could give, was the observance of their sabbath ; their sabbath was the one outwl\rd tl,ing which brought their religion to their mind. Hence its observance acquired quite a special value." Inquire what signs of their allegiance to Jehovah, and their obedience to his commands, pious Jews in Babylon could give to those around them. None could be so important or so effective as to show themselves a nation of sabbath- keepers, because Jehovah, their God, had commanded sabhath-keeping. I. SABBATH-KEEPING A FORMAL ACT. As such it is of comparatively small import- ance. It bears good relation, indeed, to the physical health and the social order of a community, providing seasons of rest and change. and reminding of the cl,,ims of sonl as well as body. But if sabbath-keeping be the mere formal act, with no deeper meaning in it, then it may be judged as a matter of expediency, and valued as a wise and excellent Mosaic arrangement, more or less wisely imitated by other rulers. II. SABBATH-KEEPING A MORAL STATE. Souls must keep sabbath, or it is not really kept. Souls must keep sabba th (1) as an act of obedience to God; (2) as an expression of love for worship; (3) as a si)!n of loyalty and affection for God. There is never any difficulty about the proper ordering of the day when the soul is full of the sabbath- spirit. III. SABBATH-KEEPmG THE FORMAL ACT WHICH EXHIBITS THE MORAL STATE. Man cannot test the soul-conditions of his fellow-man save by observing the expressions of that condition in his oond'IJ,Ct. God can read soul-states, but, for purposes of revelation and teaching, he treats us as we treat each other, and asks for signs in the life of what may be in the soul. Therefore he still looks for careful and faithful sabbath-keep- ing.-R. 'l'. Vers. 4-6.-Disabled 01lll8 sharing Divine blessings. From the points of view of the earlier Judaism, eunuchs and strangers were persons placed under special disability. Neither could take full share in national or sanctuary privileges (Deut. xxiii. 1-8). To understand the feeling towards eunuchs we must remember the two prevailing ideas among the Jews, which made offspring seem so desirable. 1. A man found a sort of quasi-immortality in the feeling that he would live over again in his children. 2. It was possible to any Jewish parents that they might be progenitors of the promised Messiah. Eunuchs were persons who, either by reason of physical infirmity or cruel custom, could not have children born to them. They were despised because of their infirmity. The prophet assures such that the new spiritual kingdom of Messiah would have room for them, and gather them, as well as the foreigners and strangers, into its embrace, and even put special honour on them if they were found men of faith. "The prophet's whole conception of the Gentiles in relation to the religion of Israel is unexampled in the Old Testament for its admirable width, depth, and grandeur." The term "dry tree" is still a phrase used in the East of a p~rson of either ~ex who bas no children. Roberts, writing of Hindoo customs, says, "People without post~rity, of both sexes, are called dry trees; which, strictly speaking, means they are dead, having neither se.p, nor leaves, nor fruit." Matthew Arnold says," It must be remembered that, attached to a great Eastern court like that of Babylon, were a multitude of eunuchs, some of whom had perhaps adopted the religion of Israel. It is probable, also, that some of the Jewish youths were taken for the court service as eunuchs, and their countrymen would afterwards have been likely to abhor them on that account." These considerations will enable us the better to feel the exquisite tenderness and mercifulness of this passage. The general topic suggested is the gracious way in which the gospel kingdom embraces all the disabled. This may be illustrated from- I. THOSE UNDEB PHYSICAL DISADILITIES. II. THOSE UNDER RACE-DISAllILITIES. III. THOSE UNDER SOCIAL DISABILITIES. IV. THOSE UNDER MENTAL DISADILITIEB. V, THOSE UNDER DISABILITIES FROM PAST EVIL LIVING, Christ's S&lvation is for man as man. In his kingdom there are found black and white, bond and free. Its gate is open to whosoever will.-R. 'l'.
Ver. 1.-God's house of prayer for everybody. "Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people." These words were quoted by the Lord Jesus when he drove lliIAB-U, 2 A 364: THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [oH. LVI.1-12.