reo.cbee to the depths of our being, Not forsaken. The same Isaiah is here. We feel ~in. Israel folt it.. We cannot by any philosophy of heredity escape from the conscious- n~ss of personal guilt. Alone the flame burns. At night the thorn pierces through the p1ll?w· Are we left to bear the great sorrow unpitied and unaided? Out of Zion tbe Deliverer shall come. "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God." We feel social evils; we a.re hurt by unrighteousness, galled and wounded by selfishness. Amid a.II, fierce wars seem a.gain and again to stir the mad passions of humanity. What thought cau light our gloom, can give strength to our hopes? Only this-" A. King shall reign in righteousness." If there be no hope for the supremacy of the Christ, all is lost, for beside him there is no Saviour. But are there not signs that a better spirit is abroad? I think so. Men are sighing for a Prince of peace, and with the sigh there is a sob too, "0 Lord, how long?" We feel our own solitude. We seem to be forsaken. Change comes. Fortune is turned to misfortune, health to sickness. But there are restful hours in all Christian hearts. Say what men will of the mysteriez, let them ponder the facts; there is a touch of Christ, there is a tender sense of an encircling arm, there is a consciousness of the good Shepherd's care and love. We want to bring home the music of this promise to weary hearts. If we want to exercise more influence than philosophers and moralists, we must have a better message. When ffiysses passed by the island of the syrens, the classic story tells us that, to save himself from their snares, he bound himself with mighty thongs to the masts, and secured his sailors' safety by filling their ears with wax, that they might not be bewitched. But when the sweet singer, when Orpheus, voyaged by the same syren island, he bound himself to no mast, He started a sweeter, nobler music than the syrens could ever reach, and so sailed by in triumph. If we are to win men and keep men-men who have beeu charmed with the syren voices of the world all the week-our melody must be one that comes· down from heaven; the music of forgiveness and mercy, of grace and help, of God's love, and God's care, and God's everlasting throne. We are in him that is true, in him of whom all prophecy is full, who was the Spirit of it all. In life with all its mysteries, and in death with all its leave-takings. We shall never be termed " Forsaken,"-W. M. S.
Vera. 1-7.-From night to noon. The passage rather implies than states a very sad condition in which Israel is found, and it suggests to us, as a. starting-point- !. DARK DAYS THROUGH WHIOH A CHRISTIAN CHURCH MAY PASS. The evils and miseries which may then be endured may include, e.s with Israel at the time of this prophecy : 1. Reduced numbers, causing weakness and humiliation, perhaps approaching extinction. 2. Submission to some kind of bondage ; either to the tyranny of some spiritual delusion, or to the despotism of some other master than the Lord of love and righteousness. 3. The actual withdrawal of Christ; a condition in which it is rightly called " the Forsaken," for "he does not many mighty works because of unbelief." He does not dwell there, but passes by; he does not manifest his presence and his power in regenerating, or renewing, or sustaining grace. 4. The appearance of utter forgetfulness on the part of its Divine Head. There is such an absence of all fruitfulness, all usefulness, all moral and spiritual beauty, that its most appropriate name is "The Desolate One." II. THE DUTY OF IT~ MINISTERS and its best friends in these dark days (vers. 1-6). 1. Pleading with God for his people. For Zion's sake not holding peace, for Jerusalem's sake not resting, but continually and earnestly interceding with God that he will pity, will interpose, will ,·estore. 2. Pleading with his people in God's name. The function of the prophet was to trpeak for God, and especially when his truth was forgotten and his will neglected. The duty and privilege of the minister of Christ is to declare with all fearlessness and fidelity, and with all needful reiteration, the truth which has been forgotten, the commandment which is being disregarded. This duty is shared by any others, partioularly by any other officers, to whom the Spirit of God may reveal his will. Ill. THE FUTURE WHI0H IT IS IN THE POWER AND IN THE HEART OF GOD TO CONFER, 1. Deliverance from these distressing evils. There shall be "salvation" (ver. 1). The bonds shall be broken, the delusions dispelled, the assumption of power removed, the "evil thing in the mid~t" which prevented the indwelling of Christ shall be cast out. 2. Manifestation of the Master's favour. Its "righteousness" in his sight shall "go 436 THE BOOK OF TIIE PROPHET ISAIAH. [ou. LXII. 1-12.
forth as brightness;" there shall be such tokens of Divine favour that all who dwell around and observe shall "see its righteousness" asserted and behold its "glory" (ver. 2). 3. The possession of its Lord's regard. Its new name, "Hephzi-bab," shall i1dicate tlrnt its Lord delights in it, looks upon it with a glad approval, holds it in his right hand (Rev. ii. 1) as a man holds a crown or diadem, as something of rare value, of great price in his esteem (ver. 3). 4. The outpouring of its Lord'a affection. Its new name is also to be "Ileulan;" for it is to be dear to his heart as is the bride to the bridegroom, the object of his fervent love. We may be so conscious of our 6hort- comings anc1 of onr departures from God's will that we may fail to realize the fulness of our privilege. But it is our sacred duty to be dissatisfied with oursel ve~, as portions of the Church of Christ, until we are such as he can regard with Divine lovo and affection, such as he can prize as very precious crowns or diadems. If this seems impossible as things are, it behoves us to humble ourselves before him, to plead with him in penitent prayer, to rededicate ourselves to his service, until the hour comes when not only will the darkness have given way to dawn, but the dawn to noontide brightness.-C.