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feast, were intended, the passage must ever remain equivocal; a departure from correct rhetorical principles, such as I venture to affirm is not to be found in scripture.

Our text proceeds: It, (the merchandise,) shall not be treasured nor laid up. It appears, from the rest of the verse, that the wealth of the nation will be judiciously applied, and carefully husbanded; but, it will not be treasured, as previously, by individuals, for their own exclusive benefit, and that of their heirs; it will not be laid up, while any are in want. And this by no means requires that the rich should alienate of their possessions, to any unreasonable degree. Far from it. This would not be the way to help the poor. It is only required that their wealth should be so disposed, that it should be, in truth, as according to the first of the verse, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

For her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD. This expression, to dwell before the LORD, does not occur elsewhere in scripture. There is no reason to doubt that it alludes, like the first of the verse, to some circumstance in the Jewish economy. It will be observed that it does not allude to any class, as the priests, nazarites, &c., but to the nation generally; at least, to such as comply with the Divine requirements. The primary reference then, is to those who come up to Jerusalem to keep the solemn feasts, to offer sacrifices, and to worship, in the court of the temple. These might be said to dwell before the LORD. In order to understand the precise application of the language, to later times, we at once recur to the vision of Ezekiel, where the circumstances of the last days are prefigured, under similar emblems. Those who have read the Millenial Institutions will recollect, that before the principal court of the city there is an altar.* At the north gate of the same court there are also, eight tables of stone, the use of which has been mentioned, in

* Ezek. 40: 47.

our preliminary observations.* There is also an altar before the temple, as before the actual temple at Jerusalem.† Those then, who observe the ordinances of these altars, are they who dwell before the LORD. This explanation is confirmed by the remainder of the verse.‡ To eat sufficiently. Thousands now die, every year, in Ireland, of want; and, whatever might be, or whatever sanguine philanthropists may hope or believe, past experience furnishes little encouragement for expecting any great improvement very speedily.. But if a well arranged social organization were to be introduced, throughout the British Empire, I fear not to affirm, as the result of considerable observation and reflection, that, such would be the improved economicks, consequent upon more watchful superintendence, and division of labor, and such the increased production, from various causes, that, not only might every one eat sufficiently, but, every individual in the empire, might enjoy all the substantial advantages of wealth. This is no phantom of the imagination. It would not comport with my plan to discuss the question here; but I may observe, that the example of the Shaking Quakers, or Millenial Church, as they denominate themselves, places the matter on the basis of experiment, continued for a sufficient period, at different places, and under varying circumstances, with results, in every instance, I believe,

* Ezek. 40: 39-43.

† Ezek. 43: 13-17, with 47: 1. See this clause of the verse, and the next, with Deut. 12: 17, 18; 14: 22-27.

§ Answers to the question, by a late commission on the condition of the poor in Ireland; "Are any persons known to have died of actual destitution in your parish within the last three years?"

By the Rev. Peter Ward, Anghena-" In the year 1838, six persons died of actual want; since that period I take upon myself to say, that of every five persons who have died, three always die of inanition, brought on by bad food, bad clothing, and bad or no bedding."

From the parish of Castletown Delvin, Westmeath-" From absolute destitution, from 25 to 30; from disease incurred by extreme want, from 60 to 70."

completely successful. And for durable clothing. Marginal reading, old clothing. The right reading is here important, as it conveys an idea, not to be found in the substitute of the translators. By old clothing is certainly not meant poor clothing; but clothes made before hand, clothes in abundance, not only in the immediate possession of every individual, but ready for distribution; clothes made of the best and most appropriate materials, in the most skillful manner, and after the most approved patterns, as respects utility, ornament, comfort, health; the miserable fluctuations of fashion, which render old clothes so undesirable, and which cause probably, more evil than any superstition of pagan lands, being no longer known. Here again, is supposed a condition of things, not likely to exist, soon, under the individual tenure of property.

Hitherto we have considered the change, which is to be accomplished, chiefly with respect to its external circumstances. But those who are spoken of are to dwell before the LORD, in a spiritual sense; by rendering to him, all obedience, reverence, honor, love and duty. And the social organization, considered as a means, may doubtless contribute greatly, to this so desirable result; by its abundance and tranquillity, its opportunities for instruction in all the relative duties, and for improved social intercourse; and especially, by the exemption, which it will afford, from that intense spirit of acquisition, which has ever characterized the individual tenure of property; and which, with its inevitable accompaniments, constitutes that spirit of the world, so hurtful, so perilous; and which, we have the authority of scripture for saying, is a prolific source of all the evils, which afflict mankind: They that will be rich fall into temptation, and a snare, and many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is the root of all evil. But aside from considerations of this sort, the social system is pointed out, by infinite wisdom, as that form of social organization in which men shall dwell before the LORD. Doubtless therefore, it is the best; and those who adopt it, in the fear of God, trusting in him, and duly regarding the teachings of his word, and the sanctions of his will, may humbly trust, that the way is prepared for those multiplied blessings, which God has promised, in the day when he shall remember the poor. Yet setteth he the poor on high after affliction, and maketh families like a flock. The righteous shall see it, and rejoice; and all iniquity shall stop her mouth. For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest forever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread; I will also clothe her priests with salvation; and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.†

It may be inferred from the preceding, that Ireland will early embrace the social system. That the part which Ireland is to act, in the regeneration of the British Empire, and of the world, will be highly honorable, may be safely concluded, from the apparatus of prophecy by which she is set apart from the nations, and from the name, which is conferred upon her.

But where, it may be asked, where, is England? Alas! England is oppressed with fears. Fears from without, and from within. Without she fears the rivalry, far more the

*Psal. 107: 41, 42.

+ Psal. 132: 13-16.

example, of the United States. Within she is assailed by dissent, and every form of immature and reckless popular interference, on the one hand, and by popery, on the other. Herself paralized with conscious doubt, and distrust, and incredulity of aught better; and the Church, to England, as an organized community, enjoying the special favor of God, the breath of life, fearfully debased by the spirit of the world, by dissension, and practical unbelief. Well may England fear. Where are her wise men, her counsellors, her priests? Know they how to lay one stone of that spiritual temple, the modle of that, seen in vision by Ezekiel; the counter-part of the city, which has been, already, in a manner, described? In that temple is first to be placed the ark of the testament, spoken of in Revelation.* And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.† Connected with the re-construction of the religious edifice in England, are things of such dread and solemn moment, that they can be revealed only to a few of the chief depositories of power and trust in the nation. It remains to be seen, whether England, repenting truly of her manifold, her great, her aggravated, transgressions, will avail herself of the opportunity - perhaps the last afforded by the fleeting moments of a frail existence, to secure that knowledge, which alone can enable her to reach her high destiny; which alone can render her the mountain of the LORD's house. If I am properly sought, if my life be continued, and if that Divine aid be vouchsafed, without which I can do nothing, I may peradventure, for a brief period, be found.

5

*See Millenial Institutions.

+ Rev. 11: 19.

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