SCRIPTURE plainly relates that Israel,' between the time of her leaving Media, to the time of her arrival in the isles, would go through much exhaustion, and become diminished in strength. This was because she could only make her way through the north-west passage by the prowess of warfare; she would have to force her way through the different States and peoples. It would be a long series of marchings and encampments; and no doubt St. Paul had his eye upon the troubles they would have to go through when he advises them to abstain from marriages, telling them he did not speak with authority, but from his knowledge of times of " distress." Hence, we find the Almighty addressing Israel upon their arrival in the isles,; saying, "Keep silence before me, 0 islands, and let the people renew their strength," Isa. Eli. r. It would be absurd to accept this as meaning the Church, because God' has his Church on the Continent as well as the islands, everywhere ; but as showing God addressed the nationality of Israel, he makes it more plain, saying, " Thou Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the SEED of Abraham my friend. . . I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not I will strengthen thee" (the same chapter, 8-10). So that, when Israel had arrived in the islands, we have this testimony from God that' he had not forsaken his "righteous," i.e. , his "chosen" people, and as showing that the isles were in the West, and not in the East. He calls Israel to " speak" with him. " Let us come near together," near to him "who raised up the righteous from the East," v. z. If the isles had been to the east, they would have been raised from the west, so that their isles must have been to the west, or they could not have been raised from the east. Why did Israel require to renew their strength? Because of the long season of warfare they had passed through. God had given " the nations before him and made him rule over Pings. He gave the nations as the dust to his sword, as driven stubble to his bow," and he had now "called him to his foot," therefore he required to renew his strength.

THE IDENTITY gives the exact counterpart of our case. The British, as proved, were "raised from the east." We passed through the exact ground that Israel must have passed through. The nations were given to us, and their kings were ruled over by us. It was not with gun and cannon, but before our " sword " and " bow " that they were to us as dust " and driven stubble," and we "passed safely" through by a way that we had not gone before with our feet, see ver. 3, until we reached these islands, where we did "renew our strength," and nave ever since been strengthened by the Lord. This is a very beautiful Identity ; and if Bible students would only apply to the 41st chapter of Isaiah this natural signification, they could not fail to be struck with its many interesting and telling effects; if, on the other hand, they apply this chapter' to the Church or to Christ, it would be easy to show that the whole chapter would be full of inaccuracies.

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