the same faith in exercise is required of us in all our concerns, as was in Joshua when he entered on the conquest of Canaan, as the apostle declares, chap. xiii, 5, and there are strong holds of sin in our minds, which nothing but faith can cast to the ground.

VERSE 31.

By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that believed not, when she received the spies with peace.

$1. The history and faith of Rahab, contained in several propositions. She was a Gentile, an Amorite, an harlot, yet converted to God. $2. Made an excellent confession of her faith $3. Joined God's people. 4. Shewed her faith by her works. $5, The fruit of her faith. §6. Observations.

§1. THE story concerning this Rahab, her faith and works, is at large recorded in Joshua, chap. ii, vi. What concerns the exposition of these words, and the great instance of the grace of God, and efficacy of faith in them, may be comprised in some remarks.

1. Rahab was by nature a Gentile, an alien from the stock and covenant of Abraham; wherefore, as her conversion to God was an act of free grace and mercy in a peculiar manner, so it was a type and pledge of calling a church from among the Gentiles.

2. She was not only a Gentile, but an Amorite; of that race which in general was devoted to utter destruction; she was therefore an instance of God's sovereignty in dispensing with his positive laws, as it seems good unto him; for of his own mere pleasure he exempted her from the doom denounced against all those of her origin.

3. She was (Top) an harlot, though it may be not one that commonly and promiscuously exposed herself; (na nobili scortum;) that she kept a public house of entertainment, is evident from the spies going thither; which they did as to such a house; and herein 32

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have we a blessed instance both of the sovereignty of God's grace, and of its power. No person, no sin, is to be despaired of, in whose cure sovereign almighty grace is engaged, 1 Cor. vi, 9-11.

4. She was converted to God before the coming of the spies to her, by what she had heard of him; his mighty works, and his peculiar owning of the people of Israel; for God had ordained and designed that the report of these things should be an effectual ordinance, both to terrify obstinate believers, also to call others to repentance, and conversion from their idols; to which end, no doubt, it was effectual on others as well as on Rahab; as it was on the Gibeonites in general. Hence those who perish are said to be unbelievers; she perished not with "them that believed not," or who were disobedient; for they had a sufficient revelation of God and his will necessary to their faith and obedience; and their destruction is ascribed to the hardening of their hearts, so that they should not make peace with Israel, Josh. xi, 19, 20.

§2. Rahab upon this first opportunity made an excellent confession of her faith, and of the means of her conversion to God. This confession is recorded at large, Josh. ii, 9-11. She avows the Lord Jehovah to be the only God in heaven above and in the earth beneath; wherein she renounced all the idols which before she had worshipped; ver. 11, and she avows her faith in him as the God of Israel, who had taken them to be his people by promise and covenant, which in this confession she lays hold on by faith; "the Lord your God, he is God," Rom. x, 10.

§3. She separated herself from the cause and interest of her own people among whom she lived, and joined herself to the cause and interest of the people of God; this also is a necessary fruit of faith, and an

inseparable concomitant of profession; this God called her to, this she complied with, and this was that which rendered all she did in receiving, concealing and preserving the spies, though they came to destroy her country and people, just and warrantable.

$4. She shewed her faith by her works; "She received the spies with peace." In these few words the apostle comprises the whole story of her receiving them; her studiously concealing them; the intelligence she gave them, the prudence she used, the pains she took, and the danger she underwent in the safe conveyance of them to their army; all which are at large recorded, Josh. ii, see also James ii. Again, it was a work of great use and importance to the church and cause of God; for had these spies been taken and slain, it would have been a great discouragement to the whole people, and made them question whether God would be with them in their undertaking or no; and it is evident that the tidings which they carried to Joshua, and the people, from the intelligence which they had by Rahab, was a mighty encouragement to them; for they report their discovery in her words; they said unto Joshua, "Truly the Lord hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us," Josh. ii, 24; and it was a work accompanied with the utmost hazard and danger to herself; had the matter been discovered, doubtless she, and all she possessed, had been utterly destroyed; and all these things set a great lustre upon this work, whereby she evidenced her faith and her justification; and as this is an instance exceedingly apposite to the purpose of the apostle, to arm and encourage believers against the difficulties and dangers which they were to meet with in their profession; so it is sufficient to condemn multitudes

among ourselves, who, after a long profession of the truth, are ready to tremble at the first approach of danger, and think it their wisdom to keep at a distance from such as are exposed to danger and sufferings.

$5. The fruit of this faith of Rahab was, that she perished not, she was not destroyed; Josh. vi, 25, "And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had, and she dwelt in Israel to this day." Note, it is good, and sometimes useful, to be related to them that believe; but what is added of her "dwelling in Israel" plainly intimates her solemn conjunction to the people of God in faith and worship; yea, I am persuaded that from henceforward she was as eminent in faith and holiness, as she had been before in sin and folly; for it was not for her wealth that she was afterwards married to Salmon the son of Naåsson, the prince of the tribe of Juda, Matt. i, 5, becoming thereby to have the honor of a place in the genealogy of our blessed Savior, and of a type of the interest of the Gentiles in his incarnation. The Holy Ghost also taking occasion twice to mention her in a way of commendation, and proposing her as an example of faith and obedience, gives such an approbation of her, as testifies her to have been eminent and exemplary in these things.

§6. The following observations offer;

1. Although unbelief be not the only destroying sin, (for the wages of every sin is death, and many are accompanied with peculiar provocations) yet it is the only sin which makes eternal destruction inevitable and remediless. And,

2. Where there are means granted of the revelation of God and his will, unbelief is the greatest and most provoking thing, and from whence God is glorified in his severest judgment. And,

3. Where this revelation of the mind and will of God is most open, full, and evident, and the means of it are most express, and suited to the communication of the knowledge of it, there is the highest aggravation of unbelief. If the inhabitants of Jericho perished in their unbelief, because they believed not the report that was brought to them of the mighty works of God; what will be the end of them who live and die in their unbelief under the daily, constant preaching of the gospel, the most glorious revelation of the mind and will of God for the salvation of men! Heb. ii, 3.

4. Every thing which God designs as an ordinance to bring men to repentance, ought to be diligently attended to and complied with, seeing the neglect of the call of God therein shall be severely revenged. Such were his mighty works in those days; and such are his judgments in all ages.

5. It is in the nature of true, real, saving faith, immediately, or at its first opportunity, to declare and protest itself in confession before men; or confession is absolutely inseparable from faith, and the fearful, that is, those who fly from public profession in times of danger and persecution, shall be no less assuredly excluded from the heavenly Jerusalem, than unbelievers themselves, Rev. xxi, 8.

6. A separation from the carnal cause and interest of the world is required in all believers, and will accompany true faith wherever it is.

VERSE 32.

And what shall I say more? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Sampson, and of Jephtha, of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets.

$1. Connexion and general remarks. §2. Exposition. $3. How does it appear that it was by faith these persons acted? 4. Especially in their heroic actions, how they could be examples to us. §5. Observations.