[The poor and contrite are exclusively beloved of God. If he look on others, it is only as he did on the Egyptians1. And how dreadful must it be to have such an enemy ! But how delightful to have an almighty, omnipresent guardian ! Above all, how awful must it be to have him turn his face from us in the day of judgment ! Let us then endeavour to humble ourselves before God"1. And rest assured that the promised mercy shall in due time be fulfilled to us".]
1 Exod. xiv. 24, 25. m Isai. ii. 11. " Jam. iv. 10.
Isai. lxvi. 10 — 13. Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, 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. For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream : then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. As one whom his mother comfort eth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
IT is the peculiar character of the Lord's people, that they enter into the concerns of the Church, re- joicing in her prosperity, and lamenting whatever tends to her dishonour. For both these exercises of mind there is occasion in every place and in every age. If but one soul be added to the Church, it is a ground of joy even to the angels in heaven, and much more to those whose hands are strengthened by every such accession : on the other hand, the low state of the Church must of necessity fill every pious soul with grief and shame. But there is a time approach- ing, when the grounds of joy will greatly preponderate, when there will be a vast increase of glory to the Church, when innumerable multitudes both of Jews and Gentiles shall flock to her standard, and " her peace shall flow down like a river." It is of this period that the prophet is speaking, both in this and the preceding chapter : and so sudden will be its arrival, that it will seem as if " a nation were born in