things."The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon them, and make them of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD."

In southern latitudes, where the sky is clearer, and the climate more serene, the face of the heavens is much more brilliant than it is with us. So. when the moral and intellectual medium shall have been purified by "the Spirit of judgment, and the Spirit of burning," not only will the truths already revealed acquire an additional lustre, but others, at present beclouded, shine forth to the enraptured contemplation.

How dim was the mind of the Jewish church in comparison with ours. Her very prophets did not comprehend the import of their own utterances;

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searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." 1 And among all the prophets there arose not a greater than John the Baptist; nevertheless, he that is least in the kingdom of heaven, (that is, in the gospel state,) is greater—has much more insight into divine thingsthan he had. Yet, if they were children, compared with us: we are no more, compared with the people of the Millennium. There will be giants in the earth in those days,-giants in intellect; to whom our highest attainments in wisdom and science will seem to have been but puerilities.

11Peter i. 11.

They shall have other bards, philosophers, and divines, than ever the world had hitherto witnessed: while all the arts and sciences, and all the abilities of genius, instead of being enlisted on the side of Satan, to veil impurity, adorn crime, and embellish idolatry,-to the delusion and destruction of mankind,-shall be enlisted in the cause of truth and righteousness. "And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken. The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerer shall be ready to speak plainly." "The

light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun; and the light of the sun shall be seven-fold, as the light of seven days."

The knowledge shall not only be vast in respect of extent, but unprecedentedly profound,-like the ocean, at once expansive and deep. For "the knowledge of the glory of the LORD shall cover the earth, as the waters cover (the cavity of) the sea." All heresies, those weeds of a' shallow age, shall then be unknown. "And it shall come to pass in

that day, that the light shall not be clear nor dark;"—that is, it shall not be clear in some places and dark in others of the world; "but it shall be one day, which shall be known to the LORD, not day nor night;"1 the light shall be universal and continual," for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion."

1 Zech. xiv. 6-9.

2 Isaiah lii. 8.

3. It shall be a time of peculiar HOLINESS. The vast knowledge that shall then prevail, will be a sanctifying knowledge, not resting in the understanding merely, but renewing the heart." And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem." 1

sence.

2

The paradisaical state shall in a great measure be restored. At least, there shall subsist a much more intimate intercourse between this and the upper world, than hath subsisted since the fall. St. John, describing a state of things even anterior to this, says, "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in the temple the ark of the covenant: "to signify," says Dr. Doddridge, "further manifestations of the divine preThe tabernacle of God shall be with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and "the LORD of hosts shall dwell in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously." Then will the minutest transaction of daily life be enstamped with the impress of sanctity. The commonest action shall be a religious service. "In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD, and their merchandise and their hire shall be holiness unto the LORD.4 66 And I will make, (says God) thy officers peace, and thine

3

1 Isaiah iv. 3. 2 Rev. xi. 19. 3 Isaiah xxiv. 23. 4 Zech. xiv. 20.

exactors righteousness: violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting and destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls salvation, and thy gates praise."1

This holiness shall be universal. The will of the Father shall be done on earth, even as it is done in heaven. His people shall be all righteous. Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit; 3 and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. The triumph of righteousness shall be even more than commensurate with the previous triumph of unrighteousness. Where sin abounded, grace shall much more abound. A flood of iniquity once overflowed the earth; then followed a flood of waters: but now shall come a flood of living waters, that shall rise and increase till they become waters to swim in.5 "All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn unto the LORD, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before him."

4. It shall be a period of great LOVE. We have now considerable light, but alas! comparatively little love; for we are yet in a great degree carnal. But then, the world being converted to GOD, this first-fruit of his Spirit 6 shall conspicuously abound. He that loveth God shall love his brother also. The seamless robe of Emmanuel shall no longer be torn into shreds and patches by enmities, and divisions. "Ephraim shall not envy Judah, nor Judah

1 Isaiah lx. 17, 18. 2 Isa. lx. 21. 3 Isa. xxvii. 6. 4 Isa. lii. 10. 5 Isa. xliv. 3. 6 See Gal. v. 22.

vex Ephraim." No longer shall one say, I am of Paul; and another, I of Apollos; and a third, I of Cephas; but all shall be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;' and Christians at length shall enjoy the "comfort of love," and experience" how good and joyful a thing it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity."

5. It will be a time of pre-eminent SPIRITUAL PRIVILEGES. In the latter chapters of the pro phet Ezekiel, we have a description of a spacious city and temple, and also of certain rites and ceremonies therein to be performed. This prophecy is generally admitted to have reference to the order of things under the gospel, especially during the Millennium. We cannot adopt a literal interpretation of it, for then we should have animal sacrifices restored; whereas the Scriptures repeatedly declare, that God hath now no pleasure in the blood of bulls and of goats; that such "sacrifices and offerings he willeth not." They were, indeed, necessary until CHRIST came, as serving to show forth the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. But when the fulness of the time appointed for his Advent had arrived, "then said he, Lo! I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second."" Observe then, animal sacrifices are thenceforth taken away; abolished for evermore. Christ our

passover is sacrificed for us, the innocent for the

1 Philip. ii. 2.

2 Heb. x. 5.

3 Heb. x. 9.