For this word, the Nations, is a great1 word, and it comprehendeth much; mark, it doth not say a Nation, or some Nations, neither doth it say, few or ⟨p. 216⟩small Nations, but indefinitely, the Nations, 2Many Nations, Strong Nations, All Nations, the Nations in general: only he ties them up with this limit, the Nations of them that are [saved:] which yet is not so much spoken to clip off the multitude that we suppose may then be converted, as to show us their qualifications and happiness: as he saith by the Prophet in another3 place, Thy Children shall be all holy, or righteous, and great shall be the peace of thy Children. And the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it. Surely the holy Ghost would never have spoken at such a rate as this, if he had not intended to show us that at the day of the setting up of this Jerusalem, a great harvest of sinners shall be gathered by the Grace of the Gospel. But the truth is, the Scriptures go with open arms towards the latter end of the world, even as if they would grasp and compass about, almost all People then upon the face of the whole Earth, with the Grace and Mercy of God. The Earth, saith God, shall be 4filled with the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea. As he saith, also, for the comfort of the Church in another place; Behold, I have graven ⟨p. 217⟩thee upon the palms of my hands; thy Walls are continually before me. Thy Children shall make haste; thy Destroyers and those that made thee waste shall go forth of thee. Lift up thine eyes round about, behold all these gather themselves together to come unto thee: as I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all as with an Ornament, and bind them on thee as a Bride doth. For thy waste and desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the Inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away. The Children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in 5thine ears, The place is too strait for me, give place that I may dwell. Then shalt thou say in thy heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my Children, and am desolate, a captive and removing to and fro? Who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone, these! where have they been?
For this word, the Nations, is a great1 word, and it comprehendeth much; mark, it doth not say a Nation, or some Nations, neither doth it say, few or ⟨p. 216⟩small Nations, but indefinitely, the Nations, 2Many Nations, Strong Nations, All Nations, the Nations in general: only he ties them up with this limit, the Nations of them that are [saved:] which yet is not so much spoken to clip off the multitude that we suppose may then be converted, as to shew us their qualifications and happiness: as he saith by the Prophet in another3 place, Thy Children shall be all holy, or righteous, and great shall be the peace of thy Children. And the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it. Surely the holy Ghost would never have spoken at such a rate as this, if he had not intended to shew us that at the day of the setting up of this Jerusalem, a great harvest of sinners shall be gathered by the Grace of the Gospel. But the truth is, the Scriptures go with open arms towards the latter end of the world, even as if they would grasp and compass about, almost all People then upon the face of the whole Earth, with the Grace and Mercy of God. The Earth, saith God, shall be 4filled with the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea. As he saith, also, for the comfort of the Church in another place; Behold, I have graven ⟨p. 217⟩thee upon the palms of my hands; thy Walls are contiaually before me. Thy Children shall make haste; thy Destroyers and those that made thee waste shall go forth of thee. Lift up thine eyes round about, behold all these gather themselves together to come unto thee: as I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely cloath thee with them all as with an Ornament, and bind them on thee as a Bride doth. For thy waste and desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the Inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away. The Children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in 5thine ears, The place is too strait for me, give place that I may dwell. Then shalt thou say in thy heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my Children, and am desolate, a captive and removing to and fro? Who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone, these! where have they been?
- 1How the Nations shall flock to New-Jerusalem.How the Nations shall flock to New-Jerusalē.
- 2Isa. 52. 15 & 60. 22. & 2. 2.
- 3Isa. 60. 21
- 4Isa. 11. 9. Hab. 2. 14
- 5Isa. 49. 14 15, &c.
