love, he will joy over them with singing1'." Surely then it becomes us to rejoice also, yea, and to shout for joy,
1. For the benefits that will be conferred on God's ancient people —
[Long have they been the most degraded and despised of all people. At this very day are they classed with swine, in an impost laid upon them even by Christians K But the day is coming when they will be the first and head of all na- tions ; " their righteousness going forth as brightness, and their salvation as a lamp that burnetii k ;" and " all their enemies bowing down themselves at the soles of their feet1." And what is God's command to us in reference to that event? " Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth : break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein ; for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel™." So, in another place: " Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy, all ye that mourn for her; that ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations ; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with, the abundance of her glory"."]
2. For the benefits that will accrue to the whole world —
[The conversion of the Jews will be the signal for an outpouring of blessings upon the rest of mankind: yea, " it shall be as life from the dead to the whole world0." And can wTe contemplate this without the liveliest joy ? Turn to the 98th Psalm ; and there you will see what ought to be the feelings of universal nature, in the prospect of this great event p ]
3. For the honour that will arise to God himself — [Then will he be glorified as he never yet was, even from
the foundation of the world q. Then will all his eternal counsels be completed, yea, and all his perfections be glorified. Did God from eternity choose that people to himself? Did he plant them as a beauteous olive for himself? Did he, for
h ver. 19. with Zeph. iii. 17.
* At Frankfort, in Germany, there is still (August 1827) a toll paid by them for going over a bridge : and on the ticket which they present is inscribed, " For the passage of Jews and swine." A line is indeed drawn across the word " swine ; " but the word is as plain and legible as ever.
k Isai. lxii. 1. ] Isai. lx. 14. m Isai. xliv. 23.
n Isai. lxvi. 10, 11. ° Rom. xi. 12, 15. p Ps. xcviii. 1 — 9.
i Jer. xxxiii. 9.