fiu<l that there is an imperious temper in humanity, and that even parents sometimes "break" the spirit of their children. How many are discouraged and disheartened in life through a want or sympathy, through the coldness and hauteur of others I I. THEI\E ARE BRUISINGS OF 8Il'I, Christ will heal these. He never drives to despair, He rnie\ht, indeed, condemn; for be knows all the subtle intricacies of evil in our hearts. But the Son of man is not come to condemn the world, but that the world through him might bo 6aved. If. 'l'HEUE ARE BRUIBDIGB OF DOUBT. St. Thomas felt these, and he expresses his doubts with startling emphasis and boldness. But Christ is sympathetic even then- shows 'l'homas his hands and his side, nncl tell~ him to reach hither bis hand. Alas! many have been driven into infidelity because their doubts have been treated as sins, and the bruised minds have been broken! III. Tm:RE ARE BRUISINGS OF SORROW. But God knows when godly sorrow has worked repentance not to be repented of. He knows when the poor heart is well-nigh crushed with grief at its departure from him. He does not delight in pain. 'l'he Roman emperors did. But he whose throne was a cross, and whose sceptre is love, he loves to heal. In sin and doubt and sorrow, let us go to Christ alone.-W. M. S. Ver. 4.-<Jhrist's sure conquest. "He shall not fail nor be discouraged." We study this text in relation to our Saviour. We may be, and often are, discouraged; but the Son, he in whom, says Jehovah (ver. 1), "my soul delightetb," he never is. He must reign. All the infinite forces of love and righteousness are on bis side. In God's world error can never be supreme over truth, "The pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his band." I. THE SAVIOUR AND DIVINE CERTAINTY. He is expectiog. All the true triumphs of the ages have been victories for him. W'hat elevation to humanity bas come with his truth! What beneficent enterprises ha,·e all bad their inspiration from his cross! What fetters he bas snapped I What prisons he has opened I All the vital forces of to-day are the forces he started inJudreaeighteen centuries ago. "Re shall not fail;" for he lives to-day in ever-growing influence over the hearts of men. Madagascar bas recently even, been won for his crown. We must, of course, take time into our estimate. "A thousand years are with the Lord as one day." It is a great work, His empire is tho world. His kingJom is everlasting, The l:iw of preparation seems related to the law of duration, A gourd springs up in a night but it lasts only for a day; whereas the oak, that monarch of the centuries, attains its perfection through the long course of years. We need not wonder that an" immortal kingdom" is of steady growth. II. THE SAVIOUR AND TRIUMPHANT ENDURANCE. "He shall not ... be discouraged." There is, indeed, much that might discourage-the slow victories of goodness, the enmity of the carnal mind I But Christ sees or the travail of bis soul. He is not like us. We have need of the counsel, "Judge nothing before the time;" but he sees the end from the b,-ginniog, What comfort this should be to all Christians I Why should we be discouraged? If the Lender is consciously invincible, how valiant and constant ought his followers to be! Discouragement means, ou our part, ur.belief.-W. M. S.
Ver. 4.-The Christian's conquest. "He shall not fnil nor be discouraged." We study this next in relation to ourselvl's. 'l'he words suggest difficulties that task strength and patience, He, our blessed Lord, has a work, not only of llivine impulse, ·but Didne patience. The second verse describes the quiet work of Christ; the thin! describes the solicitous heart of Christ; the fourth describes the spirit which sustains him. I. THIS PROPHECY SUGGESTS A DIFFICULT PATIi OF PROGRESS. "Why say this? 1. There will be much that loolcs like failure judged by appearances. 2. There will be much that would exhaust human resources. The strongest man would say," I feel thM, if left to myself, I could not continue." II. 'l'HE PROPHECY STATES THE SUFFICIENCY OF CHRIST. "He shall not fail." 1. Preparative processes "'re related to permanent work. 2. Preliminary hindrances are nothing to the eye that sees the e11d, 3, Discouragements are ove-rmasttirea by !he infinite powt1r of low, 126 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [err. xr.n. 1-26.
!l[. THE PROPHECY TEACHES US THAT THERE WILL DE AN ENTHRONEMENT OF TITE ~PIRIT OF CHRISTIANITY. Judgrnent. 1. Christianjudgment concerning sin. A ri<•ht esl inrnte of its heinousness and its influences. 2. Christian jud,qment concer;fng salvation. _What we mean by the power of Christ, not only to pardon, but to redeem lifo from evil. IV. THE PROPHECY IS SUGGESTIVE OF WARNING TO us. 1. How soon our e'Tlergies get enfeebled ! 2. How soon our hearts get discouraged I 3. How soon we lose the spirit of Clwist! V. 'lHE PT:OPHECY CLOSES WITH THE WAITING OF THE ISLES. Yes; they wait. 1. Vnconsciou~ly se.eking. 2. Can find no other Saviour. 3. Ultimately to be won to Christ.-W. M. S.