The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 259

Ver. 13.-The nervous temperament. "Hast feared continually every day." We are not all constituted a.like. The instrumentalities by which the great soul within us does its work are diverse in quality. In a material sense we a.re but dust, yet the dust itself has more steel in it with some than with others. Many have iron nerves Hnd hereditary health, which make them strangers to the trepidation8 of others. They never walk those caves of terrible gloom in which others often are doomed to wander, nor have they felt the sensitiveness which often turns the experiences of life into torture. We are to meditate now on the nerv()U,s temperament, and to study especially the rela- tion which the gospel occupies in relntion to it. There may be other a.nodynes of con- solation, physical and mental; but my argument will be this-that the religion of Christ stands in special relationship of solace and succour to those who feel with the psalmist, "I am feeble and sore broken, because of the disquietness of my heart." We cannot help being, in one sense, what we were born. The mimosa. plant cannot avoid being a mimosa plant, and nothing else. The sensitiveness of a highly wrought nervous system is horn with many, and, do what they will, they must carry it with them to the grave. Often misunderstood and misrepresent.ed, often verging on despair, they are bowed down greatly, and go mourning all the day long. Much depends, of course, on the law of :iRsocia.tion, and on relationships of persons and things. Much, too, depends on religious ideas. There is, for instance, a. form of piety sincere enough in itself which feeds per- petual introspection, and is ever tremulous concerning its own state. How different this from the rest which comes from entire trust in Christ I '!'hen, a.gain, there are human relationships which, instead of being ministrants of consolation, strain the heart and irritate the nerves. Oh, the depression that must come, the anxiety that will do its wear and tear, which is derived from alliance with untha.nkful and foreboding hearts, from fellowship with those who, if they do not consciously know the science of dis- beartenment, a.re at all events au fait at its practice! When Moses spa.ke with Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, he had in his thought the carping spirit or those whose criticism sug~ests difficulty and danger too great to be overcome. Some men always see lions in the way, and do an anticipative roaring themselves. Thus he ~poke of some who 11aid," Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged om· heart, saying, The people a.re greater and ta.Iler than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven." What an insight this gives on those whose imagination creates giants I Now though we may apply specially the words of our text to a nervous tempernment- they simply represent a special occaeion of depression in the prophet's life; the;p represent inward fears. OH. LI. 1-23.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 269