Isai. lvii. 15. — Thus saith the high caul lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy ; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
THERE is nothing more vain than creature-confi- dence : it is sure to provoke the displeasure of God, and ultimately to disappoint ourselves. On the con- trary, an humble affiance in the Lord will secure to us his effectual aid : it will avail for the weakest of the human race, and prove sufficient under the most arduous circumstances. The testimonies of Scripture to this effect are numerous and decisive a. In the passage before us God reproves the Jews for forming alliances with heathens ; and, having derided their vain hopes, and declared the security of those who should trust in him, issues a solemn proclamation for the direction and comfort of his Church in all ages ; " Thus saith," &c.
In these words we behold,
I. The character of God —
The perfections by which God is pleased to charac- terize himself in this place were peculiarly calculated to expose the folly of those whom he was reproving, and to dispel the fears of those whom he designed to comfort. He mentions,
1. His majesty —
[In delineating the greatness of any created being, we are enabled to convey some just ideas by comparing one thing with another; but in speaking of the Deity there is no room for comparison : the universe is but as an atom, and the whole period of its existence but as a point, before him. He is not only high and lofty, but exclusively " the high and lofty One." He fills all space ; he exists through an unsuccessive eternity. In attempting to declare him, we do but " darken counsel by words without knowledge." There are indeed in Scripture some representations given us, whereby we may attain such knowledge of him as our weak capacities are able to receive b ; but it is very little that we can conceive of him, though all the images in heaven and earth were exhibited in their brightest colours and in the most energetic language. The Scripture
a Jer. xvii. 5 — 8.
f Isai. xl. 12, 15, 17, 22. lxvi. 1. Ps. civ. 1—3. 1 Kings viii. 27. Jer. xxiii. 24.