their names," whioh, however, is probably then further consoled by the promise that later tl1nn Isaiah). Omnipoten<',e alone could God will give them strength to endure; have crc;itcd the starry host. Omniscience support them, refresh them, and, as it were, is required to know their number and their renew the youth of the nation (vers. 29, 31). names. The lsl'B<'lites are supposed to have Creator of the ends of the earth; i.e. "Crentor "learned that the coustellations had na,mes, even of the remotest ends," and thereforo of in Babylon" (Cheyne, nd l.oe.); but a special the ,0/101.e ee.rtb. Fainteth not (comp. Ps. nnme for each •tar, which t.hc Rabvloninus oxxi. 3, 4). If God were for a moment to did not give, seems to be here intended. Not "fe.int" or "be wearv" to "slumber" or one faileth ; i.e. " not one star neglects to "sleep," the wholo fabric of niiture would attend the muster when God marshals the fnil nnd disappear, univcrsiil chBOs would host..'' The st.ars are viewed as bis nrmy. eet in, e.ll morn.I order would oee.se-pro- V<'l'. 27.-0 Jaoob ... 0 Israel. (For this be.bly nll existence, except bis own, sink into pleonn.slic combin11tion, so charn.cteristic of nothingness. God is wholly free from who.t- lsni,.h, see eh. ix. 8; x. 21, 22; xiv. I; soe\'er is wco.k or defective in man. No xxvii. 6; xxix. 23, in the ('arlier che.pters; aearohing (see Job v. 9; ix. 10; xi. 7; Ps. and eh. xii. 8; xiii. 2!; xliii. l, 22, 28; cxlvii. 5; Eccles. iii. 11). Gorl's ways being xliv. I, 5, 23; xiv. 4; xlvi. 3; xlix. 5, 6, unsearchable, his serve.nte must trust him etc., in the later ones.) Why sayest thou to 11.<'complisb their deliverBnco in hie own ... My way is hid! The prophet bas gone good time. be.ck to the time when Israel is suffering all Ver. 29.-B:e giveth power to the faint. the calamities of the Captivity, instead of So fe.r is he from being "taint" himself, being on the point of emerging from it, e.s in tbnt he has superabundant energy to impart vers. 9-11, and be now hears the complaints to any tbe.t are faint among his servBnts. of the eriles, who think that God has for- Ver. 30.-Shall faint ... shall fall; rather, saken them-that he does not see their should even the youths faint and be wea1·y, "way" of life, or regard their sufferings. and should the young men utterly faU, yet My judgment. Deli1zsch and Mr. Cheyno they that wait upon the Lord shall renew translate "my right," and understand the their strength, etc. The two cla.uses of ver. "right" of Israel to be indeprndent of its 30 are "concessivc." oppressors. Ver. 31-They shall mount up with wings Ver. 28.-B:ut thou not known! Com- as eagles ( comp. Pd. ciii. 5; e.ncl, for the use plaining Israel is bidden to stay itself upon of the eagle as e. metaphor for strength, see God, as (1) everlasting; (2) the Creator; Ex.od. xix. 4; Deut. xxxii II), (3) unwearied; (4) nnsearchablo; and is
HOMILETICS. Vere. 1, 2.-0omfort after trouble. God " bas no pleasure in the death of him that dieth ; " it is no satisfaction to him to punish. .A.a soon as ever those whom be is forced to punish will submit to the chastening rod in a proper spirit, and allow the staff of the Divine indignation to have its due effect upon them, God is ready to comfort. God the Holy Ghost is the One True Comforter. He and be alone can pour balm into the heart, quiet the conscience, enable the stricken soul to feel that it is once more at one with God. .A. few words may be said on (1) the conditions of comfort; (2) the methods of comfort; and (3) the proper results of comfort. I. THE CONDITIONS OF OOMFOBT. As trouble comes upon us to punish sin, the first condition of our receiving comfort is that sin be put away. 'l'he next is that we implore God's pardon for our past trao~gressio~s, and _acknowledge the justic~ of _his chastise- ment. The third is that we pray to him of hLS great goodness to remit bis anger, and speak comfort to our souls, and pour bis peace into our hearts. If we neglect any of these conditions, we have no right to expect that God will bless us with the great blessing of his comforting grace, which is not, like the rain and sunshine, an ordinary blessing of hia providence, but is a special boon reserved for those who have prepared themselves to receive it. II. THE METHODS OF oo:r.rFOBT. God sometimes comforts us through the instru- mentality of our fellow-meo. Job's friends were "miserable comforters, all of them" (Job xvi. 2); but it is not always so with the afflicted. The kind sympathy of friends, the wise counsel of spiritual guides, is often blessed by God to"the rel!ef and solace of those who are in trouble. "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, was his address to the prophets of l.erael (ver, 1); and we may be assured that hill Spirit went wilh the oH. XL. 1-31.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAI.A.H. 71