The old enemies who had in the early days overwhelmed the Hebrews with calamities under the Judges had been conquered by Saul and David,the Moabites, the Edomites, the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Philistines,and they never afterward seriously menaced the kingdom, although there were occasional wars.

"In disgrace!" said Conolly, more seriously.

The believer, then, would use the means and duties prescribed, and that diligently, seriously, and constantly; and yet would lean as little to them, and expect help and relief as little from them, as if he were not using them at all, as we said above.

And then, half playfully, half seriously, and wholly conscious of the grotesqueness, he added: "Yes, I am not at all sure that a good whipping would not do them good.

It isn't meant to be takenreally seriously.