against him be cast down ; and every thought and desire of your hearts be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.]
2. To promote its establishment throughout the world x —
x Here may be an exhortation, suited to the occasion, and to the particular circumstances of the case at that time.
Zech. xiv. 16 — 19. It shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go tip from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no ram. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
MANY passages of Holy Writ derive an interest from the plainness of their import, and the force with which they are expressed ; and many attract our attention from the peculiarity of the subject, and even from the difficulty of finding the just interpretation of them. It is in this latter view that I propose to call your attention to the passage which I have now read. That vast importance is attached to the sub- ject by the prophet himself, is evident : and therefore it should not be overlooked by us. But, whether the true sense of it has yet been ascertained, may well admit of doubt.
There are two points of view in which it may be considered :
I. As a prediction to be accomplished in due season —
[That the event which it refers to is yet future, can admit of no doubt. It is not to take place till the period shall arrive, when " the Lord shall be King over all the earth ;" and when, vol. x. o o