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18 Q. What was a fixth remarkable Sin of Ifrael? A. Whoredom and Idolatry; for they loved the Midianitish Women, and worshipped their Gods, Num. xxv. I, 2.

19 Q. How was this Whoredom and Idolatry punifhed? A. By the Command of God and Mofes to kill the Offenders, and by a Plague which flew twenty-four thoufand, Num. xxv. 4, 5, 9.

20 Q. Who tempted them to this Idolatry? A. Balaam, the wicked Prophet and Soothfayer, Num. xxxi. 16.

21 Q. Why did he tempt them to it? A. Becaufe God hindered him from curfing Ifrael when Balak the King of Moab had hired him to do it, Num. xxii. 5-12.

22 Q. How did God hinder him? A. Three ways. (1.) By forbidding him to go at first, though afterwards he permitted him. (2.) By making his own Afs fpeak to him, to stop him when he was going. (3) By infpiring him with Prophecies, and compelling him to blefs Ifrael three or four times inftead of curfing them. See Num. xxii. 12, 30, 31. and xxxiii. 7, 8, &c.

23 Q. What became of Balaam at laft? A. He was flain among the Midianites by the Men of Irael, under the Conduct of Mofes, before they came to the River of Jordan, Num. xxxi. I-8.

CHAP.

CHAP. VIII.

Of the Jews Entrance into Canaan, and their Government by Judges.

SECT. I. Of the ISRAELITES Poffeffion of Canaan.

1QWHAT became of the People of Ifrael

after all their wanderings in the Wilderness? A. Though their Sins and Punishments were many and great, yet they were not destroyed; but God brought them at laft into Canaan, the Land which he promised to their Fathers, Joh. i.

II.

2 Q. Did Mofes lead them into that Land? A. No; he was only permitted to fee it from Mount Pifgah, and there he died, and God buried him, Deut. xxxiv. 1-8.

3 Q. Did Aaron go with them into Canaan? A. Aaron died before Mofes, and Eleazar his Son was made High-Priest in his room, Num. xx. 24-28.

4Q. Why were not Mofes the Law-giver, nor Aaron the High-Prieft, fuffered to bring the People into the Land of Promife? A. Because they had both finned and offended God in the Wilderness, and God would fhew his Difpleasure againft Sin, Deut. xxxii. 48-51.

5Q. What other Leffon might God defign to teach us by this Conduct of Providence? A. Perhaps God might teach us hereby that neither the Laws

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of

of Mofes, nor the Priesthood of Aaron, were fufficient to bring us into the Poffeffion of the heavenly Country, of which Canaan was a Figure.

6Q. Who was appointed to lead the People of Ifrael into the promised Land? A. Joshua, whole Name is the fame with Jefus, and who came to be the Governor and Captain of Ifrael after Mofes died, Joh. i. 1828 E

7Q. How did they get over the River Jordan ? A. As foon as the Priefts who bore the Ark dipt their Feet in the Brink of the River, the Waters which were above rose up in an Heap, and the Channel was left dry while all the People paffed over, Joh. iii. 14, 15.

8Q What Memorial did they leave of their pasfing over Jordan on Foot? A. By God's Appointment they took up twelve Stones out of the midft of Jordan, where the Priefts stood with the Ark while the Tribes paffed over, and fet them up as a Monument in the Place wherein they lodged the first Night, Joh. iv.

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9 Q. How were they commanded to deal with the Canaanites when they took their Land? A. They were required to deftroy them utterly, left if they fhould live they might teach Ifrael their Idolatries and their wicked Cuftoms, Deut. vii. 16-26.

10 Q. But what Right had the Jews to deftroy them, and take their Country? A. The Canaanites were abominable Sinners, and God, by particular Inspiration, made the Jews the Executioners of his Wrath against them, juft as he might have ufed a Plague, or the Beasts of the Earth to have destroyed them; and then as the Sovereign Lord of all, he gave their forfeited Country and Poffeffions to whom he pleafed, Lev. xviii. 24, 25. Pfal. cxxxvi. 17-22.

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Here let it be observed that this awful Inftance of one Nation's deftroying another, and feizing their Lands and Poffeffions, was authorized by God himfelf, the righteous Judge of the World, in and by a long train of moft confpicuous and publick Miracles and Prophecies: fo that the Ifraelites could not be deceived in their divine Commiffion for this bloody Work; nor is it liable to be made a Precedent or a Pretence to any other Nation or Perfon to treat their Neighbours at this rate, be they ever fo wicked, unlefs they can fhew fuch aftonishing and undoubted Atteftations of a plain Commiffion from God, the righteous Governor of the World, and the fovereign Lord of all.

IIQ. What was the firft City they took in Canaan? A. Jericho, whofe Walls fell down, when by God's Appointment they founded the Trumpets made of Rams-horns, Job. vi. 5, 20.

12 Q. What did they do when they took the City? A. By God's Command they devoted it as the First-fruits, to be a Sacrifice to the Lord, and therefore they burnt all the Goods in it, together with the City, as well as they destroyed all the Inhabitants, except Rahab the Harlot, and her Kindred, fob. vi. 24, 25.

13Q. Why was Rahab fpared? A. Because she believed that God would give Ifrael the Land of Canaan, and the hid and faved the Spies whom Joshua let, Joh. ii. 9—14, and vi. 25, 26. Heb. xi. 31.

14 Q. How did the Army of Ifrael fucceed against the Men of Ai? A. God fuffered Ifrael to be put to flight twice before the Men of Ai, because Achan an Ifraelite had ftole and hid fome of the Spoil of the City of Jericho, which was accursed, and devoted to the Fire, Joh. vii. E 3

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15 Q. How was the Anger of God appeafed for this Crime? A. They mourned humbly before God, they fought out the Perfon who had ftolen this accurfed Thing, and ftoned him and his Family to Death, Josh. vii. 13, 14, 24.

16 Q. How did they take the City of Ai at last? A. By counterfeiting a Flight, as on the former Day; and when the Men of Ai were drawn out of the City, the Ifraelites who lay in Ambush entered and burnt it, Joh. viii.

17 Q. How did the Gibeonites receive the People of Ifrael, and fave themfelves from Death? A. They fent Embaffadors, with old Sacks upon their Affes, and old Garments and mouldy Bread, to prove that they came from a far Country; and the Men of Ifrael rafhly made Peace with them, and fwore to it, fofb. ix.

18 Q. What did Joshua do when he found that they dwelt in the midft of Canaan? A. He let them live because the Elders had fworn to them, but he made them Hewers of Wood, and Drawers of Waters for the Congregation, and for the Altar of the Lord, ver. 27.

19 Q. How did Ifrael conquer the King of Jerufalem, with his four Allies? A. God helped Ifrael by cafting great Hail-ftones from Heaven upon their Enemies, Joh. x. 10, II.

20 Q. What remarkable Thing did Jofhua do that Day? A. He bid the Sun and Moon ftand ftill to lengthen out the Day for his Victory, and they obeyed him, Joh. x. 12, 13, 14.

21 Q. What did Joshua do with the five Kings when he took them? A. He called the Captains of Ifrael to fet their Feet on their Necks, and then he flew them, and hanged them up on five Trees before the Lord, Joh. x. 24, 26.

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