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In addition to the time and manner in which the Messiah's kingdom should, according to this prophecy, arise, the world was prepared to discover it by

II. Its greatness

It was to have the pre-eminence above all other kingdoms in respect of

1. Power

[All the monarchies referred to by the prophet were great and powerful; but this far excelled them all-The stone cut out without hands fell upon the feet of the image which were of iron and clay, and broke the whole image in pieces; intimating that the kingdom of Christ should prevail over the Roman empire together with the other monarchies which were comprehended in it: all the powers of the world were to be only "as the chaff of the summer threshing-floor," before it-We are not to understand by this, that Christianity is adverse to human governments, (for it tells us that “the powers that be are ordained of God, and that we should be subject to them, not merely through fear, but for conscience sake") but that it will bring down every power which sets up itself against the Lord and his Christ-This was further represented in the vision by "the stone becoming a mountain, and this mountain filling the earth"-Christianity is to prevail over the whole earth-The idolatries of Pagan Rome yielded to the sublimer principles of the gospel; and the superstitions of antichrist, which for a long season obscured divine truth, have fallen, and shall in due time vanish before its light and influence-Nor shall the authority of Christ extend, like that of earthly monarchs, merely over the bodies of men; it shall reach unto their souls, and "bring into subjection the very thoughts and desires of their hearts" There shall not be one disaffected subject in his whole empire: the happiness of all his people shall be bound up in their Prince, whose will shall be their only law, and whose honour their only aim-]

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2. Continuance

[All other kingdoms have fallen, and shall fall; nor can the best constituted governments maintain their stability beyond the time allotted them in the divine counsels-But the kingdom of Christ "shall stand for ever:" his power shall 66 never be transferred to other hands;" nor shall any revolutions shake the foundations of his throne" He shall put down all rule and all authority and power, and reign till all

his enemies are become his footstool"-The precise mode of administering his kingdom will indeed terminate when there shall be no more subjects upon earth to govern: but the kingdom itself will exist in heaven to all eternity, when it shall be delivered up into the Father's hands, and God shall be all in all The perpetuity of this kingkom was afterwards revealed to Daniel, with some additional ciscumstances indeed, in a vision similar to that before us-The four monarchies appeared to him as four great beasts; the last of which had ten horns, corresponding with the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar's image, and intimating that ten smaller powers should grow out of that fourth monarchy, all of which should in due season fall before the kingdom of Christ, which was then to become universal in its extent, and everlasting in its continuance1-] APPLICATION

1. To the enemies of Christ's kingdom

[Persons may be enemies of Christ's kingdom either by denying the truth of Christianity, or by resisting its influence -But whether we be professed infidels or merely nominal Christians, the subject before us is highly proper for our consideration-Whence came this marvellous correspondence between the predictions and the accomplishment of them, if Christianity be not of divine original? was it not established at the very time that was fixed in this prophecy, and has it not prevailed, not only without the aid of human authority, but in direct opposition to all the power and policy of the confederate world?-And if it have broken in pieces so many adverse powers, and "made them even as the chaff of the summer threshing-floors," shall you withstand it with impunity? Our Lord, in reference to this very passage, has assured us, that "on whomsoever this stone shall fall it shall grind him to powder"-But remember, it is not a feigned or forced submission that is required of you: Christ reigns over a willing people, and must be enthroned in their hearts-Let such be his influence over you-Let "every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Christ be put down;" and let his law be your rule, his service your delight, and his honour your aim

2. To the friends and subjects of Christ

[As Christianity has not prevailed in the world without much opposition, so neither will it gain a complete ascendency over the heart without many conflicts-But should any one despond because his adversaries are mighty? We need only look at the prevalence of Christianity in the world, and

e 1 Cor. xv. 24, 25. h Dan. vii. 14.

f Ibid.

g Dan. vii. 3—7. i Matt. xxi. 43, 44. See also, Isai. Ix. 12.

we may see what shall be accomplished in our hearts-Are we destitute of any power in ourselves? Be it so: yet the stone which was cut out without hands, and became a great mountain, shall crush our enemies, and bring our inmost souls into subjection to Christ-If the gates of hell have not been able to prevail against the church at large, neither shall they against the weakest member of it-If the greatest empires have yielded to the influence of the gospel, so shall also the inost inveterate lusts-Let Christians then lift up their heads with joy; their conflicts may be severe, but their victory is certain-]

CCXV. THE FRAILTY OF MAN AND IMMUTABILITY OF THE GOSPEL.

Isai. xl. 6-8. The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

GOD doeth according to his own will in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth. When his time was come for the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt, in vain did Pharaoh labour to retain them. Thus the prophet was inspired to declare the redemption of the Jews from Babylon, and the still greater redemption of the world from sin and satan, in spite of all endeavours which might be used to thwart the divine purpose. This seems to be the immediate scope of the words before us. But they may also be taken as a general declaration respecting the instability of every thing human, and the immutability of God's word.

I. The instability of every thing human

The comparison of man to grass is very frequent in the scriptures; and it affords a just description of

1. Our temporal comforts

[The grass in the early spring adorns and beautifies the face of nature; but, when parched by a burning sun or an eastern blast, it soon withers and decays: in the same manner the beauty and strength of youth are soon turned to weakness and deformity: the affluence and honour of the rich is quickly changed to degradation and want: and all our goodly fabrics

of ease and happiness are soon demolished. St. James illustrates this truth by the very comparison in the text:a and as Job experienced it in the days of old, so in every age may numerous instances be found of such vicissitudes.]

2. Our spiritual comforts

[God is pleased to give rich consolation to his people: and while they enjoy it, their faces are made, as it were, to shine, as the face of Moses did, when he descended from the holy mount. But these comforts are often of short continuance. When Peter thought of building tabernacles to protract his happiness, a cloud immediately overshadowed him, and he was called down to renew his conflicts with the world." When David fancied his mountain so strong that he should never be moved, God hid his face from him and he was troubled.c Thus it is also with all the people of God; whose manifold changes in this respect may well be compared with the diversified scenes of nature under the influence of kindly showers or malignant winds."]

3. Our very life itself

[In the midst of health we promise ourselves years to come: but, when God withdraws our breath, we instantly return to our native dust. Some look more gay and possess more "goodliness" than others; but they are only as "the flower of the field," which cannot survive the grass, and not unfrequently falls before it. In this view the inspired writers describe our state; and both observation and experience attest the truth of their representations: we must all confess, in the language of the text, "Surely, the people is grass."]

But while every thing human is thus frail and transient, we have a firm foundation whereon to stand, namely, II. The immutability of God's word

The "word of God" here spoken of, may be understood as relating to Christ, who is often called by this name, and whose immutability is mentioned by the Psalmist in this very view. But St. Peter informs us that the prophet spake of the gospel salvation. Now This "word" contains the most important and comfortable truths

[There is no want, which it is not able to supply, no disorder, for which it does not prescribe a remedy. It proclaims

a Jam. i. 9-11.

e Ps. xxx. 7.

b Mark ix. 5, 7, 14.

d Ps. cii. 2--4.

e Job xiv. 1, 2. Ps. xc. 3-6. Ps. ciii. 15, 16.

f Ps. cii. 11, 12, 26, 27.

s 1 Pet. i. 24,

25.

health to the sick, sight to the blind, liberty to the captives, and life to the dead. So extensive are its invitations and promises, that there is not an human being excluded from its provisions, nor is there any limit to the blessings which it will impart. It assures us, that sins of a crimson die may become white as snow; that the most heavy-laden soul may obtain rest; and that none, who come to Jesus, shall on any account be cast out."]

Nor is it a small excellence in these truths, that they are as immutable as God himself

"

[How vain were the attempts of men and devils to stop the progress of the gospel, and to make void the declarations of God respecting it! Equally vain shall be every endeavour to invalidate the promises which he has made to the believing penitent. Has he said, that "all manner of sin shall be forgiven; that he will cleanse us from all our filthiness and from all our idols; and that, where he has begun the good work, he will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ?" We may rest 'assured that he will fulfil his word: for "he is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should repent.' But it may be said, "Though God changeth not, yet we change, and therefore may forfeit our interest in the promises." True; if God should leave us, we not only may, but most undoubtedly shall, both fall and perish. But God has said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee; so that we may adopt the confident declaration of St. Paul, "I know in whom I have believed, that is able to keep that which I have committted to him." We must be strong in the faith, giving glory to God. Then, though difficulties may arise, and appear for a while wholly insurmountable, they shall surely be overcome: "Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain; and we shall see the salvation of God."] We may LEARN from hence

1. The folly of seeking our rest in earthly things

[The injunction given to the prophet to "cry," and to proclaim aloud that "all flesh is grass," and the frequent repetition of this comparison, are strong intimations of the extreme vanity of every thing here below. And who amongst us has not found that the enjoyments he fondly anticipated, have either eluded his grasp, or deceived his expectation? Whatever then be our comforts in life, let us not set our hearts upon them, but "so use the world as not abusing it, knowing that the fashion thereof passeth away."]

Isai. i. 18. Matt. xi. 28. John vi. 37.

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