and David and Solomon, to nil his holy prophets. We also know God as the Being who has revealed himseH in nature, in the human reason and conscience, in providence, nnd more especially in Jesus Christ. We worship him as the God who" hath showed us light," who has made clear to us his nature, his character, his disposition toward us, his sinful children, the conditions under which he will receive and reinstate us. II. His CONCEALMENT OF HIMSELF. "Thou art a God that hidcst thyself." We see this truth appearing in various directions. 1. In the processes of n11ture. The power of God is in all the beneficent forces of nature, working out for us the changes of the seasons, the bouulies and the beauties of the earth, the wonders of human attainment; but his hand is unseen, his touch unfelt. 2. In his government of mankind. lsraei did not understand what Jehovah was doing with her; as a nation she entirely mis- understood her mission. God concealed the purpose he had in his training and his providential treatment. The other nations of antiquity-Assyria, Persia, Egypt, Greece, Rome-were serving a Divine purpose; but they knew it not. It was "the mystery hid from the ages and generations." 3. In his redemption of our race. How little did the apostles, while they accompanied our Lord and ministered to his wants and witnessed his sufferings, imagine that he was laying the foundations of a spiritual and universal empire-a kingdom of truth and love! What a ble~sed purpose, what a grand design was concealed beneath the humble person and the peaceful ministry of the Son of man! And in all the subsequent outworkings of the Divine plan, how much has there been of Di vine concealment! So that, as one has said, while these eighteen centuries have been anni Domini, we have had to lament- "Years of the Lord are these, But of a Lord away." 4. In his conduct of each human life. We believe that God is ordering our Jives, shaping and moulding them, determining their course, and deciding what shall be the witness they shall bear and the work they shall do-what shall be their contribution to the great campaign he is conducting. But, here again, his hand is all unseen. Often, generally, we cannot detect the unity, the plan, the purpose of our lives; it is because we walk by faith and not by sight that we are convinced of the presence of his intervening and overruling power. Many are the dark passages in the good man's career, when he is prompted to exclaim, "Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself." III. HIS MA?\'lFESTATI0N IN REDEEMING LOVE. The last word we have to use is 11 word which explains everything-" the Saviour." Israel is brought very low; God'd face is hidden from his people ; he seems to have forgotten them; but he comes in redeeming grace, and "with the saving strength of his right hand" proves himself their Refuge and their Friend. The human race goes from bad to worse, and, when it seems delivered over to corruption and rnin, there is born iu the city of David a Saviour, Jesus Christ. The hour in our experience is dark, misfortunes have multiplied, disaster is imminent; but our extremity is his opportunity, and God appears in delivering power. "Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness." From thu very edge of the precipice we are snatched by the stroug and saving band of God. 1. Circumstances of distress are no proof of God's absence. He may only be hiding bis face for a while. 2. Let all souls in their integrity appeal for and anticipate a merciful nnd full redemption (Ps. l. 15).-C. Vars. 16-19.-What shall the end beP Things are rightly tested by their issues. We do well to ask-To what is this course tending? in what will it terminate? Tak.en in n deep and full sense, though not in a short and shallow one, "all is well that ends well." 'l.'he prophet says that idolatry will be condemned in the ultimate a11tl utter overthrow and confusion of its victims (ver. 16), while true piety will he finally and fully established (ver. 17). Of this there was the most amplo security (vers. 18, 19). We infer, genernJly- I. THAT EVIL ENDS IN OVERTIIR0W AND DISIIO~OUR. It is not idolatry only which, when the last stage is reached, is covered with confusion. It is the doom of all departure from the righteous will of God. Self-indulgence has its pleasant hours; but it conducts by a sure road to disease and early death. Crime has its successes; but it lSS THE DOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH, [oH, XLV. 1-25.
spends its last days within prison-walls. Greed has its own wretched gratification• hut it earns general and unspeakable contempt. Worldliness wins its honour and '.' ~as ,:ts reward;" bu~ it. ends in heart-ache and bitter disappointment. Rapacity and tnJ1tsf1ce ~o orten wnn~ trc_asur~s from the wronged and suffering; but they end in t'Xposure, in cond<'mnRt1on, m rum. JI. THAT OBEDIENCE El'DS IN DLESSF.DNESS AND HONOUR. It is not confounded nor ashamed; it is saved-it " seeks not God's focc in vain." It "inherits tbo land." 'l~hough much m~y be end~red, ye1 >l great den! more is gained, by a complete surrender .ii self to the service of Christ (see Mark x. 29, 30). It ensures that without which ,n earthly p,,ssessions and all human honours are worthless, with which they can be cht-errully rorcgo~e.. It brings peace of mind, joy of soul, growLh in goodness, victory o•·er the world, D1vrne favour and guidance, etvrnal glory. III. THAT OF THIS RESULT WE HAVE THE MOST AMPLE SECURITY. It rests on the foundations of: 1. Di 1·ine po,,.er. On the" th11s saith the Lord," on the word of him who "crl'ated the heavens and formed the earth." 2. Divine wisdom. On the word of Lim whose prvsence is attested by his hanrliwork: "He created it not in vain." 3. Divine righteousne.,s. "I the Lord speak rightronsness, I declare thinas that are right." The power, the wisdom, and the riµ:hteousncss of God are to us the :ll.sufficient pledge that we shall not seek his face in ·vain, but shall find that the earnest seeker after God will find ,.11 that wil1 fill his heart, ennoble his life, and secure a. 0"lorious and itnmortal destiny.--0.