66

And if we refer to Jer. xxx. 9, we find that prophet, who lived 180 years later than Hosea, using exactly the same words, with this additional clause, whom I will raise up unto them." Now we do not say that this proves to a demonstration that this Millennial David is the identical person who reigned 40 years over Israel in the Levitical age, yet we confess to a strong predilection for this opinion.

Add to this the testimony of Ezekiel, who prophesied in Babylon during the captivity, and still later than Jeremiah (Ezek. xxxiv. 23, 24): "I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even My servant David. He shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd; and I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them. I, the Lord, have spoken it."

And if we refer yet again to Ezek. xxxvii. 24, we have these words: "And David My servant shall be king over them," and verse 25: "My servant David shall be their prince for ever."

Now all this seems strongly to favour our view, and yet the words of the angel Gabriel, addressed to Mary, as recorded in Luke i. 32, 33, seem to require some consideration before we conclude on this head. The words are these: "The Lord God shall give unto HIM the throne of His father David; and He shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end."

This certainly favours Christ's personal occupation

1 Pp. 348, 349, "Redemption Draweth Nigh." Rev. A. A. Bonar, D.D.

of the throne in Jerusalem; and yet the throne may be His by the gift of the Father, and He may depute a "David," or "a prince of the House of David," to rule from it as His viceroy; and comparing all the passages to which we have referred, this is what we think He will do: the sovereign right and authority will be His, while the administration will be by viceroyalty through "My servant David."1

Thus it will be seen that the mode of government will differ from all kinds which obtain in this dispensation-i.e., it will be neither Imperial, Regal, nor Republican; but it will be theocratical, hampered with no Parliament or Senate. God's great idea of national government, the rule of one, will have universal recognition. "There will be one Lord, and His name One." “He shall reign from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth;" for "the kingdoms of this world will have become the sovereignty of our God and of His Christ." The whole world will be one nation as to rule and empire; for "all kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him" (Psa. lxxii. 11).2

What a contrast to the dark counsels, the noisy and turbulent discussions, and bewildering perplexity, which characterize the national Senates of this evil day! Now the rule is, Vox populi, vox juris. The popular voice and the popular vote rule, whether morally right, or morally wrong! And perhaps there

1 See p. 26, "Ezekiel's Last Visions," by F. H. White. 2 "Elements of Prophecy," T. R. Birks, p. 429. Coming," by W. E. B., p. 78.

"Jesus is

is hardly any alternative in the sad condition in which we find the world at present. But, oh! how this shows us the need for One to come who shall rule in righteousness and in infallible wisdom! who shall make no mistakes, but "bring in everlasting righteousness," and establish His pacific empire upon a basis of unimpeachable equity, and secure for Himself the hearty and willing submission of "all the ends of the earth." "Even so, come, Lord Jesus," and "take unto Thyself Thy great power, and reign.”1

"They shall fear Thee . . . throughout all generations.”—Psa. lxxii. 5.

Great God, whose universal sway

The known and unknown worlds obey,
Now give the kingdom to Thy Son ;
Extend His power, exalt His throne.

Thy sceptre well becomes His hands;
All heaven submits to His commands;
His worship and His fear shall last
Till hours, and years, and time be past,
As rain on meadows newly mown,
So shall He send His influence down;
His grace on fainting souls distils,
Like heavenly dew on thirsty hills.

The heathen lands, that lie beneath
The shades of overspreading death,
Revive at His first dawning light,
And deserts blossom at the sight.

The saints shall flourish in His days,
Drest in the robes of joy and praise;
Peace, like a river, from His throne
Shall flow to nations yet unknown.

1 "The Book of Revelation," by Rev. W. Burgh, p. 350, et. seq.

с

THE

CHAPTER II.

THE LAWS OF THE AGE TO COME.

one.

HE question of laws in relation to this Millennial kingdom is an interesting Whether the laws be given directly from God at certain intervals, and committed to writing, as the Decalogue at Sinai; or whether all legislation will be carried on by a regular intercourse between the Head of the New Jerusalem and "the Prince" of the earthly Jerusalem, and so through him to judges, duly appointed for the systematic administration of justice, does not appear quite clear; though it is probable that some such system of legal administration will obtain, because the kingdom could not long exist in peace and order without it. And as "order is Heaven's first law," it is highly probable that such laws, however revealed, will obtain.1

There are some passages which throw some light on this interesting question in the prophetic Scriptures. Let us notice a few:-Look at Psa. xlv. xlvii., xlviii., lxxii., and lxxxv., all evidently Millennial Psalms, with Psa. lxxxix.: a verse or two in each.

Psa. xlv.-Here the Millennial king is enthroned, and the whole Psalm describes a condition of things, which, while earthly, has not yet existed, and cannot

1 "Israel Restored," p. 290, Rev. E. Bickersteth.

exist in the present dispensation (ver. 6). The sceptre referred to speaks of righteous administration; "the sceptre of Thy kingdom is a righteous sceptre," which implies the existence of righteous laws.

Psa. xlvii. also reveals the Millennial king ruling and reigning on the throne, and evidently describes the age to come, for no past age has witnessed what is here described. And ver. 3 exhibits this king in the full exercise of his legislative power, " He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet."1

Psa. xlviii. follows in a similar description, showing Jerusalem restored in glory and peace, in beauty and honour; her king in regal majesty, while his legislative rule is referred to in ver. 10: “Thy right hand is full of righteousness" (Isa. i. 25).

Psa. lxxii. is especially beautiful and instructive; for while it had, no doubt, an incipient and historical fulfilment in the life and rule of the son of DavidSolomon-yet its full and exhaustive fulfilment is reserved for the age to come, when a greater than Solomon shall appoint "David My king" to rule in the Millennial kingdom. In ver. 4 his legislation is described, "He shall judge the poor of the people, He shall save the children of the needy, and shall break

1 "Israel and Jerusalem, Prophetic Psalms,” B. W. Newton, p. 456. It is surprising how so good a Biblical scholar as Rev. W. Randolph, of St. John's College, Cambridge, can spiritualize Obadiah xvii. See p. 18 of his able "Analytical Notes on Obadiah, for the use of Hebrew Students."