[1] Rivers are highly important as the outlets and inlets of
commercial enterprise; but the merchant ship, though richly
laden, may carry the seeds of physical and moral disease,
and inflict untold injury. Rivers give security to the
cities built on their banks, but they may also prove the
means of destruction. Cyrus made use of the Euphrates when
besieging Babylon, and thus captured the city. The strength
of Babylon became its weakness. The same river that bears
on its tidal waves the merchant ship laden with the
precious produce of distant lands may also bring the
war-ship laden with the instruments of destruction and
death. But the city of our solemnities is secure. No
mischief can come to us along the broad river of Almighty
grace.--_Burrows._
[See also outlines, _Rivers of Waters,_ xxx. 25, 26, and
_Rivers of Water in a Dry Place,_ xxxii. 2.]