July 4

"All nations shall serve him." — Psalms 72:11.

YES, every tribe shall lay a laurel at the stem of Jesse, and every tongue shall celebrate his praise. In this passage we have a glorious promise. Let us look at

THE MEANS OF ITS ACCOMPLISHMENT. Is it to be effected by the wielding of warlike weapons, compelling the enemies of Christ to surrender or be killed with the sword? O no; these triumphs are won not with the battle-axe, but with the hammer of the Word; not with the sword of the magistrate, but with the sword of the Spirit. "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal," but spiritual.

By the preaching of the Word. This is the instrumental cause. There must be the dispensation of the word of truth.

in all its fulness, its excellences, and its blessed results. The cross of Christ must be erected, and the banners of that cross must be unfurled, if sinners are savingly converted to God.

By the power of the Spirit. This is the efficient cause. The dreariness, desolation, and barrenness of the moral desert will never assume the beauty, fragrance, and fruitfulness of the garden of the Lord, without the genial and enlivening beams of the Sun of righteousness, the showers of Divine grace, and the dew of the Spirit's influences.

THE CERTAINTY OF ITS FULFILMENT. This may be argued from

The statements of Scripture. See Psalms 2:8, 9; xxii. 27—31. Though many of the nations are now fettered with idolatry, deluded with error, sunk in ignorance, and darkened by superstition, they shall be brought under the yoke of our glorious Immanuel; and so the declaration shall be fulfilled, "All nations shall serve him." The death and intercession of Christ. The efficacy of the one, and the prevalence of the other, fully secure it. The progress the Gospel has already made. Look at our missionary records;—impediments and hinderances are being removed, the Gospel is gaining free course, and God is giving testimony to the word of his grace. We anticipate with joy the period when all the laborers shall be called home, and the glorious work shall be finished, and the text shall receive its full and final accomplishment:—"All nations shall serve him."

"Great King of grace! my heart subdue; I would be led in triumph too, A willing captive to my Lord, And sing the victories of his word."