0 Isai. lxvi. 2. p Hos. xiv. 8. i Jer. xxxi. 18, 20.
the delight he feels, when one single person is reco- vered unto God through him. He forgets at once all the labour and travail he has endured, or rather he looks back upon it with most heart-felt satisfaction, as soon as ever he sees it brought to a successful issue.
He is satisfied, next, when he sees his redeemed people walking uprightly with God. The pleasure, which a parent enjoys at the first sight of her new-born infant, is increased, when she beholds it growing up to matu- rity in the full enjoyment of all its faculties, and the uniform discharge of all its duties. Thus our " Lord taketh pleasure in his people ;" and every grace they exercise, every service they perform, every sacrifice they offer, is " pleasing and acceptable in his sight." The beloved Apostle knew no greater joy than to see his children walk in truth. So our Lord, when his people grow in grace, and make their profiting to ap- pear, " rejoices over them with joy, and rests in his love, and joys over them with singing1." So delighted is he with the view of them, that " he rejoices over them to do them good," and engages " with his whole heart and with his whole soul," in securing to them the everlasting possession of his heavenly kingdom8. Though he is so high, yet hath he respect unto them, " coining to them," " manifesting himself to them as he does not unto the world" in the most intimate and endearing manner, shedding abroad his love in their hearts, and maintaining fellowship with them, as a parent with her dear children. This is opened by the prophet in terms so accommodated to the text, and so beautifully descriptive of the truth before us, that we cannot refrain from quoting his words. After repeat- ing several times that Zion should travail in birth, and have a numerous issue, Christ calls on all of them to rejoice in their happy lot, and " to suck and be satis- fied with the breasts of her consolation :" and then in direct reference to himself, he says, " then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees ; as one whom his mother comforteth,
r Zeph. iii. 17. s Jer. xxxii. 41.
974. J Christ's satisfaction in his people. 413
so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem1."
But most of all will our adorable Lord be satisfied, when he shall behold all his family surrounding his throne in glory. While they are here, he is too often grieved with them, and constrained to hide his face from them. But, when they shall be exalted to hea- ven, there will be an end of all their imperfections ; they will all be pure as God is pure, and holy as God is holy : they will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father ; never to suffer an eclipse, never to set again. If a parent finds all her joys consummated, when she sees those, with whom she has travailed, and over whom she has so long watched, comfortably at last settled in the world, how must Jesus rejoice, when he sees all his children settled beyond the reach of harm, in the full enjoyment of that kingdom which was provided for them from the foundation of the world ! With what satisfaction must he reflect upon the travail of his soul, when he shall see myriads, countless as the sands upon the sea-shore, surrounding his throne, and hear them all acknowledging with one voice, that they were washed from their sins in his blood, and that all their happiness is the fruit of his obedience unto death ! If, even in the days of his humiliation, he was so transported with this joy set before him, that, in consideration of it, he cheerfully endured the cross, and despised the shame, much more, when he shall see the full accomplishment of his gracious purposes, will he look back upon his troubles with complacency and delight. He will then wholly occupy himself in making them happy, "feeding them" with all the fruits of Paradise, and "leading them to living fountains of waters," that they may drink of those rivers of pleasure, which are at God's right hand for evermore"."