Both expreffions in the first part of the verfe feem to be nearly of the fame import, and refer to the fame great event, which happened after the return of the Jews from their captivity at Babylon. God promifes, at that period, to reflore them judges as at the firft. It deferves to be remarked, that kings are not here mentioned, though by them the pofterity of Ifrael had been governed for a long period of time, previous to the Jews being led captive by the Chaldeans; which plainly intimates, that after. that memorable occafion they were to be no longer ruled by regal authority. There are two kinds of judges fpoken of in fcripture. There were extraordinary perfons who fuftained this character, whom God, in mercy, raised up to vindicate his people from the power of their enemies, who oppreffed them, and who decided controverfies of the greatest moment. These are spoken of, Judges ii. 16.; where we are told, "The Lord raifed up judges, who delivered them out of the hands of thofe that fpoiled them.' There were alfo ordinary magistrates, or governors of cities, on whom this character was beftowed; whofe bufinefs was to guard the privileges of the people, and to attend to the im partial diftribution of juftice. For the execution of these, and fimilar important purposes, God required, Judges and officers fhalt thou make thee in all thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee throughout 4 thy tribes and they fhall judge the people with just judgment *.' Thefe laft are doubtlefs intended here.

With them counsellors are joined, by whofe advice, and under whofe direction, the affairs of the ftate were to be conducted. They were not merely the counfellors of kings, or their prime minifters, whofe office is to affift the Sovereign in the management of public affairs, but perfons who were themselves to have the fole direction of the state, without regard to the royal authority of a Prince.

* Deut. xvi. 18.

Look

Look back then to the period referred to, namely, the first erection of this people into a nation, and you may be able exactly to afcertain the import of this promife. Then you will obferve, Mofes, under the direction of the fupreme Legiflator, forming the chil dren of Ifrael into a republic, and appointing over them judges and rulers, able men, fuch as feared • God, men of truth, hating covetoufnefs; and mak'ing them rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, fifties, and tens, that they might judge them." Thefe were called the judges and elders of Ifrael: and afterward, by the exprefs command of God, their number was fixed to that of feventy, on whom he put his Spirit, to qualify them for the duties of their function. Such were the judges and counfellors of that people at the beginning; and now God promifes, that, at the time referred to, they fhould be reftored to the fame kind of government they at firft enjoyed, and that it fhould be managed by men of fimilar probity and abilities. Accordingly, Ezra the scribe, a man remarkable for prudence and piety, and a firm attachment to the law of God, was employed, by divine providence, to effectuate this reftoration; the remains of which were vifible in the time of our Lord's humiliation, when we read of the fanhedrim, confifting of seventy able men, and of one Nicodemus, an honourable counsellor. From hence we learn, that judges and counsellors are the wife appointment, and generous gifts of God, to thofe who are favoured with them. Let us honour them as his minifters to us for good. Let us pray, that he may give them counsel, and that they may be just, ruling in his fear; and let us fubject ourselves to them, not only for wrath, but for confcience fake. Let us be afraid of that which is evil, remembering they bear not the fword in vain; and ever study to do that which is good, that we may have praise of the fame.

* Exod. xviii, 21.

After

Afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteouf nefs, the faithful city. The time in general when this prediction fhould be fulfilled is mentioned, but the precife period is not determined; which leaves room for conjecture when this description was applicable to the Jewish state, and their metropolis. It is promised, this fhould happen after the refloration foretold in the preceding part of this verse, whilft they' were governed by upright judges, and wife counsellors. After their return from captivity at Babylon, and this form of government was eftablifhed among them, it was long before they arrived at this desirable condition, and could, with any propriety, be named a city of righteoufnefs, or faithful city, as is abundantly evident from the writings of the prophets. This remark obliges us to have recourfe to a period remote from the commencement of the promifed reftoration, which, however, arrived during its continuance; namely, after Jerufalem was vifited by Jefus Chrift the righteous, and became the feat of his kingdom of righteoufnefs. Then it merited this defcription, for righteoufnefs was therein honoured, loved, and practifed. The eternal righteousness of Jehovah was there richly displayed, in his providences, laws, and judgments, which were humbly adored, and gratefully celebrated. The righteoufnefs of God, without the law, witneffed by the law and the prophets, even the righteoufnefs of God, by faith of Jefus Chrift, was unto all, and upon all them that believed: and that righteoufnefs which exalteth a city, the effect whereof is quietnefs and affurance for ever, was highly refpected, and carefully practifed, by many of its inhabitants.- -Nor was it lefs remarkable for being a faithful city. Many of the called and faithful refided within her walls, who happily demonstrated their fidelity to God in very trying circumstances, and were faithful to the death, in adhering to his truths and ways: and, among all the churches of the faints, none were more famous for a

firm attachment to the inftitutions and example of Jesus Christ, than that which was erected at Jerufalem.Animated with the ardent defire of meriting this noble character, let each of us, in our different capacities, endeavour to be righteous and faithful, that we may contribute our part toward that defirable restoration, which will bring us under the defcription now confidered.

27 Zion fhall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.

In this verse the redemption of the people of God is foretold, and the manner in which it fhould be executed is pointed out. Zion, a name fignifying a monument erected, was a mountain on which part of the city Jerufalem was built, wherein God was pleased to fix his peculiar refidence. On one fummit of this mountain stood the facred temple, in which the folemn exercises of divine worship were performed; and on the other, the palace of the kings of the house of David: both of which were typical of the church of Jefus Chrift, wherein he exercises his facerdotal and regal characters. Great things are fpoken in the fcriptures concerning Zion. The Most High is faid to delight to dwell there: Jefus Chrift is faid to reign over it for ever and ever: the gofpel, which is called his law, with falvation, and all the bleffings it contains, are faid to proceed from thence. It was celebrated for being the joy of the whole earth, becaufe God was known in her palaces for a refuge, and in his temple every one spoke of his glory: and innumerable, exceeding great, and precious promifes are given to Zion; among which the one now before us holds an eminent place. Now it must be evident, that thefe, and many fimilar great things, were not spoken chiefly of the literal Zion, nor intended to be fully accomplished to it; but to another, even a fpiritual Zion, of which that above mentioned was only a

figure..

figure. This can be no other than the city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerufalem, poffeffed by the fpiritual pofterity of Abraham, believing in the Son of God as the only Saviour, embracing his doctrines, and fubmitting to his authority, who are honoured with the peculiar prefence of God in the institutions of his worship, and over whom Jefus Chrift prefides as their rightful Sovereign. Ye may obferve in the word of God, that the name of the type is fometimes given to that which it was defigned to reprefent, of which many inftances might be produced. Our bleffed Saviour is called our paffover, because in that divine inftitution he was eminently prefigured, and that ordinance received its completion in his facrifice for us. In like manner, the church of God is frequently spoken of under the name of Zion, because the temple and palace, the inhabitants, and worship performed in that mountain, exhibited a ftriking representation of that facred fociety, its glorious immunities, and folemn fervices. In the verse before us, Zion, in the literal fenfe, was no doubt primarily intended, not exclufive of the fpiritual Zion, which feems to be the chief fubject of what is here foretold. Attention to these few remarks will affift us in understanding this prediction, and in ascertaining the import of the redemption here promised; and it will be very proper we frequently recollect them, in our progrefs through this prophecy, when we meet with Zion.

Her converts, or, as the Hebrew word is tranflated, in the margent of fome of your Bibles, they that return of her. The one of thefe expreflions illuftrates and explains the other; and teaches us, that the perfons fpoken of are thofe who turn from their evil ways, and return unto him from whom the children of Ifrael have deeply revolted; who turn from the fervice of dead idols, and lying vanities, to ferve the Living God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, even Jefus, who delivereth us from the wrath to

come.