whom they pierced", and say, “Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord *. Bleffed is He who hath been gracious unto us, who hath put away our iniquity, and remembered our fins and offences no more. This is He whom our fathers knew not, whom while on earth they nailed to the cross; but he hath revealed himself to us from heaven. We will rejoice in thy name, we will walk in thy truth, and thou, O Son of David, shalt be our King for ever."

In that day the envy of Ephraim and of Judah fhall cease, and they shall love those whom before they abhorred. The Christian of the Gentiles fhall be dearer than life to them; and those who believe not they fhall labour to convince. They fhall proclaim the honour of the Lord, and fhew forth the mercy, which they themselves have experienced. The people of the Gentiles fhall willingly offer themselves; they “shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, faying, We will go with you; for we have heard that God is with you." " They shall afk the way to Zion with their faces thitherward." Jerufalem fhall no longer be trod

den under foot, but in righteousness shall she be established. She fhall call her walls Salvation and her gates Praife. In every land shall be a temple to the Lord, and all flesh shall behold his glory. Peace shall be extended to them like a river, forrow and mourning fhall flee away; they shall serve the Lord with fongs of joy, and in unity and love together.

Here then a scene is difclofed, to which, amidst the anxious cares, the storms and tempests of life, we may look forward with steadfast faith, and devoutly pray for its approach. Next, furely, to the glory of GoD, and the eternal inheritance of his heavenly kingdom, there is no object more worthy of perpetual meditation, none that we should more ardently long for, none that we may with greater confidence expect, than the univerfal kingdom of the Meffiah in this world. Our ideas of this bleffed ftate may at present be inadequate; the city of our GOD may be more glorious than the fublimest ́imagination, aided by the lofty representations of fcripture, is able to conceive; but her beauty shall one day be visible, her walls fhall affuredly be raised.

b lf. lx. 18. with xxvi. 1:

Ibid. li. 11.

Ibid. lxvi. 12.

What

What though fedition and tumults, fightings and war have not ceased? though the religion of harmony and love has been converted into an engine of mischief, and caused not peace but divifion? Has the truth of GOD therefore failed? or shall he not confirm his promises? The kingdom is one in all ages; and the bleffings not yet bestowed fhall without doubt be given hereafter. For her king is exalted in heaven, and thence will he fubdue his enemies. "Truth fhall" yet

66

fpring out of the earth, and righteousness fhall look down from heaven. "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither fhall they learn war any more f.” "The wolf fhall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard fhall lie down with the kid; - they shall not hurt nor destroy in all God's holy mountain; for the earth fhall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the fea"."

Philofophy hath tried her fkill, and her fons have combined together. They have boafted they would extirpate the name of Chrift, and deftroy the horn of his kingdom.

• Pf. lxxxv. 10. * If. xi. 6.9.

f If. ii. 4. Mic. iv. 3.

But

Her

But their rage is as vain as it is impious.
Sooner might they arreft the earth in her
course, or extinguish the lamp of day, than
withstand the arm of the Almighty, or dif-
appoint the leaft of his promises. The ways
of Zion mourn; her cities are burnt with fire,
and her mountains are a barren wafte.
fig tree is hewn down, and the withered
branches are caft out in all lands; but the
ftock is ftill in the ground, and fhall again
fpring forth and flourish. For the Lord fhall
water it from above, and pour down his spirit
upon it.
He shall deal graciously with his
fervants, he fhall put away their iniquities,
and manifest his glory to them.

Even fo, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Come to thy once chofen people, and remember thy holy covenant; the oath which thou fwareft to their fathers, and the teftament sealed with thy blood. By thy death thou haft atoned for their fins; let thy powerful interceffion prevail for them. Forgive them, righteous Father, for they know not what they do. Take away their stony heart, and give them an heart of flesh", that they may be thy people, and Thou mayeft be their

b Ez. xi. 19.

God;

GOD; that the remnant of Ifrael and the refidue of the Gentiles may believe in Thee, and glorify thy name, through Jefus Chrift our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghoft, one God bleffed for evermore. Amen.

SER