We must therefore, of necessity, look forward to a future period for the full accomplishment of this pro- phecy.
In discoursing on this prophecy, I shall consider, I. The event predicted —
Respecting the restoration of the Jews to their own land, I say little ; because, though it seems as clearly revealed as any event in all the book of God, there are some who doubt whether the prophecies relating to it are to be understood literally ; and because, in labouring for the welfare of that people, we have no respect whatever to any thing but the conversion of their souls to God.
In the passage before us God promises to them,
1 . A discovery of his will —
[In the whole of their civil and ecclesiastical polity, they are in the state described by the Prophet Isaiah ; " The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint : from the sole of the foot even to the head there is so soundness in it ; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores3." But God promises here, that he will " restore health unto them, and cure them, by revealing unto them the abundance of peace and truth."
To enter fully into the meaning of these words, we must bear in mind, that, in the writings of Moses, the way of salva- tion is revealed only under types and shadows ; and that, even by the strictest observance of them, " the Jews could not be made perfect as pertaining to the conscienceb :" conse- quently, under existing circumstances, when they are pre- cluded from a possibility of observing the law, they cannot by any means obtain rest unto their souls. They cannot by repentance ; because rivers of tears could never wash away one sin. They cannot by good works ; for their best works are imperfect, and can never atone for sin, and purchase an eter- nity of bliss. And, as for any rites prescribed by their Rab- bins, in addition to the Mosaic Ritual, they are held, as the superstitious ordinances of the Pharisees were, in utter abhor- rence by Almighty God. All the Rabbins in the universe, therefore, cannot tell an afflicted and tempest-tossed Jew how he may obtain peace with God and in his own conscience. But when God shall take away the veil that is on the hearts of that people, " he will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth." He will shew them, that every shadow in their law is derived from Christ, who is the substance. Had
a Isai. i. 5, 6. b Heb. ix. 9.