THE PEACEABLE KINGDOM.

"THE Wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them *." This is the portion of Isaiah's beautiful prophecy, picturing the blessings of the Redeemer's kingdom upon earth, which the artist has chosen to illustrate the subject. We see the lion and the fatling led by a little child; the leopard and the kid, the wolf and the lamb, lying down in the most perfect harmony together, thus symbolising the universal union that shall prevail when the gospel has fully accomplished its work. This chapter of Isaiah contains, at great length and given with much minuteness of detail, an eloquent prediction of Christ's advent, and of the advancement which his kingdom should make in the world. This progress, however, is made by several steps; thus the latter part of the chapter relates to those latter times, when the holiness of the Jews and Gentiles is to be consummated in the Church, and to the universal harmony that shall then prevail, of which the text quoted above, and the immediate subject of the accompanying illustration, convey a most exquisite representation. The figurative expressions made use of by the prophet denote the return of that primitive peace which existed at the creation, when hostility was unknown even among the very beasts of the forest. When the consummation of the gospel dispensation takes place, we are given to suppose that this peace will be restored,—that the oppressor and the oppressed shall no longer recognise any temporal distinctions, but "dwell together in unity and godly love." This condition of things is aptly signified by animals, whose natures are the most repugnant, lying down together in slumber; as if the natural ferocity of the one had given place to the gentleness of the other, and the harmony of Eden was restored. But, as Bishop Louth observes, the words of the sixth verse may "further imply that God will protect his people against all persecution and outward violence, which is elsewhere expressed by his making a covenant for them with the beasts of the field! Hosea, ii., 18, compared with Levit., xxvi., 6, John, v., 23, Ezekiel, xxxiv., 25."