Isai. lx. 8. — Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves
to their windows ?
THERE is much spoken in the Holy Scriptures respecting the glory of the latter day. This whole chapter is occupied with the subject. The predic- tions contained in it have never yet been verified. Great as was the spread of the Gospel in the apostolic age, it was nothing in comparison of that to which we are taught to look forward at a period that is now fast approaching. The prophet, whilst occupied in the contemplation of that day, saw it, as it were, already commenced, and the whole Gentile world flocking to Christ, even as doves to their windows. The lan- guage in which he depicts that day is suited to the time at which he wrote. Jerusalem was then the centre of union to all the tribes. Thither all the males went up thrice a year : there the sacrifices were offered: and thither all Gentile proselytes also came to present their offerings to the Lord. But all these things were typical of the Christian Church, which shall be established on the face of the whole earth, and of the spiritual sacrifices which all who come up to our Zion shall offer there.
I propose to consider our text,
I. In reference to the millennial period —
The question is evidently the language of surprise and joy : and the answer to it is given in the whole context. Let us attend to,
1. The prophet's own description of that day —
[Then shall light burst forth, almost as at the first crea- tion, when " God said, Let there be light; and there was light." The gross darkness which at present covers the whole earth will be dispelled by the rising of the Sun of Righteous- ness, and " all flesh will see the salvation of Goda." " The Gentiles, from one end of the earth even to the other, will
a Luke iii. G.