But by the Gospel a wonderful change is effected in us —
[Conceive of such a desert, as has been described, being, by the almighty power of God, filled at once with springs and rivers, and verdant hills and valleys : conceive of it as freed from all its venomous inhabitants, and covered with flocks and herds for the use of man : and then you will have some idea of what is wrought by the Gospel, wherever it is established. Let the day of Pentecost serve as a specimen. Certainly, if ever there were incarnate fiends, such were the great mass of those who put our blessed Lord to death. But see the change wrought on thousands of them in one hour! It would be deemed incredible, if we did not know that such was really the fact : " the Holy Spirit then poured out," in confirmation of the Apostle's word, " turned at once the wilderness into a fruitful field, so that the fruitful field might be counted for a forest a." What takes place at this day, upon a smaller scale, is not so visible, or so well authenticated, as that to which we have referred ; but it is altogether of the same character : for when once " the waters break out in the wilderness, and the streams in the desert, the parched ground becomes a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water ; and in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, there is grass with reeds and rushes ;" vegetation and beauty supplying the place of sterile deformity.
It is scarcely necessary to observe, that this must be the work of God. It far exceeds the power of man. It was the work of Omnipotence in the apostolic age : and, as such, it is here promised to be extended over the face of the whole earth. Jerusalem was indeed the primary seat of this glorious change : but it is to be extended, as the Lord hath said: " Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem : for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations ; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God*."]
In accordance with this change, will be found, II. Its characteristic benefits —
At the introduction of Christianity, many glorious miracles were wrought by our blessed Lord, in con- firmation of his word. These were predicted in the passage before us ; and to these did our blessed Lord appeal, in proof of his divine mission. " John sent two of his disciples to him, to inquire, Art thou He
a Isai. xxxii. 15. b Isai. lii. 9. 10.