King of the Jews, for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him?"

Standing up, as the instrument of the devil, against the Prince of princes, Herod was foiled in his purpose; Jesus escaped, and the infants glorified God by their deaths. Still 66 a voice was

heard in Rama, lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel, weeping for her children, refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not." (Ver. 15.)

Mark now the words of comfort so graciously addressed by God to Rachel, and their application to the "first resurrection."

Ver. 16. Thus saith the Lord, Refrain thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from tears; for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy."

Ver. 17. "And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border."

The following verses show in words inimitable the love and mercy of God towards Ephraim— unwise Ephraim, but here shown repentant.

Ver. 18. "I have surely heard Ephraim be

moaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke; turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God."

Ver. 19. 66 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh; I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth."

Ver. 20. "Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still; therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord."

Ver. 21. "Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps set thine heart towards the high way, even the way which thou wentest; turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.” The prophet then continues:

Ver. 22. "How long wilt thou go about; O thou backsliding daughter? for the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth. A woman

ceives by man, and brings forth children, but God the Father Almighty hath done and will hereafter do wonderful things.

We believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried, he descended into hell, the third day he rose again from the dead.

On the day of the "first resurrection" shall God by Jesus Christ create another new thing. The womb of the earth shall be opened-“ the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain." (Isaiah xxvi., the latter part of 21st verse.)

"Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child."

"Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day, or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children."

"Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to

bring forth? saith the Lord; shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God."

Rejoice ye with Jerusalem and be glad with her, all ye that love her; rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her."

"That ye may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations, that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory."

"For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees."

"As one, whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you, and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem." (Isaiah lvi. 7—13.)

The prophet Isaiah in his vision saw the two great lights-the one, the day of the "first resurrection" and the kingdom of "the saints" on earth. The other, the morning of the general resurrection, and the everlasting kingdom of the Father.

Where in the vision the two lights appear at intervals, the one can without difficulty be distin

guished from the other. In some parts, however, the lesser light appears the first, and then the greater, (as in the 25th chapter)-in other parts, the greater and then the lesser, (as in the 65th chapter,) and in each of these cases the transition is immediate.

A full description of the New Jerusalem is only contained in the 21st chapter of the book of Revelation, where we approach the sublime subject with mingled feelings of wonder and delight.

I will now compare together portions of the 60th and 65th chapters of Isaiah, with different passages taken from the 21st chapter of the book of Revelation.

Isaiah lx.

"Therefore thy gates shall be open continually, they shall not be shut day nor night: that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought."

"For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish, yea, those nations

Revelation xxi.

“And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven; prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."

"And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with