the Lord from the least to the greatest ;" and that " Christ shall have the heathen for his inheritance, and the utmost ends of the earth for his possession0." True it is that there is very little prospect of such an event at present ; but " faithful is he who hath promised: who also will do itd." " Before our Zerubbabel the mountains shall become a plain e;" he shall " ride on in the chariots of the everlasting Gospel, conquering, and to conquerf;" and " the knowledge of him shall cover the earth as the waters cover the seag." Instead therefore of despising the present low appearances, we must regard them as an earnest and pledge of that universal empire of Christ which shall in due season be erected in the world.]
The text is yet further applicable,
II. To the spiritual temple which is founded by God in the hearts of his people — Believers are often called the Temple of Godh: but so imperfect is their present state that it may well be said to be with them only as " a day of small things " —
[In some sense the most established believer is but in a low and despicable condition. What are any man's attain- ments when compared with the law, which is our rule, or with Christ, who is our pattern, or even with Paul, who was a man of like passions with ourselves ? But to weak believers the text may be more properly applied. They have indeed been liberated from their sore bondage, and have had the foundations of grace laid in their hearts ; but alas ! how slowly has the work advanced ! and how many obstacles do they meet with, that weaken their hands, and discourage their hearts ! often are they ready to question, whether the work have been begun in them or not ? and to say in despair, " There is no hope."]
But they should not despise the operations of grace,
however small —
[The mode in which this part of the promise is conveyed, is worthy of notice. The interrogatory form of it puts the desponding soul, as it were, upon an inquiry, that by finding how important the day of small things is in the eyes of those who are competent to judge, it may not yield to its disquieting fears. Let the inquiry then be made ; Who hath despised the day of small things? Did the Father, when he ran to meet the yet distant prodigal, and fell on his neck and kissed him? Does Christ, who " carries the lambs in his bosom,"
c Ps. ii. 8. d 1 Thess. v. 24. e ver. 7.
f Rev. vi. 2. £ Isai. xi. 9. h 1 Cor. iii. 16, 17.