extensive influence. From the first promulgation of it to the present moment, events have justified the prediction before us ; for " kings," on hearing of a crucified Saviour, have " shut their mouths before him," and acknowledged him as the foundation of all their hopes.
The terms in which this prophecy is expressed will lead us to consider, The means of conversion, and, The fruit and evidence of it :
I. The means of conversion —
God is not limited to the use of any means. He, who by a word brought the universe into existence, can, with a simple act of his will, produce any change in the state and condition of his creatures, or do whatsoever pleaseth him. Nevertheless he has ap- pointed a method of converting souls to the know- ledge of himself: and though we presume not to say what changes he may effect in the minds of unen- lightened heathens, yet we have no reason to expect that he will dispense with the means where he has sent the light of his Gospel. The means which God has appointed for the conversion of men may be con- sidered either as external or internal ; the external is, The preaching of the Gospel ; the internal is, The seeing and considering of that Gospel.
With respect to the external mean, the prophet speaks of it as "that which kings had not heard." He has just intimated that the sufferings of the Mes- siah should exceed all that ever were experienced by man ; but that, at the same time, they should avail for the expiating of our guilt, and the purifying of our souls from sin. He then adds, that the great and mighty of the earth should be made to consider these glad tidings ; and that, after some opposition for a season, they should become the willing subjects of the Messiah's kingdom. In this way St. Paul himself under- stood the words of our text; for he quotes them exactly in this sense ; " So have I strived," says he, " to preach the Gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation ; but as it is