for of mankind, who hath diftreffed them by his grievous yoke, to be accomplished by the breath of God's mouth, and the brightness of his coming, when he fhall destroy them that destroyed the earth. Did you believe as you ought, that this interefting period is faft approaching, you would not, in the smallest degree, injure those whofe wrongs the Son of God will then avenge, who will render tribulation and wrath to them that trouble them.

5 And in mercy fhall the throne be established, and he fhall fit upon it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, judging and feeking judgment, and hafting righteousness.

Thefe words fuggeft a powerful motive to induce ta the diligent performance of the duties which our prophet had inculcated in the foregoing verfes.-The throne which he had more immediately in view, was that of Hezekiah, king of Judah, which, in some respects, was typical of the far more glorious and eternal throne of the Meffiah. This throne, the enfign of majesty and authority, whereon Hezekiah was feated, fhould be established, after the abolition of the oppreffive, adverse power whereby it had been often affaulted, fo that none of its enemies would be able, by their strongest efforts, to fhake the firm foundations upon which it refted. It was to be confirmed and perpetuated in mercy; the great mercy of God promised to the patriarch David, to whom the Lord faid, His feed fhall endure for ever, and his throne as the fun before me *'-in the mercy and clemency of that illuftrious prince, difplayed among his fubjects and by the duties of mercy, beneficence, and charity, which were to be practised by the people. And he fhall fit upon it in truth; according to the truth of Jehovah, pledged in his faithful promises made

*Pfal. lxxxix. 36.

to

to his fervant David, concerning his family and kingdom; and in the exercife of truth and integrity of heart, as to which this pious prince appealed to God, in the profpect of death: Remember now, O Lord, I befeech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth, ' and with a perfect heart, and have done that which 'is good in thy fight *.In the tabernacle of David. By which feems to be intended, the palace belonging to the kings who defcended from that illustrious hero, called by him, The tabernacle of his houfe +.' The reftoration of this house, after its decay, was foretold in these words, by the prophet Amos: In that day ' will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, ' and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of 'old t.'

up

Judging, &c. Three things are mentioned in the following words, which were to occupy the attention of the prince whose throne was to be established. The firft is, judging; deciding, with the utmost impartiality, and without refpect of perfons, on the various causes that might be brought before him for his determination.- -And feeking judgment. The expreffion denotes, that the prince, who is the subject of this prophecy, in pronouncing fentence upon the parties who were to be fifted at his tribunal, would perform his royal function with the utmost attention and affiduity, accurately inquiring into the conditions of his people, and carefully inveftigating the circumftances relative to every matter on which he was to deliver his judgment.And hafting righteousness: taking care that all his decifions fhould be executed with the greatest dispatch and alacrity, that righteoufness, like the mighty waters, might fpeedily run its courfe through all his dominions. Caufes brought for judgment fhould not be protracted; juftice should not be delayed; fentences fhould not be deferred; nor was

* Ifaiah xxxviii. 3. + Pfal. cxxxii. 3. + Amos ix. 11.

the

the execution of them to be retarded.Thefe predictions were remarkably verified in Hezekiah, king of Judah, who is reprefented, in fcripture, as having been one of the best kings that ever reigned over the pofterity of Ifrael: After him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. He was eminently remarkable for his strong attachment to truth, juftice, and righteoufnefs, and other virtues which give dignity to a prince, as is abundantly evident from the hiftory of the Old Teftament. After the wonderful destruction of Sennacherib's army, his throne was established according to this prediction; he was refpected by his fubjects, and honoured by neighbouring nations.

What is here affirmed concerning the throne of Hezekiah, may be juftly applied, and indeed most properly belongs, in a much higher sense, to the kingdom of Jefus Chrift. This is a circumstance which will be contemplated with real pleasure by all who love him in fincerity. In his kingdom, to which, I fuppofe, Ifaiah looked forward by the spirit of prophecy, the foregoing predictions receive a spiritual accomplishment, as their ultimate completion. To the Meffiah, a throne is given; and this throne is established in mercy and grace, as it is written, Prov. xx. 28. Mercy and truth preserve the king, ⚫ and his throne is upholden by mercy.' It is there. fore emphatically styled, by the writer of the Epiftle to the Hebrews, The throne of grace;' from whence he difpenfés to his people, with the utmost generofity and liberality, the most valuable bleffings. Upon this throne he fits, who is perfectly free from all guile and diffimulation; who is truth itself, and in whom the predictions delivered by the prophets receive their fulfilment. He is enthroned in the true and heavenly tabernacle, which the Lord, and not man, hath built, where he reigns

* 2 Kings xviii. 5.

as

as King over his church for ever. -Judging; fearching into the causes that are laid before him; determining with confummate equity, and the utmost dispatch, all the matters relative to his kingdom. Juftice and judgment are the habitation of his throne: mercy and truth fhall go before his face *.As Jefus Christ, who should arife from Judah, was to abolish all oppreffion and iniquity by his regal power, our prophet naturally fuggefts the properties of his throne and government as a powerful argument to convince the Moabites, into whofe hands this prophecy might fall, that compliance with the above advices was the best way that they could take to mitigate, if not prevent, the calamities with which they were threatened, and to acquire the favour of the prince, whose throne he defcribed. Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King, whose throne is for ever and ever; and who himself is juft and righteous, meek, and having falvation. Though, by your fubjection to him, you may not enjoy worldly riches or honours, but may be exposed to poverty and contempt, you fhall have peace of conscience, divine protection, and eternal life in the fociety of angels, and a crown of glory that fadeth not away,

6 We have heard of the pride of Moab, (he is very proud) even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be fo.

In these words, the reafon is pointed out why the foregoing advices would be rejected by the Moabites. This was no other than the pride and haughtiness of that people, which ftirred them up againft the Jews, and made them flatter themselves with the hopes of long-continued profperity. Several caufes might contribute to cherish the natural vanity of their minds,

VOL. II.

Pfal. lxxxix. 14.

P

for

for which, as a people, they were very remarkable. Among thefe, may be reckoned their ftrong cities, and fortified places, which feemed to promise them fecurity from danger, and the friendship of Affyria, with whom they were probably at this time allied, so that they had little to fear from that quarter. On these, and other accounts, they were greatly elated with pride. Of this unhappy temper which prevailed among the Moabites, our prophet, his countrymen the Jews, and the neighbouring nations, had often heard. It was generally known, and acknowledged as a true report, that Moab was very proud. Pride and haughtiness reached their highest fummit among that people; and, as frequently happens, they were accompanied with wrath and indignation against those who prefumed to dictate to them, to give them advice, or to oppose them in their fentiments and interefts. His lies fhall not be fo; or, His lies are vain, and to no purpose, as the words may be tranflated. The Moabites had among them diviners, who prophefied to them falfe things, whereby they were dreadfully deluded and impofed upon. In the end, all these divinations were to prove vain and fruitless, and then they would be undeceived. Our prophet, foreseeing the rejection of his counfel, foretels what would be the certain confequences of their pride and obftinacy, which he immediately proceeds to reprefent.

7 Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one fhall howl: for the foundations of Kirharefeth fhall ye mourn, furely they are ftricken.

In this and the following verfe, the calamities are defcribed which were to be inflicted on the Moabites, for defpifing the good advices which were given them. One part of the inhabitants of Moab were to howl and lament over the miferies which were fuftained by the other: diftrefs and forrow was to fpread