shall it assuredly be fulfilled in its season B. Even at this time have they the earnest of these blessings in their souls ; and in due time they shall possess them in all their fulness11.]
Improvement —
In this view of our subject we have,
1. An antidote to despondency —
[Those who are upright in heart are still, as formerly, ready to entertain desponding fears, and to imagine that there is something in their situation and circumstances which renders their case peculiarly hopeless. But God delights to encourage such persons with the most consolatory declarations1. Let not any then say, " I am a dry tree," or suppose that he is incapable of yielding fruit to God : for those who are " farthest off, may yet be brought nigh by the blood of Christk ;" and " strangers and foreigners," if they embrace and obey the covenant of grace, shall become " fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God1."]
2. A stimulus to exertion in the cause of Christ —
[The same principle of unbelief which discourages men in relation to themselves, operates powerfully to repress their exertions for others. The state of the heathen is thought to present insurmountable obstacles to their conversion. But the most ignorant savages are not farther from a participation of the Gospel, than eunuchs and strangers were from communion with the Jewish Church : yet these have already found access to God : why therefore may not they ? Indeed we are assured by the prophet, that the remotest Gentiles shall be gathered to the Lordm; and our Lord himself confirms the joyful truth". Let us then open wide the door of God's house to the Gentile world : let us encourage them to " lay hold on his covenant :" and let us, each according to his ability, labour to hasten for- ward that glorious day, when all the nations of the earth shall be converted to the Lord, and " become one fold under one Shepherd0."]
e Rev. hi. 12. h 1 John hi. 2. s Isai. xl. 27, 28.
k Eph. ii. 12, 13. i Eph. ii. 19. m Isai. lx. 3.
" ver. 8. ° John x. 16.