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of the covering cast over all people-swalloweth up death in victory and wipeth away tears from off all faces. Chap. xxv. 6-9. The only question is to what part of the gospel dispensation this strong language can apply. Some of it appears to be too strong to agree with events which have yet occurred, and therefore has been generally understood of the latter-day glory, when jews and gentiles shall embrace the gospel to a far far greater extent than has hitherto been seen. With this accords the language at the close of chap. xxiv, and which seems to glance at the conversion of God's ancient people." Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of Hosts shall reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously." With this also accords the whole xxvth. chapter, which describes the triumph of the church over her enemies; and to have been compleat, should, I conceive, have included the first two verses of the xxvith, where the city of God is represented as having salvation for walls and bulwarks; and as throwing open her gates, and inviting the faithful to enter in.

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But as certain parts of the xxvth. chapter refer to the conflicts which precede the triumph, so does the remainder of the xxvith. and the first verse of the xxviith. Now it is in these prophecies referring to times which precede the millenium, that we shall find the events of our own times. By giving what appears to be the meaning of every verse, accompanied by a quotation of the verse itself, the reader will

be able to judge of the justness of the application of the pro phecy.

Verses 3-6. The faithful are encouraged to trust in the Lord in troublous times: for before the city of God shall be encompasssed with salvation, Babylon, the antichristian city, must be destroyed; which will be attended with such calamities, that peace will in a manner be taken from the earth, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust. The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy."

Verse. 7. The church, pleading with God, takes encouragement, from his regard to righteousness, that he will not always suffer her enemies to triumph over her, "The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just."

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Ver, 8, 9, The grievous persecutions which she had borne during the long and dark night of antichristian domination, are viewed as divine chastisements or "judgments beginning at the house of God;" under which she declares her feelings, and hopes for deliverance." Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea,

with my spirit within me will I seek thee early."

Verse 9. latter part. The ground of this hope is, not only that God has punishments in reserve for her enemies, but that the calamities which the infliction of these punishments will bring upon the world shall be made subservient to her increase. "For when thy judgments are abroad in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness."

Verses 10, 11. The adherents of Antichrist will not profit by these events: but being given up to perverseness and blindness, neither mercies nor judgments will humble them that however which was unaccomplished by forbearing goodness shall be accomplished by the strong arm of justice they shall be humbled, and consumed in fires of their own kindling. "Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord. Lord, when thy hand is lifted up they will not see: but they shall see, and

be ashamed for their envy at the people: yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them."

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Verse 12. The church exThe church expresseth her confidence that these calamities, though they should take peace from the earth, yet shall contribute to her prosperity for all that she hath wrought, it is God that hath wrought it in and by her; and he will not forsake the work of his own hands." Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us."

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Ver. 13, 14. She recounts her persecutions, cleaves to Christ, and anticipates the fall of her persecutors. Lord our

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God, other Lords besides thee have had dominion over us; but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. They are dead, they shall not live, they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish."

Ver. 15, 16. After the fall of the anti-christian powers the church will be increased, and God will be glorified; especially by the conversion of the Jews, who under the chastizing hand of God shall be brought to pray unto him." Thou hast increased the nation, O Lord, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth. Lord, in trouble, have they visited thee: they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them."

Ver. 17, 18. She laments her ineffectual and abortive labours, for ages preceding, in subduing the world to Christ."Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O Lord, we have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind! we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen."

Ver. 19. To these complaints of the Church God graciously answers by promises of better times. "Thy dead shall, my deceased, they shall arise: awake * Lowth.

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and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead."

Ver. 20, 21. and ch. xxvii. i. He answers farther, by inviting her to retire into her chambers, as for shelter from the storm. There will be no need for her to fight in this battle, but to pray in secret; it will be soon over: the blood of the martyrs must be avenged, and the anti-christian power, that great leviathan, that piercing and crooked serpent, must be slain by the "sore and great and strong" sword of Jehovah. Then the church of Christ shall shine forth in all her millennial glory" In that day sing ye unto her, a vineyard of red wine., I the Lord do keep it, I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day!" xxvii. 2, 3.

GAIUS.

PREPARATION.

FOR DEATH AND ETERNITY.

Therefore be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of

man cometh, Matt. xxiv. 44.

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I am entered on a new year, which to me may prove the last in this world. How important therefore the enquiry, "Am, I ready for death and eternity?" In this the mind may be assisted by attending to the figurative representations of dying, given us in the sacred word. 107

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Death is a sleep; and readiness supposes the work of the day. completed, and a calmness of spirit enjoyed, which is produced by no deceiving opiate, but by

Vol. VII.

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faith in Jesus Christ. Death is
a journey; and preparedness
supposes that our loins are girded,
our staff and sandals at hand, and
that provision is possessed for the
way. It is a flood; and to
be ready, is to have our ark con-
structed. It is the demolishing
of a habitation. He only is ready
for the shock, who has another
dwelling into which he can pass.
The body is an investing garment.
In death we are unclouthed.
this moment, the good man finds
himself dressed in the garment
of salvation; but alas! for the
sinner, he is found naked,

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Divines have frequently distinguished readiness for death and eternity, into habitual and actual, Habitual preparation referring to the state of the subject and actual to the affections of the mind, on the contemplation, or perception of death's approach, A fleet is habitually ready for sea, whose timbers are strong, whose ammunition is ample, whose crews are courageous, and well officered; but it is actually ready, when its sails are unfurled, its colours flying, its anchors weighed, and the air rending with the parting shout. He is habitually ready for a passage into eternity, whose heart is regenerated, whose hope is the Redeemer, and whose life is holiness to the Lord; but he is actually ready, when in the exercise of united faith and desire he can say,

Dear Sovereign, break these vital
strings,

That bind me to my clay;
Take me Ureal on thy wings,
And stretch, and soar away.

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Instead, however, of pursuing the distinction, let us view preparedC

ness for death and eternity, a mistaken, or real.

Mistakes here are of the most serious consequence. Conceive not that you are safe, because you can contemplate death and eternity with unconcern. A false and indurating philosophy may have taught some that it is folly to fear an uncertainty, or to fly from that which is inevitable. But are you sure it is uncertain, that the wicked shall be turned into hell, with all the nations that forget God? Have no injurious propensities, or prejudices, with held you from a careful enquiry after evangelical truth, and made you blind to the grand cure of mortality, which the gospel proposes? Can you conceive a Hume was happy, when, with death entering his chamber, he amused himself at whist, and sought entertainment from the dialogues of Lucian and the ferryman of Hell? Are you happy yourselves? Heroes in the crowd, are you not cowards in solitude? O reflect, while reflection can profit you; "Who hath hardened himself against God, and hath prospered?"

Some imagine, that their good works performed, will secure a title to the society of Angels. It is really astonishing, that men professing to read and approve the New Testament, can for a moment suppose, that heaven shall be the recompense of human virtues. It is there distinctly and repeatedly stated, that we are saved, not by works, but by grace; not by the deeds of the law, but by the compassions of a Mediator. All our best actions are stained with pollution; if they were not, they yet could never atone for

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past offences, and much less deserve everlasting felicity. In the heavenly world all the honour of salvation is offered to the Lamb that was slain.

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Many, we fear, rest their hopes on the expected visit of a minister of God, and the feelings of an expiring hour. Can earth and ashes produce that renovation requisite to prepare for heaven which the scripture describes as the work of God alone? less than the presumption of madness, to expect salvation by a few ceremonies on a death bed, after the prime of existence has been devoted to the service of Satan? O be not deceived; God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Vain hope, as in Bunyan's pilgrim, may carry ignorance agreeably over the river; but he soon found that there is " a way to hell from the gates of heaven, as well as from the city of destruction."

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is the
asp that lies hid among our
blossoms; this the poison that
destroys us.

O if my threatning sins were gone,
And death had lost his sting;
I could invite the angel on;

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And chide his lazy wing.

Lord teaches when he says, 'marvel not that I say unto you, ye must be born again. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Without a new creation of the heart, you can never exercise any of those graces which distinguish the christian. Repentance and hu mility, hope and love,!patience and zeal, joy and peace, are graces of heavenly origin. Flesh and blood can never produce them. In heaven, the triumphant bands are beholding the glory of the Lord, not with the senseless stare of an eagle at the sun, but with judgments enlightened, with a high reverence for the divine character, and a persuasion of their interest in his favour. All are changed into the image of Christ, and are passing from glory to glory. But you who are unconverted, bear the image only of the earthly. The divine excellency offers no charms to your benighted understandings, and your consciences forbid you from contem plating the God you have offend

Our iniquity must be pardoned, or it will sink us to ruin. Now we are assured, that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission, and equally so, of the inefficacy of the blood of bulls and goats, of the blood of our tenderest connections, and of our own blood. Look then away from worldly altars, from your fellow men, and from yourselves; and behold the Lamb of God. He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities. He, as the substitute of his church, has assumed, sustained, and borne away the load of her offences. The robes of the armies in heaven have been made white in the blood of the Lamb. In this they have overcome, and this is the burden of their exalted and everlasting anthems. Are you alarmed at perceiving thated in any other light, than as a you are indebted to the law and justice of God, ten thousand talents, and that you have nothing to pay?—

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righteous judge, and terrific avenger. The happiness of heaven is as pure as it is exalted. Nothing that defileth, or maketh a lie, has ever passed, or shall pass into the holy city. Unto the pure, all things are pure; but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving, is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. Were any of you, who are unregenerated, introduced into heaven, you would be as restless and afflicted as are nocturnal animals, when placed in the lustre of the sun; you would fly back from the ranks of the righteous, and seek for relief in the coverts of eter

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