only that their enemies should not prevail, but that they should flee, and leave an immense booty behind them ; and that even " the lame amongst his people," who were scarcely able to walk, should yet go forth and " seize the spoil," and be enriched by it.
To mark the force of this expression, I will shew,
I. How it was fulfilled on the occasion referred to —
[So exceeding large and powerful was the Assyrian army that was besieging Jerusalem, that there seemed to be no hope of deliverance, but by means of some special interposition of
the Deity himselfd As for Hezekiah and his people,
they seemed to be in the situation of a travailing woman, who, not having strength to bring forth, was at the point of death e. But prayer was made by him and the Prophet Isaiah to the Lord : and " in one night an angel of the Lord slew no less than one hundred and eighty-five thousand of the Assyrian army :" upon which the rest of the army retired in haste, leaving all their property behind them ; so that all the people of Jeru- salem, like Samaria on another occasion, were enriched by it, and the very weakest amongst them seized his portion of the prey f. Thus was the promise in my text literally fulfilled ; and a pledge was given to the Church, that neither men nor devils should ever prevail against those who should put their trust in Him.]
The text, thus explained, may serve to shew us, in a measure,
II. How it is fulfilling at this time —
Still are the weak triumphant, through the power
and grace of God.
Are any weak in understanding?
[Fear not : deep as the mysteries of our holy religion are, and infinitely as they surpass the powers of unassisted reason to comprehend, you shall comprehend them, if you look to God for the teaching of his good Spirit : yes, "you shall com- prehend the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge s :" whilst the wise of this world shall " account them nothing but foolishness h." So it was with the poorer classes of the community in the days of our blessed Lord : " they heard his word gladly," and received it thankfully ; whilst the Scribes and Pharisees " rejected the counsel of God against themselves." Thus it was also in the
d Isai. xxxvi. 1 — 22. e Isai. xxxvii. 1 — 3.
f Isai. xxxvii. 4, 36, 37. « Eph. iii. 18, 19. M Cor. i. 23.