64 Chap. 18, eAn expofition upon the Book of J o a. Verf.1 t which is anaficetion upon the fpirit ; Hence obferve, That terronrs are worfe then troubles, thefeare ofevill is more grievous then thefeeling ofit. Thedread of an enemy is more killing then an enemy ; The Lord affures Ifrael, (exod. z3. 28. and `Dent. 7.2o. ) Iwillfend hornetsbefore thee, whichfhall drive ont the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite before thee. Thefe hornets may be taken proper- ly ; Godwhò fent an Armyof lice and Ayes to deflroyEgypt, might much more ufe hornets, which are a more terrible crea- ture, and have a more cruel fling, to fubdue the Canaanites; Yet the hornets may be rather taken metaphorically , for the fling and terrour wherewith God did flrike the hearts of thofe enemies ; Iwillfend ahornet before you. That is, terrours. Which we finde fulfil'd (7ofh.24. 12.) Ifent the hornet beforeyou, which draye them outfrombeforeyou,even the two Kings ofthe morites: but not with thy[word, nor with thy bow. What thofe hornets were is plaine in the fecond Chap. ofyofb. ver. i i. where Rahab the Harlot made this acknowledgement ; That thefeare of them was fallen upon thepeople ofthe land, and that their hearts did melt be- caufeof them. Before ever Ifraeldid firike a firoake, they over- came, before ever the Canaanites law the hoaft of Ifradl, they fled before them. God fent an Armyof feares before the Army of the Ifraelites ; Yourfeare isfallen upon us. Feare is a cruel hor- net, it quickly flings to death It is faid ( Heft. 9. z ) The feare ofthe 7ewesfellupon all people ; feare óvercame them firfl, . and then the ?ewes overcame them, putting in execution the Kings commandement; They laydhands onEach asfought theirhurt, and no man could withftand them. They who cannot withfland the feare of an enemy, íhali never be able to withfland the enemy himfelfe. Now, as when a people are taken with the terrour of an ene- my, theenemyneeds not take them ; they are conquered with- out fighting, and beaten without a battei. So difmaying feare ofany knde, or from any othér caufe doth the like ; when that once takes hold upon the heart,'ris no matter whether the evill it felfe ever come in fight. For as joy and comfort are better then thofe things from which they refult. maul (peaking of thofe darke times and places, when and where Gofpel-light had
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