things as they really are-He coloured, dis- viction that the enemies of God's elect are torted, prejudiced views of lifo and death, henceforth powerless. They are personified of this world and the next, of self-interest, under the name of " Moab," and regarded 1111 duty, ho.ppiness. Thie" veil" is certainly still animated by sentiments of hostility; to be done away: for "now we see through but their absolute impotency for workmg a glo.as d1.1rkly, but then f11oe to foco: now evil is insisted on ( vera. 11, 12). we know in part, but then shall we know Ver. 9.-It shall be Did; literally, OM even 118 we are known" (2 Cor. xiii. 12). shall say; i.e. the redeemed generally shall Ver. 8.-Xe will swallow np death in thus express themselves. We have waited viotory; rather, he will abolish death frn for him. During 1111 the weary time of their ever. Hosea, 11 contemporary, was inspired oppression and persecution, the godly rem- to write, "I will ransom Israel from the nant (eh. xxiv. 13--15) was "waiting for power of the grave; I will redeem them from the Lord," i.e. trusting in him, expecting death : 0 death, I will be thy plagues; 0 him to arise and scatter his enemies, won- grave, I will be thy destruction" (xiii. dering that he endured so long the "con- 14); but otherwise this was the first an- tradiction of sinners against himself" (Heh. nouncement that death was to disappear xii. 3), but content to abide his determina- and to cease to be a possibility. It was an tion of the fitting season for coming forward enormous advance on the dim and vague 11a their Avenger, and now quite sati!!fied conceptions of a future life hitherto current that he has avenged them in hie own good (Job xix. 25, 27: Ps. xvii. 15) to have such time and in his own good way. We will be an announcement made as this. Hitherto glad e.nd rejoioe (comp. Pe. cxviii. 2! and men had been " through fear of death 1111 Oant. i 4). their life subject to bondage" (Heh. ii 15). Ver. 10. - In this mountain shall the Now they were taught that, in the resur- hand of the Lord rest. The protecting hand rection-life, there would be no fear, no pos- of God will ever be stretched out over the sibility of death. The joyous outburst of spiritual Zion-the Church of the Redeemed the apostJe, when he quotes the present -to defend it and keep it safe throughout passage (2 Cor. xv. 54), is the natural thanks- eternity. Mo11b shall be trodden doWDc giving song of reassured humanity, on re- Various reasons have been given for the cognizing its final deliverance from the selection of Moab to represent the enemies nnspeakable terror of death and annihilation, of the redeemed. Perhaps, as the Moa.bites The Lord God will wipe awe.:, tears from were, on the whole, the bitterest of a.II the ell faoes. A recent commentator uks, "What 11dvers11riea of the Jews (see 2 Kings x:xiv. 2; place is left for tears?" But surely death Ezek. xxv. 8-11), they are regarded u is not the only cause of humo.n mourning. the fittest representati vee of the hnman Our own sins, the sins and sufferings of our adversaries of God. For the dung-hill; dear ones, are the main provocatives of oUl' rather, in the wattn- of 11 dung-pit. The tears. When it is promised, as here and in image is, perhaps, selected with conscious Rev. vii. 17 and xxi 4, that" there shall be no reference to Pa. lxxxili., where the pBll.lmist more po.in, neither sorrow nor crying," the prays that the " children of Lot" and their revelation is made that there shall be no more helpers may become "11s the dung of the sin; for where sin ie, sorrow must be. The earth" (ver. 10). rebuke of hie people shell he take a.we.:,. Ver. 11.-Xe shall spread forth his hands It will be among the lesser ae.tisf11ctions of , , , as he that swimmeth. Moab will en- the final condition of the saved that they deavour to save himself from sinking in the ore no longer subject to reproach. In this water of the dung-pit; but in va.in. God life they have to endure continually reproach, will bring down his pride, or abase hia rebuke, contumely (Pa. lxxiv. 10; lxxxix. haughtiness, together with 1111 the plots o.nd 50, 51, etc.). In the resurrection-life they snares th11t he contrives. A c,mtinued will be exempt from o.ny such annoyance. plotting of the enemies of God 11go.inst his The Lord hath apokon it. God's word has Church sel'mB to be assumed, even after the gone forth. There co.n be no retractation. Church is este.bliahed in the epiritue.1 Zion 'fhe blessings promised are certain to be under the direct protection and rule of obtained. Jehovah. Vera. 9-12.-After thanksgiving for de- Ver. 12.-The fortreBB of the high fort . .. liverance in the past, and commcmoratio11 shell he bring down, etc.; re.ther, ha/Ja he of blessings in tho present, confidence is bowed do1.D11, laid low, urought down to earth. expressed in the future. (I) The redeemed The past mercies of God in a.basing the declare their joy that they have" waited for pride of t.he Ohuroh's foes, rather thau any God," trusted in him, and looked to him for further mercies of the same kind, seem to be 11&lvo.tion. They feel that they "h11vo their here spoken of. Mr. Cheyne suggests that reward." (2) The prophet declares his OQD- •he verse is out of place.
l8AIAU p 4.03 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [ou. xxv. 1.,--12.
HOMILETICS. Yel'II. 1-12.-'I'he p7ace of t'!w,nksgiving in the religlom life. It le generally &greed by Chrh•tians that the religious life embraces a considerable number of separate duties of a strictly religious character. Among these the first place is ordinarily assigned to .prayer; the second to reading of the Scriptures; the third, perhaps, to meditation'; and so forth. But it is not always, or indeed very often, that a distinct position or a very prominent position! i_s assigned to praise a~d. thanksgiving. Prayer is apt t~ be mane the staple of our rehg10us exercises, thanki;g1vmg to be hucjdled off into a corner. Yet, if we will consider the matter, we shall find that, on all grounds, thankscrivincr 0 is entitled to at least an equal place in our regards with prayer. ., :