disappears when they are referred to Jesus Christ; for in him were combined features of character and changes of circumstance which could not be united in any other child of man. We have here a. very strong statement a.s to the unattractive and unprom!sing appearance of the_ Se.rva.nt ?f Jehovah, and this bas to agree and does agree with the power and the d1gmty which a.re afterwards predicted of him (vers. 10, 12), and with the attractive power he has exercised in all ages of the world. We look at both. I. THE UNATTR~?T~VE IN JESUS CHRIST. He grew up as a tender twig or as a sprout that struggles for lile ma dry ground; he lacked the beauty that draws attention the comeliness which wins regard, in that: 1. He came of a fallen family. 2. He ,;as a native of a despised and detested nation, probably the most hated and contemned of all nations. 3. He was bronght up in a disreputable village, and the reproach of its dishonour fell on him. 4. He was untrained in the learning which is held in the highest regard among men. 5. He mad" no pretence to be a deliverer of the kind popularly desired; he dispensed with military arms, officers, honours; he made no attempt to effect a political revolution; he disregarded and even shunned mere popular favour. 6. He taught truth which was above the appreciation and against the prejudices of his hearers; his thought was too profound for their understanding, his aims were too broad and liberal for their liking. His truth still cuts across the prejudices, passions, and lowest interest.s of men; and his purpose is to establish a kin!];dom which is far too spiritual to meet the sympathies of the selfish and the worldly. Nevertheless, he accomplished his purpose. That little shoot has become a strong tree, the strongest and fairest that has ever grown, the leaves of which are for the healing of all the nations. That One in whom was no beauty that men should desire him is proving to be "altogether lovely." II. THE ATTRACTIVE IN JESUS CHRIST. What is there in him that draws the eyes and wins the hearts of men? 1. Elements of attraction in his cl,aracter. His patient dignity in moments of trial &nd provocation; his gentleness toward the young and the feeble; his interest in the unworthy and unbefriended; his magnanimity toward his enemies, bis stainless purity of heart and life; his compassion for the suffering and the sorrowful, etc. 2. Elements of attraction in his gospel. He offers forgiveness of sin to those burdened with a sense of guilt; rest of heart to those who are spiritually weary; holy and fruitful activity to the earnest and energetic; an unfailing friendship to the troubled and the lonely ; a heavenly home to the tired travellers along the path of life.-C.
Ver. 3.-fie Man of sorrows. We feel that there is but One of our race to whom this title properly belongs; One who may wear it as a crown upon his brow, inasmuch as his sorrows do him higher honour than the most conspicuous success ever conferred on human spirit. It does belong to him, not in virtue of the fact that his outward career involved more cruel hardships than those ever borne before; but in virtue of the fact tbat his spirit was such as to make bis endurance more grievous than that ever experienced by man. It was Jesus Christ's capacity of sorrow that made all the difference. Capacity to endure rises with the greatness of the spiritual nature; the larger the nature, the greater the possibility and likelihood of suffering. When, there- fore, we remem her that Jesus Christ, as a perfect Man, had t~e. fullest and ke~nest JlOSSible sensibility of nature, and when we remember that the Dimne was so associated m him with the human as immeasurably to deepen and enlarge every faculty of his BOul, we shall see that his capacity of sorrow was almost boundless. L THE SOURCES OF HIS BOBROW. These were, among others: 1. The failure on the part of his own best friends to understand and appreciate him. "They who knew him best could hardly be said to know him;" they entered only a very little way into his purpose, and could not sympathize with him in his deeper disappointments; "he trod the wine-press alone." But for his Father's presence he often was absolutely alone (John xvL 32). 2. The frailty and even the treachery of his disciples. Those who followed him and called him Master bad but little care for his truth or love for himself. In a moment of simple perplexity of mind they fell away from him, and abandoned his cause (John vi. tiG). One of his disciples grieved his spirit by distinc~ d~nial, a~d another pierced his heart by utter and open treachllry. 3. The inabgn1ty of his au. Lm. 1-12,] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 305