But I will beg to detain the reader with another thought upon the subject, which hath not, as far as I have ever read or heard, been noticed; and yet may be after all, for aught I know, the chief circumstance for which the prophet predicted, and Jesus fulfilled, the prophecy. (Zech. ix. 9.) The ass, though a noble animal, was deemed by the Levitical law, unclean, for it chewed not the cud. (Lev. xi. 26.) And the same law declared, that whosoever touched such, should be deemed unclean. It was on this beast the Lord Jesus was pleased to make his entrance into Jerusalem. And was it not meant [I do not decide the point, but merely ask the question] to shew, that he came to take away the defilements and uncleanness of his people? If Christ became both a sin and a curse for his people, (2 Cor. v. 21. Gal. iii. 13.) might there not be somewhat significant and typical in thus riding upon a beast deemed by the law unclean? I leave the reader to his own determination on the point, under the grace of God.

AVENGER. Particular mention is made in Scripture of the avenger of blood, (Deut. xix. 6.) and cities of refuge were appointed for the manslayer. (Numb. xxxv. 12. Josh. xx. 5.) There is much of Christ as a refuge, represented under this appointment, and we shall do well at any time when reading those Scriptures, to be on the look out for discoveries of the Lord Jesus in the several features of the history. Every man, by sin, is a murderer, yea, a soul murderer, and that of himself. And the avenger, both in the law of God and the justice of God, is always, it may be said, in pursuit of the sinner, until he hath taken shelter in Christ, Jesus is the city of refuge. And Jesus is near to flee unto. (Heb. vi. 18.) It was not the stronghold of those places which secured the manslayer,

but because it was the provision of divine mercy. "Salvation the Lord appointed for walls and bulwarks." (Isa. xxvi. 1.) And what endeared the city of refuge to the manslayer was, that it was wholly of God's own appointing. And the general and extensive nature of its security was, that the poor stranger, as well as the Israelite, found a like sanctuary. (Num. xxxv. 15.) Such is the Lord Jesus, in the greatness and extensiveness of his salvation. "For (saith the apostle) there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither bond nor free, male nor female, for they are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gal. iii. 20.) Sweet type of Jesus, the city of refuge. See Bezer.

AWAKE. In scriptural language, this word is very frequently used to denote a spiritual recovery from the death and deadness of sin. Hence, the apostle saith, (Ephes. v. 14.) "Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." Hence, the church saith, " I sleep, but my heart waketh." (Song v. 2.) Hence, the state of the unregenerate, who are never awakened, are described by the prophet under the image of a perpetual sleep. (Jer. li. 57.) Sometimes, the Lord himself is called upon by the church, under the image of awakening, to come to her deliverance, "Awake, awake, O arm of the Lord," &c. (Isa. li. 9.) And the church, in like manner, is called upon by the Lord, Isa. li. 17; lii. 1. AZARIAH. There were many of this name among the Israelites. (See 1 Chron. vi. 9, 10. 2 Chron. xxvi. 17.) The name means, assistance from the Lord, from Azar.

AZEL. One of the family of Kish. (1 Chron. viii. 37.) This name should seem to have been derived from Azazel, taken away, or separated, and by which the scape-goat in the wilderness was called. See Expiation.

B

BAAL. A name generally used for an idol. And when more than a single idol is spoken of, the word is made plural, Baalim. The children of Israel, from being surrounded with idolatrous neighbours, too often were led away by their allurements to the same idolatry. (See Num. xxii. 41. Judges ii. 13. 1 Kings xvi. 31. 2 Kings x. 19. Hosea ii. 8.)

I cannot take a more effectual method to shew the Lord's watchful care over his Israel, to preserve them from this contagion, than what the Lord himself hath manifested in that beautiful chapter, the second of the prophecy of Hosea. If the reader will turn to it, and peruse it from beginning to end, he will observe, that at that time the tribes of the Lord were much disposed to idolatry. The Lord sets himself therefore to bring them back, and in opening to them the prospects of salvation, shews how he will bring them under afflictions, in wilderness dispensations, and then having hedged their way up with thorns, compels them, by his grace, to return to him their first lover. And to keep them from revolting again, he will open to them a new name, whereby they shall know him and delight in him. "And it shall be in that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi, and shalt call me no more Baali. For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth." (Hosea ii. 16, 17.) In the margin of the Bible, Ishi is rendered my husband. The reader will have a full apprehension of the grace and loving kindness of the Lord in this ordination, when he is told, that as the word Baal, Lord; or Baali, my lord, was a general name to imply lordship, or

sovereignty: the Lord JEHOVAH had been considered as Israel's Baal, to distinguish him from the nations' Baal around. But as there was not distinction enough in those general names, to preserve Israel in a proper sense of reverence between JEHOVAH, and those dunghill gods, being all alike called Baal, or Lord; the Lord graciously saith, in this sweet Scripture, that he will be no more called Baal, but will lose as it were, the name of Lord, in that of husband. Thou shalt call me Ishi; that is, my husband, my man. ever an instance of such rich grace scension and love?

Was there and conde

I beg the reader to pause over it, and ponder it well. And when he hath duly contemplated the unequalled subject, let him add to it the farther consideration, how the Lord Jesus Christ hath really, and indeed, fulfilled all he here promised, in becoming the Husband of his church and people. Hence the prophet sings, "For thy Maker is thine husband, the Lord of hosts is his name: and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel, the God of the whole earth shall he be called." (Isa. liv. 5.) Surely, nothing can be wanting to give the most finishing testimony to the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Blessed Husband of thy church; be thou my Ishi for ever!

BAAL-BERITH. (Judges viii. 33. and ix. 4.) This dunghill god was made the idol of the children of Israel, after the death of Gideon. The name Berith, signifies a covenant; so that Baal-berith means the Lord of the covenant. But what covenant? Was Israel so far gone in idolatry, as not only to set up an idol, but to insult JEHOVAH in his gracious covenant? To what an awful state is our nature reduced by the fall! Into what an awful apostacy may, and will, every man sink, void of

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grace! Reader, turn to that sweet covenant promise, Jer. xxxii. 40.

BAAL-GAD. This was another of the heathen idols, and as we learn from the book of Joshua, (chap. xi. 17.) was set up in the valley of Lebanon. Gad means fortune; so that Baal-gad means a lord of fortune. BAAL-HAMON. I am inclined to think that this was not an idol, but a place; for the church, celebrating the glories of her Solomon, saith, that he had a vineyard at Baal-hamon. (Song viii. 11.) Hamon, is people, multitudes, or riches. So that Baal-hamon may be rendered, lord or master of a troop, or people. We all apprehend, that "the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel; and the men of Judah his pleasant plant." (Isa. v. 7.)

BAAL-MEON. This was the idol of Beth-jesimoth, and is rendered, "the Lord of the house." (Ezek. xxv. 9.)

BAAL-PEOR. This was the famous, or rather infamous dunghill idol of Moab; and which they tempted the Israelites to worship. The Psalmist mournfully speaks of it, (Ps. cvi. 18.) "they joined themselves unto Baal-peor, and ate the offerings of the dead." (Num. xxv. 1-3. Hos. ix. 10.) From what this prophet saith of their shame; and from the impure name of this strumpet idol; there is reason to believe that the greatest indecency was joined with idolatry, in the worship of this Baal-peor. BAAL-PERAZIM.

At this spot, the Philistines were put to flight by David, (2 Sam. v. 20. 1 Chron. xiv. 11.) The margin of the Bible hath rendered this name, the plain of breaches. And, consequently, David was the lord or master of it. BAAL-SHALISHA. We meet with mention of this