ritual Millennial kingdom of the Redeemer and his saints, or, the New Jerusalem. These will be exceedingly precious to the children of God at that period as revealing the exalted pleasures which so speedily await them.

Ver. 11, 12. And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted. Behold, these shall come from far and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.

All the churches of God shall then be a way of salvation; and the highways, or ordinary paths to happiness, shall be exalted, or, be those of security and peace. All nations shall, ere long, worship in the holy mount, or, true church of God. By those who "shall come from far," may probably be understood those who shall arrive from the American continent, the Indian Archipelago, and other distant parts of the world. The north and west signify, we conceive, the northern and western parts of Europe and Asia. And the land of Sinim is supposed to signify China.

Isaiah LII. 10. The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. See Rom. ix. 25, 26.

Isaiah XLV. 22—25. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength; even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

There are still more express assurances of the conversion of the Gentiles, as,

Zechariah VIII. 20-23. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the in

habitants of many cities: and the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily, (or, continually, Hos. vi. 3,) to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

Isaiah ıv. 1. And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

What a powerful idea does this convey of the mental exaltation of the pious Jew! His soul is now irradiated with the beams of divine truth. High estimation is affixed to the national character by all those nations who have heard of the gracious gifts by which the Israelites are actuated; and of the blessings which they have now begun to communicate throughout the world; announcing the everlasting Gospel, and walking in its light. How important and precious is example! How prevailing, a pure, zealous, and disinterested conduct! Its influence is continually extended. The number "ten" used on this occasion, may be understood indefinitely, as Gen. xxxi. 7, 41, &c.

At the conclusion of the 3rd chapter of Isaiah, it is said, "Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war." This affords us a very impressive description of the destitute and pitiable condition of many of the widows and daughters of the Gentiles, as the result of war; many of whom would thus appear to be left wholly unprovided for. But from the formerly despised and persecuted wanderer, the Jew, they are now anxious to derive protection, and

willing to maintain themselves under his countenance by their own labour.

Zechariah IX. 12, 13. Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope: even to-day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; when I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.

In the verse preceding this quotation, the blood of the everlasting covenant is declared to be that by which, or, through the efficacy of which," the prisoners of the Lord are sent forth out of the pit" of sin and adversity, where they had remained among wicked nations, and where was "no water," or, no spiritual refreshment. They are then commanded to turn to the "stronghold" of Zion, that is, "the Lord their strength and their Redeemer." Then the Lord will sanctify both the houses of Judah and Israel to evangelize the sons of Greece. These, though probably including Greece itself, may signify the most polished nations of the earth, in allusion to what the Greeks once were.

Zechariah IX. 14-17. And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south. The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar. And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, (or, speak, Can. vII. 9,) and new wine the maids.

We cannot doubt but that the presence of the Lord will be manifested by signs and wonders, necessary to awe and

11

subjugate the opponents of his Gospel; so that little will remain for the opposition of the sceptic. The arrows, either of conviction or punishment, are now abroad; and the trumpet of the Gospel is accompanied by the mighty power of God.

And while the Lord defends Israel, they are enabled to subdue men's hearts by the power of his grace, as David, by his skill and holy ardour, subdued Goliath in the name of the Lord of hosts. They shall drink of spiritual pleasures, and make a noise of rejoicing, as through wine. They shall be filled with the Spirit as bowls, or, as the corners of the altar.

The Lord saves and exalts the humble among Israel, and raises them up as an ensign on their own land for the conversion of the world. Now, also, his goodness and loving-kindness become most conspicuous towards them, in conjunction with the practice of holiness which he inspires. Read Isaiah LIV. 1-10. This very interesting portion of prophecy, shows us how great will be the spiritual happiness of the Jews at the prospect of converting the Gentile nations after the entire conversion of the remnant of their brethren; and of repairing the moral "wastes of many generations:" though at the same time they are reminded, that a greater number of converts have been made by the Gentiles than by themselves—the ancient and chosen people of God. And here the ever-blessed Trinity is represented as co-operating with them in language the most consoling; Thy Maker is thy husband," &c. (Heb. MAKers.) Christ, as their Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, it is added, "shall be called the

66

Ruler" of the whole earth.

God," or be acknowledged

Such are the promises, and

such will be the convictions of the Jewish saints at this

period, while the principal body of their less enlightened brethren at Jerusalem will, perhaps, continue to be occupied with notions of worldly grandeur, and eagerly engaged in rearing a temple as the centre of universal worship.

Isaiah LXII. 1-7. For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed FORSAKEN; neither shall thy land be any more termed DESOLATE: but thou shalt be called HEPHZI-BAH, (that is, thy delight is in her,) and thy land BEULAH; (that is, Married :) for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons (or converts,) marry thee; and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, who shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD keep not silence. And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem (or, the saints of God) a praise in the earth.

Isaiah LV. 12. Ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

They proceed with great joy to announce the glad tidings of salvation, and are led forth, or, accompanied by their fellow men in peace and love. Various powers of the earth shall testify their reception of the truth of the Gospel with praise; and there shall be among all classes those who will respond a loud and joyful applause.

The result of these labours will be, that those who were