considered in one connected view, would be lost. It is an exceedingly beautiful portion of Holy Writ ; in elucidating which I shall be led to set before you,
I. The event which we are here commanded to pro- claim—
You perceive that all " the nations " of the earth, are called upon to " hear " from God, and to " pro- claim," as from God, to the remotest islands of the sea, and say, " He that scattereth Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd doth his flock." This, beyond all doubt, refers, in the first instance, to the restoration of the Jews from Babylon. But it did not by any means receive its full accomplishment in that ; since instead of their " not sorrowing any more at all," their sorrows have, by means of their dispersion by the Romans, been multiplied beyond measure, and at times almost beyond endurance. But there is a time coming, and it is now very near at hand, when God will redeem them from all their enemies, and restore them to the full possession of their own land. And a blessed event will that be ! Consider,
1. The manner in which it shall be accomplished —
[You well know how a river, with ten thousand tributary streams, flows into the ocean. But to see it flow up a moun- tain would fill you with utter astonishment. Yet thus it is that God's ancient people will " flow unto the height of Zion." " The mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains ; and God's Israel, contrary to the course of nature, shall flow unto it," coming, as it were, from every quarter of the globe a, in one simultaneous movement, to wor- ship the Lord in Jerusalem, just as all the males in Israel were wont to do at the three great and stated feasts.]
2. The object which all will have in view —
[" They will flow together for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd." Beyond all doubt they will be blessed at that time with great temporal prosperity, perhaps greater than was ever enjoyed even in the days of Solomon. But under the image of temporal benefits, no doubt spiritual blessings are principally designed. Indeed, it must be remembered, that the things here mentioned were
a Isai. ii. 2.