in it, and express, every thing according to its ability, its
desire to contribute to their happiness15 Do ye also
look forward to the event with ardent desire, and exert your- selves in every possible way to promote its speedy consum- mation.]
2. Accept with gratitude the overtures now made in reference to yourselves —
[In the name of Jehovah I would now espouse you to the Lord Jesus Christ c : and for your encouragement I would say, that there is not one perfection of the Deity, not even justice itself, that will not be glorified in your acceptance of his prof- fered mercy d. O, think what it will be to stand in that near relation to the Deity, and what blessedness you will obtain both in time and in eternity by means of it! Methinks all heaven will rejoice when the time shall have arrived for the marriage of the Lamb to be consummated6. May all of you now daily have your meetness for that blessed event increased, and in due season have your joy perfected in the full fruition of your Saviour and your God.]
b ver. 21 — 23. c 2 Cor. xi. 2.
d 1 John i. 9. e Rev. xix. 7.
Hos. hi. 5. Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king ; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.
KNOWN unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world ; and whatever he has pre- determined in his eternal counsels shall surely be fulfilled. Often indeed is the execution of his pur- poses delayed till unbelievers begin to think that his word has failed of its accomplishment : but " in the evening time it shall be light :" and when the ob- stacles to his will seem almost insurmountable, he will glorify himself in fulfilling it beyond all human expectation. Thus he acted, when, according to his promise, he brought the Israelites out of Egypt. He suffered them to be detained till the very last day that they could be detained consistently with the truth
vol. x. c