"The serpent's brood shall die. The sacred ground Shall weeds and noxious plants refuse to bear." - Nec magnos metuent armenta leones. VIRG. Eclog. iv. 22.

"Nor shall the flocks fear the great lions." Non lupus insidias explorat ovilia circum, Nec gregibus nocturnus obambulat: acrior illum Cura domat: timidae damae cervique fugaces Nunc interque canes, et circum tecta vagantur. VIRG. Georg. iii. 537.

"The nightly wolf that round the enclosure prowled, To leap the fence, now plots not on the fold: Tamed with a sharper pain, the fearful doe And flying stag amidst the greyhounds go; And round the dwellings roam, of man, their former foe." DRYDEN.

Nec vespertinus circumgemit ursus ovile, Nec intumescit alta viperis humus. HOR. Epod. xvi. 51.

"Nor evening bears the sheepfold growl around, Nor mining vipers heave the tainted ground." DRYDEN.

estai dh toutÆ amar, ophnika nebron en euna karcarodwn dinesqai idwn lukov ouk eqelhsei. THEOC. Idyl. xxiv. 84.

There shall be a time when the ravenous wolf shall see the kid lying at ease, and shall feel no desire to do it an injury.

I have laid before the reader these common passages from the most elegant of the ancient poets, that he may see how greatly the prophet on the same subject has the advantage upon the comparison; how much the former fall short of that beauty and elegance, and variety of imagery, with which Isaiah has set forth the very same ideas. The wolf and the leopard not only forbear to destroy the lamb and the kid, but even take their abode and lie down together with them. The calf, and the young lion, and the fatling, not only come together, but are led quietly in the same band, and that by a little child. The heifer and the she-bear not only feed together, but even lodge their young ones, for whom they used to be most jealously fearful, in the same place. All the serpent kind is so perfectly harmless, that the sucking infant and the newly weaned child puts his hand on the basilisk's den, and plays upon the hole of the aspic. The lion not only abstains from preying on the weaker animals, but becomes tame and domestic, and feeds on straw like the ox. These are all beautiful circumstances, not one of which has been touched upon by the ancient poets. The Arabian and Persian poets elegantly apply the same ideas to show the effects of justice impartially administered, and firmly supported, by a great and good king:- "Mahmoud the powerful king, the ruler of the world, To whose tank the wolf and the lamb come, together to drink." FERDUSI.

"Through the influence of righteousness, the hungry wolf Becomes mild, though in the presence of the white kid." IBN ONEIN.JONES, Poes. Asiat. Comment., p. 380.

The application is extremely ingenious and beautiful: but the exquisite imagery of Isaiah is not equalled.

Is. 11:1-9 The Messiah is called a Rod, and a Branch. The words signif a small, tender product; a shoot, such as is easily broken off. He comes forth out of the stem of Jesse; when the royal family was cu down and almost levelled with the ground, it would sprout again. The house of David was brought very low at the time of Christ's birth. The Messiah thus gave early notice that his kingdom was not of this world But the Holy Spirit, in all his gifts and graces, shall rest and abid upon him; he shall have the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him Col. 1:19; 2:9. Many consider that seven gifts of the Holy Spirit ar here mentioned. And the doctrine of the influences of the Holy Spiri is here clearly taught. The Messiah would be just and righteous in all his government. His threatening shall be executed by the working of his Spirit according to his word. There shall be great peace and quie under his government. The gospel changes the nature, and makes thos who trampled on the meek of the earth, meek like them, and kind to them. But it shall be more fully shown in the latter days. Also Christ the great Shepherd, shall take care of his flock, that the nature of troubles, and of death itself, shall be so changed, that they shall no do any real hurt. God's people shall be delivered, not only from evil but from the fear of it. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ The better we know the God of love, the more shall we be changed int the same likeness, and the better disposed to all who have any likenes to him. This knowledge shall extend as the sea, so far shall it spread And this blessed power there have been witnesses in every age of Christianity, though its most glorious time, here foretold, is not ye arrived. Meanwhile let us aim that our example and endeavours may hel to promote the honour of Christ and his kingdom of peace.

Is. 11:10-16 When the gospel should be publicly preached, the Gentile would seek Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, and find rest of soul. When God's time is come for the deliverance of his people mountains of opposition shall become plains before him. God can soo turn gloomy days into glorious ones. And while we expect the Lord to gather his ancient people, and bring them home to his church, also to bring in the fulness of the Gentiles, when all will be united in holy love, let us tread the highway of holiness he has made for his redeemed. Let us wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unt eternal life, looking to him to prepare our way through death, tha river which separates this world from the eternal world __________________________________________________________________

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