contempt of religion nnd of God, But•• be not deceived; God ie not mocked." "It hns been commonly found," says Calvin, "in almost every age, that the common people, though they are distinguished by unrrRtmined fierceness and violence, do not proceed to such II pitch of wretchedness as nobles and courtiers, or other crafty men, who think that they excel others in ability and wisdom." n is a dreadful and mon- strous thing when the governors of the Church, not only are themselves blinded, but even blind others, and excite them to degpise God and ridicule godly doctrine. I. FALBE SEOUillTY, lt is some delusion as to their own security which leads men to mock at thejudgments of God. The ruling classes thought they had secured themselves against an Assyrian invasion. " They had their fortresses, their soothsayers and prophets, their diplomatists-the latter almost occupied with the preliminaries for a treaty with Egypt" (Cheyne). This fancied security is expressed under a bold figure. To be in covenant with death is like being in covenant with the beasts or the stones of the field (Job v. 23; Hos. ii. 18). They have made, as they think, a compact with Hades. Probably enough the allusion may be to the wizards whom they consult If so, it is true enough to all experience that men, when they have cast off the restraints oft.rue religion, seek to make up for it by dabbling in superstition. "The scorners or free-thinkers have retained a strong belief in the infernal powers, though little enough in those supernal" (Cheyne). Idly have they made lies their refuge, and so think to be exempt from the" flooding scourge" as it sweeps over the land (cf. eh. viii. 7, 8). They act as if there was any security except in " walking uprightly, and in speaking truth with the heart." '!'heir resources are spoken of by them under plausible names, and there are ways that "seem right to them." They do not think they are falsehoods; but the prophet tears away the disguise, and calls them by their proper names. "The essential. substance of the thoughts and words of the rulers is manifest to the Searcher of hearts" (Delitzsch). II. THE TRUE FOUNDATION. A Foundation-stone is, or shall be, laid in Zion, nay, costly and solid (cf. 1 Kings v. 17, "Great stones, costly stones, hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house"), The foundation-stone of the temple typifies the unchangeable verity of God, as revealed from age to age in bis holy seat and oracle. The believer shall rest securely upon God, and only here shall true security be found. (For the general idea, cf. Matt. vii. 24, 25. For the application to the Messiah, see 1 Pet. ii. 6; Rom. x. 11 ; Matt. xxi. 42 ; Luke xx. 17, 18 ; ii. 34; Eph. ii. 20.) 'l'be kingdom of God on earth rests on the Messiah. He was tried by temptation and other suffering, and so proved able and sufficient for the work of salvation. His Name, bis work, is the most precious element in the Church's foundation. And amidst every tempest of judgment which shall sweep over the world, be who confides in Christ shall feel that he has built upon a Rock which cannot be shaken; and shall make no baste, shall be free from agitation and alarm. Till we possess faith, we must have continual perplexity and distress; for there is but one Object on which we can safely rely-the truth of the Lord, which alone will give us peace and serenity of mind. Peace is the direct result of faith (Rom. v. 1), and faith is repose on that Foundation other than which none can be laid (1 Cor. iii. 11). III. OVERTHROW OF FALSE REFUGES. There will be juclgment exact and severe, figured by the carpenter's line and plummet. The hail-symbol of Divine wratll (Ps. cv. 32; Ezek. xiii. 13; xxxviii. 22; Rev. viii. 7; xi. 19) will sweep away the refuge of falsehood, and the bidiug-place of deceit shall be carried along in the flood. That "covenant with death" shall be cancelled, and the "agreement with Sheol" shall not stand. There shall be repeated Assyrian invasions; and the "tidings" at which men laughed shall be a terror for them to bear (cf. ver. 9). Or, having neglected the soul- message, they shall be compelled to listen to the preaching of facts. '!'he proverb (,•er. 20) depicts the state of distress which will exist. History will repeat itself. As when David conquered tll() Philistines on Perazim and Gibeon (2 Sam. v. 20; 1 Chron. xiv, 10), or as iu the scene of Josh. x. 10, Jehovah will arise to do his work of judgment, a work more fitted for au alien people than that of bis choice and love. God does not delight in judgmcnt; it may even be called his "strange work," being foreigu to the kindness of his heart. All that he drives at in his chnstisements is to bring men to the knowledge of themselves. He is "slow 1.o anger," and iufinitely compassionate (Ps. ciii. 8; Exod, xxxiv. 6). Or tho strangeness may lie that he will now proceed to 458 THE DOOK OB' THE PROl'.HET ISAIAH. [ea, xxvm. 1-:-29.
al tack :md extC>rminate hie people, as formerly he had tlteir foes, The hand felt by I l,eir fathers for salvation shall be felt by them for destruction. l V. CLOSING APrllAL. These scornful poliLicians who desire to b1'Gl\k the .Assyrian bonds are exhort.ed. to ch:mge their minds, and so avoid ~he clestruction otherwise certain and infalliblr decreed by Jehovah of hosts. 'l'hey wished to escape from their fetters by II breach of faith, with the help of Egyp't, without Jehovah, and so mocked HI the prophet's warning. He therefore appeals to them to stop their scoffing, lest they shou!d fall ont of their present bonda~e into ono moro sover~? and lest the judgment cert:unly at hand should fall more we1ght1ly upon them. 'I 1mely repentance might c1·en now open a way of oscape. We may apply the appeal as general. As .God gives us to foresee the issue of unwise ways in time, so by repentance may we avert the ,langer. To despise the Divine justice is not courage, but madness. Let us judge our- seh·cs, that we may not be judged of the Lord; and because "that day» shall come as a thief in the nigl1t, ever let us have oil in our lamps, i.e. faith and repentance in our bc.'l.rts, wisdom in the intelligence, justice and charity in our lives; and meditate daily on the vanity and shortness of onr lives, the certainty and uncertainty of our deaths the exactness and severity of the judgment to come, and the immtitapility of its result~ (South).-J.