contrary to his will, he will "rebuke" and subdue. Nothing will be able to withstand his power: " He will work, and who shall let it?" As in former days, when he brought his people out of Egypt, and planted them in Canaan, he made them triumphant over every enemy, so will he do in the day to which we are looking forward: he will "go on in the chariot of his Gospel, conquering and to conquer," till all his enemies and theirs be put under their feet.]
Then shall peace and happiness universally pre- vail—
[The distinctions between nations will then be no longer accompanied with rivalry and hate : all will be as children of one common Father, all as members of the same body. War will then no longer be a science, which even the most peaceful na- tions are constrained to learn for their own preservation : the cultivation of peaceful arts will be the one desire of all; " they will beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks, and they will learn war no more." Then also personal and domestic peace will abound throughout the world: " every man will sit under his own vine and fig-tree," as in Patriarchal times, none attempting to molest him, and not so much as the fear of molestation existing in his minde. Doubt- less the internal peace which all will enjoy in their own heart and conscience is also to be included under this beautiful image: for the very character of Christ himself is, that he is the Prince of peace; and the character of his reign is, that it diffuses "an abundance of peace " throughout his whole empire, so that " the peace of all floweth down like a river." Blessed, blessed state ! May " the Lord hasten it, in his time ! "
From this subject we may clearly see,
1. What an unspeakable blessing the Gospel is —
[Wherever the Gospel has come with power, these effects may be already in a measure seen. True it is, they are not seen to the extent that they will hereafter be, because real piety is at so low an ebb, even amongst the professed followers of Christ. But from what is partially seen, we may know what shall hereafter obtain throughout all the world. The hateful passions which produced so much hatred and contention in the world, are slain, wherever the Gospel has its due effect ; and peace, and love, and every amiable disposition, have an habitual ascendant in the soul. O professors, judge yourselves in rela- tion to this matter : see whether ye be " putting off the old man, which is corrupt, with its deceitful lusts ; and be putting on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness
e Isai. xxxii. 16 — 18.