Vers. 6, 7.-Divim endowment the proof of Divim Jorgivene111 and aecephnct, What occurred must be explained in connection with the vision. One of those 11eraphim who stood, with poised wings, ready for an instant and unquestionin" obedience, at the bidding of the King flew down, having taken a live coal from th: sublime altar which formed part of the vision, and with it touched the mouth of the prophet, spe,,king also words of gracious assurance, '!'his touch of the mouth of the prophet was thr. symbol of the endowment of speaking power; and with it may be compared the gift of tongues made to the early Christian Church. We note- I. THE ENDOWED ONES MUST JIB THE FORGIVEN. It scarcely needed the seraph's words to carry home this assurance. Illustrate by the gift of the Holy Ghost- recognized in the possession of some special talent-to the early believers. It was the sesl of their forgiveness. Compare the case of fretful and desponding Elijah. The assurance that his sin was forgiven came in the renewal of bis prophetic commission. II. THE ElIDOWED ONES MUST llE THE ACCEPTED, God would not honour with a place of service for him those who were not in gracious relations with him. We may recognize that God uses all men, "making even the wrath of man praise him, and restraining the remainder of wrath;" but so far as bis redemption work is concerned, in all its many branches, the possession of special gifts may be recognized as proof of God's acceptance and appointment. It shows that God bas chosen and approves the work- man. Isaiah was rightly cheered by snch an endowment, or re-endowment, to pro- phetic work. III. THE ENDOWED Ol'!EB BESPOND BY SELF-CONSECRATION. When the joy of for- giveness and acceptance comes, and the solemnity of a Divine trust rests on a man, if he be a good man, he can but watch for the Divine voice saying, "Whom shall I send ? " and at once and heartily respond, " Here am I; send me." Compare the hesi- tation of Moses to take up the trust God would commit to him, and bis grieving God by a hesitation that was based on a false humility; and i:ee the words Eli put on the lips of young Samuel: "Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth."-B. 'f. Ver. 9.-.A missum of hardening. Dean Plumptre says," No harder task, it may be, was ever given to man. Ardent dreams of reformation and revival, the nation renewing its strength like the eagle, were scattered to the winds; and he bad to face the prospect of a fruitless labour, of feeling that he did but increase the evil against which be strove. It was the very opposite mission of that to which St. Paul was sent, 'to open men's eyes, and turn them from darkness to light'" (Acts xxvi. 18). Mr. Hutton, in one of his essays, says, "When civilization becomes corrupt, and men are living below their faith, I think it may often be in mercy that God strikes the nations with blindnwJ"-that the only remedy lies in thus taking away an influence which they resist, and leaving them the stern lesson of self-dependence.'' This gives the key to the view we propose to take of Isaiah's mission. From one point of view a mission of hardening is a mission of judgment; but, from another point of view, it is a mission of mercy. From both points o( view it is always a most trying mission for him to whom li is entrusted. I. A MISSION OF HABDENIN'G IBA MIBBION 011' JUDGME:NT. Compare Moses' mission to Pharaoh. It was a fact that Pharaoh's heart was hardened. On natural mental laws we can explain the process of hardening. Yet we are bidden see deeper, and recognize that, in judgment on his wilfulnees, "God hardened his heart." If a man resists a graciolll! influence once, he finds it easier to resist a second time, and gradually the influence has no persuasive effect on him; he is "hardened." Illustrate by the Pharisees, who at first inquired concerning Christ. They reeisted the witness of his words and works, until at last a blindness and bardnees came upon them ae a judgment. The J"ewsare under Divine judgment now; it is a blinding, veiling, hardening, which makes it impossible for them, ae a whole nation, t.o see the Son of God and Saviour of iht oe. vu.1-25.J 'fHE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 125
world from sin in Jesus of Nazareth, The man who won't see shall come into thie judgment-he shall not be able to see. All missions, even Christ's, bave a side of hardening. Some missions are almost whoUy the execution of this Divine judgment. Blindness ie God's punishment for refusing to see, and spiritual blindness comes through the very preaching of the ttuth that saves to unwilling hearts; aod{such preaching-work, that seems worse than fruitless, may be the mission given by God to some men, To us they may be ministers of judgment, even in their preaching of the gospel. J. A. Alexander says, "The thing predicted is judicial blindness, as the natural result and righteouj retribution of the national depravity. This end would be promoted by the very preaching of the truth, and therefore a command to preach was in. effect a com- mand to blind and harden them." II. A MISSION 01!' HARDE~""ING IS A MISSION 01!' MERCY. It may be (1) considerateness for individuals, on whom it will prove the only effective agency. ft may be (2) the quickest way to secure the humbling of the soul. God may have to let men get bard in their pride that, through the fall that must surely follow, their pride may be broken; just as the mother lets the child, that is conceited with its first attempts to walk, stumble and fall, in order that henceforth the walking may be less venturesome. The thought is almost beyond us, but we are permitted even to believe that God works bis work of grace by calamities that we call destructive, and by hardenings that seem to us hopeless.' In Isaiah's days, "events that were • signs of the times,' calls to repentance or to action, were taken as things of course. For such a state, after a certain stage, there is but one treatment. It must run its course, and 'dree its weird,' partly as a righteous retribution, partly as the only remedial process possible." 'l'be evident results of his mission made Isaiah's ministry extremely trying and depressing; bis preaching· rocked some to a fatal sleep, and made others outrageous and exasperated. And the final results of his work, as at heart a work of mercy, could not be revealed for his cheering during his life. He could only hold that before him as a mysterious vision of the fer away. But he was nobly faithful; a servant of God who reaped no results such as he would himself desire, but actually seemed only a mischief-maker, an increaser of existing evils, and a hardener of hearts. But to none are the words more fitting than to tried Isaiah, " Well done, good and faithful servant," executor of Divine judgment, and ministrant of Divine mercy.-R. T.
SEOTIOB IV. PnOPHEOIEB coNNEOTED WITH THE Sno-IsRAELITE WAB (ce. VIL-L 4).