high dignity, as related in the fifth chapter of Acts, verfes 36 and 37.

From the character of Herod, we have reason to believe that, had he understood the true nature of the expected faviour, he would have been extremely indifferent about him, nor have been guilty of the dreadful cruelties which his jealoufy of power occafioned: but though he mistook the nature of the prophecies, it is evident he believed in the truth of them: all his actions point this out yet was he fo abfurd as to fuppofe the Almighty would permit him to overthrow his fixed determinations, confirmed by folemn and repeated promises.

This union of vice and abfurdity, which we have noticed in Herod, is generally to be observed in the conduct of the ungodly. Wilful ignorance is the parent of vice, as well as of fuperftition. God does not expect from us blind obedience, but a rational service: he has given us reason as a guide, which we are bound to improve by every means in our power, which

tho'

tho' in itself infufficient, yet when aided and informed by revelation, will be a sufficient guide. It will therefore be no excuse for us to plead ignorance for a failure in our duty, if we have buried the talent intrusted to us in a napkin. It is on this wilful ignorance that the grand foe of mankind grounds one of his most fatal attacks.

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66 17. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, say“ing,

"18. In Rama was there a voice heard, "lamentation, and weeping, and great

mourning; Rachael weeping for her "children, and would not be comforted, "because they are not."

It is fcarcely neceffary to point out to you how exactly this prophecy of Jeremiah was fulfilled, in the tranfaction we are now confidering; but it may not be amifs to obferve to you in this place, that many of the prophecies have a double object, and allude not only to the times

when

when delivered, but alfo to future times, as in the inftance now before us. The prophet seems to have had in view not only the atrocious murders committed by Herod, but also the approaching capture of Jerufalem by Nebuzaradan, which must have produced fimilar diftreffes.

Rachael is not to be understood as al

luding to any private individual, but as the general mother of the two tribes united in one, who were involved in this calamity, she being the mother of Jofeph and Benjamin; and the diftreffes of Rachael are a lively and affecting picture of the fufferings of a parent under fuch circumftances.

Herod was not the lefs culpable because this tragedy had been foretold: he was not compelled to perform it, but he was inftigated to it by pride, envy, jealousy, and every hateful paffion which disgraces human nature; thefe had taken full poffeffion of him, and have caufed him to be held up as a monfter of barbarity, not

only

only to the age in which he lived, but to all fucceeding ages.

19. But when Herod was dead, be"hold the angel of the Lord appeared "in a dream to Jofeph in Egypt, faying,

Arife and take the young child and his

mother, and come into the land of If"rael, for they are dead which fought the young child's life.

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"21. And he arofe and took the young "child and his mother and came into the "land of Ifrael.

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22. But when he heard that Archelaus “did reign in Judea in the room of his "father Herod, he was afraid to go thither; notwithstanding being warned of God in a dream, he turned afide into the parts "of Galilee :

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23. And he came and dwelt in a city "called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled "which was fpoken by the prophet, He "fhall be called a Nazarene."

Poole

Poole fays, "If we may believe historians, a few months after this barbarous tranfaction, Herod's life and his cruelties terminated in a wretched and deplorable death; and that he at that awful period was made a dreadful example of divine juftice. When he was dead, Jofeph was ordered by the Almighty to return with Mary and the young child to their own country; but when he found that Archelaus, who was of his father's cruel difpofition, was his fucceffor, Jofeph, by divine permiffion, went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth; which fulfilled the prophecy that the Saviour of the world fhould be called a Nazarene, as the last verse of this chapter informs us.