my God, who enriches me with all fpiritual bleffings, and who is my all-fufficient portion-i greatly rejoice in the mercies of Jehovah, which are to me a perma nent fource of the pureft and moft fublime pleasure that can occupy the human heart. For be bath clothed me with the garments of falvation. The metaphor in these words is taken from the apparel wore by the priests under the Mofaic economy, and is here applied to beautify the figurative defcription of the immenfe favours conferred on the faints of the Most High. One principal fource of the fpiritual joy which fills their hearts, and induces them to break forth in fongs of praise is, their being invested with falvation as with a garment. This raiment is compofed of the best and most precious materials,freedom from condemnation, and restoration to the Divine favour; deliverance from the dominion of fin, and conformity to the image of God; devotedness to his fervice, and intereft in his love. The fpiritual bleffings, contained in the falvation of the Lord, appropriated and applied by faith, cover the fpiritual deformities of thofe on whom they are beltowed; they protect them from injury; they render amiable and acceptable in God's fight; whilst they prove highly comfortable to thofe who are interested in them. The fubject is dilated, and deverfified by another analogous expreffion, of fimilar import with the former. He bath covered me with the robe of righteoufness. The fentiment is repeated, varied, and amplified, the more fully to exprefs the idea, and to ftrike the mind with the greater force. The Author of every good and perfect gift, (faith every one of the upright among men) hath arrayed me in the righteoufnefs of the faints, which is of fuch exquifite workmanship, that he hath declared that he is well pleased with it. He hath invefted me with intereft in the perfect obedience and complete atonement of Jefus Chrift; he hath furnished me with the graces of his Spirit; and enabled me to manifeft my gratitude for these inestimable benefits, by fhining forth in the - 1 beauties beauties of holiness. With this fplendid, variegated robe, doth the Lord God diftinguish and dignify the fubjects of his Son's kingdom, whilft they, with joy and praise, afcribe to him their righteousness and falvation. As a bridegroom decketh himself, &c. The subject is illuftrated by a fimilitude from which it derives peculiar luftre and beauty. Clothed with these comely garments, the people of God are compared to a bridegroom, or bride, elegantly dreffed in the finest attire, with the richest ornaments. The costly apparel, wherein fuch perfons appear at marriage folemnities, exhibits a pleasing emblem of the more excellent spiritual raiment and decorations, wherein those are invefted who are betrothed unto God for ever, and in which they appear with much fuperior beauty and dignity. 11. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are fown in it to spring forth: fo the Lord God will caufe righteoufnefs and praise to spring forth before all the nations. The joyful confequences which arise from the benefits mentioned in the preceding verfe are reprefented under two well-known fimilitudes. The earth that we inhabit and cultivate, produces regularly, from year to year, by the appointment and bleffing of God, great variety of buds and bloffoms, which, in due feafon, are converted into excellent fruits, that nourish and comfort thofe by whom it is dreffed. The garden properly enriched and improved, through the fame bleffing, cherishes the various kinds of feeds fown in it, which produce those flowers, roots, and fruits, whereby the proprietor is regaled and delighted. This well-known progrefs of vegetation, that takes place in the field and in the garden, exhibits an inftructive emblem of what Jehovah promises to do do in his Church.-So the Lord God will caufe righteoufnefs and praife to Spring up before all nations. He who caufeth the grafs to grow for cattle, and herb for the fervice of man, who bringeth forth food out of the earth, will not fail to verify this faithful promise, and to bestow the precious bleffing it contains. He will make to flourish, in the garden of his Church, those excellent graces, and virtues, and fruits of righteoufnefs, which fhall prove fubftantial benefits to his people, and advance the glory of his great name. With them fhall arise the homage of praise and thanksgiving to him who fowed the feeds of Divine grace in their hearts, who preferved and cherifhed them, and carried them forward to maturity. With the practice of righteoufnefs fhall be joined fongs of praise, which fhall extend to diftant regions, where they shall be perpetuated by all nations that come and worship before the Lord. After contemplating the happy period, wherein this prediction hath been, or fhall further be fulfilled, let me call on you, my hearers, to be inftant in prayer, that the Lord God may cause that righteousness to spring forth among us, which conftitutes the excellence, the ornament, and glory of Chriftian profeffion-And, by cheerfulness in the righteous ways of God, to endeavour to wipe off the frequent, but groundless afperfion, that those who believe the gofpel are gloomy and morofe. None have fuch plentiful fources of joy and praise as the beloved of the Lord, the expectants of glory, honour, and immortality. VOL. IV. 3 F PRELI PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. 7E are now to confider another fection of our WE Prophet's fourth difcourfe, contained in the fifth part of these prophecies. Isaiah, addreffing the fervants of Jefus Chrift, who expect a more full manifeftation of the kingdom of God, confirms their faith and hope by moft encouraging promifes.This prophetic oration may be diftributed into three parts. In the firft, thofe who prefide over the community of the faithful, having expreffed their refolution of perfevering in fervent prayers, and vigorous endeavours to promote the profperity of the Church, a large acceffion is promised to be made to their numbers, and a new name to be given them, whilst they are taught to expect protection from their enemies, ver. 1-5.In the fecond, explicit affurance is given of the peculiar care of Divine providence to provide for them pastors who fhall continue, with unremitting affiduity, their labours for the benefit of Zion, until God fhall be pleased to fulfil his gracious promifes, ver. 6, 7. -In the third part, the promises that God hath made for the comfort of his people are ratified by his oath; and they are informed, that every impediment that lay in the way of their accomplishment fhall be removed-in confequence whereof, procla mation is ordered to be made to places the most remote, of the profperity and falvation of the City of God, ver. 8. to the end of the chapter. CHAP. FOR CHAP. LXII. OR Zion's fake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerufalem's fake I will not reft, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the falvation thereof as a lamp, that burneth. Having foretold the felicity and glory of the Church, our prophet, in his own name, and in that of faithful inftructors of the people of God, expreffes his devout refolution of employing affiduous endeavours for advancing the profperity of Zion. What be coming folicitude does he manifeft for promoting the falvation of men, and the interefts of the kingdom of God, for preferving and perpetuating the privileges belonging to the fubjects of his empire, for increafing their numbers, and enlarging their boundaries. These important objects juftly claim the ftrenuous exertions of the fervants of God, of which Isaiah exhibits an illuftrious example-For Zion's fake I will not hold my peace, &c. Zion' and Jerufalem were the places wherein the worthip of God was established under the former œconomy. From thence the gofpel was promulgated and extended over the world, carrying along with it thefe names; and wherever the doctrine of the kingdom is preached, there is Zion and Jerufalem, which, in their figurative fenfe, denote the Church of God. For the fake of this highly-favoured community, for the fake of the facred truths whereby they are inftructed and comforted, and the ineftimable privileges they enjoy-I will not hold my peace, nor be filent before God, but will continue inflant in fervent prayer and fupplication-That what, ever ftands in oppofition to the enlargement and eftablishment of the kingdom of Meffiah may be removed out of the way-That the word of the Lord may |