Redeemer to extend his kingdom over the face of the earth. Then shall Pentecostal scenes be renewed throughout the world ; then " shall a nation be born in a day ;" then shall the whole Jewish people " look on Him whom they have pierced, and mourn ;" and " the two sticks of Israel and of Judah be- come one," " never to be separated any moreB. The perpetuity of Christ's dominion over them, through the continued agency of his Spirit, is thus stated by the Prophet Ezekiel : " Thus saith the Lord God ; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name ; after that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations ; then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen : but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them : for / have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord Godh."]
Application —
Consider now this prophecy,
1. As a personal matter to your own souls —
[To you is this Redeemer come, even to apply to your souls all the blessings of redemption. Whatever you need, you will find it all in him, and you shall receive it out of his ful- ness. But, in truth, the root and summit of all blessings is, deliverance from sin : without this, heaven itself would be no source of joy ; nor would the work of Christ be of any real value. Hear the testimony of the Apostle Peter, at the very first establishment of the Redeemer's kingdom : " Unto you first, God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities'." This is the blessing which Christianity brings to you ; yes, to every one of you. Look back, and see what are the sins which have formerly led you captive. You once cherished them as conducive to your happiness : but far greater happiness awaits you in your deliverance from them. Find your besetting sins: lay your hand upon them: carry them to the Lord: entreat him to wash them away by his own most precious blood. Entreat, too, the aid of his good Spirit. Beg that, whilst his word points out and condemns sin, his Holy Spirit may make
g Ezek. xxxvii. 15 — 22. h Ezek. xxxix. 25 — 29.
• Acts iii. 20.