rejoiced exceedingly in that distant prospect of it-At the birth of Jesus, our deliverer, an host of angels congratulated the world, saying, Behold, we bring you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto you is born a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord-As soon as ever the full effects of the gospel came to be experienced, the converts, filled with every malignant temper just before, were filled with joy, and eat their bread with gladness and singleness of heart, blessing and praising God-No sooner was the gospel preached in Samaria, than there was great joy in that city: and, the instant that the eunuch had embraced it, he went on his way rejoicings-Thus it is at this day an healing balm and a reviving cordial to all who understand and receive it-] 2. It is in itself well calculated to create joy in our hearts [Let but its blessings be felt, and it will be impossible not to rejoice-Did the Jews exult at a deliverance from a cruel yoke, and a restoration to their native country? How much more must a sinner rejoice at his deliverance from death and hell, and his restoration to the forfeited inheritance of heaven! -The transports of joy manifested by the cripple whom Peter and John had healed, were the natural effusions of a grateful heart: we should have wondered if he had not so expressed the feelings of his soul: but he had received no benefit in comparison of that which the believer enjoys when he first embraces the gospel of Christ-Hence our prophet represents the gospel as invariably producing such sensations as the husbandman feels when bringing home the fruits of the field, or the soldier when dividing the spoils of victoryi-] 3. It is, and ever will be, the one subject of thanksgiving in the realms of glory [The glorified saints never have their attention diverted from it for one single moment: day and night are they singing to him who loved them, and washed them from their sins in his own blood-And though the angels are less interested in this subject, because they never needed redeeming grace, yet do they join the general chorus, ascribing honour and glory to him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb for ever -Nor will they ever be weary of this subject, such an inexhaustible fund is it of light, and happiness, and glory-] d John viii. 56. Acts viii. 8, 39.' * Rev. i. 5, 6. f Acts ii. 46, 47. e Luke ii. 10, 11. i Isai. ix. 3, 6. INFER 1. How strange is it that the gospel should be treated with indifference! [That it is so treated, needs no proof: but how amazing that it should ever be slighted by those to whom it is sent! that condemned criminals should disregard the offers of pardon sent them by their Prince!-O that there might be no more occasion for that complaint, Who hath believed our report?-Let the very feet of the messengers who bring the tidings be henceforth beautiful in our eyes-] 2. Of what importance is it to distinguish between mere morality, and the gospel of Christ! [Lectures upon honesty would administer but little comfort to a person about to be executed for breaking the laws of his country: nor can mere discourses on morality administer much comfort to a self-condemning sinner: and, if he mistake such discourses for the gospel, he is fatally deceived-The gospel is a full and free offer of salvation through the blood of Christ: and this is glad tidings indeed; like "rivers of water in a dry place, or a shadow of a great rock in a weary land"-O that all who are ambassadors of God may remember the great scope of their ministry, and testify the gospel of the grace of God! And let all who hear the joyful sound, improve the day of their visitation: blessed are they if they receive the truth in the love thereof; but most aggravated will be their condemnation if they despise the mercy so freely offered them-] CCVIII. THE GOSPEL A SOURCE OF RICHEST BLESSINGS. Isai. xxv. 6—8. In this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees: of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: • for the Lord hath spoken it. MANY passages of scripture, which, from the language, might be supposed to belong to the Jewish dispensation only, will be found to refer in a more especial manner to the times of the gospel-The "mountain" so frequently mentioned in this place was Mount Zion, which was distinguished above all other, mountains by being the peculiar residence of the Deity: and it should seem that all the great things which God promised to the world, were to be transacted upon that spot-But Mount Zion was a type of the gospel church, wherein God yet more eminently dwells; and it is in the church of Christ that he bestows the blessings which are here promised-The gospel, which is here promulgated, affords I. Food to the hungry The gospel calls us to a luxurious feast [The terms in which this feast is expressed, are evidently intended to raise in our minds the highest possible conceptions of its excellency—“ A feast” is far more than a common meal, and conveys an idea of costliness and abundance: a feast "of fat things" imports that the choicest provisions are set forth; and the fat things being "full of marrow," suggests, that no expense is spared in procuring whatever can provoke the appetite of the guests, or afford them pleasure-But "wines" are also added; wines that have contracted a delicious flavour by being long kept " upon the lees;" and wines "well refined," that are bright as a ruby, that "sparkle in the glass," and that delight the eye whilst they gratify the palate-What are we to understand from this accumulation of ideas, but that, as the choicest viands administer nourishment and comfort to the body, so the gospel provides every thing which can exhilarate. and support the soul-After all, this representation falls very far short of the truth: for the promises of the gospel are infinitely sweeter to the hungering and thirsting soul than the most exquisite food can be to our taste-Let but a sinner, who pants after pardon, be enabled to apply to his soul that promise of Jehovah, That "crimson sins shall be made white as snow," or that word of Christ, That "whosoever cometh to him he will in no wise cast out," what transports of joy will he not feel? how will he be "filled as with marrow and fatness while he praises his God with joyful lips!"-What strength did that word, "My grace is sufficient for thee," administer to Paul under the buffetings of Satan!-In the strength of that one meal he was enabled to go on, not for forty days only, but to the latest hour of his lifea-And such is the gospel to all who cordially embrace it-] This feast has God himself prepared for all people [It is none other than "the Lord of hosts" who has spread this table at his own expense-And he invites "all In allusion to Elijah, 1 Kings xix. 7, 8. people," not of the Jews only but of the Gentiles also; yea, the very vilest of the human race-He sends out his servants into the highways and hedges, to call the halt, the lame, and the blind, and orders them to take no refusal, but to "compel them to come in"-Yea, though in every succeeding age there have been myriads of guests brought in, yet his message to us is, that "yet there is room"-] But, as this feast can be of no use to those who feel not their need of it nor discern its excellency, the gospel suits itself to our necessities, and offers II. Light to the blind There is a thick, impenetrable "vail" over the hearts of men [The lusts and prejudices of men cast a film over their eyes, and incapacitate them for discerning spiritual things: and Satan by his subtle devices confirms their blindnessAs the Jews, even while Moses was read to them every sabbath day, were unable, by reason of the vail that was upon their hearts, to comprehend the great ends and purposes of the Mosaic dispensation,d so thousands who live under the light of the gospel are total strangers to its fundamental truths; or admit them only in theory, while they are destitute of any experimental knowledge of them in their hearts" They have eyes, but see not; ears, but hear not; hearts, but understand not"-] But God by his gospel removes this vail ["He who commanded light to shine out of darkness will shine into the hearts" of those who seek him-" The things which flesh and blood could never have discovered, he will reveal unto them"e-He will shew them the evil of sin, the depravity of their hearts, the fulness and suitableness of Christ, the stability of the covenant, together with every thing else which they need to know-He will not merely turn aside the vail, and give them a transient view of the holy of holies, but will "destroy" the vail, and "rend it in pieces from the top to the bottom"-It is true, this clear knowledge of divine truth will not be imparted all at once; but it shall gradually increase till they see as they are seen, and know as they are known"-] 66 To complete the happiness of his people, God further promises III. Victory to the oppressed The former part of the text refers to the apostolic and millennial periods; but the latter will not be accomplished till the day of judgment-To that season in particular St. Paul applies the words before us; taking him for our guide, we are in no danger of misinterpreting their import, whilst we say, that God will rescue us from 1. The power of death [Death is even now disarmed of its sting; and the king of terrors is made our friend-They who through the gospel are enabled to live to Christ, may justly account it "gain to die: not life only, but even death itself, is numbered among their treasures-Such is their victory over it, that it is an object of hope and desire rather than of terror and aversion1 -And when it comes, they are not so properly said to die, as, to "fall asleep in Jesus"-Nor will its apparent triumphs be of long duration; for that which swallowed up mankind with insatiable avidity, shall itself "be swallowed up in victory," and not a vestige of it ever again be found among the saints of God-] 2. The sorrows of sin us to " [While we continue in the body there will be occasion for go on our way weeping"-But even now the sorrows of believers are widely different from the sorrows of the world: instead of corroding the heart, they bring a peace along with them; and the persons who are most affected with them, so far from wishing to get rid of them, desire to have them more deep and abiding-But ere long they shall sully the face no more; but shall be "wiped away" by the hand of a compassionate Father, and be followed by an harvest of eternal joyi-] 3. The reproaches of the world [There is scarcely any thing which an ungodly world will not say or do, to asperse the character of the godly, and to destroy their peace-But God in this world so far " takes away their rebuke," as often to manifest himself to them, and to interpose visibly on their behalf-But in a little time "He will bring forth their righteousness as the noon day;" and they who were regarded as the filth of the world and the offscouring of all things," shall be openly acknowledged as the children of the living God-] f 1 Cor. xv. 54. g Phil. i. 21. 1 Cor. iii. 22. h Phil. i. 23. Ex. gr. Joseph, Daniel, i Rev. xxi. 4. and vii. 16, 17. the Hebrew youths, &c. |