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the proclamation here rehearsed. The Gospel was glad tidings to the meek: it bound up the wounds of the broken-hearted: it was liberty and release from cruel thraldom, and those who received the Saviour enjoyed, in faith and hope, all the blessedness described. But we must carefully remark, that the utmost burden of the proclamation was itself a prophecy, - a prophecy which Jesus did not fulfil, but only proclaimed. The Gospel day was not the year of acceptance-the great year of jubilee to Zion as a people. It was the filling up of her iniquity, and brought on her the severest affliction; and more clearly still, it was not "the day of vengeance to our Elohim;"-the day of righteous judgment on the persecutors and oppressors of the church, and their vindication from all their wrongs. The announcing of such a day is certainly part of the Gospel message, which comforts the souls of the waiting believers. But the great year of jubilee to Zion as a people, and the day of vengeance on her insulting foes, when all that sigh in her shall be comforted, sorrow be exchanged for joy, heaviness for praise, and the ashes of penitence for the crown of glory, most certainly came not then. The preaching of the Gospel, in respect of these final mercies, was only the glad tidings proclaimed "of things that appeared not as yet:" — as the New Testament speaks, it is " the glory to be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

And they shall be called the trees of righteousness,
The plantation of Jehovah for his glory.

4. They shall restore the ancient desolations,
They shall repair the ruins of former times;

And they shall rebuild the cities that have been destroyed, Which have lain waste from generation to generation.

5. And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks,

And the sons of the alien shall be your husbandmen and vine-dressers:

6. But ye shall be called the priests of Jehovah,
"Ministers of our Elohim" shall they call you.

Ye shall consume the wealth of the nations,
And shall have command over their honours.'

7. Instead of your shame, ye shall receive a double inheritance, And for your reproach, ye shall rejoice in them as your' portion. 2

Notwithstanding, in their land a double portion shall they inherit,

And everlasting gladness shall they possess;

8. Because I, Jehovah, love equity,

Hating robbery for sacrifice.'

And I will recompense their labour in truth,'
And will make an everlasting covenant with them:
9. And their seed shall be known among the nations,
And their offspring in the midst of the peoples.

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All that see them shall acknowledge them,

That they are a seed blessed of Jehovah.

There can be no doubt that this relates to the peculiar honour that Israel is to enjoy among the nations of the earth under the new dispensation,- those very nations, or the remnants of them, among whom they had so long been exposed to insult and the most shameful injuries: and yet it should seem that the remnant of these nations which are spared, for it will appear hereafter it is a very small remnant, have peculiar blessings in connexion with exalted Israel. So I understand this difficult passage. The exultation that follows must, therefore, be put in the mouth of the restored and renovated Jerusalem, but, doubtless, because of her connexion with the heavenly Jerusalem:

10. I will greatly rejoice in Jehovah,

My soul shall exult in my God;

For He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He hath covered me with the mantle of righteousness:

As the bridegroom decketh himself with ornament,
And the bride adorneth her with her attire.

11. For as the earth bringeth forth her shoots,
And as the garden germinates its seeds;

So will the Lord Jehovah make righteousness' to spring forth,

And praise before all nations.

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SECTION XIV.

On the Sixty-second Chapter.

IN prospect of these great blessings, the great Advocate will not cease to offer up his intercessions before his heavenly Father.

1. FOR Zion's sake, I will not be silent,

And for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest,

Until her vindication break forth as light,
And her salvation shall blaze out as a torch:

2. And the nations see thy vindication,
And all their kings thy glory.

And thou shalt be called by a new name,

Which the mouth of Jehovah shall affix:

3. And thou shalt be a beautiful crown in the hand of Jehovah, And a royal diadem in the palm of thy Elohim.

4. Thou shalt no more be called Forsaken,

Neither shall thy land any more be called Desolate :

But thou shalt be called " My delight is in her,"

And thy land" The wedded matron :"

For Jehovah hath delighted in thee,

And thy land is wedded.

5. For as a young man weddeth a virgin

Shall thy Restorer' wed thee.

And as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride,
Shall thy Elohim rejoice over thee.

1 BP. LOWTH.

6. Upon thy walls, O Jerusalem,

Will I set watchmen all the day,

And all night long they shall not keep silence.

Ye that record the name of Jehovah,
Allow yourselves no rest.

7. Allow him no rest,

Until he establish, and until he place
Jerusalem the boast of the earth.

The watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem, from a comparison of a former chapter,* seems to refer to the state of the city when begirt in siege, looking for the approach of the promised Deliverer. Those that record the name of Jehovah, the ministers of the sanctuary, and all his waiting people, are to be incessant in their prayers for this glorious event: and, perhaps, we may extend the exhortation to those among the Gentile churches, who are now waiting for the appearing of the Saviour, and the coming of his kingdom.

8. Jehovah hath sworn by his right hand and by his strong arm, I will not give thy corn to be food to thine enemies;

Nor shall the sons of the alien drink the wine

For which thou hast laboured.

9. But they that have harvested it

Shall eat it, and praise Jehovah:

And they that have gathered the vintage

Shall drink it in the courts of my sanctuary.

At length the approach of the Redeemer and his happy followers is announced to Zion:

10. Pass ye, pass ye through the gates, Prepare the way for the people.

* Chap. xxix. and 1.

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