phots have been full of imperfections-have priesthood, who were carried into captivity often sinned against me. Much more hast with the rest of the people (2 Kings xxv. thou, my people generally, committed 18), and deprived of thflir functions, ns a grievous offences. Thou must therefore part of the punishment due to Israel for throw thyself on my mercy." its sins. Israel itself was at the same time Ver. 28.-Therefore I have profaned the given to the ourae of a severe bondage prinoes of the aanotuary. Thi, "princes of and to the reproaohes of the neighbouring the so.nctnary" (literally, "princes of holi- nation. ness") are the principal members of the
HOMILETICS. Ver. 7,-Mf1/TI, made for the glory of God. The great end of ali creation is God's glory. Not that this is to be understood in such sort as that God was moved to create by the desire of getting glory thereby, for nothing could enlarge or enhance that glory which he had from all eternity, before even the angels were brought into being. The motive of God's external working, if we may use the expression, was his goodness, or benevo- lence (Pearson on the Creed, art. i. p. 99), which caused him to aeek to communicate his own blessedness and happiness to others. But the law of his working was the exhibition of bis glory. He so created all things that they should set this forth. From the lowest atom of dead inert matter, possessed of no qualities buL Bubstance and exten- sion, to the highest created intelligence, endued with almost Divine attributes, every thing, as it issued from his band, was so made as to show forth and proclaim bis glorious and unapproachable majesty, power, and greatness. Hence the outburst of the psalmist, "'l'he heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sboweth his handiwork. One day telletb another, and one night certifietb another" (Ps. xix. 1, 2). Hrnce the call upon all things to "praise the Lord, since his Name only is excellent, and his glory a.hove heaven and earth" (Ps. cxlviii. 13). Hence the cry of the four and twenty elders in the heavenly place, "Thou a.rt worthy, 0 Lord, to receive glory a11d honour and power: for thou be.st created all things, a.nd for t uy pleasure they are and were created" (Rev. iv.11). God's glory may be set forth (1) unconsciously, or (2) con- sciously-unconsciously, as it is by the things that are devoid of intelligence," sun, and moon, and stars of light, heavens, and waters above the heavens, earth, sea, fire, hail, snol\' and vapours, stormy wind, mountains, bill~, fruitful trees, cedars, beasts, and all cattle, creeping things, and flying fowl" (Ps. cxlviii. 3-10); consciously, as by the host of heaven, the angels of all grades (Ps. cxlviii. 2), and also by the children of men -" young men and maidens, old men and children, kings of the earth and all people, princes and all judges of the earth" (Ps. cxlviii. 10, 12). For the better setting forth of his glory, God "created man in his own image" (Gen. i. 27)-" created him, formed him, perfected him" (ver. 7). Then, when he bad marred the image in which be was made, God redeemed him. 'l'bus he is still able to set forth God's glory, and to do so is the end of his being. "Whether ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do," says the apostle, "do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. x. 31); and again, "Ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Cor. vi. 20). Vera. 8-11.- Witnesses for God. and. against him. On the side of God, witnesses for him, assertors of his existence, his unity, his omnipotence, his providential direction of human affairs, are- I. HIS CHURCH IN ALL AGES, WHETHER JEWISH OR CHRISTIAN. 1. It was the object of God, in calling the Ism.elites and making them his "peculiar people," to secure the result that be should not be" left without witness" (Acts xiv. 17). Monotheists from the first, the chil<lren of Isre.el stood up for ages e. light in a dark world, giving a clear and unmistakable testimony for God, e.sserting him to be One, intelligent, possessed of will, the Creator of the world e.nd of me.n, omnipotent, omniscient. "This august doctrine began with them; and they have been its witnesses and confessors, even to torture and death" (Newman, 'Grammar of Assent,' p. 428), From the time of the old empire in Egypt to the prP.sent de.y, e. uniform consistent witness be.s been borne by all orthodox Jews to these great e.nd fundamental truths, the necessary bases of all 142 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [oH. .nm. 1-28.