In a parallel passage it is, Take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people. Isaiah lvii. 14.

Immense have been the stones of offence laid in the way of the Jews, by ages of wrong and injury, insult and oppression, and more especially by ages of a degraded Christianity. Look only at the present state of the Christian world, wherever the Jews are scattered and dispersed.

The churches on the continent, with the exception of the comparatively small, though blessed be God, increasing number of the faithful followers of Christ, have been described as divided into two great sects; one, baptized infidels, and the other, worshippers of images; all professing to be followers of Jesus, but not doing the things which he commands. And to this day the Jews are exposed to insult and oppression of varied kinds, and are suffering wrongs from Christians in name. They behold, in Roman Catholic countries, not Christianity in its simplicity, holiness, and loveliness, but a spurious profession, deformed with adored crucifixes and images, idolatry of created beings, and innumerable and most gross superstitions or with ungodly lives of infidel and licentious men. How can they embrace such a Christianity, when they know that for similar sins the Jews endured their first captivity in Babylon, and their descendants have ever since been witnesses against these sins? Nor are things better in the Greek and Eastern churches; in which pictures are honoured, and ignorance, vice, and superstition, dishonour, most fearfully and extensively, the name of Christ.

And do the Protestant churches present no stumbling-blocks to the Jews! Alas! how must we sigh over our own churches; when they see, in the Reformed churches, infidelity and formality, ungodliness and worldliness, enmity and bitterness, strife and divisions, railing against and devouring each other? Nor do I conceive that our too generally accredited

system of spiritualizing the prophecies, taking all the promises to the Christian church, and leaving all the threatenings to the Jewish nation, has been a harmless perversion; however justly spiritual Christians are entitled in Christ Jesus to all the promises of spiritual blessings, and unbelieving Jews have forfeited them while in unbelief: yet is there a rich reserve of blessing for the Jewish nation. Nor let us ever forget the apostle's advice, (Rom. xi. 18—20,) not to boast against the branches that are broken off; not to be high-minded, but fear. What is past, we explain literally, and so must we what is to come. To tell the Jews that Zion and Jerusalem mean only the Gentile church; and the land where their forefathers dwelt means only heaven, is wrongfully to leave a stone of offence in their way.

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Oh! when we look back on the dealings of professed Christians with the Jews, we might think that the directions which Christians had received from their divine Master had been, not to labour incessantly in preaching the gospel of peace to them, but Despise the Jews; mock them in every form; inflict pains and cruelties upon them; leave everywhere stones of offence; make Christianity as hateful to them as possible." Thus have we, in our wickedness, dealt with them in the way of imposing penalties and sufferings, instead of in Christian love, unwearied patience, and Christ-like compassion, mourning over them, and seeking to lead them to their only Shepherd and Saviour.

And can we think these wrongs leave no guilt on Christendom? Is it in vain that God has said, I am jealous for Jerusalem and Zion with a great jealousy; and I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. Zech. i. 15. Most awful are the divine judgments to be inflicted on impenitent nations that have heretofore punished the Jews. I will, says

God, feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine. Isaiah xlix. 26. I will undo all that afflict thee. Zeph. iii. 10. The Lord thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee. Deut. xxx. 7.

May we, then, my brethren, repent of the sins of past ages, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance! May we offer up in this reference the beautiful prayer of our Liturgy," Remember not, Lord, our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers; neither take thou vengeance of our sins." May we remove, as far as we can, these stones out of the way of the Jews! They must be distinctly told, These are not the ways of the Christ of the New Testament; they are altogether contrary to the spirit of his gospel. We must distinguish between his spiritual and his outward church. We must separate the truth from the error which the devil has been sowing along with it, and take forth the precious from the vile. Jer. xv. 19. Let Christians shine as lights in the world, (Phil. ii. 16,) full of faith, hope, and love; holding forth the word, the pure word of life; and the way of the Jew to Christ will be plain and obvious, distinct and manifest. Isaiah xi. 10-12.

A STANDARD IS ALSO TO BE LIFTED UP FOR THE NATIONS-Lift up a standard for the people. This is added not only as a duty to be discharged, but as a great encouragement to fulfil duties to the Jews, by the blessed effect it will undoubtedly have upon all nations.

The meaning of this standard will be more clear, by referring to a preceding passage in Isaiah (xi. 10 ~12), And 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. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of

his people, which shall be left from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

A standard is a token of war: it is to assemble, direct and encourage the army, and to animate them in proceeding against their enemies. The army of Christ has hitherto been in a slumbering or defensive posture; but it has begun its active war with all his enemies, and it will never cease till the prediction be realized-The saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. Dan. vii. 18.

Not that the weapons of our warfare are carnal: God forbid! we do not war after the flesh. 2 Cor. x. 3, 4. The standard we are to lift up, has inscribed upon it, Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, goodwill to men. Luke ii. 14. In short, our Lord Jesus Christ is our standard; his spirit of meekness, humility, and love, is to glow in our hearts, and live in our actions. Whatever he may do, as righteous Judge, we as penitent believers have to beseech men, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, to be reconciled to God. 2 Cor. v. 20; x. 1.

To lift up this standard, is to preach the gospel, and fully declare the doctrine of a crucified and glorified Saviour. He himself says, I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men to me. John xii. 32. Christ Jesus, then, in all his love and pity, in all his grace, riches, and fulness, is to be proclaimed. He is to be made known in his divine glory, as the mighty God (Isaiah ix. 6); Jehovah our righteousnes (Jer. xxiii. 6); to whom we can say, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and Psalm xlv. 6, 7. In his incarnation, Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; a virgin shall con

ever.

ceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (Isaiah ix. 6); in all the sympathies of our nature, as a man of sorrows (Isaiah liii. 3), dwelling among us, full of grace and truth. He is to be lifted up in all the work which he has accomplished by his atoning blood and his finished redemption. The freedom of this salvation, its fulness, and its commanded proclamation to all, even the most vile and guilty, these are to be set forth. His risen glory, as Mediator, seated at the right hand of the Father, having all power in heaven and earth given to him (Matt. xxviii. 18), and receiving gifts for men, yea for the rebellious also (Psalm lxviii. 18), is to be fully preached. And he is to be yet farther lifted up, in the doctrine of his speedy return, his second coming, in the glory of the Father (Matt. xvi. 27), the judgments which he will then execute, and the blessings which he will then bestow; the everlasting wrath that he will pour upon the wicked, and the heavenly and eternal kingdom which his saints shall then inherit.

Here is our glorious standard, which in this latter day we have everywhere to raise up as the assembling, the preceding, the rallying, and the all-conquering ensign of the church. Amidst the deluge of infidel words, works, and publications, and amidst the overflowing streams of ungodliness, this is that ensign which shall lead all the church of Christ to its full triumph. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him; and the Redeemer shall come to Zion.

But for whom is this standard to be lifted up? For the people (Isaiah xi. 10-12); the original is in the plural number, for the peoples; and it is by the best translators rendered, the nations. In the passage already quoted from Isaiah, the nations are described as seeking to this ensign, and it is called the ensign of the nations. I consider it, therefore, to have a special reference to the Gentiles, as distinguished