HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-22.-~ characteristics of the final Cfhurch of the Redeemm'. Ieaiah'a teaching on this sn bject divides itself uud~r three heads. I. THE CHURCH SHALL BE RADIANT WITH A LIGHT DERIVED FROM HER LORD. The ra<liance spoken of (vers. 1-3) is a radiance of moral and spiritual goodness. The absolute moral perfection of the Son of man can, of course, be but faintly and feebly imitated by his followers. Still, they are bound to imitate him; for he" left them an example, that they should follow his steps" (1 Pet. ii. 21). And they are helped in their imitation by their Lord himself, who infuses into them of his own righteousness, and gives them "grace for grace" (John i.16). And the result is that ultimately they, even in this life, more or less bear his image and are ma<le like to him. "We all," says St. Paul, "with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same_image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord'' (2 Cor. iii. 18). And the resemblance will be greater hereafter. For in their final state they will be cleansed from all stain of sin. ll. THE CHUB.CH SHALL BE A GREAT NATION, A VAST COMMUNITY, WHICH SHALL FILL THE 1'"'EW EABTH AND NEW REAVENS. The " little one " was to " become a thousand," and the "small one a strong nation" (ver. 22). The Gentiles from every quarter were to flock in (vers. 3, 4, 14), and haste to the brightness of Zion's rising. Distinctions of race were to be abolished, aud Zion's gates were to stand open always, to receive all comers (ver. 11). 'l'he result was to be a vast influx; and in the ultimate kingdom of the Redeemer would be contained people from every nation under heaven. Besides the mystical hundred and forty-four thousand, representative of the twelve tribes of Israel, St. John saw in the apocalyptic vision "a great multitude, which no man: could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues, which stood before the throne, and before the Lamb" in the heavenly kingdom, "clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands " (Rev. vii. 9). • II!. THE CHURCH SHALL CEASE TO HAVE ENEMIES OR BUFFER VIOLENCE, AND SHALL ENJOY EVERLASTING PEACE. When the pit has closed on the ungodly, and Satan has been bound and shut up, and her sins have not only been forgiven, but purged away (eh. i. 25), then the Church will find herself kept in perfect peace, with no trouble either from within or from without, with no enemy to vex her, with no faults to mourn (ver. 20), with no temptations against which to struggle. Rest and peace are main objects of human desire; only the peace, to be satisfactory, must be a prolonged quiet energy, instinct with consciousness and life. Such an energy is the reverential and loving adoration which the blessed souls render continue.Uy to their present God, as they cast their crowns before his throne, and cry, "Salvation to our God which 11itteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb" (Rev. vii. 10). The Divine presence will be a perpetnally present joy, contenting those who live in H, and causing them to feel an eternal peaceful delight.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-14.-The rebuilding of the temple. I. THE DAWN OF THE NEW DAY. Zion lying like a prostrate woman on the ground, is bidden to arise, because the glory of her God has dawned upon her. And this in contrast to the thick darkness enwrapping the earth in generaL 'l'hie darkness means alienation from God. As the Israelites had light in their dwellings when thick darkness was on the land of Egypt, so again now. Israel is the "central and mediatorial people." Here a community of God; yonder a world exiled from God. The contrast continues, and ever must continue. "We are of God ; the whole world lieth in the evil one." The glory of the pure Churob is nothing on. LX. 1-22.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 405