Isai. xliii. 12. Ye are my ivitnesses, saith the Lord, that I am
God.
GOD is a jealous God, and cannot endure that any other should be put in competition with him. Hence he takes frequent occasion to reprove the idolatry
into which his people were ever prone to relapse. He shews them the folly of cutting down a tree, and kindling a fire with part of the wood, and roasting their food with it, and then fashioning another part of the same tree into the image of a man, and bowing down to it as a god. He challenges them and all the world to bring any single instance of such senseless idols having ever revealed things that were long past and forgotten, or of their having ever foretold future events, or effected for their votaries any signal deli- verance. He appeals to them, that He had done these things for them ; and that therefore they themselves were witnesses for him, that he was the only true God. A similar appeal may properly be made to the people of God at this day. They have within them- selves very convincing proofs of his exclusive right to universal adoration; I. In what he has taught them —
He has given them such views of Divine truth as they could not possibly obtain from any other quar- ter. He has shewn them,
1. The depravity of their nature —
[Others may profess in words that they are fallen crea- tures : but who ever learned, from mere study, or the instruc- tions of man, that his " heart was deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked ? " "Who ever so learned it, as really
to " abhor himself in dust and ashes ?" But God does
teach all his people this lesson and all who have learned
it, are therefore living witnesses of his almighty power and grace.]
2. The excellency of Christ —
[To compliment Christ with honourable titles is common enough. But who can open a man's eyes, so that he shall
"behold the glory of God in his face?" Yet this is
done for all the Lord's people. To every one of them " Christ
is truly precious" In this respect therefore they are
witnesses that their teacher is the omnipotent Jehovah.]
3. The beauty of holiness —
[However some particular virtues may be admired in the world, the holiness which the Gospel requires is odious in their eyes. Penitence is considered as melancholy; devotion, as hypocrisy : zeal for God, as enthusiasm ; and an earnest