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<p>This paragraph is much to the same purport with the last, publishing to the world, as well as to the church, the purposes of God’s love concerning his people. This is a <i>word of the Lord</i> which the <i>nations</i> must <i>hear</i>, for it is a prophecy of a work of the Lord which the nations cannot but take notice of. Let them hear the prophecy, that they may the better understand and improve the performance; and let those that hear it themselves declare it to others, <i>declare it in the isles afar off</i>. It will be a piece of news that will spread all the world over. It will look very great in history; let us see how it looks in prophecy.</p>
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<p class="tab-1">It is foretold, 1. That those who are dispersed shall be brought together again from their dispersions: <i>He that scattereth Israel will gather him</i>; for he knows whither he scattered them and therefore where to find them, <a class="bibleref" title="Jer.31.10" href="/passage/?search=Jer.31.10">Jer. 31:10</a>. <i>Una eademque manus vulnus opemque tulit</i>—<i>The hand that inflicted the wound shall heal it</i>. And when he has gathered him into one body, one fold, he will <i>keep him, as a shepherd does his flock</i>, from being scattered again. 2. That those who are sold and alienated shall be redeemed and brought back, <a class="bibleref" title="Jer.31.11" href="/passage/?search=Jer.31.11">Jer. 31:11</a>. Though the enemy that had got possession of him was <i>stronger than he</i>, yet <i>the Lord</i>, who is stronger than all. <i>has redeemed and ransomed him</i>, not by price, but by power, as of old out of the Egyptians’ hands. 3. That with their liberty they shall have plenty and joy, and God shall be honoured and served with it, <a class="bibleref" title="Jer.31.12,Jer.31.13" href="/passage/?search=Jer.31.12,Jer.31.13"><span class="bibleref" title="Jer.31.12">Jer. 31:12</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Jer.31.13">13</span></a>. When they shall have returned to their own land <i>they shall come and sing in the high place of Zion</i>; on the top of that holy mountain they shall sing to the praise and glory of God. We read that they did so when the foundation of the temple was laid there; they <i>sang together, praising and giving thanks to the Lord</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Ezra.3.11" href="/passage/?search=Ezra.3.11">Ezra 3:11</a>. They <i>shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord</i>; that is, they shall flock in great numbers and with great forwardness and cheerfulness, as streams of water, <i>to the goodness of the Lord</i>, to the temple where he causes his goodness to pass before his people. They shall come together in solemn assemblies, to <i>praise him for his goodness</i>, and to pray for the fruits of it and the continuance of it; they shall come to bless him for his goodness, in giving them <i>wheat, and wine, and oil, and the young of the flock and of the herd</i>, which, now that they have obtained their freedom, they have an uncontested property in and the quiet and peaceable enjoyment of, and which therefore they honour God with the first-fruits of and out of which they bring offerings to his altar. Note, It is comfortable to observe the goodness of the Lord in the gifts of common providence, and even in them to taste covenant-love. Having plenty (plenty out of want and scarcity) they shall greatly rejoice, <i>their soul shall be as a watered garden</i>, flourishing and fruitful (<a class="bibleref" title="Isa.58.11" href="/passage/?search=Isa.58.11">Isa. 58:11</a>), pleasant and fragrant, and abounding in all good things. Note, Our souls are never valuable as gardens but when they are watered with the dews of God’s Spirit and grace. It is a precious promise which follows, and which will not have its full accomplishment any where on this side the height of the heavenly Zion, that <i>they shall not sorrow any more at all</i>; for it is only in that new Jerusalem <i>that all tears shall be wiped away</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Rev.21.4" href="/passage/?search=Rev.21.4">Rev. 21:4</a>. However, so far it was fulfilled to the returned captives that they had not any more those causes for sorrow which they had formerly had; and therefore (<a class="bibleref" title="Jer.31.13" href="/passage/?search=Jer.31.13">Jer. 31:13</a>) <i>young men and old shall rejoice together</i>; so grave shall the young men be in their joys as to keep company with the old men, and so transported shall the old men be as to associate with the young. <i>Salva res est, saltat senex—The state prospers, and the aged dance</i>. God <i>will turn their mourning into joy</i>, their fasts into solemn feasts, <a class="bibleref" title="Zech.8.19" href="/passage/?search=Zech.8.19">Zech. 8:19</a
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