fasted to any purpose, if by it be bas not got ground of bis corruption, in some measure supplan~ed his sin, and estranged his affections from the beloved embraces of sinful objects" (South). III. THE TRUE FASTING. There was elaborate and merciful legislation for the pro• tection of Hebrew slaves (Exod. xxi. 2; Deut xv. 12; Lev. xxv. 39); yet it appears to have become a dead letter, which called for severest castii:;ation (Jer. xxxiv. 8, etc.). "To loose the bands of wickedness," to release those borne down by exactions contrary to the Law, to "untie the thongs of the yoke" (to free those detained beyond the legal time), to raise up the "crushed" (in the spirit of him who cherishes the crushed reed, eh. xiii. 3; Cheyne), this was the chosen fast of Jehovah. It was "to break bread to the hungry, and to bring miserable outcasts to their home" (cf. Ezek. xviii. 7, 16). It was "to clothe the naked, and not to hide one's-self from one's own flesh." It is known thaffrom time to time, both in the Jewish and the Christian Churches, alms- giving has -been exalted into a religion and a morality, instea<i of remaining the expression and fruit of a pure heart. None the less it may be true that at certain times the duty may stand in the forefront of piety, and the neglect of it leave the reproach of "worse than the infidel" on the conscience. Righteousness is not coin- cident with almsgiving; but alms!!iving, like any other external act, may be perverted into a formalism (as we see from Matt. vi. 1-4). Charity must begin at home. The outcasts (Joel iii. 2-8; Neh. v. 8), and thoRe of the same flesh (Neb. v. 5), are especially those of one's own house and country. "The condition of a truly religious fast is that it be attended with alms and works of charity. Amongst our other emptinesses, the evacuation of the purse is proper to this solemniiv, and he that inflicts a thorough penance upon this, stops the fountain of luxury and the opportunities of extravagance. Charity is the grand seasoning of every Christian duty; it gives it a gloss in the sight of God, and a value in the sight of man; and he fasts properly whose fast is the poor man's feast, whose abstinence is another's abundance. God here roundly tells his people what is truly a fast and what is no fast in his esteem-not to abstain from bread, but to deal it to the hungry; "this is properly to fast. Not to wrap ourselves in sack- cloth, but to cover and clothe our naked brotber; this is to be humbled. Alms have so much the pre-eminence over prayer, that one is a begging of God, the other a lending to him" (South). IV. PROMISES TO THE OBEDIENT. "Thy light shall break forth as the morning" (cf. Job :xi. 17). Like the spreading welcome light of" rosy-fingered dawn," prosperity will come to gladden their hearts. "Thy new flesh shall quickly shoot forth." Old wounds shall be healed, and the vital forces, which have been checked, shall resume their activity. "'l'hy righteousness shall go before thee." Personal rectitude (eh. i. 27; x:xxiii. 6, 6) shall he as a leader, conducting them in the paths of prosperity and peace ; and in the rear of the host shall be Jehovah's glory (eh. Iii. 12). Here, then, is joy, vigour, confidence, all connected with rightness; this rightness found, where alone it can be found, in mind and heart conformed to the Divine will. Prayer will be heard and answered (contra~t vers. 2, 4). A God distaut and exiled will give place to one so near that a cry will bring his presence and his help. As the last note of despair is, "Where is our God?" the highest point of faith is reached by those who hear him say, "Here I am I " Ilut God would ever be near, were it not for the " thick cloud " of sin between the heart and him. Only let the oppression and the contumely and the defilement of the tongue, reflected in the defilement of the mind, cease, and the better springs of the inner life will rise. When they rise, there will be blessing around one, and other lives will be gladdened; and, when this shall be, then "thy thick darkness shall be as noon;" life shall be a progres~ under Divine direction; there shall be refrer.ih- ment, comfort, exhilaration, and restoration of the ruins of the past.-J. Vera. 13, 14.-The claims of the sabbath. I. THE HOLINESS OF THE SABBATH. " The prophet regards the fast-days as forms without authority and significance. All the more strict is his view of the claims of the sabbath" (Cheyne). It is emphatically a con- secrated day, and the foot is to be turned aside from it as if it were holy ground, like that where Moses put the shoes from his feet (Exod. iii. 5). The foot, as instrument of travel, is to be "removed from evil" (Prov. iv. 27), and its "path is to be pondered" (Prov, fr, 29). Selfish, merely hum&D business, is not to be done on that day, which 378 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET lSAIAit. [olI. Lvtn.1-14.
mRy be viewed as a part of that great duty of sacrifico which runs through the Lf\W, The day was to be peculiarly Jehovah's own. A particular temperance and modesty of the tongue was suitable t-0 its observance. Falsehood (Hos. x. 4; Job xv. 13) would especially desecrate it. Scripture is especially strong on the significance of words. For they expre,ss the soul, and reflect in their expression influences of good or evil on the soul again. There should be reserve and economy of speech (11 lesson disregarded too much in modern times), for an element of sin is certain to find its way into excessive loquacity (Prov. x. 19; Eccles. v. 3). A "tongney man" almost means the same as a malicioua talker (Ps. cxl. 11). The regulation of the tongue may, therefore, in ~reat part, be taken as the measure of spiritual self-control and sobriety, as the expression of the living sacrifice of the heart, II. THE BLESSING ATTACHED-SPIRITUAL DELIGHT. JQy in Jehovah, the Eternal is m11.nifes1eJ to men in grace, in proportion as they approach him in obedience. "Yo~ shall no longer be left to barren ordinances and to unanswered prayers. No one has ever properly observed the sabbath who did not find as a consequence that he had increased pleasure in the existence, character, and service of Jehovah" (cf. Job xxii. 21-26; Ps. xxxvii. 4, for the illustration of the principle involved). Tri1imphant possession of the land of promi.se. (For the phrase, see Deut. xxxii. 13 ; cf. Hab. iii. 19; Ps. x.iii. 33; Amos iv. 13. For the idea, see eh. lxv. 9; Ezek. xxxiv. 13, 14; xxxvi. 1-12.) The bills and fortresses of Palestine, so greatly beloved by the patriot- hearts of the prophets, shall be recovered by the people, once following the righteous moral lead of Jehovah.-J.