The words thus explained we shall consider as pro- claiming,
^ 2 Chron. xxviii. 18.
<^ The general interpretation of their being foreign ambassadors sent to congratulate Hezekiah, enervates the whole force of the pas- sage, and is in opposition to the text itself, which speaks of them as the messengers of the nation, and not of foreign nations.
p p 2
I. An unquestionable fact —
" God has founded Zion" —
[He has founded it in his eternal counsels ; and he has founded it also in his covenant engagements. He determined from all eternity that he would have a Church and People from amongst the sinners of mankind ; and that he would get glory to himself from the introduction of sin into this lower world. For this end he entered into covenant with his co-equal, co- eternal Son ; and engaged, that if he would become a man, and " make his own soul an offering for sin," he should have from amongst our fallen race, a people, who should be his purchased possession, and should for ever shew forth his praise"^. This covenant being made, he gave to his Son "a multitude, whom no man can number, out of all nations, and kindreds, and peo- ple, and tongues ;" and agreed to accomplish in them all his good pleasure, and to bring them in due season to the full pos- session of that glory, which by their transgressions they had lost. To this the Lord Jesus Christ repeatedly refers, declar- ing, that he was invested with " power to give eternal life to as many as the Father had given him^" and under this cha- racter the Lord Jesus Christ prayed for them^, and committed them into the Father's hands to be kept for him^, and declared his assured expectation of having them, in due time, as the trophies of his grace, and the partners of his glory '^.J
" The poor of his people also shall trust in it" —
[God never leaves his chosen people to trust in them- selves : he never has done it : he never will do it. From the beginning he has made them to feel their need of a Saviour ; and has caused them to build on " that foundation which he has laid in Zion." The institution of sacrifices even in Paradise (for we doubt not but that the beasts, with the skins of which our first parents were clothed by God himself, had been oflfered in sacrifice to God) taught them from the beginning to rely, not on themselves, but on a sacrifice which should in due time be oflTered : and his grace has invariably wrought to the pro- duction of this one effect, according to that declaration of the prophet, " Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation ; and he that belie veth shall not make haste, or, as St. Paul interprets it, shall not be ashamed'."]
But in the text there is also contained,
IL An instructive lesson —
It teaches us,
d Isai. liii. 10. e John xvii. 2. f Johnxvii.9. gJohnxvii.il. ^ John xvii. 24. > Isai. xviii. 16. with Rom. ix. 33.
884.] god's church and people secure. 581
1. That our trust must be on God alone —
[To none can we look, but to our Covenant God and Saviour. There is no other foundation, but that which God has laid''; nor any other name whereby a human being can be saved, but the name of Jesus Christ'. Hence his invitation, " Look unto ME, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth™." Hence also that solemn declaration, " T am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me"." To confide in the creature, is to entail only a curse upon ourselves °. Whence was it that the Jews, with all their earnest- ness in following after righteousness, could never attain it ? It was, because they would rely upon themselves, and not seek it by a simple exercise of faith on the Lord Jesus Christ p. So it will be with us also, if our reliance be not altogether on the providence and grace of God : for what God said to his people respecting the Egyptians, he says to us ; " The creature shall help in vain, and to no purpose : therefore have I cried con- cerning this, Their strength is to sit still i."]