by saying, that the Apostle, as was customary with him, quoted from the Septuagint Translation : but when there was such a distinction observable between the former and the latter advent of the Redeemer, the adoption of the translation was peculiarly proper.
But, to the point — The Redeemer shall come again to con- vert and save God's ancient people, the Jews. As surely as ever he came to them in the flesh previous to their dispersion, he shall come to them by his word and Spirit, to restore them from their dispersion, and to gather them into his Church, that they may again be a holy people unto the Lord. And, how- ever deeply rooted they may appear to be in their prejudices and their sins, he will prevail over them, and unite them with the Gentiles in one great and universal Church, to be unto their God " a praise, and an honour, and a glory," to all eternity.]
In addition to the establishment of the Redeemer's kingdom, the prophet announces to us,
II. Its perpetuity —
God, from the first establishment of the Redeemer's kingdom to the present hour, has accompanied his word by the mighty operations of his Spirit —
[On the day of Pentecost this was manifest : for, not by the exercise of miraculous powers only did the Spirit appear, but by the conversion of a multitude of souls to Christ. On all other occasions, too, the mighty working of the Spirit was seen, whenever the Apostles preached; and their " word was made quick and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword." So to the present hour has the same divine energy accompa- nied the word, wherever it has been preached in sincerity and truth. Thousands of living witnesses can attest, that they have themselves been enlightened, quickened, comforted by the word, through its having " come to them, not in word only," but " in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." Yes : to this hour is the word " preached with the Holy Ghost sent clown from heaven ;" not indeed in his miraculous powers, but in spiritual agency, which nothing can withstand.]
By the same Almighty power shall the word be accompanied to the end of time —
[This is " God's covenant with his people." Never shall the preaching of the word cease ; nor shall the mighty work- ing of the Spirit ever cease to operate by means of it. The Jews do indeed, at present, withstand the word : as all of us also do, until the Spirit comes to make the word effectual. But this is only until the appointed period shall arrive for the