then be a national object : men shall not then be " put into the ministry to supply them with a piece of bread," but " to feed the flock of God, over which the Holy Ghost has made them overseers : " and patrons will exercise their power for God, to provide the people with " pastors after God's heart." The people also, whilst flocking to the church " as doves to their windows," will so receive the word, that it will universally " have free course and be glorified among them."
Together with light, there will be among all classes a great augmentation of peace and joy. " The sun shall be no more their light by day, neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto them; but the Lord shall be unto them an everlasting light, and their God their glory." Nor shall their joy be so variable as at present : " their sun shall no more go down, neither shall their moon withdraw itself; for the Lord shall be unto them an everlasting light ; and the days of their mourning shall be ended1." To this happy state of the Church shall the reign of the saints essentially contribute : for the zeal of the pastors, the spirituality of the people, and the more abundant effusion of the Holy Spirit upon the souls of men, will all conspire to " turn the wilderness into a garden, and to make the desert rejoice and blossom as the rose : yea, it shall blossom abun- dantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing k."
There will also be a far larger measure of holiness pervading the world. The Canaanite will then " be no more in the land." " The people will be all righteous1:" and surprising will be the beauty and fertility of every plant which the Lord hath planted™. To this also will the reign of the saints greatly contribute. Sin of every kind will be discountenanced, and iniquity, if any still exist, will be constrained to hide its head ]
Address —
1. Let none be ashamed of being accounted saints —
[This name, which God so highly honours, is with many a term of reproach. But happy are they who are " counted worthy of this shame." The day will ere long arrive, when they shall have far higher honours than man can bestow. We who are now alive may not live to see the day predicted in our text; but, if not, we shall see a happier day, when, " having suffered with Christ, we shall reign, and be glorified together with him." Verily for all the saints there is a king- dom provided ; and they who look forward to it shall not be disappointed of their hope" ]
» Isai. lx. 19, 20. k Isai. xxxv. 1 — 6, 10.
1 Isai. lx. 21. and Zech. xiv. 20, 21. m Hos. xiv. 5 — 7. n 2 Tim. iv. 8. Rev. iii. 21.