OF THE ADVENT OF THE GLORIOUS DELIVERER, TO TURN AWAY UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB V.
James Dodson
DISCOURSE XIII.
ROM. xi. 26. As it is written, “There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer; and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.”
At the spiritual advent of our Divine Lord, he will most abundantly send out his light for the more extensive illumination of the Gentiles, and he will then become, in an eminent manner, the glory of his people Israel. His coming out of Sion, as it will affect both Jews and Gentiles, has been already considered. The last part of this branch of our subject directs our attention to the consequences of his coming, as they peculiarly belong to the Jews. In the
IV. Head, It was proposed to describe the work which the Deliverer will perform on God’s ancient people, and to explain the means by which it will be effectually accomplished.
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This blessed work consists of two parts.
1. The Deliverer will turn away ungodliness from them. The ungodliness of Jacob’s seed has been, and still is, exceeding great. While they continue under it, they cannot be accepted of God in any religious service. It is impossible to conceive greater ungodliness than that which was perpetrated by the generation of Jews who lived in Judea, while the Son of God dwelt among men. They rejected the ministry of John, who was sent of God, according to their own Scriptures, “to prepare the way of the Lord, and to make his paths straight.” They despised the doctrine, the example, and miracles of the Saviour himself. They apprehended, tried, insulted, condemned, and at last crucified the Lord of glory. After his resurrection from the dead, and his ascension into heaven, they refused and blasphemed his Gospel, which his Apostles preached to them, opposed the more spiritual and glorious dispensation of grace which he was sent to establish, persecuted some of his Apostles and followers to death, and pursued them to strange cities. By continuing in a stated opposition to the grace of God and the Gospel of Christ, the Jews, in every following age, have practically approved the conduct of their fathers; and therefore they are guilty of great ungodliness. Their unbelief is a most prominent part of their ungodliness. They deny the Messiahship of Jesus, they reject the New Covenant dispensation, and they blaspheme that worthy name by which christian believers are called. Their mockery of worship belongs to their ungodliness. This is a mere farce, consisting much in rites of their own invention, equally different from the ordinances of worship appointed for the Mosaic economy, and from the more spiritual services instituted for the Gospel dispensation. Their errors make a part of their ungodliness. The Sadducean Jews reject the greater part of the Old Testament, and are plunged into the gulph of Deism. The Pharisaical Jews believe that the absurdities of their Talmud are of equal authority with the Holy Scriptures. Few of them expect a Divine Saviour or a spiritual salvation; but many of them look for a worldly conqueror who shall subdue all nations under their feet. The rancorous hatred of their different sects at one another, and their cruelty to their brethren who embrace Christianity, are mournful indications of their ungodliness. Their immoralities also are included in their ungodliness. Their earthly-mindedness, dishonesty, and idleness, discover their ungodliness. Their moral
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and spiritual condition is the same as that of the Gentiles while in their heathenish condition. “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them.” Strangers to the fountain which their own Prophets assured them that God would open to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness, in Christ’s infinitely precious blood making an everlasting atonement, and in the Spirit’s purifying influences, they continue under the guilt and pollution of their ungodliness. In stating these things, no malicious libel against the Jewish character is drawn up. Many nominal christians are as much under the power of ungodliness and worldly lusts as any of the Jews. Besides, considering Israel in connexion with God’s gracious purposes toward them, they are among the objects of our best wishes and highest admiration. The Deliverer, at his coming, will save them from the guilt and punishment of their ungodliness, by pardoning their iniquity, transgression, and sin. He will set them free from the dominion and pollution of their ungodliness, by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. And he will deliver them from the love and practice of ungodliness, by enabling them to perfect holiness in the fear of God.
2. The great Deliverer will bring them to the knowledge and exercise of true godliness. In bestowing salvation on all Israel, he will bless them with true faith which is the gift of God. Then shall they embrace him of whom all their Prophets did testify, him whom their fathers crucified, and him whom all the intervening generations of the Jews have “despised and rejected.” In consequence of this, the Deliverer will confer on them godly sorrow for sin, and repentance unto life. In this way, they shall attain and exercise repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. All this is promised, in Zech. xii. 10, “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and supplications; and they shall look on him whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.” The time when these promises shall be fulfilled to the Jews is stated in verse 9, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” This Divine work, as we will afterwards see, will be performed at the beginning of the Millen-
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nium. The blessings which are promised to the Jews are exceeding great and precious. The pouring out of the Spirit of God on them, infusing true grace into their hearts, and constraining them to present humble and fervent supplications at the mercy-seat. Pouring the Spirit on them universally, on the house of David, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The effects of this are also promised. They shall look on him whom they have pierced. They shall behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world. They shall look by faith to his atoning blood, which all their slain sacrifices prefigured, and shall obtain by it the forgiveness of their sins and the salvation of their souls. They shall also mourn for him. Godly sorrow, working repentance unto salvation not to be repented of, shall also be produced in them. They shall mourn for their own sins, for the sins of one another, and for the sins of their fathers, because of the dishonour which they have done to the Lord Jesus. The prediction and its context represents this mourning as a most bitter and heart-rending lamentation, as a national mourning, as a universal mourning, as a mourning together, and a mourning apart. Since the time of this mourning is fixed for an era after they had pierced Christ, and crucified the Lord of glory; since its nature and effects are truly spiritual, and since no such looking unto Jesus, nor mourning for him, has been found among the Jews during their dispersion, we may assuredly believe and confidently affirm, that this prediction has not yet been fulfilled on them. But when the Deliverer shall come out of Sion, he will fulfil this promise and turn away ungodliness from Jacob. The foundation of every part of true godliness is infallibly laid, when Christ communicates to men the gift of his Holy Spirit. Then true grace is implanted within them, then they are enabled and disposed to pray, then they believe in him for salvation, and then they truly mourn for their guiltiness and sin. When Christ shall fulfil this promise to the Jews, he will lead them on to know and experience all the inward exercises and all the outward effects of true godliness. He will enable them to love the Lord with all their hearts, to hope in his mercy, to improve the everlasting covenant as all their salvation, to meditate on his word, to mortify the deeds of the body, to resist Satan’s temptations, to obtain victory over the world, to grow in grace, to enjoy communion with God, and to prepare for death. They shall also attain to the outward effects of godliness, by order-
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ing their conversation aright, performing their relative duties, attending on all Divine ordinances, and exercising zeal for the glory of God. In performing this great work for Jacob’s sons, the Deliverer will cause the grace of God, which bringeth salvation to all men, to appear to them; “Teaching them, that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, they should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”
The means by which the Deliverer shall effect this wonderful change on the seed of Abraham are now to be mentioned.
1. The Deliverer will turn away ungodliness from Jacob, by exciting the Christian Gentiles to apply their mercy to the Jews, that they also may obtain mercy. The Apostle Paul, speaking to the believing Gentiles, declares, “For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief; even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy,” Rom. xi. 30, 31. The outward means by which the Jews shall obtain mercy, are contained in the mercy of the Gentiles. The word of God, the preached Gospel, and all the other ordinances of God belong to the mercy of the Gentiles. The Scriptures are the word of faith, and faith cometh by hearing. By means of the word of God, and the reading, the preaching, and the hearing of it, the author and finisher of faith will bring all Israel to believe in himself, that they may be saved. The Scriptures are the word of Christ, and testify of him; when Israel shall be saved, they shall hear and learn of the Father, and so shall they come to the Saviour. There are no other spiritual means for turning Jacob from ungodliness, but those blessed privileges which God, in his mercy, has granted to the Gentiles. And there are no other human instruments that will be employed to apply those means to the Jews, in the commencement of this great work, but the members of his Church among the Gentiles. Under the Deliverer’s gracious or providential excitement, many Societies have been established for supporting the means that are now employed for bringing the Jews to the faith of Christ. The Parent Society, whose committee conducts the measures that are adopted, has declared to the Jews their object; to attempt to instruct them in the knowledge of Christianity, and bring them to the faith of the Gospel. By the same excitement, many christian messengers have been despatched to the Jews in almost every nation where they reside. They seek out the Jews,
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and the Jews, in some places, flock to them. They hold conversations with them, preach the Gospel to them, present to them the evidences of Christ’s Messiahship, tell them of the guilt and misery of their natural state, shew them the sinfulness and danger of rejecting the Saviour, and beseech them to believe in him, that they may be reconciled to God. They furnish them with the Scriptures in the original language, and in the languages with which they are acquainted. They distribute among them religious tracts and books. They have erected schools in many places for the education of their youth. They have sent forth some of their converted brethren as christian missionaries to them. These labour among the Jews with zeal, assiduity, and success. Schemes have been devised, and put in execution, for gathering the converted Jews, who are persecuted by their unconverted relations and brethren, into a place of safety, where further christian instruction, and lawful worldly employments, are provided for them. The success which has attended these means and the prospects that are still opening, are very great and encouraging. These means are still increasing, and the success which has attended them, is as extensive, as, in the present state of things, can reasonably be expected. There is also some cause to hope that they will continue and increase, till the house of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their King, and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days. From this very general and imperfect account of these operations, may we not conclude, that Jesus has stirred up the spirits of Gentile christians to apply their mercy to the Jews, that they also may obtain mercy.
2. The Deliverer will turn away ungodliness from Jacob, by adding his Divine and efficacious blessing to the means that are or may be employed for perfecting the salvation of Israel. Solomon informs us, Prov. x. 4. “But the hand of the diligent maketh rich.” In the 22d verse of the same chapter, he adds, “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” Success in every pursuit should not be expected by him who does not carefully use the means for obtaining it. No means, however proper and wisely employed, will be successful for gaining the end, without the Divine blessing. These remarks, applying as they do to every pursuit, are peculiarly verified in those that are religious and spiritual. There is a great difference between the means, and the blessing which renders them successful. The means are in the
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power of the creatures, and it is their duty to employ them. But the blessing is in the hand of God, and it is his prerogative to bestow it. He has promised the blessing. “In all places where I record my name, I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee,” Exod. xx. 24. When Gentile and Jewish Messengers preach the Gospel, and carry and explain the Divine word to the seed of Jacob, God is recording his name among them, and to them the promise will be fulfilled, “I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.” This promise extends to all places where God will record his name. The blessing is also promised, Psa. cxxxiii. 3, “For there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.” “The mountains of Sion” represent the place of ordinances; and the life which God commands there is spiritual and eternal, even life for evermore. When christian labourers, therefore, go to the children of Abraham according to the flesh, and apply to them those means which God has appointed for the salvation of men; they may say, in the exercise of faith and hope, “He will bless us, he will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron, he will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great.” Wherever the instituted means of grace are dispensed for their recovery, God’s name is near to be revealed, and his blessing is about to be bestowed on them. The great Deliverer will not withhold his blessing; but will accompany the means with the Spirit’s influences, making them effectual for turning away ungodliness from Jacob. Spiritual labourers, however, on this important field, like the ordinary husbandman, must wait for the precious fruits of the Spirit, and exercise long patience, until he receive the early and latter rain of Divine influences from above. “Be ye also patient, stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” When the Jews give attention to what is said to them, when a spirit of inquiry after the truth is excited among them, and when doubts of the goodness of their former belief are produced in their hearts, the blessing is drawing near. If they are disposed to consider the evidences of Christ’s Messiahship, if they candidly compare the predictions concerning him with what he did, and with what was done to him, and if they show a desire of more instruction and satisfaction in this, as a matter of the utmost importance to them, there will be found among the Jews many tokens for good. If they are convinced of their sin and danger of Divine wrath, if they are persuaded of the all-sufficiency of Christ’s righteousness
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and atonement for removing their guilt, and if they perceive their Divine warrant to trust in him for eternal life, the Jewish fields will be white to harvest. When they are enabled to believe in Jesus as their only Saviour, are emboldened, by submitting to his ordinances, openly to profess his name, and are resolved, in the strength of his grace, to walk as he also walked, they shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture. And when these become the attainments of the great body of the Jewish people, the Deliverer’s work will be fulfilled, in blessing the means for turning away ungodliness from Jacob.
3. The Deliverer will accomplish this work upon the Jews, by removing stumbling-blocks out of their way. This is foretold, Isa. lvii. 13, 14, “But he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain; and shall say, cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.” In the four following verses, the Lord makes such declarations concerning his own glory and doings among his ancient people, as seem not to apply to their return from Babylon, but must have their realization in the latter day. The Deliverer’s operation is also foretold, chap. lxii. 10, 11, 12. That most comfortable prophecy which is contained in the preceding verses, as we have already seen, relates to the final recovery and restoration of the Jews. The preparations for their return are stated, verse 10, “Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.” The solemn announcement of their return is made, verse 11, “Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, say ye to the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.” The solemnity, the extent, and the operations mentioned in these words, are altogether inapplicable to the return from Babylon. Their blessedness, after their return, is declared, verse 12, “And they shall call them the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord; and thou shalt be called, Sought out, a city not forsaken.” This description, in all its parts, is quite too high for any state of the Jewish Church or nation since the days of Cyrus. This prediction of course is yet to be fulfilled. Verse 10th must also be applied to Divine works that are future. The preparation of the way, the removal of the stones and stumbling-blocks, the
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lifting up the standard to the people, and the commencement of the Jewish march to Christ as their only refuge, and to Canaan as their prepared residence, are all mentioned in this prophecy. The Deliverer’s work is to remove these stumbling-blocks out of their way. The Jews, in their ignorance and unbelief, made many things, belonging to Christ himself, a stumbling-block to their souls; for they were offended in him, and stumbled at the stumbling-stone. His person, his low condition, the spiritual nature of his doctrine and kingdom, the ends of his mission, his sufferings and death, caused them to cry, We will not have this man to reign over us. The following generations of the Jews have been filled with these prejudices. When the light of the Gospel will shine into their hearts, these stumbling-blocks will be entirely removed. Then they shall be convinced that those things at which they and their fathers have stumbled, were glorious displays of Divine wisdom and grace, were the fulfilment of instituted types and ancient prophecies, and were indispensably necessary to the salvation of sinners. Then they shall admire the things which they formerly despised. The present condition of the Christian Churches, having so many divisions and imperfections among them, and being filled with such a crowd of nominal and unsanctified members, must be a stumbling-block to considerate Jews. But when Jesus begins his work in their hearts, he will convince them of the necessity of believing on him, and will say to them, “What is that to thee, follow thou me!” As the Jews, since their return from Babylon, have abhorred idolatry, the worship of saints and images, and other abominations of the Popish church, which, though it has corrupted, yet still professes Christianity, must also be a stumbling-block to the children of Jacob. But when they shall fully understand Christ’s religion in its truth and purity, they will see that the rise, continuance, and destruction of that system have been circumstantially predicted in the New Testament; and therefore the existence of this apostacy should not hinder, but rather encourage them to embrace true Christianity. The very deplorable condition of the Heathen and Mahometan nations may also appear as a stumbling-block to them. But this is no more inconsistent with the truth of the Christian religion, than the universal idolatry and blindness of all the nations, prior to Christ’s incarnation, were inconsistent with the Divine institution of the Mosaic economy. The season for the universal illumination of the nations is not yet
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come; but the signs of its approach are many. When it shall arrive, according to the prophecies both of the Old and the New Testaments, the Jews and Gentiles in every land shall be obedient to the Christian faith. The cruel and unnatural persecution to which converted Jews are exposed, by their relations and brethren according to the flesh, must operate as a stumbling-block and a trial of considerable magnitude. Those whom the good shepherd brings into his fold, for them he will provide; for the resources of his providence, like the treasures of his grace, are inexhaustible. It is to be believed, however, that as the Jews are brought in, these stumbling-blocks will be weakened; and, at the coming in of their fulness, they shall all be destroyed for ever.
4. The Deliverer will turn away ungodliness from Jacob by means of sanctified afflictions. The prediction which contains this Divine work upon Jacob’s sons, is found in Ezek. xx. 33—38, “As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched-out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you. And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries, wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched-out arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face: Like as I pleaded with your fathers, in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me; I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.” In the Jews’ return from the land of Babylon, this prediction was not fulfilled. By reading the history of the return of those who came back to Canaan, under the direction of Zerubbabel and Joshua, recorded, Ezra, 2d chapter; and of those who returned under Ezra, detailed in chap. viii. of that book, we will be convinced that this prophecy was not accomplished in these events. From the sacred history, it is certain that both companies had a peaceful, prosperous, and undisturbed journey from Chaldea to Canaan. The Lord did not, at that time, with a mighty hand, with a stretched-out arm, and fury poured out, rule over his returning captives. Neither did he bring them into the wilderness of the people, nor plead with them face to
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face. We have no cause to believe that the Lord purged out any Jews from among the captives, by executing on them destructive judgments as incorrigible rebels. Nor were the captives, at this time, scattered in different countries, as this prediction supposes the Jews to be, at the season when it will be accomplished. From these considerations it seems indisputable, that its realization is reserved for a future period. Till the day declare it, it is impossible to explain circumstantially this prophetic oracle. It must be sufficient for us to take a very general view of it. In addition to what has been said on that subject, in a foregoing Discourse, these verses assure us, that the posterity of Abraham will yet be put in possession of the land of their fathers. This must be understood as the import of these verses, and it is asserted expressly in verse 42. At the time of the conversion of the Jews’ fulness, and their restoration to the land of promise, God will plead with them, by fatherly correction, until they are truly convinced of their sin against the Lord and his Christ, until they are brought low before him on account of their abominations, and until they shall loathe themselves in their own sight, for all the evils that they have committed, verses 43, 44. If we consider the work in which they will be engaged, departing from the countries where they have sojourned, and returning to Canaan, we will not wonder at the trials and hardships to which they must be subjected. A part of the afflictions of Israel, at the time of their deliverance, may arise from the convulsed state of the nations in which they have dwelt. “And there shall be a time of trouble,” says God by his Prophet Daniel, “such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” When the Jews are delivered, the nations shall be suffering under great judgments from the hand of God. While they are in this situation, the Lord may take occasion to withdraw his people from among them. In the wise and powerful dispensations of his providence, the Lord may place his ancient people under a necessity of departing, that they may escape the final and most destructive retributions on the nations, for upholding, and for participating in the sins both of the secular and the ecclesiastic beast. He will cause them to pass under the rod, either of sanctified affliction, of the tithing rod, or of the shepherd’s crook, by which he will try them, count, and write them one by one, or take them as his own
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portion, and bring them into the bond of the covenant. He will then recognise and bless them as his new covenant people, and they shall embrace and serve him as their new covenant God. The destruction of those Jews who, at that time, will be incorrigible in their unbelief, will be another awful Divine dispensation which will have some influence in turning away ungodliness from Jacob. Concerning them, two things are predicted. They shall not be allowed to remain in the places where they sojourn; and they shall not be permitted to enter into the land of Israel. Their doom will be similar to the punishment of those whose carcases, in the days of Moses, fell in the wilderness. Who these will be, what shall be their number, and by what means this threatened destruction shall overtake them, cannot be determined; but we may rest assured, that the Lord, by executing his judgments upon them, will purge out the rebels from among his people. The happy effect which all these doings of the Lord will produce on the great body of that people is also mentioned: “And ye shall know that I am the Lord.” And ye shall know and acknowledge me as the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom I have sent, as the promised Messiah. Ye shall know that I, who am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, am also the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the God and Father of all those who believe in him.
5. The Deliverer will turn away ungodliness from Jacob, by exciting a Christian Gentile nation, or nations, to facilitate their return to the land of Canaan. This wonderful work of God in behalf of Israel, is plainly predicted in various prophecies: “And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the Lord out of all nations, upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord,” Isa. lxvi. 20. “Thus saith the Lord God, I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people, and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried on their shoulders,” chap. xlix. 22. “Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and unto the Holy One of Israel, for he hath glorified thee.” chap. lx. 9. “To a land shadowing with wings—go ye swift messengers to a nation scattered and peeled. In that
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day shall the present be brought unto the Lord of Hosts, of a people scattered and peeled, &c.—to the place of the name of the Lord of Hosts, the mount Sion,” chap. xviii. 1, 2, 7. These declarations were not fulfilled in the return of the captives from Babylon, for, on that occasion, no such events happened as are here foretold. In no period have that people enjoyed such Divine interpositions on their behalf. In vain will we search the history of the past generations of Israel, to find a season in which they were accomplished. To suppose that they will never be fulfilled, impeaches God’s veracity and power, and indicates an impious mind. This conclusion is unavoidable, that there is a time drawing near when the Lord will dispose the hearts of some nation, or nations, of the Gentiles, to engage in the glorious work of conducting the children of Abraham to their fathers’ land. These prophecies constrain us to believe and assert, that they shall be brought back by a Divine impulse on the nations, as the grand and moving cause of their deliverance. That they shall be found, at that time, in all nations, and shall return out of every one of them. That all of them shall be brought, male and female, for sons and daughters are mentioned. That they shall be brought with all their substance, even their silver and gold with them. That they shall be brought in different ways, some by sea, and others by land. That some of them shall be conveyed with greater dignity and speed, and some with less pomp and rapidity. That they shall be brought as a pure offering to the Lord, and an acceptable present to him, like an offering in a clean vessel. And that they shall be brought to Jerusalem, and to mount Sion, the place where the Lord did put his name, and to the land which he had given to their fathers. These wonderful operations in behalf of the Jews will have a powerful effect, by the Divine blessing, for convincing them of the truth of the Christian religion, and for turning away ungodliness from Jacob. The last of these predictions seems to inform us, that there will be one Christian Gentile nation divinely summoned to engage in this work, and principally employed in effecting it. As the Jews are so widely scattered among the nations, though one may begin this work, and be chiefly instrumental in carrying it on, yet some other nations may share of this honour. It has been inquired to which of the nations will this important charge be intrusted? From this prediction, Isa. xviii. it appears that the employment of that nation has a special reference to those Jews,
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whose local situation, at that time, will render it necessary that they should be transported to Canaan in ships. But those Jews who will return by land, according to the prophecies of Isaiah, chap. xlix. and lxvi. will be assisted in their return by other nations. If we consider the local situation of the nations, their outward capabilities, and the zeal they have manifested for the conversion of Israel, we may rank our own land first, and next to it stand the American States, in their claim to this honourable work. It must be acknowledged, however, that human conjectures, on matters of this class, are often erroneous; and when we hazard them, we should remember with humility, that “the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”
6. The Lord will perfect the salvation of all Israel, and turn away ungodliness from Jacob, by the destruction of those enemies who will attempt to cast them out of the promised land, after they have returned to it. Ezekiel’s prophecy, which is contained in the xxxviii. and xxxix. chapters of his book, assures us that this attempt will be made, and that it will be ruinous to the Jews’ enemies. In this singular prediction, there are ten statements which deserve our particular attention.—1. The description which is given of this enemy: “Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief Prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,” xxxviii. 2. The 5th and 6th verses ascertain his allies in this unrighteous war. From their names, it may be supposed, that this army will be composed of troops from the African shores of the Mediterranean sea, the north of Europe, and the western parts of Asia.—2. We have a description of the Jews when this enemy will invade them, verses 8, 12, 16. After the Jews have been brought back from the sword of various calamities, gathered out of many people, after their land has been long waste, after they have been brought out of the nations, and after the places which had been desolate are again inhabited, and the land stored with cattle and goods. This account of the Jews cannot apply to them, either at or since, their deliverance from Babylon; but will be most descriptive of their situation after they have regained the possession of the promised land.—3. The time of this barbarous irruption into Canaan is also characterized. It shall be done in the “latter years,” verse 8, and “in the latter days,” verse 16. This army shall come against Israel, in these latter years and days, after which they shall no more
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pollute God’s name, chap. xxxix. 7, after which he would no more hide his face from them, and after he had poured out his Spirit upon them, verse 29. These latter years and days, mentioned in connexion with these things, can apply to no other period than the latter days of the Gospel dispensation, when Israel shall no more pollute God’s holy name, nor shall be any more forsaken of the Lord.—4. The vision also represents the opinion which friendly nations will entertain of this predatory attack. “Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? Hast thou gathered thy company together to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?” verse 13.—5. The destruction of this great enemy is also marked in the prophecy, “And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God; every man’s sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire and brimstone,” verses 21, 22. In the seven verses at the beginning of the xxxixth chapter, we have another representation of that overthrow. The number of the slain, as stated in verse 2d, “And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee.” If the army consisted of 300,000 men, 50,000 only should escape. From the description of this defeat, which has been quoted, it appears, that by the sword of the Jews and their allies, by the mutual slaughter of the different divisions of the army, attacking one another, and chiefly by the immediate hand and judgments of God, it will be produced.—6. The manner of burying Gog’s army is also predicted, chap. xxxix. 11—16. The victory will be so decisive, and the carnage so immense, that the survivors will never think of burying their dead. “Seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land,” verse 12.—7. The use that will be made of their weapons of war is also foretold, verses 8, 9, 10. The Israelites will not preserve them as conquering armies always do; because they will believe that during that period on which they are entering, “nations shall not learn war any more.” They shall burn them with fire.—8. This prediction also exhibits the effect which this marvellous destruction of Israel’s enemies will produce on the nations. “Thus will I mag-
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nify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord,” verse 23; and again, chap. xxxix. ver. 21. “And I will set my glory among the heathen, or Gentiles, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.”—9. The blessed fruit of this deliverance on the sons of Jacob, is likewise declared. “So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God, from that day and forward,” verse 22. This public and very astonishing work of Providence, will be a mean of converting to the faith of Jesus, those Jews and Gentiles, who have not already believed; and of confirming, in their most holy faith, those of both classes who had formerly embraced the Christian religion.—10. The solemn conclusion of this prediction is contained in the five verses at the end of chap. xxxix. In these verses, he renews his promise to turn again their captivity, and to have mercy on the whole house of Israel, for the glory of his name; after they had borne their shame and the punishment of their sins, which they had committed in their own land, by crucifying the Lord of glory, persecuting his Apostles and followers, and rejecting the Gospel dispensation. When he should bring them again from the people, he would cause them to know that he is the Lord their God who had sent them into captivity for their sins, who had delivered them from their captive state, and who would no more hide his face from them, for he has poured out his Spirit on the house of Israel. As a confirmation of this view of the prophecy, concerning Gog and Magog, it may be observed, that the thirteen Chapters at the end of the book of Ezekiel contain a series of prophecies, applying entirely to the Jews, before and after the commencement of the Millennium. In chap. xxxvi. there are two predictions. The former relates to the fruitfulness of the land when they shall be restored to it, after which it should never devour men, nor bereave its nations any more. The latter refers to their spiritual deliverance; “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them,” verse 27. “That ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen,” verse 30. They shall never after this be brought low. At the beginning of chap. xxxvii, Israel’s present condition is represented by a multitude of dry bones scattered in an open valley, and their conversion and
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restoration are symbolized by the resurrection of these bones. To this object is the vision applied, in verses 11—14. The latter part of this chapter contains a long prediction concerning the union of Judah and Israel, their conversion to Christianity, their return to their own land, and their greatness, purity, and happiness, in their recovered condition. In the two following chapters, the prophecy concerning Gog and Magog is recorded. The nine chapters which conclude the book, contain a wonderful vision, in which the happiness, the prosperity, and the glory of the Christian Jewish church and nation, till the end of the world, are distinctly predicted. The very beautiful arrangement of these prophetic revelations, presenting to our view the most important transactions of Providence concerning the Jews, in the exact order of their accomplishment, as it should excite our admiration at the Divine wisdom and condescension, so it should establish our belief in their truth, and in the certainty of their fulfilment. It would be very absurd to assert that this chain of prophecies and predicted operations, so numerous, so magnificent, and so interesting, were realized in the Jews’ return from Babylon. And therefore, to no other period than the latter years of the Christian dispensation, can we look for the season of their accomplishment.—In this place, it may be necessary to say, that a people of the same name and character are mentioned, Rev. xx. 8, 9; but they are not the same. The Gog and Magog in the Revelation will arise after the thousand years of the Church’s glory in the world have expired, and will be followed by the last judgment. But the Gog and Magog in Ezekiel will appear at the beginning of the thousand years, or of the Jews’ return to their own land, and be succeeded by the Church’s blessedness, both among Jews and Gentiles. The same events that Ezekiel predicts concerning Gog and Magog are foretold by Zechariah, in the xiith chapter of his book. In verse 9th, the Lord’s work is described. “And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all nations that come against Jerusalem.” This prediction has no reference to the Jews’ return from Babylon, because it was delivered to them, after the greater part of them had come back to their own land. It refers to a time when many nations would come against Jerusalem, similar to the army of Gog and Magog. In the foregoing part of the chapter, the Lord promises to perform such wonderful things for them as greatly resemble
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his doings in the destruction of the host of Gog. In verse 2d, after a most solemn introduction in verse 1st, he promises to make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the people round about; to make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people, all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it, verse 3d; and to make the Governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf, and they shall devour all the people round about, verse 6th. He threatens also to smite every horse of the enemies with astonishment and blindness, and his rider with madness, verse 4th. He promises that Jerusalem shall be again inhabited, that Judah should be saved, that the inhabitants of Jerusalem should be defended, and supernaturally strengthened, verses 6, 7, 8. These things put together, describe such a deliverance as accords not with any Divine operation on their behalf since the captivity; and therefore, we may conclude that this entire prophecy refers to the destruction of the last enemy at the beginning of the Millennium. This opinion will be confirmed, if we consider the three characters of that day in which those things shall be performed, as they are stated in the following part of the prophecy. One of these characters of the season when this prediction will be fulfilled, is described, verses 10—14. It will be at the time when the Lord will pour upon Israel the Spirit of grace and supplication, causing them to look on him whom their fathers had pierced, and to mourn bitterly for the opposition they have made to him. “In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem.” And the land shall mourn, every family apart.” These things could not be fulfilled, till the Jews had killed the Prince of life. In no period of their history have the Jews been brought to such a mourning, proceeding from such a cause, and leading them to the exercises of faith and repentance. This season then will arrive, when the Deliverer shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Another character of this time is mentioned, chap. xiii. 1. “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.” This fountain signifies the righteousness and blood, the Spirit and grace of the Lord Jesus; the former for removing the guilt of sin, and the latter for taking away its defilement. To the Church under the past dispensations, this fountain was opened, by promises, types, and predictions. This
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fountain was really opened by the incarnation, obedience, suffering and death of the Son of God, who purchased for his people justifying and sanctifying grace. By the ministry of the Apostles, this fountain was doctrinally opened to both Jews and Gentiles, and efficiently opened by the Holy Spirit to those who truly believed. But the great body of the Jews rejected this fountain, and after a short period they were almost entirely alienated from it. During eighteen hundred years, this fountain has been doctrinally opened to many Gentile nations, and efficaciously opened to every one of them who are saved. Now, when all Israel shall be saved, at the coming in of the Gentiles’ fulness, this fountain, by the preaching of the Gospel, and the power of the Spirit, shall be opened, both doctrinally and efficaciously to the whole house of Israel. The third description of this time is contained in verse 2d. “And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of Hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered; and also, I will cause the prophets, and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.” The best exposition of this verse will be found in our text; “There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” These characters of this season, which, in the few verses we have glanced, is nine times designated, “In that day,” fix it for the beginning of the Christian Millennium. The awful threatenings against the Jews’ enemies recorded in them, refer to the same events which will be accomplished in the destruction of Gog’s army. The whole of these Divine operations, as both predictions declare, will terminate in the conversion and restoration, and in the purity and happiness of Israel.
In concluding this Discourse, a few inferences may be deduced from what is contained in it.
1. By this subject, additional proofs of Israel’s restoration to the land of Canaan are urged on our consideration. For what purpose is their way prepared, the stumbling-blocks removed, the standard displayed, and the call to depart proclaimed to them? The purpose must be, that the seed of Abraham may again change their dwelling. Where is it that the Lord their God will visit them with purifying trials? Certainly when they are on their way to the promised rest in their own land. To what place will some of the christian
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nations assist the Jews to return? To the land of their fathers undoubtedly. Where will their last enemy be destroyed? In the land of Canaan, after they have been brought to possess it. That these things will be done for that people is evident from the unchangeable predictions concerning them. Every one of them necessarily implies, and some of them plainly assert, their return to the ancient possessions of their fathers.
2. Religious principles in the heart of man are necessary to human happiness. The Jews must be turned from their ungodliness before they can be truly happy, even in a land that floweth with milk and honey, and is covered with fruitful fields and vineyards. Spiritual blessings sweeten and perfect temporal mercies. How can the body enjoy true happiness, while the soul is dead in trespasses and sins? Religious exercises in the hearts of men are necessary to direct them to the lawful use of temporal benefits, and to excite them to due gratitude to the Giver of all good. The Lord knows the ingredients that must enter into the cup of human happiness. This cup he has mixed up for his ancient people. Their salvation, the removal of their ungodliness, and the taking away of their sin, enter into the composition of it. In connection with these blessings he has promised to bring them into their own land, and to make it fruitful, “But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come. For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown.” To be possessed of great worldly enjoyments, and to be destitute of the grace of God, constitutes one of the most dangerous situations in which men can be placed. To avoid the danger of this, and of every other condition in life, let us obey Christ’s call, and believe his promise, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
3. An active and scriptural attempt to bring the sons of Jacob to the faith of Christ, is that good work which, under the superintendence of the Deliverer, will prosper in the hands of the Gentile churches. It is a good work. By it God is glorified, and the Saviour honoured. By its success the Jews will be delivered from temporal, spiritual, and eternal miseries, and brought to enjoy blessings numerous and invaluable, both in the life that now is, and in the life that is to come. In the performance of it, the Gentile
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churches are paying a great debt which they owe to the Jews, are performing a commanded duty, and are preparing themselves for enjoying blessings from the Lord. This work will prosper in their hands. In his word he has promised salvation to Israel, and in many scripture predictions he has foretold it. This good work, therefore, must prosper, and at God’s appointed time, it will be completely effected. These things are a sure foundation for the christian’s faith and hope of Israel’s conversion, and an abundant encouragement to them to persevere in this blessed work.
4. That Christ will confer his promised blessings on the Jews, both by merciful and fearful works. Of these works, in both kinds, even the seed of Israel themselves will be the subjects. He will answer their prayers in righteousness by fearful works. Every sinner, prior to his conversion, passes through a work of conviction, of more or less trouble and continuance; so the Jewish people, before their national conversion, will suffer affliction in their individual and collective capacities. The Lord will contend and plead with them. This will be necessary for convincing them of their sin, for humbling them before the Lord, and for many other special purposes, of which we can have no conception. Every part of his fearful works will terminate in mercy to them. For they shall obtain mercy. At this important crisis, Christ will have enemies to destroy, as well as friends to bless. The performance of the latter will require the exercise of his mercy, and the accomplishment of the former will demand the revelation of his wrath. Each class of operations will fulfil its own end, and both of them will co-operate in the production of the same effect. Mercies bestowed on the Church will fill his enemies with terror and dismay, and judgments inflicted on his enemies will inspire his saints with confidence and hope.
5. Those persons and nations who oppose the Deliverer in this work will be destroyed; but those who are workers together with him in it shall be rewarded. The army of Gog shall perish. The nations that will come against Jerusalem shall be destroyed. Divine predictions, as we have seen, assure us that this will be their end. When the season of Israel’s salvation arrives, the time of his forbearance with their enemies will come to an end. If any nation shall strive to hinder the departure of the Jews out of their country, to return to their own land; they will suffer by Divine judgments. Their sin will be greater than that of Egypt, in the days of Moses and Aaron; and their punishment will be proportioned to their
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crime. But great shall be the honour and reward of those nations whom Christ will employ in assisting the Jews in their return. They will receive a temporal and a spiritual reward. For the promotion of Israel’s happiness as a civil and an ecclesiastic body, they will engage in this work. In both of these capacities, they shall be rewarded. If God repays his people for their charity to the poor, he certainly will re-imburse those nations who shall at this time succour Israel. If he rewarded Nebuchadnezzar and his army with the spoils of Egypt, for their labour in executing his judgments on Tyre; he certainly will recompense the christian nations for such a good and charitable work. We cannot reasonably conclude, that those nations will perform this service merely from political motives. When this season shall approach, those nations will so understand Divine predictions and providences, as will cause them to know that they are serving God in thus espousing Israel’s cause. Performing this work from proper principles, they shall in no wise lose their reward.
6. Let us now apply to our own souls the Deliverer’s work for Israel. He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. He performs the same work on every one who is saved. Let us be concerned that he may accomplish it on us. If we are not, or do not become the subjects of this work, we are undone for ever. But if he has wrought it in us, we shall reign in life, and be glorified together with Jesus. We are all by nature under the guilt, the dominion, and the pollution of ungodliness and worldly lusts. While we remain in this condition, we augment our guilt, confirm the power of sin, and increase our moral defilement, by our personal transgressions of the Divine law. It is both our duty and our privilege to consider and to believe, that “our Saviour Jesus gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” And that “the blood of Christ, who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purges our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” How can we expect eternal redemption, if we are not savingly interested in the Divine Redeemer? How can we enjoy everlasting salvation, unless we are vitally united to the Almighty Saviour? It is by believing in him, receiving him, and resting on him by faith, that we obtain a spiritual relation to him, for turning away ungodliness from us. To all those who have embraced him, he has given his Holy Spirit, to be in them a well of water spring-
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ing up unto everlasting life. In all those in whom he dwells, he implants the principles of true godliness, and enables them, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in the present world. By Christ’s sacrifice and blood, embraced by faith, the person is delivered from the guilt and condemnation of sin; and by the Spirit’s operation through the word the person is rescued from the power and defilement, from the love and practice, of his ungodliness. In this way all true believers are enabled to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. According to this scheme of Divine wisdom and grace, God justifies the ungodly, and regenerates and sanctifies their souls.
Now, O Christians, have ye seriously considered these things? They are of the utmost importance to the glory of God and your salvation. They are revealed to you in the Scriptures. Search the word of God, meditate upon it, and pray for Divine teaching, that you may grow in the knowledge of the way of salvation. Do ye approve of God’s method of saving sinners? It is the wisdom of God in a mystery, the manifold wisdom of God. It is perfectly adapted to the sinner’s condition, and it is a sure and immoveable foundation of hope. Nor is there any other way of deliverance sanctioned by the God of salvation. Have ye been constrained to improve the plan of mercy, by embracing the Lord Jesus as your only Refuge? Have ye in the exercise of faith received his atonement, come to the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling? Do ye rest on the grace, mercy, and faithfulness of God, through Christ’s everlasting righteousness for eternal life? Have ye experienced the influence of this method of salvation, in causing you to hate and forsake all sin, and to walk in the ways of true holiness? If these have been your attainments, by Divine grace, you rank among those whose ungodliness the Lord Jesus has taken away. But if ye are enemies or strangers to these objects and exercises, your ungodliness remains upon you, and, if it is continued till your end, it will be your ruin for ever. To you therefore we address the following Divine exhortations. “Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace; thereby good shall come unto thee. Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”