The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 310

the fa.et that courtesy, compassion, and care do fa.ii, and, in one word, "love" is absent. I am not speaking of the false kindness of the deceiver, or the tender mercies of the ga.y, or t.he heartless mannerism which feigns affection. This is devils' work and tills the sinner's night of death with spectres worse than the genius of Dante' ever described or Dore ever designed. I am speaking of the common fact of instability in human feeling, inconstancy in human love. Explainable, indeed, sometimes by the dete~tion ?f selfishness, superficiality, or unworthiness, 11s we think, in others, but manifest, m some measure, in us all. Now, the Divine Saviour is the ideal of all unselfishness. Be gave himself. He humbled himself. He became obedient unto death-even the death of the cross-for us. While we were yet enemies, he died for us. And this was no solitary embodiment of his nature. It was a revelation of what his eternal nature is. Ta.lie, then, a review of yourself; take a review of society--and forget not all the revelations you have haJ of blessed contrast in God, whose kindness has not departed from you. Ill. THE REVIEW. Think of what the past time says. Life has been full of mercy to us all. Homes have been revisited, friends have been restored, love has been consummated, new homes have been set up, accident has been averted, health has been restored, deliverance has been vouchsafed, affliction has been sanctified, and religious faith has in some cases been renewed and restored. Most wonderful of all is this. "\Ve have lived through seasons in which subtle temptations have had their enchanter's wand broken, and difficulties in our Christian faith have been removed. True, indeed, it is that to some these words would mean nothing-would, perhaps, raise a smile of condescending pity for those of us who still believe in a God at all. Some there are who wonder at the worship which rises above "the stream of tendency," or the laws of evolution, to the Fountain of Life and Power which fills the universe with life and joy; and to others the words would sound likA the bitter irony of fate. Kindness I when the fig tree has withered, and there is slenJer produce in the vine? for some have not yet learned that Providence has higher ends than to weave purple robes and to grow costly fruits. What blessedness there is to most of us in the continuous belief in a personal God and Father-in a hand that rules, a voice that speaks, and a heart that loves! Truly it sujficeth us to show us the Father; for, try as men may, they can never create an impersonal religion. Greece raised her altars to Pity and Fame, and the abstract virtues; but the testimony of history was the total neglect of them all. The human heart can worship a Divine heart only-must seek after a God, even if he be "the Unknown God." Certainly, also, we cannot worship, adore, praise, and glorify any embodied idea of humanity-the positivists cannot m11ke a beautiful image of that. No; its shame, its vice, its corruption, its evil, remain; the statue may have gold in it, but it has iron and clay as well. 'l'he Lord revealed i11 the Bible is our God and Father to-day! "My soul thirsteth for God, the living God;" "Unto thee, 0 Lord, will I sing;" "Great is the Lord, and of great power, and his understanding is infinite." We retain our prayer, "Our Father which art in heaven." We retain our pathway of approach. "Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life." We retain our altar of love, the one Mediator between God and man, the Lord Jesus Christ. Looking back, then, and taking a review of life preserved ancl life sustained, of friends given or restored, of love cemented aud consecrated, of faith purified and elevated, must. not our seal be set afresh to the truth of the words, "My kindness shall not depart from thee"? IV. THE PROSPECT. 'l'hinlc wluit the /utwre will bring. The coming days. These ,re the most constant theme of our meditation. We project ourselves into life'it to-morrow. We never live wholly for the present time. We are all artists in this wise, ~oiuuring our picture by means of our faith or our experience. We are sometimes morbid, and doubt whether good times will come to ns again, forgetful of the past seasons of trouble which gave pla.ce in time to the brighter morrow. Alas I we too often say, "Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercy?" Kindness deparwd ! That is our earthly and our spiritual dread. But the bow in the cloud is Gvd'ti silent prophecy. And there is a bow in every cloud, if wo will but gaze upon the heaven of mercy above us. To-morrow is comin~, but on its wings mercy and love will also come. God will still show forth his lovini;-kindness in the morning. The throne of God is not to be covered with the crape of a departed niajesty. We believe in "the Et,;rng,l,," "froQl everlasting to everlasting thou art OJI, LIV, 1-17,J THE BOOK Ol!' THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 321