Where such children are multiplied, Zion, the mother of them all, may well rejoice : her honour will be great ; her happiness exalted : with what joy will she draw forth her breasts of con- solation to her numerous offspring! with what delight will she dandle them on her knees, and bear them in her armse! In the sight of all the world shall she be glorified ; and she shall be a blessing to all around herf.]
3. For the world's sake —
[The dishonourable conduct of professors is a stumbling- block to the world ; as our Lord has said, " Woe unto the world because of offences. " But wherever the sanctifying operations of the Spirit appear, there " the ignorance of foolish men is put to silence ;" and they are constrained to acknowledge the excellency of the principles which they hate. Independently of any spiritual benefit, the world are greatly advantaged by the progress and advancement of true religion : for if they will only inquire, Who are the great promoters of every charitable institution, they will find that the most active agents are uniformly found amongst those who love and profess the Gospel. But besides this, their spiritual welfare is greatly advanced by the blameless and heavenly deportment of pro- fessing people : their prejudices are weakened, and they are often led to inquire candidly into those principles, which they see to be productive of such blessed effects.]
4. For the Lord's sake —
[It is from the Church alone that God has any glory upon earth. But when his people do indeed adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour, their light constrains many to glorify their heavenly Father. Then too does the Saviour himself rejoice : he "sees of the travail of his soul, and is satisfied." Yea, God the Father too is comforted, if we may so speak, in the successful issue of his eternal counsels : " He beholds his obedient people with infinite satisfaction ;" " he rejoices over them with joy; he rests in his love; he joys over them with singing g." Can we then behold events in which God the Father and God the Son take so deep an interest, and not be thankful for them ? If we ourselves love God in any measure as we ought, we shall rejoice in his joy, and glory in his glory.]
See from hence,
1. Whence it is that the word preached is so gene- rally ineffectual to any saving purpose —
[As in the wilderness, so now, " the word preached does not profit men, because it is not mixed with faith in them that
e Isai. lxvi. 10—13. f Isai. lx 13, 14. e Zeph. iii. 17.