ry, or Mercy Seat, where the Lord did fit, and from whence he did Commune with his People. Exo. xxv. 2. 22. And thou shalt put the Mercy Seat above upon the Ark, and in the Ark thou shalt put the Teftimony that I fhall give thee, and there will I meet with thee, and I will Commune with thee from above the Mercy Seat, from between the two Cherubims, which are upon the Ark of the Teftimony, of all Things which I will give thee in Commandment unto the Children of Ifrael. O! What Grace was fhaddowed out in this, that the Laws which were put into the Ark, fhould be placed under the Mercy Seat; or that the Mercy Seat, where the Lord did fit to Commune with his Children, fhould be placed above, or upon the Ark; to fhew that it was by Christ the Law must be fulfill'd, and Wrath muft be removed: It is by the Lord Jefus Chrift, who is the Mercy, or the Propitiatory Seat, from whence it is God doth Commune with us, in a way of Mercy and Favour: And thro' whom it is that we do, and only can enjoy Communion with God: It is the Lord Jefus that covers the Ark, Typed out by the Mercy Seat which was upon it, who fcreens us from the Curfes, and Malediction of the Law. Well, this is the Place, Seat, or Refidence, where the Lord did, does, and will reft in his Love to his People. Therefore, by his Feet, or the Place of his Feet, (which is a Token of his Prefence) muft undoubtedly fignify to us, that the glorious Prefence of God in the Mediator's Perfon, will be wonderful to the Saints, in that Blessed Kingdom of our Lord Jefus Chrift. The Prefence of Jehovah will, in that Day, be fo Wonderful, Glorious and Confpicuous in the Church, (when

PP

the

the Spirit fhall be poured down) as that they fhall not doubt, or query, whether the Lord is in the midft of them or no? Because he hath promised in thefe Words, that he will make his Feet, or bis Prefence to be Glorious in Zion: Then fhall the Saints be fully affured that God, in the Lamb Chrift Jefus, is in the midst of them, of a Truth.

Verfe 14. The Sons alfo of them that afflicted thee, fhall come bending unto thee, and all they that defpifed thee fhall bow themselves down at the Soles of thy Feet, and they fhall call thee the City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Ifrael.

I fhall here observe, Firft, That the Church and People of God have been a poor and an afflicted People. This might be proved from a Multitude of Places in the Old and New Teftament; but these Words do plainly hold it forth. Therefore, Secondly, That the Saints and Children of God fhall be deliver'd out of all their Afflictions; not only when they come to Heaven, but whilft they are Living bere, fuch a Time there will certainly be, in this World, as is very full both in the Text, and in this whole Chapter: That when these Prophefies of Zion's Glory comes to be accomplish'd, the Days of her Mourning fhall be ended.Ver.2c. 3dly, Thofe that aforetime," or the Sons of thofe that afflicted and defpis'd the Saints, fhall now come bending, and bowing down themselves at the Soles of their Feet, to intreat their Favour. This is confirm'd in the very exprefs Words of the Text, and therefore needs no further Proof. But for Explanation: The Sons of

thofe

thofe that afflicted and perfecuted the Saints, ei ther they themselves, or their Children, or both, fhall come; who, before, were their Enemies, yea hated them, Speaking all manner of Evil against them, thefe fhall come bending, and bowing down even to the Ground, in a humble manner, in token of Honour, Reverence, and Refpect, which they will then fhew unto them. Now, inftead of calling them Hereticks, Schifmaticks, or Fanaticks, they shall call them, the City of the Lord, and Zion, the Holy One of Ifrael. They fhall now be fo far convinced as to believe that they are the Children of God indeed: There will fuch a Glory fhine forth upon them, as will be very confpicuous unto all Beholders. Thus we fee that thofe, who before defpifed and afflicted Zion, will now come and intreat their Kindnefs, offering to do all Services of Love for them. But when will this be? In the Time of her Spiritual Glory; for thefe Scriptures, though they hold forth a Glorious State of the Church, upon the Converfion of the Jews, yet do not run high enough to reach a perfect Perfonal Reign. Therefore it is that I do look upon these Prophecies to be fulfill'd in the firft Branch of Chrift's Kingdom, by the great Effufion of the Spirit,

Verfe

·Verfe 15. Whereas thou hast been forfaken and bated, fo that no Man went through thee, I will make thee an Eternal Excellency, a Foy of many Genera

tions.

Now, however this is fpoke of the Glory that will be upon the Jewish Church, and the Letter of the Words have a peculiar Refpect unto them, when they fhall embrace the Lord Jefus Chrift, yet it doth take in the Saints, and Children of God among the Gentiles, they then making up but one Church and People, will not be diftinguish'd into Jews and Gentiles any more: Therefore what is here promised unto Zion, is to be understood as fhe will, in that Day, confift of both. Well, though the Church hath been for faken and hated, which further proves what was hinted from Verse 14. That the People of God have, and continue ftill to be a hated,afflicted and perfecuted People: Yet here is a gracious Promife, that the Lord will make her an Eternal Excellency, a Joy of many Generations. Zion fhall be excellent in refpect of the Grace of God, which fhe fhall in a more than ordinary manner, be Partaker of, in the Kingdom of Chrift. Excellent she will appear to be, in respect both of the Imputation of Chrift's Righteousness unto her, and the Implantation of Grace wrought in her. She fhall be excellent in refpect of her Wifdom, Knowledge and Underftanding, which fhe will have into the deep Things of God. Excellent fhe will be in refpect of her harmonious Agreement in all Things, being all of one Heart and of one Mind, fhall now ferve the Lord with one Confent; there will

be

be no difference amongst the Saints, neither in Judgment nor Affection, which will be fuch a time as has never yet been feen in the Church. Again, Zion will be excellent in refpect of the unfeigned and hearty Love, which they will have to the Lord, and to one another. The Saints will fincerely love each other with a pure Heart, fervently. Such Love is very rare to be seen in this Day. Something of this was feen in the Primitive Time, which put a Glory upon them. But how much more Glorious will this Grace fhine forth, when he hall be made an Eternal Excellency? How Excellent will Zion be in that Day, when all the Latter Day Promises and Prophecies fhall be accomplish'd and fulfill'd upon her? When the Lord will be a Glory in the midst of her, and as a Wall of Fire round about ber. This Glorious Excellency that will then be upon Zion, will not be for a Time, but it fhall be a lafting Glory, and therefore called an Eternal Excellency, and a Foy of many Generations: The Joy that fhall come upon Ziox at this time, will in a far greater measure be unfpeakable and full of Glory than it is now, or was in the Primitive Days, fuch a Joy that a Stranger will not be able to intermeddle with: A Joy that will fwallow up all her Sorrows and Troubles, a Joy that will yield Infinite Comfort, Satisfaction, and Content: A Joy that will be as lafting as the Eternal Excellency of her Glory; and therefore it is faid to be a Joy of many Generations, or a Joy to many Generations, a Joy that will extend it felf, even to the Time of Chrift's Perfonal Coming in Glory, when her Joy will be more full, perfect and compleat.

Verse 16