6. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens fhall vanish away like fmoke, and the earth fhall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein fhall die in like manner: but my falvation fhall be for ever, and my righteoufnefs fhall not be abolished.

The abolition of the Old Teftament difpenfation, to make way for the New œconomy of grace, with the everlasting righteousness and salvation of the Meffiah, is foretold in these words-Lift up your eyes to the heavens; fteadily contemplate the magnificent objects which they present to view. Behold, with admiration, their immenfity, their beauty, fplendor, permanency, and the glorious luminaries whereby they are enlightned and adorned-and fee the illuftrious proofs they exhibit, not only of the existence, but of the majefty and grandeur, the wisdom, power, and goodness of their almighty Creator.Look upon the earth beneath, replete with the riches of divine goodness, which the Moft High hath formed to be a habitation for the children of men, and eftablished that it fhould not be removed, but continue throughout all generations. For the heavens fhall vanifh away like fmoke. The heavens, though pure and transparent, though highly ornamented, and finely illuminated, shall fuddenly pass away, and be seen no more, at least in their present form, ferving the purpofes to which they are now adapted -And the earth fball wax old like a garment, that, having been long worn, hath loft its beauty, firmness, and utility, being incapable of ferving the purposes to which it had formerly been applied.-And they that dwell therein fhall die in like manner. The inhabitants of this earth hall not only wax old like a garment, and vanish away like fmoke, which is foon difperfed and quickly difappears, but they fhall die like other living creatures, leaving behind them their most esteemed enVOL. IV. joyments;

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joyments; they fhall enter into a new, permanent ftate, wherein they fhall remain forever. This subject is forcibly defcribed by the apostle Peter, who declares, that the heavens and the earth which are now, are kept in ftore, referved unto fire, against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly 'men *.' And again he fays, that in the day of the Lord the heavens fhall pafs away, the elements ball melt with fervent heat; the earth alfo, and the works that are therein, fhall be burnt up t.' Such feems to be the literal import of the words.

Let us confider them in their figurative fenfe, (in which the heavens and the earth are fometimes mentioned in the prophetic writings), as denoting the civil and ecclefiaftical ftate of the inhabitants of the earth in general, and particularly of the Jewish peo. ple. In this view of the prediction, the heavens that were to vanish away, and the earth which was to wax old like a garment, may fignify the diffolution of the Jewish church and ftate, the abolition of the whole Mofaic economy, confifting of the rites and worship peculiar to that difpenfation. In this fenfe the words of the writer of the epiftle to the Hebrews are to be understood, where he fays, I fhake not 'the earth only, but also heaven-that those things 'which cannot be fhaken may remain .' There was to be, not only a dreadful concuffion in the conftitutions, facred and civil, that had been formed among the nations, but there was alfo to be effected a great change in the Jewish difpenfation.-That thofe things which cannot be fhaken may remain; that the kingdom of the Son of God, which cometh not with obfervation, that confifteth in righteoufnefs and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghoft, with the vifible adminiftration of its ordinances, accompanied by the power of God, may abide continually, according to divine appointment. These heavens were to pafs away, and this earth was to wax old; they were to difappear, to make way for the

2 Pet. iii. 7. + Ver. 10.

Chap. xii. 26, 27.

the kingdom of Jefus Chrift, with its doctrines, inftitutions, and privileges, which, like their divine Author, fhall continue invariably the fame throughout all ages.

But my falvation fball be for ever, &c. Amidst all the revolutions that take place in this world, the falvation and righteoufnefs of the Meffiah fhall remain unimpaired, and endure forever. The falvation here spoken of may denote the everlafting gofpel, which publishes the great falvation of the Son of God, which reveals the way whereby it is obtained, the various ingredients whereof it confifts, and which, through the favour of God, proves the mean of conveying it to the children of men.-Or it may fignify the falvation itself, as it relates to the external state of the Church, and their perpetual prefervation and fafety; as it refpects alfo their internal and fpiritual ftate, comprehending deliverance from bondage, condemnation and wrath, right to the favour of God and eternal life, the poffeffion of the most excellent gifts and graces, with progreffive improvement in conformity to the will of God.-This falvation fhall be the permanent inheritance of the people of God, who fhall enjoy, without end, the bleffings it contains. Not like the deliverances wrought for Ifrael, from bondage, captivity, and other temporal calamities, wherein they were again foon involved, it fhall endure throughout all generations, and terminate in the poffeffion of an undecaying inheritance, an everlasting kingdom, and an incorruptible crown of glory. And my righteousness shall not be abolished, The righteousness here intended may be the fame with that which was faid, in the 5th verfe, to be near, namely, the perfect obedience yielded by Je. fus Chrift to the will of God, whereby the law was magnified, and the falvation of the Church was obtained. Or it may fignify the word of righteousness, which fhews in what manner finners become righteous before God, and how they ought to walk in all the ordinances and commandments of the Lord blameless. In either fenfe our prophet declares, that

it

it shall not be abolished, destroyed, or made of none effect, but, being firmly established, it fhall continue for ever. Both the righteousness and falvation of the Meffiah are everlafting, and indifpenfibly requifite to your happinefs. If you are not interested in thefe precious benefits, what will all the enjoyments of this world avail you, under a fenfe of divine difpleasure, and in the profpect of diffolution. Give diligence, then, to be found in him, not having your own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Chrift, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

7. Hearken unto me, ye that know righteoufness, the people in whose heart is my law, fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.

The great Redeemer having demanded the attention of his peculiar people, excites them to fortitude and courage, by the confideration of the imbecility and certain deftruction of those who act in hoftility against them. In the beginning of this discourse they are described as following after righteoufnefs, now they are addreffed as having become in fome meafure acquainted with this valuable object. Hearken diligently and incline your ear, ye that know righteoufness, who apply your minds to the ftudy of the word of truth, and to the practice of what it requires, which of all sciences is the most excellent and the moft ufeful. What the root is to the tree, what the fun is to the world, what the eye is to the body, that is the knowledge of righteoufnefs to the foul; it fupports, it illuminates, and proves its nobleft ornament. It is the mean whereby falvation is attained, it is the diftinguishing characteristic of the difciples of the Son of God.-Would to God, my brethren, that I could addrefs you under this eftimable character, but, alas! fome have not this knowledge, I fpeak this to your fhame†. A fhame indeed it is, that any who enjoy the means + 1 Cor. xv. 34.

* Phil. iii. 9.

of

of improvement are not proficients in this valuable. attainment. Earneftly requeft that God would open the eyes of your understandings; carefully ftudy the holy fcriptures, the facred repofitory wherein this precious jewel is to be found; faithfully practise what you know, and you fhall know more and more what to practife.if ye continue in my word,' faith Jefus Chrift, then are ye my difciples indeed *.'

The people in whofe heart is my law. The doctrine of the gospel, the law of righteousness, the good pleafure of God made known to men for the obedience of faith, are doubtless intended in this expreffion. This law is not merely in the heads, but in the hearts of the people who are addreffed in the verse. This is the form of doctrine into which, as the apostle Paul speaks, they were delivered, and obeyed from the heart. In the words now quoted, the gofpel is reprefented as a mould, into which the metal, when melted, is conveyed, in confequence whereof it lofes its former fhape, and affumes a figure exactly correfponding to the model into which it was caft. In like manner the people of God, who are renewed after his image, have the law of Chrift infcribed upon their hearts, whereby an intimate correfpondence is established between the divine law contained in the scripture, and the impreffion made upon their minds. Ardent affection is experienced to God's precepts, a ftrong propenfity is felt to obey them, and a progreffive conformity to them becomes their delightful ftudy. The knowledge of righteousness is, in this verfe, connected with the law of God in the heart, forming together the peculiar character whereby the fervants of the Moft High are diftinguished, the new nature whereof they are made partakers. Bleffed is he who fpake these words which I have been illuftrating, and happy are they to whom they are applicable.-Thefe few ftrictures ought to induce you, my brethren, to reconfider your real character and fpiritual state. Are your hearts and lives unrefervedly fubjected to + Rom. 6. 17.

* John viii. 31.

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