those things that many prophets and kings have defired to fee, and have not feen. This clear view of divine objects was especially to be enjoyed-When the Lord fhall bring again Zion The rftoration here fpoken of, may comprehend the whole of that ardu-. ous work whereby the Church of God is delivered from the evils wherein they were involved, or to which they were expofed, and progreffively conducted to a state of complete liberty and happiness by their Lord and Saviour. It may more efpecially point at the remarkable period wherein the Lord God was to accomplish the falvation of his people, to bring back their captivity, and to reinftate them in the happy condition to which he hath promised they fhall be advanced. 9. ¶ Break forth into joy, fing together, ye wafte places of Jerufalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerufalem. The difcourfe is now addreffed to the Church, reftored from their former defolate condition, who are called upon to celebrate the praises of Jehovah for the comfort and deliverance they had obtained. By the defignation given them, they are reminded of the magnitude and importance of the benefits, on account of which they are invited to rejoice and fing. Those especially are directed to exprefs gratitude and joy, who had not been favoured with the fignal advantages poffeffed by other people in times paft, and who, having been in forlorn circumftances, were become partakers of the moft fubftantial bleffings. Having formerly confidered the import of fimilar invitations with that now before us, it is unneceffary to enlarge at prefent. If the reafon mentioned in this and the verfe immediately following, are properly attended to, the propriety of compliance with the duty here urged, cannot fail to be acknowledged. A thank A thankful sense of the mercy of Jehovah, who hath comforted and redeemed his people, ought to tune our hearts and voices to praise, and to manifeft itself by joy and triumph in his falvation. If the Levitical fingers were employed of old in their work night and day, that in the earthly fanctuary might be exhibited some resemblance to that which is above, where the redeemed fing together, and ferve God day and night in his temple, furely we, who have liberally shared in the Divine bounty, ought to magnify and bless the Lord our God, and often to make melody to him with our hearts, if not with our voices, not only in the cheerful hours of the day, but in the filent watches of the night. For the Lord hath comforted his people, &c. He hath extricated them from the complicated distresses wherein they were involved, he hath rescued them from the hands of their powerful enemies, he hath not only dispelled their doubts and fears, and forrows, but in the most aftonishing manner he hath actually wrought deliverance for them from the calamities under which they groaned. Befides, he hath given them exceeding great and precious promifes, containing the most excellent benefits, which, to their inexpreffible comfort and joy, fhall be conferred on them in due feafon.-The Lord hath redeemed Jerufalem. The spiritual redemption of the Church may be confidered in two different points of view-As virtually obtained by the bitter fufferings and agonizing death of Jesus Christ, who gave his life a ransom for many, and thereby expunged the immenfe debt owing by tranfgreffors to the offended majefty of God-And as actually accomplished, when, in confequence of his laying down his life for his people, and of his refurrection from the dead, they are vindicated from the power of fin and Satan, introduced into the glorious liberty of the children of God, they are progreffively fanctified and kept by the power of God, through faith unto falvation. In this verfe, the redemption of the Church feems to be spoken of in the former former fenfe; and in the following verfe it is mentioned in reference to the latter, and in both the prophetic ftile is adopted, which reprefents that as already done, which shall be effected in the time appointed by infinite wisdom. 10. The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth fhall fee the falvation of our God. Another ground of joy and praise is suggested in these words to the fervants of God. The holy arm of Jehovah may here denote the glorious gospel of Jefus Christ, the rod of his ftrength, which he fends forth out of Zion, whereby his grace and power are revealed and exerted, and which proves the power of God unto falvation to every one that believeth. By this faving ftrength of his right hand, he demolishes the ftrong holds of Satan, he rules in the midst of his enemies, and brings the people under him. Hence the apostle of the Gentiles, who fays that the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, affirms, that 'to them that are faved it is the power of God *.' With great propriety is the gospel of Jefus Chrift denominated the holy arm of Jehovah, inafmuch as his holiness and righteoufnefs are therein revealed, and because it is the mean he employs in bringing men to resemble him in perfect purity.-This holy arm is faid to be made bare, in allufion to the practice of those who when they would exert their whole ftrength, in fome arduous work, remove from it whatever might hinder its free and vigorous exertion. In reference, 1 fuppofe, to this cuftom, the holy arm of Jehovah, the gofpel of God, is faid to be unvailed and clearly manifefted, when divefted of those rites and ceremonies, whereby for long time it had been encumbered, that its power might be felt and its glory be feen. Both the holinefs and power of God are wonderfully confpicuous in the gofpel of his Son, 1 Cor. i. 18. which contains a holy covenant, that is accompanied with Divine power in the eyes of all the nations.' All the kingdoms of the earth, according to this prediction, were to be the admiring fpectators of the aftonishing spread, the divine efficacy and glorious fuccefs of the gospel, made known to them in its beautiful fimplicity; and to experience its bleffed effects when preached with the Holy Ghoft fent down from heaven. Never were more illuftrious difplays given of omnipotence to the inhabitants of this world, than those which were exhibited by means of the gofpel, accompanied with the demonftration of the Spirit. Multitudes have been thereby fnatched from the power of Satan, from the delufions of error, and the tyranny of wickedness; and, brought into the obedience of faith and love, they have become fellow citizens with the faints, and members of the household of God. And all the ends of the earth fhall fee the Salvation of our God. Those who inhabited the regions of the earth fituated at the greatest diftance from the land of Canaan, which was confidered by the posterity of Ifrael as the midft of the earth, are doubtless the people who are here intended. Though dwelling in countries very remote from the place where the falvation of our God was first published, and lying under many local disadvantages, that might be fuppofed to prevent their enjoyment of this immenfe benefit, they were to be admitted to contemplate this glorious object. They fhall be favoured with the everlasting gofpel, which in Scripture is fometimes called Salvation*, because it brings men to the knowledge of its nature and excellence, it offers the precious blelings it contains to their acceptance, and thus becomes the means, through the Divine agency, of rendering them partakers of the precious benefits which are therein comprehended. In this glafs they fhall behold the great Meffiah, the Lord Jefus Chrift, exhibited to view, who, by way of eminence, is denominated the Salvation of God, because * Acts xiii. 26. because he is the author of fpiritual deliverance and reftoration to happiness: by him it is bestowed, and in him it is enjoyed. With the eyes of enlightned understandings they fhall furvey with pleafure and admiration, the dignity of his perfon, the excellence of his righteoufnefs, the perfection of his atonement, the glory of his crofs, and his confummate ability to fave. to the uttermoft all that come unto God by him. To this amiable transforming object they fhall ftedfaftly look, until they are changed into his image, and prepared for the full enjoyment of his prefence and glory.-Let us, with grateful hearts, celebrate the praises of the Lord our God, who hath fent his gofpel, and made known his falvation to us, who would not have fought after this inestimable bleffing. Let us give credit to the gracious meffage that is brought to our ears, and joyfully embrace the Saviour, who can relieve all our neceffities, and who ought to be received with pleafure and gladnefs fuperior to that which is occafioned by dividing of fpoil or finding a treafure. And let us fervently pray to the God of falvation, that this prediction may foon have a more full accomplishment than hitherto it hath received. 11. ¶ Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing, go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the veffels of the Lord. In this and the verfe immediately following, our prophet directs his difcourfe to the minifters and difciples of Jefus Chrift, who are required to defift from intercourfe with those focieties and objects whereby they might be contaminated, that fo they might perform fome important bufinefs. This feparation might be enjoined for two reafons, because they were in danger of being defiled by the impurity of thofe among whom they lived, and of fharing in the Divine judgments, which none that were converfant with them |