The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 395

is indispensable to nature here. Its ilcws and darkness answer numberless purposes of good in the wide creation. And must we not say that the gloom and mystery of life have all a meaning, a Divine intent? and that the spirit of the probationer for eternity is perfected in it? 'l'o have all sunshine in a world so stained with sin would argue that God thinks lightly of evil. It is not so. This life of ours has much of gloom; but all its darkness, directly or indirectly, springs from sin. The eclipse is caused by the selfishness of man coming between God and the soul. Will God always cause us to endure so much of darkness? No. But we must wait his time. We must wait hie place. We may put off our black dress and dress in bridal robes when, as our text says," the days of our mourning shall be ended." Light is beautiful. "Surely light is sweet." Think how many golden harvest-fields the all-ripening sun has looked down upon; how many scenes of blest content its rays have rested on. Many of our frames of mind are materially affected by the merry sunshine. The sun nr,t only ripens the corn, it gladdens the heart. But there is a sunshine of the soul not at all connected with this. There are joys which nothing outward can bestow or remove. Yes; there are many miserable hearts on the brightest days. The sunshine cannot replace the smile of e. vanished face. Likewise there are many glad hearts on the gloomiest days. Nothing can steal from them the blessedness of being loved and doing good. I would remark, however, that- L THE BUNB1WlE OF LIFE IS UNCERTAIN. Do dark days come suddenly on mariners in distant seas, in other zones? So imperceptibly comes sorrow to human hearts. We have no control over the landscape and the heart. Its fairest scenes may be darkened in an hour I Imagine a belated traveller seeing the sun go down. Thi~ is so ! What sad intelligence may come! What unbidden conjecture may arise! What surmise I What thought may come forth from the chambers of memory! What spoken words-what saci scenes may quench the light of joy and gladness in the human countenance! Yes; you have marked this ; perhaps your own words may have produced it. How many can bear evidence of this! They will be ready to echo my words when I say," Let us be very thankful for so much bright sunshine as we have, for the joys which are the rewards and accompaniments of Christian life." Ycs; " they will bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp, with the psaltery;" they will be glad, but they will rejoice with trembling, for they " know not what a day," etc. IJ, 1'HE BUNSHTh'E OF LIFE IS MUCH DEPENDENT ON THE STATE OF OUR SOULS, We may be surrounded by the sweetest natural and the holiest moral associations, and yet sometimes be very nd. It may be at home, or even in the sanctuary of God. A little pebble placed near the eye will intercept the light of the sun; and a little object may keep away from us the smile of God and the sweet sanction of our own conscience. We feel discontented with ourselves, that, having a cross so near to go to, we should yet bear the burden of so many sins; that, having a Friend so near, we should let him share so few of our sorrows. But the cause of this is the expl,mation of our sadness : we so often love the sins we cherish; we so often forsake the Friend we should make our own. As it is with a sermon, so it is with all the aspects of life, so much hangs on;tbe state of our own soul. But look up higher. The souls that listened where you do, trod the same earth, wept the same tears as you do,-they are sad nevermore, for the state of their souls is purer than the purest lake which reflects the overhanging hills; so pure that they consciously and clearly bear the image of him who knew no sin. III. THE SUNSHINE OF HEAVEN WILL BE SO}'T AS WELL AS BRIGHT. It is likened to the moon as well as to the sun. Heaven is not only pictured to ns by the symbols of the waving palms, and the majestic multitude, and the thrilling anthem, and the rever- berating choir, and the glad hosanna.hi No; there will be soft moonlizht as well as sunlight. Much and most of our happiness here is not of the outwardly buoyant and ecstatic character. It is calm and peaceful joy which you crave no vivid image for. This one suits it though-the moonlight. Yes; how m11ny voyagers h11s it lent its soft liaht to guide amongst the breakers I How many travellers, imperilled by the way, has it°kept in safety from the precipice and the watercourse! How many will sing of the beauty as well as the safety it gives! Never did the sleeping city staml out in such calm and stately grandeur. Never did the overhanging worlds glow with a serener or a steadier beauty. We cannot always bear the gaze of the sun; but ask the Indian missionary, and he will tell you the sweet loveliness of the moon. It is e. type, then, 408 'l'RE BOOK OF TRE PUOPRET IS.A.lAH. Con. LX. 1-22,