god's mercy, as reserved for the jews.
Micah vii. 1 8 — 20. Who is a God like unto thee, that par- doneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the rem- nant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again ; he will have compassion upon us ; he will subdue our iniquities : and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old*.
TO acquire the knowledge of God, we must exa- mine what is spoken of him in his word ; and more especially the delineation which he has given of his own character, when, by an audible voice, he revealed
3 This Discourse is added to the foregoing, not only in order to elucidate it more fully, but especially in order to mark the connexion of the text with the future restoration and conversion of the Jews.
z 2
himself to Moses b. Yet we must by no means over- look his character, as it is embodied in his zvorks. In the works of creation, of providence, and of redemption, all his perfections are displayed ; and in such a way as to make the deepest possible impres- sion on our minds. The passage which we have just read, if taken apart from the context, exhibits Jehovah in the most glorious colours : but if we take it in connexion with the whole preceding prophecy, from which it results, it will present us with a view of the Deity surprisingly grand. It is evident that the pro- phet has been meditating on the Divine character as displayed in some stupendous acts of mercy, either already exercised, or designed to be exercised at some future period. Let us, then consider,
I. The dispensation which is here contemplated —
The Prophet Micah enters very fully into the subject of the Millennium, and opens it as circum- stantially, especially as far as the Jewish nation are interested in it, as any prophet whatever. Let us hear what he says respecting it,
1. In the former part of his prophecy —
[In the fourth chapter he opens the subject nearly in the same terms with the Prophet Isaiah : " In the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills ; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob : and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths : for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plough-shares, and their spears into pruning- hooks : nation shall not rise against nation ; neither shall they leai'n war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine, and under his fig-tree ; and none shall make them afraid : for the mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken itc."
He then proceeds to shew the blessings of which the Jews shall partake in that day : " In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth; and I will gather her that is
b Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7. c Mic. iv. 1 — 4. with Isai. ii. 2 — 4.
1217.] god's mercy, as reserved for the jews. 341
driven out, and her that I have afflicted : and I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation : and the Lord shall reign over them in Mount Zion from henceforth, even for everd." This, he adds, shall be ac- complished, in part, by their deliverance from Babylon e : but yet, in immediate connexion with that, he foretells events which were not accomplished at that period, nor shall be till the time fixed for their future restoration to their own land : " Now, also, many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion. But they know not the thoughts of the Lord ; neither understand they his counsel : for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor. Arise, and thresh, O daughter of Zion : for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass ; and thou shalt beat in pieces many people : and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth f." Nothing like this was effected at any time sub- sequent to the Babylonish Captivity : and therefore we must, of necessity, look to some future period for its accomplishment. But the prophet himself goes on to declare, that these glorious events were not to take place till after that the Messiah should have been born at Bethlehem : " Thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be Ruler in Israel ; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth : then the remnant of his bre- thren shall return unto the children of Israel. And he (the Messiah) shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God ; and they (the Jewish remnant) shall abide : for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earths. This shall be the time for the universal reign of Christ : at which time the Jews are destined to act a most conspicuous part upon the theatre of the world : being, on the one hand, God's instruments for the conversion of the Gentile world ; and, on the other hand, his agents for the destruction of all who shall oppose his will : " The remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men. The remnant of Jacob shall also be among the Gentiles, in the midst of many people, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep ; who, if he go through, both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be