ritual, social, and national requirement. St. Paul state~ the old test thus: "The man that doeth them shall live in them." It was the work of the prophets to introduce the new moral test, and prepare the way for the higher spiritual test of Christianity. The later prophets even venture to be severe on mere ritual obedience, as if, in the sight of God, it had become qnite worthless. They intimate that God searches hearts, looks for rijlht motives, asks not for what a. man has, save as the man can, through his gifts, give himself to God. The "broken and contrite heart" are especially presentBd because this stands in most severe contrast with the self-satisfaction and self-will of unre- generate man. If a. man is humble, sensible of sin and sorrow for sin, God knows he is such a man as ca.n be made a. monument of Divine grace. (Another treatment of this theme will be found under eh. !xvi. 2.) It has been said, "God has three sorts of dwellings: first, in the highest; second, in the sanctuary; third, in humble hearts. The first dwelling is the universalis prlI!sentia, the universal presence, by which he fills all (Jer. xxiii. 24); but there he is too high and incomprehensible for us. The second is gratiosa, the gracious presence, by which he lets himself be found in the Word and sacraments, and also comes finally to us, and makes his dwelling in our hearts." And the test is whether our hearts a.re such as he can make his dwelling in. The three tests are- I. DOES A MAN STRICTLY OBEY AND KEEP ALL RITUAL AND BOCUL INJUNCTIONS? That test may suffice for children, and child-ages of the world ; for we must begin moral education by requiring obedience to formal commands. II. Is A MAN IN A RIGHT STATE OF MIND AND HEART? Such a state must include reverence before a God so great; thankfulness to a God so kind; humbleness through a sense of shortcoming before a God who makes such claims; and penitence through conviction of sin against a God so holy. III. DoES A MAN ACCEPT Goo's GIFT OF PARDON AND LIFE IN HIS SoN CHRIST JESUS? "He that believeth on the Son bath life: he that believeth not on the Son of God bath not life." We cannot be tested only by the two first tests; the third searches, and perhaps condemns us.-R. T. Vers. 20, 21.-The unrest of the wicked. "But the wicked are like the sea that is tossed up, for it cannot rest, and its waters toss up mire and mud" (Cheyne). Comp. Jude 13 for the figure. It is curious to note the marked contrast between our ideas a.nd sentiments concerning the sea, and those of ancient times and Eastern lands. To us it is the beautiful shining sea, and many of us feel that we must see it at least once a year. 'l'o us it is the most soothing and calming of Nature's in.ftuences, and we sympe.thize with Bonar as he sings- .. Summer ocea.n, how rn miss thee, Miss the thunder of thy roa.r, Miss the mUBio of thy ripple, Miss thy sorrow-soothing shore. Summer ocee.n, how I'll miss thee, When 'the sea. shall be no more' I" But to Eastern people genera.Uy in ancient times, a.nd to Israelites in particular, the sea. was a. great dread. It was the separator, the engulpher of life, the re,tless storm- darkened, storm-tossed, wailing sea; suggestive only of foulness, unrest, and peril. So it was a type of the wicked man in wa.ys, and with applications, which we find it most difficult to realize. But the unresting character of the sea does impress us. There is 110 peace to the heaving, swirling, wind-driven, tide-drawn sea. J. 'l'HERE IS NO PEACE TO THE WICKED BECAUSE, IN HIS WAY, HE CAN NEVER GET IT. His way is breaking up the Divine order: rest can never come that way. His way is striving with everything that makes fair l>romises, a.part from God: rest ca.n never come that way. His wa.y is to seek for rest in things that he can possess, not in the character which he can be : rest can never come that way. God's world was made for good men, and it will yield its best treasures to, and satisfy, nobody but the good. II. THERB 1B NO PEACE TO THE WICKED DECAUSE, ON HIS CONDITIONS, GoD WILL NEVER GIVE IT. And peace for man is the gift of God. So, speaking for God, Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you." The wicked want to buy 872 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [cH. tvur. 1-14.
it. God does not sell it. The wicked would consume it on their lusts if they obtained it. God will never allow his gifts t-0 be abused. The wicked are not prepared to call that peace which God calls peace; so he will wait until they come to a right mind. Show, in contrast, that we have "peace ,vith God through our Lord Jesus Christ"- a heart-peace that works itself out into all sacred restiugs of life and relationship.-R. T,
SECTION VI, PRACTICAL h"STRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS, FOLLOWED BY A CONFESSION A.ND A PROMISE (cH. LVIII., Llx.).