The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 559

unto us smooth things" is the universal demand, or, at any rate, the universal desire, There is oonsiderable danger of preachers yielding to the wishes of their heaters in this respect; since it is always pleasant to be popular, and disagreeable to be thought to take a pleasure in hurting people's feelings. But the preacher of God's Word 6hould be actuated by higher considerations. He must shape his conduct by (1) the example of great pI'<'achers in the past, as Isaiah, St. Paul, St. John, Christ himself· (2) the real needs and true interest of those whom he addresses; aud (3) the declara~ iions c-f Holy Scripture concerning the duty of a preacher. I. THE EXAMPLE OF GREAT PREACHERS IN THE PAST, It is clear that Isaiah did not hol<l hack the te~ro_rs of the Lord. Almost one-half of his prophecy is denunciatory; and the denuncrn.tlons uttered are of a truly fearful character. All the great powers of the e,arth, and many minor powers, are threatened with the Diviue vencreance, aud that Yengea.nce is depicted in very terrible language. Babylon is to be "br;ught down to hell, to the sides of the pit" (eh. xiv. 15); Assyria is to be burnt up; his glory is to be consumed; he is to be" as when a standard-bearer fainteth" (eh. x. 17, 18); Edom is to become" burning pitch" (eh. xxxiv. 9), which "shall not be quenched nicrht nor day" (eh. xxxiv. 10); Goo's coemies generally are to be" slain" and" consumed," and 6et in a place where "their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched" ( eh. lxvi. 24). St. Paul persuaded men by "the terror of the Lord" (2 Cor. v.' 11). He warned them to "look for judgment and a fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries" (Heb. x. 27). He reminded them that "our God is a consum.ina Fire" (Heb. xii. 29), and that "it is a. fearful thing to fall into his hands" (Heb. x. 31). St. John, the a.postle of love, spoke of those who should "drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation," a.nd who should be "tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and of the Lamb," and said that" the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever," and that they "have no rest day nor night" (Rev. xiv. 10, 11). It is to our blessed Lord himself that we owe the picture of the rich man tormented in the flame, a.nd praying Abraham to send Lazarus, that he might "dip the tip.of his finger in wa.ter and cool bis tongue" (Luke xvi 24). Our Lord, moreover, adopts. the dreadful imagery of lsaia.h with respect to the undyiog worm and the fire that is never quenched (Mark ix. 44, 46, 48), aod points his teaching by revealing to us the awfal words of the final sentence of reprobation, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlastiug fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt. xxv. 41). II. THE REAL NEEDS OF THOSE TO- WHOM PREACHING IS ADDIIESSED. It cannot be denied that fear is a strong constrainiog motive. Human laws are enforced by penalties, the object of which is to "put men in fear." Punishment holds its place in ev11ry system of moral training, and punishment is an appeal to fear. Whatever ma.y be the case with a chosen few, the bulk of mankind will always be more readily influenced by fear than by hope, by punishments than. by rewards, by threats. than by promises. The preacher cannot afford to lose the moral force which is thus put within his reach. It is bard enongh to restrain men from evil courses, and induce them to lead a godly life, by freely using all the means of persuasion that are in: our power. To refrain from using one of the most potent would be to fight Satan with one hand instead of two. III. THE TEACHING OF SCRIPTURE CONCERNING THE DUTY OF A PREACHER, Preachers a.re directed to open to their disciples "the whole couosel of God." They are not to pick and choose what doctrines of Christianity they will tea.eh. They are to deliver to others "the gospel," "that which they also received" (1 ·Cor. xv. 3).....;.not "another gospel" (Gal. i. 6). Now, it ca11oot be pretended that "the terrors of the Loru "-his wrath against sin, and its dreadful final punishment, are _not as much portions of the teaching of Christ u any other. Not to preach them 1s to keep bac~ a part of tbe measa.ge which Christ brought us from the Father. No preacher 1s entitled so to act, whatever the disinclination of his congregation t.e hear the plain teaching of Scripture on these points plainly declared. The disinclination is itself an indication of a need. 1 Those who most dislike the doctrine of :fina.l punishment are probably those who roost requi!e to ban the doctrine pressed upon them ou, xxuv, 1-17.] 'l'H8 BOOK OF THE PROPHE'f ISAIAH. 56.3