Ver. 6.-0hristian peace. "The Prince of Peace." Before considering what is the peace which is distinctively Christian, it may be well to remark: 1. That the first, incidental result of the coming of Christ is not peace, but discord (see Matt. x. 34-36). 'l'he first consequence of the introduction or the revival of Christian truth is per- secution. For this the Christian faith is not responsible; it is due to the fa.et that error is so blind, bigotry so pitiless, sin so cruel 2. That everything is not gained for Christ when a superficial smoothness has been secured. It will take much more than a cessation of" war," a dismantling of forts and e. disban<ling of troops, to arrive at the peace which is of Christ. It is a Christian poet who writes- ., I love no peace whioh is not fellowship, And which includes not mercy; I would hava Rather, the raking of the guns across The world." Better, in Christ's name and in his cause, the stern and even the sanguinary struggle which seeks to establish righteousness than the hollow peace which is satisfied with slavery, serfdom, or servility. 3. That the peace which the Messiah came to bring was not that of the conquering sword, but the prevailing Spirit; that which is won, not on the battle-field, but in the depths of the human heart-first in the heart of the Son of man himself, and then in the souls of all the children of men. Of this spiritual rest which the Prince of Peace imparts, we may say that it includes- I. PEAOE WITH GoD. Sin separates between us and our Divine Father; it produces condemnation on his part, dread on our part; it ends in an unnatural and deplorable alienation. In Christ is mercy, restoration, peace. "Being justified by faith, we have peace with Go<l," etc. (Rom. v. 1; see Rom. viii. 1). II. INWARD REST. Siu is the great disturber, the constant troubler of the human heart. It is the source of all disorder, and therefore of all distress. It casts down that which should bo uppermost-conscience, reason, holy aspiration, elc.; it enthrones that which should be in subjection-passion, self, temporal interests, etc. The Prince of Peace secures to the human soul ita right condition; he retitores the true order ; he redresses, re-establishes, revolutionizes; he" makes all things new" within. And when the spiritual nature is thus reset, -11 its powers taking their proper place !Lild discharging IJl414ff, Ill 1i8 THE BOOK Ol~ 'l'!E:IE PROPHET )\ISAIA!Jil, [on. 1x. 1.......21,
their rightful functions, there is a" great-oa.hn "within·; tbey who -repair to:tha Bon,of God, t.he Prince of Peace, have "rest ·unto their souls" (llfatt. xi, •28---30). , · . •· ill. SoorAL coNOORD. Christian love (John xiii. 34, 36), Christian magn<mimit1J (Matt. v. 43-48; Rom. xii. 18-20); Christian reoonciliatfo,t, (Matt. v. 25)i O1:iristian genffllllity (Rom. xii. 10; Eph. v. 21; Phil. i_i. 3), · Christian oourtesy (1 Pet. iii. 8; l Pet. v. 6), Clll"istilm patienM (1 'l'hess. v. H),~these are the conditions ~d the ~ourcee of true end abiding peace among men.-C.
Vers. 8-12.- '.l'he evil spirit of defiance. The spirit which !is here rebuked is that uf a guilty defiance of God. Jehovah ha.d visited Israel with the signs of• his dis- pleasure-had humbled and impoverished her. What att.itude should she now-assunre? That of humility and amendment? Nothing was further from her 1nind. 1 'Shu would contend in her own strength against her fate; against the Lc.rd who hadi abased her; she would show to him the futility of his correction. The bricks might be fallen down; it Wllll of no consequence-they ·would build with hewn stones. The sycomdres ,vere felled; it was all the bett.er-they u·ould put cedars in their place (ver. 10). Thoy would, in their proud independence, convel't Divine chastisements into a. national a,lvantage. Thus they breathed the very spirit of defiance. Respecting this arrogant temper, we mark- . · . I. 1TB COJOION OOURSE. 1. J<'irst comes some serious departure from God or from his ~rvice on the part of the nation, the Church, the family, or the indh·idual man. 2. Then comes the Divine correction. This may be in the form of prophetic; or pllrenta:l, or pastoral rebuke, or of some seriollll reverse in temporal affairs, or of bodily sickness; or of painful berea.~ment. 3. Then comes the resentment and revolt of the human will against the Divine. Instead of hearkening, heeding, and repeuting, the nation (or the individual) determines to act in a spirit of defiance. In its ·(his) own strengtli,•it will rise above its present circwnsta.nces; it will make good its position; it will brave the worst perils; it will endure extremest hardships; the greatest losses; it will ·tu~i:i its fallen brickB into massive stones that will not fall; it will exchange its feeble sycomores that are cut down for strong cedars which the wildest gales· will spare., II. ITS GUILT. The guilt of cherishing such a spirit is of a very aggravateli character'. 1. It goes beyond the ordinary sin of inattention. To ,be heedless when God is speaking, by whatever voice he may address us, is surely iniquitous enough; but ·t-o- act -in deliberate defiance of the Almighty is, by many degrees, worse. 2. •It amounts -toi a l'ositive rebellion&ness on the part of the human will against tbat of the Divine.. ltds wan resolving that, with his puny strength, he'will match himself against'hiq:'Maker and will prevail. It is sin which contains the elements of, in~ubmission, determined «pposition, arrogance. • •• -• - •••• / . Ill lTs FOLLY. In the case of Israel it was to be followed with fearful penalty. That !!:uilty nation wa... (1) to be pressed on every 'hand by its enemies (ver. 12); (2) to be devoured by them (ver. 12); (3) to be prepared for still impending miseries: "l<'or all this," etc. (ver. 12). The nation (or the individual) that indulges in this• evi\-. spirit of defiance will find, in time, what a disastrous mistake.it (he) bas made. For .the defiance of God (1) shuts out immeasurable good-whoso hearkens when God r.eprovcs, and, heeding his voice, retnms in penitence to his side and his .ervice, begins an upward path which leads to the heavenly hills; but it also (2) shuts in to unimaginable woes. We may let the words of the text (ver. 12) su![gest the form they take. 1. Inextricable ,i,iffiC'U,lty. The being surrounded on every band by enemies; for sin leads on aild: down 1o cruel captivities of many kinds, from which the soul struggles vaiu1y. to disengage Itself. 2. Waste. The beir.g devoured by adversaries; time lost; strength. impaired; the soul ravaged; reputation despc,iled. 3. Fear of the future. A. dread of the, out~ stretched baud of Divine retribution which has more.strokes to deal.-C. • ,