The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 569

possible to give "cheer." instead-to record Goo's great deliverances t.o ourselves, and tell of all his wondrous works. Thus we may put the brightness of hope into the sky, and help to chase the dark clouds away. "Say." We have all the faculty of quickly tcl.ling bad news ; let us tell the "good news" of God's gracious kingdom. II. WE OAN CHEER THE llEART. That is the centre of life. We may not be able to lift the burden, but we may strengthen our brother's hands by energizing his heart. It is wonderful what a few depressing influences will accomplish. Some are more sensitive than others, and are easily cast down, "Do not my words do good?" says God ; for they reach at once to the inner man. Blessed angels of help are words that go to the heart. No man is so great but sympathy can cheer him; no man is so weak but he mny be made heroic by holy inspirations I III. WE CAN HELP THE PILGRIMAGE. The knees are feeble; for it is a ••tiring" journey to mauy. They are very weary. Disappointments have multiplied; fountains have dried up in the desert; friends have died, and, like Naomi, they went out full, and are returning home empty. We are all pilgrims; and the statesman's steps often tire as well ns the poor student seeking after his first i<leal. In the spiritual pilgrimage, too, we oft.en faint and fail. The way is hard. We are disappointed with ourselves. It may be that some soul was just turning back when we strengthened the feeble knf'es by our own eager pressing forward, even when tired and faint. How much thus depends on our own Christ-like disposition! We cannot do all this if we are insolent, quarrelsome, or hard. 'fhe very duties the gospel enjoins manifest what a lofty ideal of character the gospel requires.-W. M. S. Ver. 4.-Tremor of spirit. "'Say to them that are of a fearful heart." This implies thatfear will be a necessary element in our life. All depends on the heart. Fear increases with experience. L THY GoD REIGNETH TO SALVATION. His power is in thiii direction. He is God. He is thy God-the God of thy salvation. 1. It is an empire over sin. All its agencies and influences. 2. It is an empire over hearts. Because it is connected with the cross! 3. It is an empire over enemies. '!'here is no Manichean universe of equally divided forces. The Lord is King. IL THY Gon REIGKETH TO CONSOLATION. He is human as well as Divine. 1. He it, Lord of circumstance. 2. He is Lord of wndition. He can and does extend his pity to the weak and the poor. 3. He is Lord of dissolution. For death is in his hands. III. THY Goo REIGNETB TO GLORIFICATION. All things make manifest: 1. Bis praise. 2. Hu perfections. 3. His permanence. " Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom." IV. THY Goo B.EIGNETH TO BU11JUGATION. All enemies under his feet. 1. Power to wn,trol. 2. Power to educe good out of evil. 3. Power to raise and to cast down. V. 'l'HY Goo REIGNETH TO .ADORATION. His kingship will evoke the worshipping homage of all creation. 1. Angels adore him. 2. Saints adore him. Heaven s?all ring with the glad acclaim of a great multitude that no man can number. " Blessrng, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever.n-W. M. S. Vers.1, 2, 5-1.-Transformation by the truth. Accepting these words as :Messlanio in their scope, we may treat them as descriptive of that most blessed transformation which is effected, in the individual man and in the nation, by the gospel. When the truth of Christ is made efficacious by the Spirit of God, and has had time to work out its true results, there will be found- L ILLUMINATlON OF THE UNDERSTANDING. "The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped." Darkness of mind, deafness of soul, have prevailed; the spirit has been insensible to all that is most beautiful and harmonious, most precious, in the universe. But then shall things appear as they are. Men shall "see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God." In the Father, the Friend, the Sanctifier, the Refuge of the human soul, men will recognize him who is worthy of their trust, their love, their search. II. GRATITUDE OF HE.ABT. Instead of the "guilty silence," 80 often and so long main tamed by men under the reign of sin, "the tongue of the dumb will sing" psalms IB, mv. 1-10.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 573