they who rotnain apart nnd afar from God, who will not have the Man Christ ,Jesue to reign over them-they must abide tinder the condemnation of the Holy and the Just.-C. Ver. 18.-The magnitude of the .Divine mercy. I. THI!: FULNl!:BB OF T1l'E DIVINE MEROY. In estimating the fulness of-God's grace to mankind, we must include; 1. Bis patience toward 1111 men, both penitent and impenitent. From the beginning of sin until the present hour God ho.s been forbearin~ to inflict penalty. "He has not dealt with us after,our sins, nor,rewarded us according to.our iniquities." The times of long- continued ignorance God· overlooked, or did not .interpose with special penalty or redemption (Acts xvii. 30). 2. His pardon offered to the penitent and believing. In the Law we read that he is "the Lord God, merciful and gracious," etc. (Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7); in the Psalms we read that he is "plenteous in mercy," etc. (Ps. Ciii. 8, 11, 12); in the prophets we read that" be is merciful and will not keep anger for ever" (Jer. iii. 12; ·and see text and eh. Iv. 7--'-9:; Dan. ix. 9). In the gospel of Jesus Christ remis- sion ofsins isa, cardinal doctrine (Matt. xxvi. 28; Luke xxiv. 47; Acts ii. 38; v. 31; x. 43; xxvi. 18). ,. 3. T·he thoroughness of his forgiveness. (1) The breadth which it covers. (a) The worst kinds of sin-blasphemy, idolatry, all forms of impurity, murder, etc.; (b) the most criminal condition-long-continued forgetfulness, sin against multi- plied privilege, persistent and obdurate rebelliousness of heart, etc. (2) 'J'he depth to which it,qoes aown. (a) Penetrating to the most secret thoughts of the mind, to the most.inward motives of the soul, to the slightest choices of the will; (b) extending to the.thoughle·and things which have been overlooked and omitted, as well as to those which have. been entertained and wrought. (3) The height to u-hi.ch it rises. (a) Leading .to actual holiness-for pardon is the fruit of penitence and faith, and with them in the, soul, the scarlet .becomes as snow, the crimson as wool, the mind is radically changed, the life is thoroughly transformed; (b) including full restoration, not merely the not exacting penalty, but the• actual bestowal of the Divine favour-admitting to the Father's home' and table, lavishing -upon the accepted child every sign and pi:oof of parental love. . . .H. THE DIVINE ARGUMENT TBERK1'ROM. Gad condescends to "reason" with us; he appeals to our sense of· obligation, to our regard for our own interests. to our human affections, etc.. The argument here is not stated, but it may be easily inferred. If such iii the ·Divine mercy-,.so large and full and free, then how wise to seek it at once! because of: 1. The bleseedness of being right with God henceforth. 2. The uncertainty of the future. Between. our souls and its possession may be interposed (1) sudden death; (2). hardening of the heart; (3) increased outward obstacles. 3. 'Jhe immeasurable isliu~s which are.at stake-" everlasting punishment or life eternal."-{). ';:' ,'_)
· Vera, 21-31.-Divi#e dealing .witl1 the degrnerate. We have here- . I. DEPLORABLE DEGENERAOYi 1. Degeneracy of character. " Ho.w is the. faithful city become an harlot I." etc. (vers. 21, 23). 'l'here is nothing more melancholy than the sight of a people or city.or of a human being'fallen from spiritual and moral integrity to a depth of, sin and folly-devoutness exchanged for impiety, conscientiousness for unscru- pulousness, self-restraint and self-respect for laxity or even for licentiousness, spiritual excellency for moral unloveliness. -But many illustrations confront 11s, both in history and experience: 2. Degeneracy of power. The result of this spiritual decline is weak- ness: the ,silver·becomes dross, the wine is mixed with water (ver. 22). The sinner is not long before he finds that there is "no might in his hand" (Deut. xxviii. 32). Sin saps the life-blood from the soul, and leBves it strengthless and useless. It makes him to be. as.an Oriental garden from which the .life-giving waters have been withdra.wn, as a tme wbose leaves have faded and fallen (ver. 30)-everything is parched, barren, fruitless. , II. D1vINl!lr·ViSITATIO}I, 'l'his. includes: 1. Punishment; the outpouring of wrath upon.the wicked, involvini (1) parsonal ruin (vers. 24, 28); and this (2) th.e result of the sinner's e:vil deeds : the man himself is as tow, and his work (not the maker of it) is as a spark which enkindles it (ver. 31). 'l'he "work" of the drunkard, ·i.e. his intem- perance, consumes him-it wastes his estate, it enfeebles his strength, it reduces the number of his friends, it brings him to destruction; and so with other vices which are the "works" of the unholy; th1y burn and they consume, and nothing quenches 24 'l'HE BOOK OF 'l'HE PROPHE'l' ISAIAH. [olt, I, 1-81.
them. One part of the Divine punishment iR (3) the sha.me with which the guilty are confounded: "They shall be ashamed . . . e.nd confounded" (ver. 29). It is one of the constant penRlties of sin the.t, when enjoyment is over, then comes she.me e.nd confusion of fe.ce. The soul is smitten with e. sense of e.ba.sement; it suffers the sma.rtings of consoience, t.he pangs of remonte. 2. Purificaiion. (Vers. 26-27.) God would turn hie hand-his hand that healed and saved ; and, in his purity, would purge nway the dross, and restore to the favoured city its ancient righteousness. Penalty would become correction, and correction would end in transformation and redemption. Whether God visits (1) nations, or (2) churche.~, or (8) individual souls, it is that they may" come to themselves;" that they may return unto him; that they may be purified of their iniquity, their pride, their selfishness, their worldliness, their self-indulgence ; and that they may rejoice in his holy service.--0.