lived since, we ought for ever to shut our mouth on the point of priority and ascendancy in the Christian church: "To the Jew first, and then (also) to the Greek," (Rom i. 16; ii. 9, 10); and this is spoken by Paul in reference particularly to the precedence in the order of the believing Jew in receiving the gospel of the power of God unto salvation; and also of his receiving first the Glory. Let us then be no longer "wise in our own conceits," or we will be ignorant of this mystery. (Rom. xi. 25.) Can we then, or can any, feel justified in rejecting so great a weight of inspired testimony in reference to Glory being manifested only on mount Zion and Jerusalem, and the Jew being the recipient of it? if this is not the case, why is it said by Isa. lxvi. 19, that when he sets his Sign, or Glory, among them, he "will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my Glory; and they shall declare my Glory (my Shechinah) among the Gentiles." Now this last clause of the verse shews at once that the Glory is not to be universal, or manifested all over the world at the same time; for it plainly declares, that they "have not heard my fame, neither have seen my Glory, and they shall declare my Glory among the Gentiles." Now what manner of use can there be of declaring to the Gentiles what is seen all around them, and already visible to all eyes? Again, we are assured by Isaiah xi. 10, 11, that "in that day there shall be a root of Jesse (Jesus Christ in his Shechinah Glory; this we cannot doubt of, if we read the preceding verses of the same chapter) which shall stand for an ensign to the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be Glorious;" or I would prefer the marginal reading; "his rest shall be Glory." Here it plainly declares, that, instead of the Glory coming to the Gentiles, to it shall the Gentiles seek. For what? doubtless for illumination and instruction. "And he shall set up an ensign (i. e. Shechinah) for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” Here the whole mystery is disclosed at once of the design and use of this Sign, Ensign, or Shechinah; it is, that the Gentiles may seek to it for light and instruction, where it will be manifested at mount Zion and Jerusalem; and it is to "assemble the outcasts of Israel and dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth" This at once reveals the design of the Divine Will to our world in the following words: "All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an Ensign, (i. e. the Glory) on the mountains of Israel; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye;" and this, because it is manifested some where distant from where the Gentiles dwell. Oh the great and most important consequences that are attendant upon us Gentiles in knowing this; and it has fallen to my lot to warn the Gentiles of the near approach of this Glory, and the effect of it upon this world;—this name of the Lord travelling "from far, burning with anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire." O this all-devouring fire-" Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings." (Isa. xxxiii. 14.) "He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly." Now God has positively declared, "that he that blesseth thee shall be blessed;" and what more blessed work can we be found engaged in at the time that this Glory visits the earth, than in assisting his ancient covenant people in getting home to their own land to meet it, (the Glory), where alone it is to be manifested-" insomuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me;" yea, even a cup of cold water. How much more, if we act in faith, and colonize Israel to meet the great things promised them. England, with all her faults, has certainly hitherto been generally most prominent among the nations in 'great and good deeds; she has been a kind of pioneer in almost every good work with which God has blessed our world; shall she then be behind in furthering this greatest and most glorious of all blessings-this last but best of all the gifts of God to man-this Shechinah Glory, promised to the Jew; and through the Jew, a fulness of blessing and goodness to the whole habitable world-this will be the Jew's fulness, "how much more their fulness?" Yes, England has yet noble and benevolent sons and daughters within her borderssons and daughters that would be glad and rejoice in being found co-operators with God in this great work in colonizing the Jews in their own land, to be ready to enjoy the great and precious promise made to them by the great and mighty God of Jacob, that cannot be, unless he destroys his own attribute of truth. He has said, "He that blesseth shall be blessed, and he that curseth thee shall be cursed;" and he has also declared, "Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion; for the time to favour her, yea, the set time is come," -and this is given as the only reason and proof of the set time, yea, the set time having come. "For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof," (Psa. cii. 13, 14). And some of his real servants are beginning to take pleasure in her; and this is a full proof of their being his real servants, because they know his will, having his Spirit, and are found active in his work. PILGRIM'S CHAUNT. "Though Nature's strength decay, The wat❜ry deep I pass, With Jesus in my view, And through the howling wilderness The land by faith I see, With peace and plenty blest, A land of sacred liberty, And endless rest. There milk and honey flow, And oil and wine abound, There dwells the Lord our King, On Zion's sacred height His kingdom shall remain, And Glorious with his Saints in Light, For ever, ever reign. He'll keep his own secure, He'll guard them by his side, Array in garments white and pure, His spotless Bride. In groves of living joys, With streams of living bliss, With all the fruits of Paradise, He still supplies. |