The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 406

the.t between suoh hearing e.nd e. hardening of the bee.rt consequent on the rejection of his gracious messe.ge. 'l'o mankind e.t large the "time of acceptance" is the time of their sojoum here below,duringwhich it is e.lwe.ys possible for them to repent and turn to him, unless perchance they have been guilty of the "sin against the Holy Ghost," Such sin is probably still possible; but it may be hoped that few have committed it and that the apostle's declaration, which he made to all his converts (2 Cor. vi. 2), may still he repeated to professing Christians generally, "Behold, now is the accepted time· behold, now is the day of salvation." ' YI. T~E PR?<JLAIMING OF A DAY OF VENGEANCE. It was among the purposes of our Lords commg that he should "proclaim a day of vengeance." 1. To the nation of the Jews, which by rejecting him caused its own rejection from the position assigned it under the first covenant, and was delivered up for punishment to the Romans. This be did by a num her of remarkable prophecies (e.g. the following: Matt. xxi. 40-43, xxiv. 4-28; Luke xiii. 34, 35; xxi. 20-22), which announced that Jerusalem we.~ to be destroyed, and that there was to be "great wrath upon the people" (Luke xxi. 23). 2. To the enemies of God univer:;ally. The general day of vengeance upon God's enemies is that" last day," which our Lord announced so often, when he "will come again with glory tc judge both the quick and the dead" (see Matt. vii. 22, 23; xxiv. 29-31; xxv. 31-46; xxvi. 64, etc.). Then all his enemies will be "put under his feet." Then will be fulfilled the apocalyptic vision, "I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and bell delivered up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. .And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Rev. xx. 12-15). VIL THE COMFORTING OF MOURNERS. It was indicative of the tenderness of Jesu~, that in his life on earth be had ever such great compassion for mourners. In his sermon on the mount he assigned to them the second Beatitude, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall blj.comforted" (Matt. v. 4). Thrice only in his ministry does be seem to have come across actual death, and then ea.eh time he had such pity on those who mourned their dead, that he worked miracles on their behalf, e.nd comforted them by raising their lost ones to life again (Mark v. 22-42; Luke vii. 12-15; John xi. 32-44). .After his resurrection, he hastened to comfort the women who mourned him, by special appearances to them (Matt. xxviii. 9; Mark xvi. 9). These, however, were but samples of bis power and of his good will. 'l'hrough the long ages that have elapsed since he founded bis Church, mourners have ever found in him a true and poteat Comforter. Through him it is that Christians "sorrow not as they that have no hope" (1 Thess. iv. 13); through him that they have resignation, and are able to say, "'l'he Lord ga\·e, and the Lord hath taken a.way: blessed be the Ne.me of the Lord;" through him that they look to receive their dead again raised to life (Heh. xi. 35), and to be joined with them in a land where there is no parting. VIII. 'J'HE CROWNING OF THE SAINTS IN BLISS. "Henceforth," said St. Paul, as he approached the end of his life, "there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them that love his appearing" (2 'l'im. iv. 8). We shall receive, says St. James, " the crown of life" (J as. L 12). " When the chief Shepherd shall appear," says St, Peter, "ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" (1 Pet. v. 4). Such crowns were seen by the beloved disciple o.s worn by the elders in the heavenly region (Hev. iv. 4), and were promised to all who should remain "faithful nnto death" (Rev. ii 10) by him that is "Faithful and True" (Rev. xix. 11). A part of the intention of Christ's mission was to purify to himself a people to whom such crowns might without unfitness be awarded in his heavenly kingdom. The term "crown" is, no doubt, a metaphor; but it signifies some definite and positive degree of glory, having asubstantial value, and forming a proper object of the Christian's desire. IX. THE ANOINTING THEM WITH THE on. OF JOY. Christ himself was to be "anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows" (Ps. xiv. 7). His mission on earth we.a, in part, to ex.tend the ble&11ing of this anointing to hi.a disciples, 'l'he "oil of gladness," 011. LXI. 1-11.] 'rHE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 419