April 30

like Stephen you see Jesus ready to receive you, and wipe away all your tears; if you are assured that your afflictions will work out for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory—then, though you will not be deprived of feeling, you will be raised above despondency and depression—Then, though troubled on every side, you will not be distressed—Then, though sorrowful, you will be always rejoicing—And not only so, but you “will glory in tribulation also.”

APRIL 30.—“The desire of all nations.”—Haggai 1:7.

THAT this refers to the Messiah is unquestionable. Yet there seems some necessity for explaining the title given him, as it apparently disagrees with the language of other parts of Scripture, and with fact. Is he not despised and rejected of men? He was in the world, and the world was made by him; and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. How then can he be called the desire of all nations? The character is justified five ways.

First, by the general expectation that prevailed in the world previously to his advent. It is well known that there was such a looking out for some great deliverer and benefactor as nigh at hand. Divines have collected many testimonies from heathen authors, and have peculiarly remarked a little poem of Virgil’s, written a few years only before the birth of Jesus, and which contains a kind of prophecy, foreshowing that some extraordinary personage would shortly come, and restore the peace and plenty and blessings of the fancied golden reign. The sentiment had been conveyed down by tradition, but it was originally derived from a divine source, the early and repeated promise of “him that should come.”

Secondly, by the need all mankind had of such a Saviour as he was to be. The whole world was lying in wickedness. Darkness covered the earth. They knew not the supreme good. They found only vanity and vexation of spirit in their pursuits and attainments. They had no support under the troubles of life. Their uneasiness arising from guilt, death; and futurity, made them often willing not only to offer thousands of rams, and rivers of oil, but to give the first-born for their transgression, the fruit of their body for the sin of their soul. But no remedy could they find to remove the doubts and fears of their consciences—The Lord Jesus meets the condition they were in; and therefore though they had no revelation of him, yet they were groping ignorantly after what alone he could impart; and therefore he deserves to be called the desire of all nations, just as a physician, able and willing to cure all diseases, is the desire of all patients.

Thirdly, by being entirely attractive in himself, so that all would actually long after him if they knew him. He has every excellency in his person, every perfection in his character. There is nothing in creation that will afford a proper image of his glory. All the loveliness of men and angels shrink from a comparison with his charms—“How great is his beauty?”—“Yea, he is altogether lovely.” Do we esteem riches? His riches are unsearchable. Do we admire friendship? He is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Do we applaud benevolence? His love passeth know-