But we must not confine the prophet's address to the Jews : whilst it was delivered to them in a way of anticipation, it was delivered also,
II. To us immediately in a way of congratulation —
It is in reference to converts from among the Gentile world that the prophet says, " Then I will turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent" that is (as the margin translates it), with one shoulder; the whole world, Jews and Gen- tiles, drawing together harmoniously, like well-disci- plined oxen, in the same blessed yoke. The truth is, that every soul, on its conversion to God, is brought into this blessed state, and made a partaker of all these privileges. The only difference between the Millenarians and us is, that we enjoy, in the earlier dawn, the light which they will behold in its meridian splendour. To all of you then who have believed in Christ, and through him been made the children
i ver. 20. r Isai. lxv. 17 — 19. and xlix. 13.
s Isai. xl. 1 — 5.
of the living God, I say, " Sing and shout, yea, be glad and rejoice with all your hearts ;" for " Jerusalem is as much your mother," as she was of the Jews of old1. To you then I say,
" The Lord hath taken away your judgments" —
[Think what guilt you have contracted, and what con- demnation you have merited, by your numberless transgressions in thought, word, and deed, from the first moment of your existence, even to the present hour : yet, if you have believed in Christ, I am authorized to declare, that " your sins are all blotted out as a morning cloudu," that " God has cast them all behind his back into the very depth of the seax," and that " there is now no condemnation to youy" ]
"He hath also cast out all your enemies" — [You well know, you cannot but know, how the world, and the flesh, and the devil, have had dominion over you, and led you captive at their will. But " by faith you have been enabled to overcome the world2:" " you have also crucified the flesh, with it saffections and lusts a:" and " from the snares of the devil are you recovered13." He is a vanquished enemy, " judged by Godc," and " cast out from his dominion*1," yea, and " over- come by youe," and so restrained, that he " cannot touch youf," though, like a roaring lion, he is incessantly seeking to destroy you. He is indeed still permitted to assault you: but his efforts are all in vain : the prayer of faith " puts him utterly to flightg;" and in a little time " he shall be bruised for ever under your feeth." Whatever other enemies you may have, they shall all be put to shame, and, " through him that loved you, you shall be more than conqueror over all1" ]
" To you also does the Lord Jesus manifest himself as he does not unto the worldk" —
[" He dwells in your very hearts by faith1." He is alto- gether " one with you," " one body with youm," and " one spirit also11." So gloriously does he reveal himself unto you, that " you behold his glory, the glory as of the only- begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth0;" you so " be- hold his glory, as to be changed by it into his image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lordp;" and you are
t
Gal. iv. 26.
u Isai. xliii. 25.
x Mic. vii. 19.
y
Rom. viii. 1.
z 1 John v. 5.
a Gal. v. 24.
h
2 Tim. ii. 26.
c John xvi. 11.
d John xii. 31.
e
1 John ii. 14.
f 1 John v. 18.
s Jam. iv. 7.
h
Rom. xvi. 20.
1 Rom. viii. 37.
k John xiv. 22.