October 15

creatures are his people's servants. Though they are innumerable, and have among them thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, and the "least of them could wield these elements," "are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" What monarch is attended in his journeys like the poorest, meanest child of God? "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them."

What right have Christians to despond? Is not he whom they serve continually able to deliver? Whatever be their straits and difficulties, he can find or make a way for their escape. That, at what time they are afraid, they may trust in him: he has not only given them exceeding great and precious promises, but he has taught and encouraged them by examples. They can remember the years of the right hand of the Most High: and they know that he is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.

OCTOBER 15.—"And his rest shall be glorious."—Isaiah 11:10.

We need not ask whose rest is here spoken of: for there can be no uncertainty respecting the appropriation. The whole chapter is a prophecy or promise of the incarnation and kingdom of the Messiah; and the verse from which these words are taken is expressly applied to him by Paul, in his Epistle to the Romans, and there is no other that could verify and fulfil it but himself: "In that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious." But we may ask what is this rest of his, to which is ascribed such an attribute, or such an abstraction; for the margin is, His rest shall be "glory."

His rest includes that blessed state into which he entered after his mediatorial work on earth. Never was there such an enterprise as he had to accomplish: the execution of it would have been infinitely above the power of men and angels. But he could say to the Father, "I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." And what was the result? "He that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his:" the one reposing after the redemption of the world, as the other did after the creation; and each thereby giving rise, as the Apostle remarks, to a Sabbath—the one to the seventh and the other to the first day of the week. Who can imagine, so to speak, the refreshment and satisfaction of the Maker of all things, when he looked and "saw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good." So Jesus having obtained eternal redemption for us, for ever sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. There he dieth no more, death hath no more dominion over him. There he possesses the joy that was set before him, for which he endured the cross. There he sees his seed, and prolongs his days, and the pleasure of the Lord prospers in his hand. There he sees of the travail of his soul and is satisfied. There, for the suffering of death, he is crowned with glory and honour; angels, principalities, and powers being made subject unto him; and every name that is named, not

only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and his rest is glorious—

His rest means his church. "This is my rest for ever, here will I dwell, for I have desired it." And whatever the world may think, "In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel. In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion. There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey." The glory of the Church does not arise from multitude without character, from riches and pomp, from splendid buildings and magnificent ceremonies. What glory would there be in a community dignified with all that is pagan, and all that is popish, yet destitute of the truth as it is in Jesus, of spiritual worshippers, of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost? We read of "the Spirit of glory and of God" resting upon Christians. And the one explains the other. It is the Divine presence that ennobles as well as defends it: "I will be a wall of fire round about her, and the glory in the midst of her." With him is the fountain of life, and in his light we see light. But if the Church of Christ be glorious now, how much more glorious will it be found in a period which we are persuaded is already begun, when its numbers, and graces, and usefulness, shall be increased with "all the increase of God;" and the assurances upon which our longing hopes repose shall be fulfilled: "The little one shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation:" "Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound." "For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron." "I will make thee an eternal excellency, the joy of many generations"—His rest shall be glorious.

His rest also intends that repose into which he brings his followers. This rest indeed, as to its fulness and perfection, remains for the people of God in another life. And how glorious this will be exceeds the power of language to describe. Yet turn only to the representation of the angel to John. "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." But we which have believed do enter into rest: and how glorious are the earnest, the foretastes, the beginnings of it, even here; when the understanding is freed from the perplexities of error and doubt; and the conscience is pacified from the horrors of guilt and the torments of fear; and the heart is delivered from unattainable and vexatious desires; and the will no longer resists the pleasure of the Almighty with regard to duty or events; and the mind is kept in perfect peace, being stayed upon God. The wicked are like the troubled sea, whose waves cast up mire and dirt; and what anxie-