--Israel gained this victory because God was wroth with Judah, and mad them the rod of his indignation. He reminds them of their own sins. I ill becomes sinners to be cruel. Could they hope for the mercy of God if they neither showed mercy nor justice to their brethren? Let it be remembered, that every man is our neighbour, our brother, our fello man, if not our fellow Christian. And no man who is acquainted with the word of God, need fear to maintain that slavery is against the law of love and the gospel of grace. Who can hold his brother in bondage without breaking the rule of doing to others as he would they should d unto him? But when sinners are left to their own heart's lusts, the grow more desperate in wickedness. God commands them to release the prisoners, and they obeyed. The Lord brought Judah low. Those who wil not humble themselves under the word of God, will justly be humbled by his judgments. It is often found, that wicked men themselves have n real affection for those that revolt to them, nor do they care to d them a kindness. This is that king Ahaz! that wretched man! Those ar wicked and vile indeed, that are made worse by their afflictions instead of being made better by them; who, in their distress, trespas yet more, and have their hearts more fully set in them to do evil. But no marvel that men's affections and devotions are misplaced, when the mistake the author of their trouble and of their help. The progress of wickedness and misery is often rapid; and it is awful to reflect upon sinner's being driven away in his wickedness into the eternal world __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew