so long as time endures. And that seed must 'prosper in the thing whereto God hath sent it." It may fall by the way-side, and Satan may snatch it away; it may fall into stony places, and there dure but for a while; it may fall among thorns, and the cares of the world may choke it; or it may fall into good ground, and in different spots bring forth thirty, sixty, and an hundred fold (Matt. xiii. 18-23). Yet still God's purpose is accomplished, and that word "shall prosper in the thing whereto God hath sent it." Again, the word of God shall be bread to the eater throughout eternity. "Thy words were found, and I did eat them," says the prophet, "and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart" (Jer. xv. 16). "Sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb" (Ps. xix. 10), says the Psalmist. "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven” (Ps. cxix. 89). And throughout eternity the great facts and truths and promises of the Bible must cheer and refresh the human spirit; the loss of Paradise regained by Christ, the incarnation, the sacrifice, the death, the resurrection, the ascension and intercession of the Messiah, the effusion

of the Holy Ghost the Comforter, and the pleasures that are at God's right hand for evermore, these and other things revealed in the Bible shall be the ceaseless consolation and support of the soul of man. Once more the word of God shall for ever remain instinct with life and fruitfulness. The word of God, "it can never be broken" (John x. 35); it must continue to "prosper in the thing whereto God hath sent it." As the years of time and the ages of eternity roll on, it must still fulfil its high mission, "the everlasting gospel" (Rev. xiv. 6). "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come" (Matt. xxiv. 14): and when the end of the world has come, and all the saints shall have been gathered in, this imperishable word of God, the instrument of conversion and sanctification on earth, shall still remain the instrument of glorification in heaven to gladden the souls of the redeemed, and raise them up to new and unexplored regions of exaltation and glory. Such honour have all his saints. "They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of

the Lamb" (Rev. xv. 3). "If ye abide in me," says the Saviour, "and my words abide in you,

and it shall be done

Now, may "he that

ye shall ask what ye will, unto you" (John xv. 7). ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness" (2 Cor. ix. 10). Amen.

XIII.

THE JOY AND PEACE THAT ACCOMPANY BELIEF OF

THE TRUTH.

"For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."-ISA. LV. 12.

THE bountifulness of God, in his providence and in his grace, is wonderful. He often surpasses the utmost expectations of the man of the world, and goes beyond the highest hopes of the believer. The ploughman ploughs the earth, and casts in the seed, and covers it over with the harrow, and waits, and watches the times and the seasons until the autumn comes, and then a harvest of waving corn rewards all his toils and cares, not unfrequently with a return of large and unexpected liberality. The anxious inquirer asks, and seeks, and knocks; he doubts and hesitates; he stands still and wonders if God indeed will be

merciful; and at length, after all his doubts and fears, and prayers and tears, although he may have gone through fire and water, the LORD brings him out into a wealthy place (Ps. lxvi. 12). He sets his feet upon a rock, and establishes his goings (Ps. xl. 2). The LORD daily loadeth us with his benefits (Ps. lxviii. 19); the believer receives of the LORD's hand double blessings for all his sins (Isa. xl. 2). So is it now with the words before us. The Lord had promised "mercy" and "abundant pardon" to "the wicked man" on "forsaking his way," and to "the unrighteous man" on "forsaking his thoughts" and "returning unto the LORD" (ver. 7). And now, turning to the penitent Jews, he speaks home to them, and tells them of their posterity, who being about to be carried into Babylon (Isa. xxxix. 6) should, on being penitent, be restored again, and that with a mighty hand and exuberant exultation: "For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace : the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."

May the God of all grace be with us; may