diction, which in fucceeding ages, hath been further accomplished. Not only at Theffalonica, but in many other places, hath the gospel come to men, not in word only, but in power, and with joy of the Holy Ghoft, fo that they have become followers of the Lord, and their faith Godward hath spread abroad.

The mountains and the bills fhall break forth, &c. In these bold and beautiful strains doth Ifaiah predict the felicity and joy which was to refult from the ministry of the word of God among the heathen. Had the mountains, the hills, and the trees, been capable of testifying gladnefs, they would have burst forth into fongs of praife, at the peaceful tidings which Jehovah was pleased to publish by his fervants unto all people. If the expreffion be understood in its figurative fenfe, it denotes, that those kingdoms and states, those princes and great men, to whom the word of God was preached, were to receive its minifters with cordial affection, and to fignify their felicity and gratitude on this defirable event. Reproaches, dangers, and afflictions, even death itself in all its horrors, could not disturb the joyful fenfations, and facred tranquillity of mind, poffeffed by our Lord's fervants in the gofpel. This remark was nobly exemplified in the apostle Paul, in his fon Titus, and is in fome measure verified in those who are heartily engaged in the fame bleffed work with them. And as for those to whom the gofpel comes with power, the message was heard with joy by all who believed it: hence it is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, that there was great joy in their cities. By you, my friends, it should be received, not only with faith and love, but with pleasure, and thanksgiving to him who hath vouchfafed to grant you this ineftimable benefit, and improved with a view to the future account you must render to him that judgeth righteoully.

13. Instead

Chap. viii. 8.

13. Instead of the thorn fhall come up the fir-tree, and instead of the brier fhall come up the myrtle-tree: and it fhall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting fign that shall not be cut off.

The wonderful effects produced by the word of God, attended with Divine power, are here described in beautiful figurative language. The defert of the Gentiles having been watered by the word of God, the most surprising, delightful change, was to take place; the wilderness was to be converted into a perfect paradife, to the praise and glory of God. The thorn and the brier are too well known to need a particular description. They are prickly fhrubs, that cannot fafely be meddled with; for moft part they are hurtful, and mar the fruitfulness of the ground, being useful only for fences and fuel. They exhibit a fignificant emblem of bad, mischievous people, who are dangerous to fociety, who entangle and hurt good men, by various means impeding their growth and usefulness, though fometimes employed by Providence to protect the godly; and when cut down, they are caft into hell fire.-The fir-tree is remark. able for height and good appearance, for the number and clofeness of its branches, for the excellence of its timber and continual verdure. On these, and other accounts, it affords a fignificant representation of one who is diftinguished for eminent attainments in Chrif tianity, for manifold graces and virtues, for whatsoever things are lovely and of good report, and for real worth and excellence.-The myrtle-tree, of which there are various kinds, is a comely fragrant evergreen, that yields a kind of fruit which is faid to resemble an olive, and may represent fuch as poffefs fpiritual beauty, who bring forth the fruits of righteouinefs, and diffufe around them the fweet favour of the knowledge of Chrift. The meaning, then, of the

prediction

prediction before us is fhortly this, that the word of God, being accompanied with power from on high, fhall effect a change in the temper and conduct of men, like that which would take place in nature was the thorn removed, and a stately fir-tree put in its room; was a brier taken away, and an odoriferous myrtle fubftituted in its place. Inftead of thofe who were noxious and troublesome, fhall arife fuch as are valuable and useful; inftead of fierce, malicious, revengeful people, who were the pefts of fociety, shall appear those who are gentle, courteous, and humane. Inftead of those who were spiteful and malignant, fhall come up thofe who dwell together in unity, and who, being fruitful in good works, prove bleffings to them among whom they refide.-Such is the happy change here foretold to be effected by the word of God in them that believe, fuch is the falutary operation and joyful confequence of the gofpel of the grace of God.

And it fhall be to the Lord for a name, &c. The above-defcribed wonderful alteration, which gives an illuftrious difplay of the efficacy of Divine truth and grace, fhall infinitely redound to the honour and glory of Jehovah. Comparing the former with the present temper and conduct of those who have become confpicuous for faith and holinefs, for every amiable grace and virtue, people thall be obliged to acknowledge, that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and to celebrate the praises of the great author of this remarkable change, which is a perpetual memorial of his mercy, power, and faithfulness.-For an everlasting fign, &c. Thefe words feem to allude to the practice of raifing monuments to the honour of perfons of great celebrity, who have been the patrons and benefactors of their country, with a view to preferve in remembrance the good exploits they have performed. Every one that is born of God and made partaker of his holinefs, is a living monument of the kindness and grace of Jehovah, on which his name is infcribed, and on account of which he shall

be

be for ever honoured and magnified. Whilft the monuments erected by men are deftroyed by the hand of violence, or perish in the ruins of time, this fign, exhibited by divine omnipotence, fhall remain unimpaired throughout all ages in its priftine excellence, justly admired and extolled. We therefore conclude, in the words of a truly fublime Poet, after having contemplated the difpenfations of Providence toward his Church, Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever, thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations *.'

Pfal. cxxxv. 13.

PRELI

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.

N that portion of the prophetical difcourfe contained in this chapter, addreffed especially to the Church under the New Teftament difpenfation, they are inftructed that the promises and the commands of God are of equal extent; that those who observe the laws fhall have right to the privileges of the gofpel. Our prophet, having defcribed the benefits to be enjoyed by the people of God under the new economy of grace, proceeds, by Divine conduct, to ftate the duties required of thofe who expect to be favoured with the prerogatives belonging to the kingdom of God, and who may hope to enjoy their continuance, verfe 1.He then celebrates the felicity of the man who diligently applies his mind to the practice of holiness and righteoufnefs, and who endeavours to perform them with fidelity and diligence, ver. 2 He fhews that every one, whatever be his external circumftances, may appropriate to himself the fignal advantages enjoyed by the fervants of God, which were to be extended to perfons of every description, in all the nations of the earth, ver. 3.-7.He foretels that the Lord God was to collect into the communion of his Church, not only the difperfed of frael, but to call into their fellowthip many from among the Gentiles, ver. 8.-After which he exhibits a moving picture of the Church thus enlarged, degenerating into a corrupt ftate, through the floth, negligence, avarice, and luxury of their overfeers and rulers, ver 9. et feq.

VOL. IV.