or shake it off, from the tree, in order to gather it for him. The success that will attend their labours will not be great: the Jews will be gathered only, as if it were, " one by one." But to them it will be a joyful event, that they have not been left to be devoured by the birds, but have been collected for the Master's use. This is elsewhere described by the same prophet: "When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive-tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done : they shall lift up their voice ; they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord; they shall cry aloud from the seam." To the same effect, God speaks also by the Prophet Jeremiah : " Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord ; for I am married unto you : and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family (or tribe), and I will bring you to Zionn."
Such will be the effects produced upon the Jews at the commencement of the efforts that shall be made for their restoration to God. As it respects the mass of the dispersed, the first converts will be only a small remnant, a gleaning after the gathering has been made ; as the prophet has informed us : " Though the people of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant only shall return0:" but as it respects the complete in-gathering which shall ultimately follow, they will be as the first-fruits before the harvest, and the drop before the shower.]
2. In its progress —
[In due time " the great trumpet will be blown," and the Jews that are scattered to the utmost ends of the earth shall hear it. The trumpets were, by God's command, to be blown on different occasions ; and especially, for the convoking of the people to the tabernacle in the wilderness ; for the regulating of their journeys towards the Promised Landp; and for the proclaiming every fiftieth year the year of Jubilee q. The Gospel is this trumpet, which will be " sounded out" through the whole world ; and it will " come with power and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance1"," to " the outcast Israelites in the land of Egypt, and to those who are ready to perish in the land of Assyria." Then will that be fulfilled which is spoken by the Prophet Jeremiah, " The watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion to the Lord our God. For thus saith the Lord : Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations : publish ye, praise ye, and say, O Lord, save thy people, the remnant of Israel. Behold, I will bring them from the north
m Isai. xxiv. 13, 14. n Jer. iii. 14. ° Isai. x. 22.
p Numb. x. 2. i Lev. xxv. 9.
r 1 Thess. i. 5, 8. and ii. 13.