In times of apeciE1I judgrnent. He bubbleth gently ae a fountain; and those who read their lives aright learn to say, "Thy gentleness hath made me great." This cha- raoteristio comes out strongly in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, which was I gentlo persuasion of truth, and a gentle example of righteousness. And still it is true that the regenerative force, in individual life and in society, "flows softly," like the waters of Shiloah. II. 'l'BE OONBTAN0Y OP JEHOVAH, A fountain ls fed from unfailing sources; it is 1lways flowing, ready with its anpplies at all times; no enemies can limit it or cut it off; in the secret places of the earth it has its storehouse, and it is ready with its help for every time of need. These suggest what God ever has been and is to his people. We have never to search for him; he is always here. We bave never to force tiim; he is always ready-" A very present Help;" "A Refuge and Strength." III. TBE SUITABILITY OP JEHOVAH. This may not be the best term for the thought, which is, that the perennial fountain, at constant command, was better adapted to the circumstances of Judah than the river of Euphrates, which, if turned towards them, could only rush over them in desolating flood. Jehovah was more precisely adapted to their conditions. He could more fittingly meet their demands than any "arm of flesh," however strong it might seem to be. The thol!ght may be enlarged upon 1mder the guidance of the following passage (2 Cor. ix. 8): "And God is able to make Ill grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may lbound to every good work." IV. THE SUFFICIENOY OF JEHOVAH. The fountain flows on, day and night, pouring forth its fulness of blessing; whosoever will may drink and live. We are never "straitened in God." lie can do abundantly for us, above all that we ask or think. Judah coulcl only be dissatisfied with Jehovah because they did not prove his faith- fulness and mercy; they did not cast themselves upon him. "Trust in the Lord for ever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." Advance to show how this 6gure of the waters of Shiloah gained new form in the teachings of the Lord Jesus, who said, " Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever irinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that [ shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."-R. T. Ver. 8.-Immanuel's land. The figure used in this text is t.hat of an overflowing river, sweeping along in desolating flood, and the great stretches of water, covering the cultivated lands on either side of the stream, are poetically likened to the outsjJread wings of a flying bird. The first reference of the expression, "Thy land, 0 Immanuel," may be to the prophetic child that was to be born in the land (eh. vii. 14). The Ustant reference may be to the coming of the Lord Jesus, as Immanuel, to the land of Judah, or rather of Canaan. But probably the name should be translated, and used as 1 succinct description of Palestine. This is its great and characteristic peculiarity; it is the "God with us " land. This may be illustrated, and the lesson from it enforced, under the following divisions. I. IT 19 THE LAND PREPARED FOR IMMANUEL. It was selected, and other countries were set in relation to it, so that it might be the "God with us," land, in which a special !Ilanifestation and relationship of God might be tried, in the face of the whole world. '£he country was remarkably isolated geographically. And it was as remarkably centred. These corrected each other. Israel had the best opportunities for preserving the great truths of the unity and spirituality of God which were entrusted to it. And at the same time it was set in the " eye of the world," so that all nations could watch the singular experiment of the theocracy. II. IT 19 THE LAND HONOURED BY THE ABIDING OF lMMANUEL. That direct and sensible presence of God which was the condition of the covenant was indicated by the Shechinah-symbol in tabernacle and temple. The glory of Israel wandering was God present. 'l'he glory of Israel settled was God abiding and ruling. The presence of God with us, as we know it, is Christ, the Temple-body, apprehended by our aenses: and the Holy Ghost, the Temple-spirit, apprehended as witnessing a.nd workiug within us. Jll. IT IS THE LAND TllAT MUST BE W0BTHY 01!' bllMANll'BL. lt was the fundamental lSAlAH, ll 162 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH, [oa:. vm. 1-22.
i,lea of Judaism that the land wy koly, because God walked to and fro in it; and 1 therefore, the people must be holy. And still this is the persuasion, "Be ye holy; for I am holy." The figure may stand for the land of -each man's life, That ought to bo a" God with us" land.-R. T.