the ministry of angels and would have the place of his burial unknown, lest the Israelites who were so prone to idolatry, should worship him with divine honor.

Sec. 6. The Book of Joshua.

This book is called Joshua because it contains the history of what passed under him, and according to the common opinion was written by him. The Greeks call him Jesus, for Joshua and Jesus in the Hebrew are the same and have the same signification, a Saviour, and it was not without a mystery that he who was to bring the people into the land of promise, should have his name changed. O see! for so he was called before, Joshua or Jesus, to give us to understand that Moses, by his law, could