Isai. xlvi. 12, 13. Hearken unto me, ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness : I bring near my righteousness ; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry : and I will place salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory.
THEY who deny or doubt the existence of a Supreme Being, may discover his eternal power and godhead by the works of creation, and ascertain his infinite superiority above all false gods, by the num- berless predictions which he has given by his prophets, and the never-failing accomplishment of them in their appointed season. To this last criterion God himself refers idolaters in the chapter before us, and chal- lenges them to bring any of their false deities, who should be able to stand in competition with him. To us, who acknowledge his unrivalled glory, there is one thing which displays, in a wonderful manner, the transcendent riches of his grace ; I mean, the freeness with which his offers of mercy are made even to the most abandoned of mankind. This remark obviously arises from the words of our text ; and will be fully illustrated by considering, I. The characters addressed —
The words, in their primary meaning, were in- tended to describe those who were unhumbled by the
judgments inflicted on them in the Babylonish cap- tivity, and unaffected with his promises of deliverance from it. As applied to us, they comprise two com- mon characters :
1. Those who feel no remorse for their past sins — [All must acknowledge that they have sinned against
God, and that, as sinners, they ought to humble themselves before him. But how many never call their past ways to remembrance, or say with themselves, what have I donea! Their sins give them no uneasiness : instead of mourning over their offences, they palliate them ; and, instead of imploring mercy at God's hands, they deny that they have any need to deprecate his wrath and indignation. And must not such people be called " stout-hearted?" If God himself complains of those who represent it as a vain thing to serve the Lord, that " their words are stout against himb," surely the same complaint may justly be made against those who practically declare his service to be a needless yoke, and an intolerable burthen.]
2. Those who are unconcerned about their eternal
salvation —
[Many, alas ! are as improvident about the future as they are unconcerned about the past. They will profess indeed that heaven is a desirable portion ; but they will never inquire seriously whether they be in the way to attain it ; nor ever exert themselves in earnest to secure it. If an empty wish, or a formal round of duties, will suffice for the acquisition of it, they will be content to pay the price : but if they are to run as in a race, and to fight as in a single combat, in order to have it awarded to them, they do not think it worth the con- test. What now must we say of these, but that they are " far from righteousness and salvation ?" Surely, if they be far from a concern about these things, much more must they be from the attainment of them.]
When we reflect upon the characters here ad- dressed, how shall we stand amazed at, II. The address itself —
The prophet, in these words, foretold both the de- liverance of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, and the coming of their Messiah to save the world. To sinners of our day the text declares,
1. That God has provided a Saviour for them —
a Jer. viii. 6. i> Mai. hi. 13, 14.