mighty armies contending for empire. But the works and ways of God are too great in themselves, to admit of any heightening representation. We conceive more forcibly of fmall things, by illuftrations borrowed from those which are greater; but the fcripture frequently illuftrates great things, by contrafting them with thofe, which, in our eftimation, are trivial and feeble. One instance, out of many which might be mentioned, is that truly fublime paffage of the prophet, And all the host of heaven fhall be diffolved, and the heavens fhall be rolled together as a fcroll; and all their hoft shall fall down as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig-tree *. The apostle, when favoured with a heavenly vifion, introduces the fame thought, almost in the fame words, And the ftars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig-tree cafteth her untimely figs, when she is fhaken of a mighty wind: and the heavens departed as a feroll when it is rolled together. Such forms of expreffion are becoming the Majefty of the great God, before whom the difference between the great and the fmall in our judg*Ifa. xxxiv. 4. + Rev. vi. 13, 14.

ment,

ment, is annihilated. In his view, the earth, with all its inhabitants, are but as a drop which falls unnoticed from the bucket, or as the duft which cleaves to the balance*, without affecting its equilibrium. At the fame time, the fimplicity of these illustrations, fo well fuited to confound the pride of the wife, is ftriking and obvious to the lowest capacities. If Homer or Virgil had been to describe the exertion and effect of the power of God, in fubduing and punishing his enemies, they would probably have laboured for a fimile fufficiently grand. But I much question if they would have thought of the image in my text, though none can be more expreffive of utter irreparable ruin, or of the ease with which it is accomplished. He fhall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel †.

The series of the paffages, we have lately confidered, is very regular and beautiful. MESSIAH afcended on high, and received gifts for men. The first and immediate confequence of his exaltation in our nature, is the publication of the gospel. Then follows the happy and beneficial influence of the gofpel on those who thankfully receive it. How * Ifa. xl. 15. + Pf. ii. 9.

beautiful

beautiful are the feet of them that preach thefe glad tidings. The next paffage fecures and defcribes it's extenfive progress-The found went forth into all the earth. The oppofition awakened by it is there described, First, as unreasonable, Why do the Heathen rage? Secondly, as ineffectual, the Lord laughs at his oppofers; he fits upon his immoveable throne, and derides their attempts; Thirdly, the final iffue of their mad refistance, their confufion and ruin, is the subject of the verfe I have read, which prepares for the clofe of the fecond part of the Oratorio. His enemies fhall perish, his kingdom fhall be established and confummated. And then all holy intelligent beings fhall join in a song of triumph, Hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.

The two expreffions of breaking with a rod of iron, and dashing in pieces, fuggeft nearly the fame idea. But as elfewhere he is faid, to rule his enemies with a rod of iron *, I shall avail myself of this variation, in order to give you a more complete view of the dreadful state of those who oppofe MESSIAH and his kingdom. He rules them at prefent with a rod

* Rev. xix. 15.

of

of iron, and hereafter he will dash them in pieces like a potter's veffel. Let us, therefore, confider,

I. How the Lord MESSIAH rules over impenitent and obftinate finners in the prefent life. They attempt (in vain) to withdraw from his fubjection. They oppose his holy will. They refufe to fubmit to his golden fceptre. He will, therefore, rule them with a rod of iron. For though they boast of their liberty, and prefume to say Who is Lord over us? yet in the thing wherein they speak proudly, he is above them. They cannot hide themselves from his notice, nor avoid the intimations of his displeasure.

1. One branch of his iron rule over them, confifts in that certain and infeparable connection, which he has established between fin and mifery. The fruit of righteoufnefs is peace. They who live in the fear of the Lord, and yield a willing obedience to his word, not only poffefs peace of confcience, and a hope which can look with comfort beyond the grave; but are thereby preserved from innumerable evils, into which they, * Pf. xii. 4. + Exod. xviii. 11. ↑ James iii. 18.

VOL. II.

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who

who attempt to cast off his yoke, unavoidably plunge themselves. On the contrary, the way of tranfgreffors is hard *. It is hard in itself, if we fet afide, for a moment, the confideration of the dreadful end to which it leads. Could you see what paffes within the breaft of a man who difdains to be governed by the rule of God's word, you would fee his heart torn to pieces by the clamorous, infatiable demands of the various, violent, inconfiftent appetites and paffions, which, like fo many wild beafts, are continually preying upon him. Not one of them can be fully gratified, much lefs all, for many of them are diametrically oppofite to each other. The boilings of anger, the gnawings of envy, the thirst of covetoufnefs, the anxieties attendant on pride and ambition, muft make the mind, that is fubject to them, miferable. There is no peace to the wicked; there can be none. Farther, their evil tempers and irregular defires, produce outward and vifible effects, which publicly and manifeftly prove, that the fervice of fin is a hard drudgery, and that whatever pleasure it may feem to promife, its pay is mifery and *Prov. xiii. 15.