The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 56

still the same, though ch1mge and alteration are the very essence of thie world; it remains the same amid all the ups and downs of time; and its blessed results nre durahlc ns eternity itself. It is" the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of G,,d," for he is the Alpha and Omega of it; he is the Source from which all its benefits and blessings flow ; he is the Guide to the ways and means by ,vhich we become partakers of the same. Whether, therefore, we consider it as the gospel of God, or the gospel of his grace, or the gospel of peace, or the gospel of salvation, or the glorious gospel, or the everlasting gospel, or the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, it justifies its claim to be the "godspell," or glad message, or good news, which the name implies. 6. Its effects. Good news, then, is the subject to which the evangelist, at the very outset, calls our attention. Good news I Oh, how the heart beats in the prospect of good news I How the pulse throbs in expectation of good news! How many a heart beats wildly when the post- miin's knock comes to the door I How many a bright eye becomes still briahter when. the precious little letter, which brings good news from friends abroad or° friends at home, is put into the hand I Now, the best news that ever fell on the ear, or met the eye, or gladdened the heart, of mortal man, is this gospel of the Son of God. It has quickened many a dead soul; it has gladdened many a sad heart; it has filled many a drooping spirit with joy unspeakable; it has led many a pilgrim of earth onward and upward to the glories of heaven. Ill. U:i-.'ION OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT SoRIPTURES. In vers. 2, 3, the evan- gelist binds together as in one volume, and unites with better than clasps of gold, the Old Testament and the New. He brings into closest connection the canon of the former with that of the latter. They are, indeed, the twin lips of one and the same Divin~ oracle. Accordingly, he bridges over the chasm of four hundred years between the last prophet of the Old Testament and the first prophet, or rather precursor of the Saviour, in the New. The ministry of John and the mission of the Saviour had been expressly foretold by the prophets Isaiah and Malachi-the prediction of the former was primary, that of the latter secondary and subordinate. Consequently, treating Malachi's as prefatory and introductory, announcing the messenger and his function, he :fixes attention mainly on that of Isaiah, as containing the message itself, and the actual ministry with which the forerunner was charged. The name of Malachi is therefore omitted, for the correct reading, as given by the critical editors is, no doubt, "in Isaiah the prophet." IV. THE VOICE THE PROPHET HEARD. The prophet Isaiah, as we may picture his position, is looking away, with straining eyes, into the distant future of his people; he is listening, with outstretched neck and ears eagerly attentive, for any intimation of their redemption; but in vain. No vision is granted, no promise vouchsafed. He does not, however, despair; he keeps looking and listening and longing for something to strengthen his faith or encouraae0 his hope. All is hushed around, and again he listens with bated breath; but hark! at length he hears a sound. It is a voice away in a distant desert land· it is wakina the echoes of the wilderness. "It is the voice of one crying." It is just~ voice, and s~emingly nothing more-not unlike that bird of which the poet writes- " Shall I call thee bird, Or but a wandering voice? ... Thrice welcome, darling of the spring! Even vet tliou art to me No bird; but an invisible thing, A voice, a myster;." We must not confound John with the voice, as those who translate the expression of the prophet, "a voice crying;" but understand the voice as his chief characteristic or main peculiarity, as in seculn_r authors we read_ of t~e str~ngth o_f Hercules, the vi.rtue of Scipio, the wisdom of Lrolrns, or as when Cicero m a d1sparagmg sense affirms that, on the removal of Catiline, he bad nothing to fear from the drowsiness of Lentulus, or the corpulence of Cassius, or the mad rashness of Ccthegus. V. DISTRICT oF JoHN's MINISTRY. Kings, when setting out to visit the remote pro- vinces of their kin"'doms, were usually preceded by heralds to announce their approach and pioneers to pr:'pare the way-ren!ov)ng obstacles, cl;aring away impedim_ents, ~nd 80 making rough places smooth ; bnd.awa streams, filling up valleys, levellmg h1lr5> ClB, L 1-45.] TllE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. 63