Isai. liii. 4, 5. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows : yet ice did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him ; and with his stripes we are healed.
WHATEVER difficulty there may be in ascertain- ing the precise import of some passages of Scripture, the fundamental doctrines of our religion are all so plainly revealed, that he who runs may read them. There is not any truth indeed, however strongly declared, which has not been controverted by those who exalt their own reason above the word of God. But to the humble mind, that is willing to receive instruction, and that looks to God for the teaching of his Spirit, the general doctrines of Christianity, and that of the atonement in particular, are as clear as the sun at noon-day. The wisdom of some has been so perverted, that they could not see any reference to Christ in this whole chapter. But no person that is not either blinded by prejudice, or intoxicated with the pride of human learning, can fail of applying the words of our text to him, " who died for our sins, and rose again for our justification." The prophet spake not as a matter of doubtful disputation, when he declared the cause of the Messiah's sufferings : but with the fullest confidence asserted, that " Surely he hath borne our griefs," yea, " he died, the just for the un- just, that he might bring us to God." In his words we may observe —
I. The apprehended cause of our Lord's sufferings — It was a commonly received opinion, that heavy afflictions were indications of God's displeasure on account of some enormous sin.
This idea prevailed much among the Jews: their history abounded with instances of God's immediate interposition to punish sin ; from whence they inferred, that every signal judgment proceeded from the same