Hezekiah, and fent the prophet to him again, to tell him that his life fhould be lengthened fifteen years. Though Hezekiah had believed the first message of Isaiah, yet fo defirous was he of life, that he would not be fatisfied with the mere promise in the fecond meffage, but required a fign in proof that he should recover; and when Isaiah, in compliance with his infirmity, asked him, in the name of the Lord, Whether the fhadow fhould go forward on the dial ten degrees, or backwards ten degrees, nothing would fatisfy him but the most unequivocal proof. "Hezekiah anfwered, It is a light thing "for the fhadow to go down ten degrees; nay, but let the shadow return backward "ten degrees."

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This the Lord condefcended to grant him, as also his perfect recovery.

Some time after this wonderful transaction, the king of Babylon, who had heard that he had been fick, fent a letter and prefent unto him: "And Hezekiah "hearkened unto the ambaffadors, and

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fhewed

men,

pre

"fhewed them all the house of his "cious things. Then came the prophet "Isaiah and faid unto him, What said these and from whence came they? and " he said, From a far country." He also confeffed that he had fhewed them all his treasures. Ifaiah hearing this, replies, that all thofe treasures, and his people, fhould, for his foolish oftentation, be carried captives into Babylon.

And here let me guard you against the fuppofition that fuch a number of people, living at fo great a distance of time, were to fuffer punishment for the pride and vanity of Hezekiah: this was by no means the cafe, either in this or in the many inmany.instances given in the Old Teftament, where, to fuperficial readers, it may appear that the people suffered for the faults of their rulers. Their punishments were drawn down on them by their own vices; and, in the inftance before us, they were punished for their wickedness in turning from their God to the worship of idols; the Almighty making use of the Babylonians as

the

the inftrument of his vengeance, to point out more forcibly to Hezekiah the folly of his conduct. They would have been equally punished had these events never happened, tho' perhaps by other means; and Hezekiah would have been faved the pain of knowing the calamities which were to befal his pofterity.

fuch

Hezekiah feemed very much pleased, that people at fo great a distance from his kingdom fhould be anxious respecting his recovery: he appeared to take the honor to himself, instead of giving it to God: his joy was fo great, that it for a time divested him of his prudence and policy, by laying great temptations in their way. Here we have a ftriking proof how difficult it is even for the best people to conduct themfelves with prudence and moderation, under great profperity, particularly when uncommon honors and attentions are paid to them. May this ferve as a warning to us to keep a strict watch over ourselves, when by the favor of the Almighty we are placed in fuch circumstances.

He

zekiah feems to have overlooked one probable reason which might have brought thefe ambassadors from fo diftant a country: namely, the return of the shadow on the dial ten degrees. This wonderful event could not have escaped the obfervation of the Babylonians, who were famous for their knowledge in aftronomy; their curiofity was of course inflamed to learn by what power it had been produced, and to fee the man for whom the courfe of nature had been fufpended. Report had fixed the scene of this miracle to Judea; and with such objects of curiofity the length of the journey was not likely to be an impediment.

Hezekiah, whose mind was open to conviction, became fenfible of his fault, the instant it was pointed out to him by Isaiah. "Then faid Hezekiah unto Ifaiah, Good "is the word of the Lord which thou haft fpoken. And he said, Is it not good if

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peace and truth be in my days ?" He humbly fubmits to the juftice of the fentence, knowing it to be deferved and fent

as

as a punishment both for his own fins and those of his people. Nor did he speak lightly or carelessly, as one unconcerned for his pofterity; his piety, charity, and natural affection, forbid fuch a thought: he expreffed the feelings of a grateful heart for the fingular favor granted him, that judgment fhould not immediately follow his fin; and furely this required his speedy and humble acknowledgment.

The accomplishment of the punishment fo denounced, is related by the prophet Jeremiah, chap. lii. ver. 9. " Then they

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took the king and carried him up unto "the king of Babylon, to Riblah, in the "land of Hameth, where he gave judg

"ment."

God, who, as I have fo frequently had occafion to observe, brings good out of evil, did it very confpicuoufly upon the present occafion, in making himself known to, and adored by, the Babylonians. In confequence of the wonderful acts performed in favor of certain Jews who refused to worship the Babylonish idol under Nebuchadnezzar,