the Prophet Isaiah, who characterizes it as " God's judgment which he would make to rest for a light of the people (the Gen- tiles ;) even as his righteousness (or method for making people righteous before him,) and his salvation, for which all the isles shall wait, and in which they shall trustc." St. Paul also calls it "the law of faith d."]
And by the publication of that shall the great work be effected —
[It was that which produced such wonderful effects in the apostolic age ; and it is still a " weapon mighty through God to the pulling down of the strong holds" of sin and Satan. It is " the rod of God's strength which was to go forth of Zion," and by which all his enemies are to be subdued before him. If we look into the discourses of the Apostles, we shall find nothing of that high-wrought eloquence for which the orators of Greece and Rome were famed : we shall see little else than a simple exhibition of Christ crucified, and a solemn declaration, that there was " no other name given under heaven whereby any man could be saved, but the name of Jesus Christ. " This is the truth which still approves itself " quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword," and still is " made the power of God unto salvation" to many souls. This began to be preached at Jerusalem ; and is from thence come forth ; and will in due time be " preached unto all nations." No human power shall be called to its aid ; no human policy shall co- operate with it : this alone, accompanied with power from on high, and " preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven," will do the work : conviction will flash upon the con- sciences of thousands, as on the clay of Pentecost ; conversion will instantly ensue : Christ being erected as " an ensign, all will flock to it," and " a nation will be bom in a day." He shall be acknowledged by all as the " Shiloh that was to come : and to him shall the gathering of the people be." The doctrine of the cross being universally proclaimed, the universal flow shall take place, " and the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea."]
From the work itself let us turn to the contempla- tion of,
III. The fruits that shall every where proceed from it—
The Lord Jesus Christ will reign in the hearts of all—
[As judges of old swayed the sceptre of Israel, so will the Lord Jesus rule over the whole earth ; and whatever is
c Isai. li. 4, 5. d Rom. iii. 27.
u 2