vers. 16, 17. Fury to hil advenaries, re- deemer for Zion, and for those who tum, eto. oompense to his enemies. God's "adver- When the" adversaries" and the" enemiea" saries" are those of his own hollllehold-his shall have been punished, repentant Israel people, the ungodly Israelites; his •• ene- she.II be saved by the coming of llfessie.h. mies " are the heathen that oppress his As usual, the prophet does not note, or per- people (comp. oh. i. 24, which is Yery haps see, iutervals of time, but blends events similar). To the islands; i.e. the maritime of various periods into one glorious vision lands, which, under Assyria., and afterwards of triumphant deliverance, redemption, and under Babylon, took part in the oppression prolonged spiritual life in the Redeemer's of his people. kingdom. Ver. 19.-So shall they fear; rather, and Ver. 21.-As for me; literally, and I. they shall fear. The result of the trium- The prophet begins with one construction, phant exhibition of God's might will be a and then checks himself, and introduces conversion of the Gentiles, who will flock another. This is my oovenant (comp. Jer. in both from the west-the quarter of "the mi. 31-34; and see the comment on eh. islauds "-and from the east, to do rever- lv. 3). The new covenant involved the ence to the name and to the glory of the giving of God's Spirit to hie people (Joel ii. Lord. When the enemy shall come in 28); and this Spirit, it is here promised, (rather,= on) like a flood; literally, like shall not depart from God's people while the rirer; i.e. the Euphrates (comp. eh. time endures. The Spirit will be accom- vili. 7, "The Lord bringeth up upon them panied with certain " words" which will be the waters of the riTJer, strong and ma.ny, put into the Church's mouth; ancl these even the King of Assyria and all his glory," words will remain unchanged and pass on etc.). When this shall be the case, then the from mouth to mouth, age after agi,, for Spirit of the Lord-hyposte.sized or nearly ever. The "words" intended are probably so--shall lift up a standard against him those of the entire Bible-" all God's revela- (comp. eh. x. 18; Zech. ix. 16), and easily tions" (Cheyne)-which the Church will vanquish him. The metaphor of "lifting maintain as inspired truth through all ages. a standard " for making an armed resistance Upon thee j i.e. upon Israel. The change is common in Isaiah (v. 26; xiii. 2; xviii. of number and person (" with them . . . 3; :x:n:L 9, etc.). upon thee") is not unusual in Isaiah (i. 29; Ver. 20.-A.nd the Redeemer shall come to xxrii.i. 2; xl.ix. 5; lxii 11, 12, etc.). Zion; l"l.ther, a.na Ulere shall come a Be-
HOMILETICS. Vere. 2-8.-The wnsa,tiifactoriness of sinful courses. "Wbat/ruU had ye then in those things whereof ye now are ashamed?" asks the apostle of those whom he had converted from a life of sin to a life of righteousness (Rom. vi. 21). What good did the life of sin seem to do you? Of course, if the life of sin bad no pleasures at all to offer, it would have no attractiveness, and would not be led by any. But what, after all, are the attractions, compared with the counterbalancing disadvantages? L THE PLEASURES OF BIN ABE BLIGHT, EVEN WBILE THEY LAST. No doubt there is a gratification in the satisfaction of every desire, in the venting of every passion, in the full indulgence of every lust and appetite. '!'here is a pleasure also in the mere indulgence of self-will, the setting 'l.Side of every restraint, and the determination to be free and do exactly what we choose. But put all these things together; and to what do they amonnt? What is their value? Is the game worth the candle 'l Are not the pleuures themselves al ways mixed with pains, which detract from them? Do they not generally involve as their consequences worse pains, so that mere selfishness should make us decide to decline the pleasures? Does not conscience offer e. continue.I protest against the life of sin? and is not that protest painful-often severely painful? Again, are not those who lead a life of sin, even while they lead it, always more or less ashamed of it? And is not that shame a very bitter feeling? Is not the disapproval of the life by friends and relatives, especially the nearest, who should be the dearest, e. very sub- stantial set-off e.gainst any balance of pleasure that might otherwise remain? Do the wicked ever "know peace"? Can they ever calmly review their lives, and derive from the review any feeling of satisfaction '/ Can they even boast in all their life of a moment's perfect restfulness, content, calm, quiet, sense of ease? II. THE PLEASURES OF SIN ABE FLEETING j THEY DIE OUT AB TDIE GOES ON, The on. LU:, 1-21.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 880