children, who commonly resemble them, and perpetuate their names in the world. The scriptures therefore reprefent the death and destruction of children as an awful judgment; and in this light it must be confidered in the prophecy before us. When persons are deprived of their own offspring, who are their nearest heirs, their inheritances often devolve to nephews, or fome distant relation. These connections were likewise to be cut off from the Babylonian monarch, and the whole race of his successors were to perish. To give certainty and stability to this surprising event, these emphatical words are added, Thus faith the Lord of hosts, who hath all the armies of heaven and earth at his command, and all human affairs under his direction, and never wants instruments to execute the purposes which he hath formed.--In what elegant variety of language is this prophecy delivered. In scripture, expression is often fubjoined to expreffion, and words of fimilar import are multiplied, more fully to represent the fierceness of God's anger, the awfulness of his judgments, the greatness of his mercies, the fins of his people, and to amplify the subject, whatever it is. Of this furprising variety we fee a remarkable instance in this prophecy, which foretels the destruction of Babylon, as well as in many other passages of the word of God*.-As the prophet foretold, so it came to pafs; the race of the kings of Babylon ended with Belshazzar, who was vanquished by the Medes and Perfians, under the conduct of the renowned Cyrus, king of Perfia.

23 I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will fweep it with the besom of destruction, faith the LORD of hofts.

* See Zeph. iii. 2. Job iii. 13. et feq..

The

The total overthrow of the great city Babylon is predicted in this verse. The bittern is a bird nearly as big as the common heron: it lurks among the reeds and rushes, in marshy places: it hath a doleful cry; and, when it foars aloft into the air, it is said to make a hideous noife. This highly celebrated city was to be so defolated, that it should become a proper habitation for this lonely bird. And pools of water. The city stood in a plain, and occupied the low grounds, through which flowed the river Euphrates, which, for the fake of commerce, and watering the adjacent country, was divided into several streams. The course of the river being interrupted by the ruins of this large city, the water would stagnate, and be formed into pools. And I will sweep it with the befom of destruction. This expression is metaphorical; and refers to the practice of cleaning a house with the besom, which takes away whatever is filthy or useless, that it may be thrown out to the dunghil. Deftruction is fignificantly compared to a besom, with which Babylon was to be swept, and deprived of her towers and walls, her houses and streets, her inhabitants, with all the provisions and riches that she poffefsed.To give certainty to this great event, and the strongest afsurance of its accomplishment, these solemn words are again added, Saith the Lord of hosts, who, by the execution of this awful judgment, would display his majesty, power, and righteousness. This prediction hath been so remarkably verified, that the place where this wonder of the world once stood, cannot be certainly afcertained. How astonishing, that fo great and well-fortified a city, in which were such immenfely strong and extensive buildings, should have been so entirely demolished, that the remains cannot be known. Perfons and families, cities and empires, are fubverted according to the purpose of the Lord of hosts. No crown so secure, no family fo established, but he can easily remove them: no kingdom so powerful, but he can shake to its foundation:

no

no city or empire so fortified, that he cannot overturn them. By his appointinent, the kingdom of Ifrael was laid in ruins, after it had subsisted about five hundred years; the Athenian monarchical government was overthrown, after it had continued about four hundred and ninety years; and the kingdom of Babylon, after it had flourished for several ages. The kingdoms of the earth belong unto the Lord, and he difpofes of them as seemeth good in his fight: he enlargeth or straiteneth, he establisheth or overturneth them at his pleasure. 'Wisdom and power are his: ' he changeth the times and the seasons: he fetteth

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up kings, and removeth them *.'

24 The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely, as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.

The certainty and stability of the divine purpose concerning Babylon, is here affirmed in the most solemn manner. At the time this prophecy was delivered, the Babylonian empire flourished in its highest glory, and its renown had spread throughout the earth: no event therefore appeared to human view more improbable, than the accomplishment of what our prophet had foretold. To demonstrate the immutability of the divine counsel, it is declared, that the Lord of hosts hath sworn. In scripture, God is faid to swear, when he condescends to give men the highest security, and most explicit, solemn assurance, respecting the truth of any thing, which they are capable of receiving prior to its actual completion. In this awful manner, he pledges the veracity, the holiliness, and immutability of his own nature, for the fulfilment of what he hath faid: he virtually obliges himself to renounce these divine excellencies, if what he hath declared shall not be accomplished in its sea

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fon. Though fome of the purposes of Jehovah seem to be suspended upon certain conditions, those which he is pleased to confirm by his oath are unalterable, as the covenant of day and night, and more firmly established than the perpetual hills and immovable mountains.

Surely, as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand. The whole frame of heaven and earth shall be dissolved, the luminaries of heaven extinguished, and the rocks removed from their places, but the thoughts and purposes of Jehovah cannot be altered. The rife and fall of states and empires, are all directed agreeable to the irrevocable counsel of his will. The whole course of providence, as well as of nature, is entirely regulated according to his pleasure. The time, the manner, and the instruments, by whom the long feries of events shall be carried forward, are fixed in his eternal mind; and agreeable to his appointment all human affairs are conducted. He doth according to his will in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth. If he will work, who shall let it: if he will smite, who shall hinder him. As he hath sworn, fo he will perform. None can destroy those whom he preferves: none can retain in safety what he hath determined to overthrow. Edom is introduced by the prophet Malachi, after having contemplated his ruinous condition, and the defolations which God had made in his land, forming this resolution: 'We will return, and build the desolate 'places.' To this declaration the Lord replies, They shall build, but I will throw down.' - Many striking instances of the truth here affirmed occur in scripture, one of which I shall mention. After the city Jericho was destroyed, the Lord thus spake by his servant Joshua: 'Cursed be the man before the Lord, that raiseth up and buildeth the city Jericho : ' he shall lay the foundation thereof in his first-born, and in his youngest son he shall set up the gates of

it*.' About five hundred years after, one Hiel, the Beth-elite, attempted to rebuild the city, on which God had pronounced this curse: 'He laid the founda⚫tion thereof in Abiram his first-born; and still persisting in his wicked design, 'he fet up the gates

thereof in his youngest fon Segub, according to the * word of the Lord, which he spake by Joshua, the ' son of Nunt.' In like manner, the thought and purpose of. Jehovah, with respect to Babylon, was exactly to be carried into execution, as here declared.

25 That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.

The prophet now mentions the particular purpose of Jehovah, the stability of which he had strongly afferted in the foregoing verse. The word breaking is often used in a figurative sense in scripture, to denote the destruction of that power of which individuals, or nations, are poffefsed. Through God (faith the church) we shall do valiantly, for he it is that shall break or tread down our enemies. The Assyrian, whom God declares he would break, comprehended the strength of that great empire, consisting of its very numerous and well-difciplined troops. When a body or substance of any kind is broken, it is rendered weak, and useless for the purposes that it formerly served. In allufion to what happens on fuch occafions, this prediction imports, that the strength of. Affyria was to be greatly diminished by fome extraordinary divine judgment, whereby that empire should be greatly weakened, and divested of its former power and grandeur. This terrible stroke, whereby the Affyrian was to be broken, is foretold to be given in the land of Canaan, which God here

* Joshua vi. 26,

† 1 Kings xvi. 34

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