expect assuredly, that God will enable us to perforin whatever we undertake for him, and will give a successful issue to our endeavours ]
2. Without reserve — [We should not draw back from any labour, nor hesitate to make any sacrifice. The loss of life itself should be regarded
as no loss, yea, rather as a gain, in such a cause To
live for God, or die for God, should be deemed equally desirable, if only God's will may be done in us, and the Lord Jesus Christ be magnified'^ ]
But the point to which I would more particularly draw your attention, is,
III. The peculiar obligation which lies on us to follow the prophet's example —
You will find in the vision, that the prophet was favoured with a bright manifestation of the glory of Christ : for St. John, referring to it, says, " These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him^" that is, of Christ. You will see, also, that assistance in his work was promised him : for the putting of the live coal upon his mouth seems to have been designed to assure him of it^ In addition to all this, a sense of God's pardoning love, through the Redeemer's sacrifice, was applied to his soul : for the live coal, being taken from the altar of burnt-offering, marked clearly the connexion between the atonement offered for him, and the pardon vouchsafed unto him. But in no respect do we fall short of the favours con- ferred on him : yea, rather, we may be considered as having,
1. More glorious discoveries of Christ —
[Bright as that vision was, it was far inferior to that which is vouchsafed to vis in the Gospel. There we behold Christ as " the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person '^;" yea, we see all "the glory of God shining in the face of Jesus Christ s" ]
2. More abundant communications of the Spirit —
[Whatever measures of grace were imparted to some highly- favoured individuals under the Law, as to David, Isaiah, Daniel, and others, the effusions of the Holy Spirit were very small and
«= Acts XX. 24. Phil. i. 20, 21. d John xii. 41.
e Compare Jer. i. 9. and Acts ii. 3. ^ Heb. i. 3. 6 2 Cor. iv. 6.