Isai. lxi. 11. As the earth bring eth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are soivn in it to bring forth ; so the Lord God, will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
TRUTH when delivered in simple terms, does not so forcibly impress the mind, as when it is embodied, as it were, in some image that is visible before our eyes : for a great number of ideas are, by means of a metaphor, presented to us at once ; and, having
been long familiarized to our mind, they require no stretch or intenseness of thought to bring them to- gether ; so that we view a subject, as it were, almost in its full extent, without the labour of prosecuting it in its several parts. To the great mass of mankind this species of instruction is peculiarly beneficial ; because it puts the poor on an equal footing with the rich, and, in many respects, enables the illiterate peasant to comprehend truth as extensively and as accurately as the most learned philosopher. The conversion of the world, and of the Jewish nation more especially, is the subject here spoken ofa; and it is predicted as resembling the spring season, wherein the whole face of nature is changed. Now, every one, however ignorant, beholds this change, and is able, in a great measure, to appreciate both its extent and value ; and consequently may look forward to the accomplishment of the prediction with an interest which a more laboured and extended statement might fail to excite.
Let us then consider,
I. The comparison here instituted between the natural and moral world —
In the natural world, the parts which are unculti- vated present to the view a dreary and desolate wil- derness ; but, when brought into cultivation, they assume altogether a new appearance, producing every thing which is beautiful to the eye, or profitable for the use of man. It is necessary, however, that human agency should be employed in effecting this change : though, after all that man can do, the work is God's alone.
In these four particulars the comparison may well be traced.
Barren beyond expression are the countries that are destitute of spiritual cultivation —
a If it were a Sermon for the Jews (to whom the passage primarily refers), the reference to them should be made somewhat more promi- nent in the discourse.