behalf, and renew to them all the wonderful interpositions which he vouchsafed to them in former days. At least ten times is this promise in our text repeated to them by the prophets, that " they shall again be God's people, and he their God;" or, as it is very emphatically said, " a God unto themf." Nor can any language more fully depict the blessings contained in this promise, than that of the Prophet Isaiah : " Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings : and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended C]
3. A spirit of piety poured out upon them —
[" One heart and one way" have distinguished the Lord's people in all ages of the world : nor can either the heart or the way be more justly described, than in those comprehensive words, " The fear of God." This disposition belongs not to us by nature, nor is this conduct found in any natural man : it is the gift of God, who " by his Spirit convinces us of sin," and reveals a Saviour to us, and inclines us to devote ourselves unreservedly to his service. There are many points, of subor- dinate moment, in which the children of God may differ : but in these things they all agree : "as face answereth to face in a glass, so in these respects doth the heart of man to man." All, without exception, feel themselves to be guilty and undone sinners; all cleave unto the Lord Jesus Christ as their only hope ; and all walk before God, in a way of holy, tender, and affectionate obedience. And this marks their character to the latest hour of their lives. They would no more divest themselves of the fear of God, than of love, or joy, or confi- dence, or any other gracious affection whatsoever. And this holy state of mind will eminently distinguish the Jews in the latter day. It will be given to them " for their own good, and for the good of their children after them:" for, in truth, this kind of piety, whilst it invariably exalts the person in whom it is found, will always display itself in a diligent atten- tion to the rising generation. At present, the children of the Jews are neglected in a very extraordinary degree : but it will
f Heb. viii. 10. * Isai. lx. 15, 16, 19, 20.