r ^*^:♦■^, #. ■■r.T*< > « « J. "i « y \ .... ( « _. , V s r. ? _ ! MAY 5 1900 * A Divisi.n..^S 1 IS ) Section. ..♦r^ C* Ci* No, ?rS* 2> THE PREACHER'S COMMENTARY ON THE PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. THE CM Jreac|er's Compktt JiMiletical COMMENTARY OLD TESTAMENT [ON" AN' ORIGINAL PLAN), SiEitfj Critical anti (IHxplattatorp iJlotcs, Intiicts, ^c* ^c* YAEIOUS AUTHOKS. EICHARD D. DICKINSON", 89 FAREINGDON STREET. 1888. A HOMILETICAL COMMENTARY ON THE PROPHECIES OP ISAIAH /BY / R. A. BERTRAM, AUTHOR OF " THE HOMILETIC ENCYCLOPAEDIA," ETC. ETC. AND ALFRED TUCKER. VOLUME II. KICHAED D. DICKINSON, 89 FAEEINGDON STEEET. 1888. BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO. EDINBURGH AND LONDON CONTENTS. INDEX OF SUBJECTS. PAGE A Plea for the Distressed . . . 628 Abounding Sin and Grace . . . 617 Abraham, God's Friend ... 56 Adversary, The, Resources of, and Means of their Destruction . . . 356 Afflicted, Cheering Words for the . 141 Counsels and Comfort for the 386 Affliction, Piety does not Exempt from 143 Divine Support in . . . 143,148 The Waters of . . . .146 ■ Benefit of 298 ■ Furnace of 286 Aged Christians, God's Promise to . 250 Should Confide in God's Pro- mises! .... The God of the . Almighty Power, The Appeal of Anxiety, The Cure for . Atonement, The, . Autumn, The Transient and the manent .... Leaves .... Babylon, The Boast of . . . .273 Believer, The Weak . . . .101 Benevolence ...... 631 The Rewards of . . . .632 Blasphemy ...... 440 Blessings, The Imperfection of Earthly 337 Blind, The Leader of the . . . 120 Befriended . . . .122 in the Sunlight . . .131 Blindness, Spiritual .... 133 Bright Light in the Deep Darkness, A . 395 Brokenheartedness .... 659 Bruised, not Broken .... 95 Bruised Reed, The .... 96 Barial of Jesus, The .... 517 Called in Righteousness Captain, The, Seeking Deliverance Cavilling against God Cheer for the Desponding Church Afflicted . Children, Jesus and the ■ and the Church ■ Salvation for . China for Christ . Christ a Law Magnifying Saviour Real Comforter — : a Mighty Saviour . . 251 . 255 . 366 4 521, 542 Per- . 14 . 678 . 112 . 422 . 219 30, 74 . 72 . 141 . 25 . 184 . 358 . 340 . 133 . 660 . 672 Christ, All Things in His Hands an Ofiering for Sin Bearing Our Sins . Despised and Honoured • Enrolled Among Sinners ■ Intercedes for Sinners . Given for a Witness, Leader. Commander in the Covenant Our Lord and Saviour Marvellous Redeemer Light . Example PAGE . 529 . 521 606, 545 . 330 . 543 . 545 and . 668 . 335 . 154 . 463 . 326 . 93 80, 87 28, 98 83, 87 . 102 . 241 . 327 His Commission — Gentleness . — ■ Character and Work — Perseverance — Dominion . — Future Reign — Humiliation and Exaltation 328, 373, 458 — Qualifications .... 372 — - Substitutionary Work . . 375 — Predicted Character and Triumph 454 -- Sufferings, . 479, 485, 487, 512, 673 — Stripes .... 493-497 — Mind Toward the Young . . 27 — ■ Passion, Divine Love in . 509, 543 — Submission . . 373, 511, 541 Silence under Suffering Burial — Character Unique • Sufferings, Satisfaction, Triumph . Work and Reward Mission Conflict and Triumph Sympathy . - The Representative of God Man of Sorrows . Divine Glory Revealed in True Light Servant of the Lord . and Christian, A Happy The, his Experience, Secuiity, and Title 539 — — Dispensation, the Universal Inclu- siveness of . Workers, Counsels for . Christianity, Is it a Failure . Its Progress .... The Aggressive Power of 5 513 517 518 530-539 . 541 . 661 . 672 . 674 . 375 . 475 5 . 648 . 80 . 633 557 599 476 107 110 547 CONTENTS. Christianity, The Levelling Force of Sure Future of Church, A Model . Healthy ■ Cheer for the ■ Duty of Rulers and Natioua to ■ — Failure in the, the Supposed and the Real Cause of . God the Husband of the God's Care for . Presence in Its Mission Weakness, Strength, Actiieve- ments, Joy Promised Increase Safety Depression, Prosperity, Delight Strength and Weakness . Work — Perils and Strength . Cry, and the Lord's response Vanguard and Rearward . Astonishing Increase . Future Glory Growth ..... Prosperity prayed for Jerusalem a Type of the . The Afflicted and Beautified . . • A Place of Comfort, Fellowship, and Social Life Scene of Worship Commissioned, Endowed, and Preserved .... ■ And the Cliildren Cannot be Destroyed . Garden of the Lord . Glory of the Gospel . Honour Ascribed to the Love of the .... Made Glorious .... Prized, Honoured, Preserved ■ Shepherded by Christ Shall come from every part of the Earth Surprising Increase of Travailing for Souls PAOE 11 111 54 631 548 349 638 549 341 670 22 72 348 357 405 425, 429 429 432 413 457 546 667 658 669 436 556 655, the 408 408 422 184 559 634 652 653 668 655 669 336 338 654 686 386 2 406 228 2 306 Comfort for the Suffering Causes of the Want of in Trouble to Seekers Comforted, the Lord's People Commandments, Disregard of God's Consolation, when Needed, how Ministered 60 for the Desponding ... 74 Divine 686 - - The Sweet Harp of ... 59 Conversion, True and False . . . 390 Counsel and Comfort for the Afflicted . 386 Counsels, The Divine, and their Stability 267 Courage, Christian, Its Source and Ne- cessity 189 Covenant of Grace . . . 335, 553 Creator, God the 291 Crooked Places made Straight, . . 207 Cross, Lessons at the .... 542 Cyrus, His Call, &c 52 6 PAGE Darkness, Spiritual .... 377 A Means of Spiritual Discovery . 379 A Discipline 380 Deadened by Sin 140 Death, a Terrible Fact .... 22 of the Good 608 Deception of the Unconverted . , 191 Causes and Forms of . . . 193 Decision, Incentives to . . . . 683 Deliverance from unlikely Sources . 317 Deluded, Difficulty of Delivering the . 248 Despondency, Spiritual. . . 32, 34 Desponding, Causes of and Counsels for the 382 Destroy it not 682 Disobedience in its Human and Divine Aspects ...... 308 Divine Love in Christ's Passion . . 509 Purpose Fulfilled, The . . 528 Earthly Blessings, The Imperfection of 337 Things, Mutable and Evanescent . 554 Darkness and Heavenly Light . 657 Encouragement, when Needed . . 64 for the Devoted and Obedient . 384 Eternity Contemplated .... 616 Expectation ...... 519 Faith in God, Grounds of . . .143 False Securities 281 Fasts, Periodical 627 Father's, the Elect Servant ... 83 Fear, Away with .... 144, 152 Why God's Servants often . 62, 152 Occasions and Consequences of 67, 152, 419 of God and Man . . . .418 Flock, The, its Guardians and Devourers 605 Forboding, Forbidden . . . .151 Forgiveness of Sins , . . 165, 172 Leads to Comfort and Holiness . 171 Gracious and Complete . . . 172 The Need of .... 177 Author, Nature, and Reasons of the 174 A Present Mercy . . . .199 Forthputting of Divine Power . . 418 Formalism . . . . . .625 Friend, God our Unchangeable . .121 The, of Sinners .... 543 Future, The, Better than the Past . 160 Gathered from Afar . Gentiles, The Calling of the . The Conversion of Glorying in the Lord God, A Just God and a Saviour Teacher and Leader . Father, Redeemer, Friend Aspects of His Character Grounds of Confidence in How He reveals Himself Incomparable Ignored . . . Names of . . . Sustains what He has Made Seeking .... Unweariable . Unknown yet Known . . 338 . 570 . 6S0 . 245 . 230 . 296 . 676 . 619 . 143 . 2J7 29, 262 . 276 . 205 . 31 573, 678 . 35 . 571 CONTENTS. God Will do all His Pleasure His Terribleness and Greatness ■ Anger , . . • Great Name Solitariness and Eternity . Omniscience Relations to His Church . Unchangeableiiess Concealment of Himself . Faithfulness Foreknowledge , . . Oneness, Holiness, Love Slowness .... PAGE 268 119 424 115 187 275 188 288 , 220 263, 331 . 283 . 263 . 351 257, Power, SoughttobeDisplayed365, 412 117 152 187 261 385 568 550 551 552 553 572 612 614 616 617 639 6S7 645 673 12 551 685 God's Designation of Himself . . 550 • Judgments, their Ultimate Issue 687 • People, their Discouragements and Supports . . 33 . Comfort . . . .34 Blessings and Duties . 192 Assurances . . 258, 341 Difficulties Removed . . 677 . His Relations to Them 188, 295, 551, 675 . 254 . 195 . 678 162, 393 Rights Maintained . Call, Our Directory . Eternity and Omnipotence 160. All-sufficiency .... — Ways above Men's Greatest Gift .... Holiness ..... — Gracious Relations Little Wrath and Everlasting Kindness ..... Covenant with His People . . Incredible Mercy • Glory, the Comfort of the Con- trite ..... Grandeur and Condescension ■ Controversy with Men ■ Tender Mercy towards Penitents Power Undiminished . Illustrated Interposition for His People Loving-kindness The Universal Revelation of Glory • ■ Unity of . Objects of His Favour His 111, . Care of . Remembrance of _ Special Regard for Descriljed and Directed Comforted . . 1, 2, 74, 386, 406 Never Forsaken by Him . .342 Characteristics and Privileges of 597 Their Character and Death . 608 Joys ...... 683 Work and Enjoyment . . 684 Pupils 557 Godly, The, Their Cheerful Course . 591 Good Shepherd, The .... 24 Gospel, The, A Glorious Light . 648-651 A Word in Season to the Weary 370 Its Imperishableuess ... 20 • Future Triumphs . . .242 Gospel, The, Promised Universal Diffusion 333 Blessings of . . . . 560 Progress Assured and Illustrated 664 ■ Man's Ability to Believe . 591 Why so few Believe . . 469 Blessedness of those who Embrace it. . . . 333 ■ • And its Publishers . . .441 Ministry of . . . .442 Zeal in Spreading . . . 669 Grass, Moral of a Blade of . . .17 Great Truths, A Treasury of . . . 294 Guide, God our . , 294, 296, 302, 633 Guilt Confessed, Mercy Acknowledged . 501 Happiness, The Way of True . . 564 Healing by Christ's Stripes . . . 493 Heathen Workers, Lessons from . . 53 Heaven Described ..... 657 Heavenly Things Immutable . . . 554 Heaven's, The, Dropping Righteousness 217 Help, Human and Divine ... 55 In Extremities .... 75 For Seekers of the Light . .643 Helper, God the Best .... 68 Holiness and Christian Work . . . 449 Wanted in the Ministry, and in the Church 451 Holy Spirit, Promised, &c. . 177, 184, 218 • Personality, Divinity, Operations 179 Grieving the .... 674 Home- Going, The Glad. . . .416 Hope for the Penitent . . . .163 Human Need, The Divine Provision for 560 Cry, and the Divine Response . 259 Weariness ..... 367 Hypocrite, The, Unmasked . . .624 Idael, the Lost 303 Idol-makers . . . . . .189 Idolatry, its Character and Sinfulness . 262 Influence, Divine ..... 181 The Unknown, of God . . .210 Possibility of Undervaluing . . 322 Inspired Predictions .... 282 Interpreter, God our .... 121 Jehovah, the name . . . 115, 117 Jerusalem a Type of the Church . . 436 Jews, The, their Subjection, an Admoni- tion 140 Joined to the Lord .... 596 Judgment, The 272 Justification, The Source of the Be- liever's 245, 247 Knowledge, Pernicious .... 278 The, that Justifies, . . .540 Law, The, magnified by Christ, . . 133 Leader, God our . . . . .120 Leading, Examples of Divine . . 126 Life, The Uncertainty of ... 18 Every man's, a Plan of God . . 208 For a Look ..... 238 Crooked Paths in . . . .207 CONTENTS. PAOE Life, The Profit of .... 299 • Has its great Emergencies . .316 The Way to 566 Present and Future . . . 658 Light, The Dawning of God's . . 648 Lost Ideal, The 303 Love, God's, like a Mother's . . . 345 Seeking 671 Man, His Earthly Origin Equality . Spiiitual Needs . 19 . 19 . 561 The Divine Method of Treating . 95 Mortality and Frailty of . 420, 679 A Captive 659 Under a Law of Change . . 678 Mercy's Master Motive .... 285 Messiah contemplating His Spiritual Offspring Ministry, The Signs of a True Miracle, The Perpetual . 525 658 591 Nation, Necessity of Religion to the Well-being of a . . . 655, 657 Oath, God's 669 Old Age, Apprehensions of . . . 251 God our Friend to and in . 253, 255 The Christian's . . . .260 ■ Its Afflictions, Duties, Consola- tions ...... 255 Onaniscience Ignored .... 276 Others to be Gathered .... 604 Pardon for the Penitent . . . 578 God's Way of, above Men's . .581 Past, Uses of Knowing the . . . 265 Peace, None to the Wicked . . 305, 318 River an Image of . . . . 310 The Godly have .... Penitent, Hope for the .... Pleasures of the World and their Draw- backs ...... Praise, A Call for Universal . Prayer, The Absence of Importunate Deplored ..... Speedily Answered 319 163 389 202 679 684 Preacher, the. His Occupation and Methods 23 Priesthood of Christ . . . .526 God's V. Man's Priestcraft . .663 Procrastination 607 Profession of Religion .... 185 Promise, Covenant Blessings the Subject of 118 A, For the Perplexed . . .129 Prophecy, Fulfilment of . . . 204 Providence, The Governing Principle of 284 Redemption, A Motive for Universal Praise 202 Of the Soul 438 The Mystery and Glory of God's Ways in 581 Repudiating the Society of Others . 681 Reproaches, God's People assailed by . 412 PAGE Reproof, Unsparing .... 624 Retrospection, The Duty and Benefits of 392 Revival 182, 443 A Prayer for 677 Righteousness in Christ for the Believer 244 Like the Waves . . . .306 Sabbath, Its Obligation, Pollution, &c. 595 Its Sauctification and Blessings . 636 Institution of, &c. . . . 602 Sacramental Meditation 491, 513, 516, 542 Salvation, God alone competent for Man's 234 ■ Nature of, &c. . . . 233, 237 Adapted to Sinners . . . 271 Enduring 409 Security of 504 The Prescribed Method of Waiting for ....... For the Little Ones Universally Seen .... Seekers, Comfort to . ... Security, False, of Sinners Shepherd, The Good . Christ the . Shepherds, Worthless . Sin, a Robber .... Compared to Fire . and Mercy .... as a Cloud .... Origin of . ... God's Foreknowledge of Man's 592 . 358 . 444 . 228 . 280 24, 25, 28 . 336 . 606 . 138 . 140 . 198 . 201 213, 215 . 283 Laid on Jesus Deserves and ment ..... The Infinite Enormity of Separating from God Conviction and Confession of and its Aggravation Sinners, The Unhappiness of . Society in a Demoralised Condition Solar Eclipse .... Soul Growth .... Selling and Redeeming the . Its Weariness in the Way of Sin Strength Renewed in Christ The, we Need Striving with God Substitution . Support amidst Danger 502, 506 Demands Punish- . 519 542 640 644 644 621 645 367 46 437 611 41 . 244 . 39 . 218 502, 509, 520 . 547 Teacher, God our . 294, 296, 302, 360 Thanksgiving ..... 673 The Transient and the Permanent . 24 The Divine Centre . . . .602 The Joyfulness of God's House . . 603 The Year of Jubilee . . . .660 The Blessed Seed ..... 664 The Heavenly Workers, and Earthly Watchers ..... 666 The New Name 668 The City of God 670 The Friend turned into an Enemy . 674 Transgression, Diversity and Individua- lity in 499 CONTENTS. PAOE Trees of Righteousness .... 662 Trouble, God's Pi-eseuce in . . .149 Unbelief, Prevalence of . . .465 Uugodl}', The, their Portion . . 286 Union with God, The Believer's . . 346 Unity of the Godhead . . . .292 Manifested in Man's Salvation . 92 Unrighteous, A Call to the, . . .270 ViCAElous Sacrifice .... 492 Waiting upon the Lord ... 41 The Results of . . . .351 Warnings, The Neglect of . . . 273 Weapons, Worthless .... 558 Weary, The Teacher of the . . . 360 Weariness, Human .... 369 Webs, but not Garments Wicked, No Peace to the Witnesses, God's . . . . t Word of God, Unchanging . The Errand of . Likened to Rain and Snow World, Condition of the Preparation for its Moral Trans- formation ..... The Changing . . .15 Given to Christ Separation from PAGE 641 621 , 153 16 587 587 9 9 , 409 333 448 445 Worldly Life, A Call to Forsake the . 445 Worshippers, Acceptable . . 599, 685 Year, The Close of the ... 262 of Jubilee ..... 661 Zeal the Best Cloak .... 645 INDEX OF AUTHOES. Adenet, AV. F. . 210, 408 Bushnell, Dr. H. Alexander, Dr. J. W. . 506- -509, 564, 574 Byrnes, L. H. Alexauder, Dr. J. A. . 564 Alleine, R . 114 Caiud, John . Atkinson, J. W. . . 624 Cairns, Dr. J. Calthrop, G. . Baines, E . 201 Carey, C. S. . Barnes, Dr. Albert, 151, 160, 1 76, 185, 219, Cawood, J. 266, 284, 359, 421, 560. Cheyne . Barlow, G. . 308, 667, 678 Cheney, Bishop Beecher, H. W. . 46, 314 Childe, C. F. Beecher, Dr. L. . . 356 Chowu, P. . Benson, Jos. .... 493, 521-523 Clark, G. Bennett, Dr. J. . . . . 2S2 Clarke, Dr. A. Bertram, R. A., 154, 187, 189, 248, 259, 269, Clemance, Dr. C. 315, 337, 379, 623, 674. Close, F. Bevan, Dr. L. D. . . 487 Cook,F. C. . Beveridge, Bishop . . 257 Cooper, E. " Bible Readings " . 202 Coclough, T. . Binney, Dr. T., 136, 156, 47 3, 512, 533- Coley, S. 535. Corbin, John . Birks 133, 293, 355 Cotton, R. L. Blackley, T. . . 351 Cowles, Dr. . Blunt, H. . . 187, 199 Cox, Dr. S. . Bonar, Dr. H. . 424, 540 Crozier, F. Bowden, George . 662 Gumming, Dr. J. Bradley, C. . . . . 141, 317 Cuyler, Dr. . Brown, A, M. . 62 Brown, J. B. . "s, 223, 451, 665 Davies, Dr. . Brown, Archibald G. . 663 Davies, D. Browne, Benjamin , . 435, 668 Davison. W. H. Brooks, G. , . 491, 523 , 616, 621, 684 Davis, W. S. Bunting, Dr. Jabez . 83, 195 Dawson, W. J. Burns, Dr. Jabez, 109, 162,177 218, 386, 436, Dealtry, Dr. W. 454, 549, 589, 603, 632, 633, 634. Dickson, Dr. . Bums, Dr. R. . . . . 532 Dickson, J. A. R Burder, H. F. . 32 Dillon, R. C. . Burder, Dr. H. P. . . 637 Dransfield, W. Burrows, W. . . 433 Dunn, L. R. . Burrows, Bamford . . 481 Durham, J. . ^ 208 479 673 .',81- -585 292 691 24 134, 378 370 127 660 235, 261 378 526, 529 278 6 2, 29 2, 465, 680 •271 449 429 497 509 222 17,2] 5, 571 -573 638 60, 12 8, 238 441 47 370 100 182 416 310 334 662 45 176 140 355 . 449 , 450 468 CONTENTS. Edwards, J. Emmons, Dr. Erskine, Kali)li Evans, J. H. . Exell, J. S. . Fawcett, J. . Finney, Dr. . Flide, J. A. . FoUard, \Y. . Ford, J. Fordyce, J. . Forsyth, W. . France, W. Galloway, W. B, Garbett, E. . Gemmel, J. . Gibson, J. Gill, Dr. Gilmann, G. P. Glover, E. Goulburn, E. M. Gray, J. C, . Greig, Bishop Greeves, Dr. F. Griffin, R. A. Griswald, Dr. A. V. Guernsey, J. . Guinness, H. G. PAGE 425 . 185, 298 . 47 26, 28, 342 . 67 . 244, 593 . 154, 390 . 203 . 186 . 370 . 106 . 304 . 236 . 52 . 144 . 597 . 180 . 287 . 14 . 539 . 388 . 281 . 616 . 657 5, 153, 273, 505 . 233 . 260 . 175 Guthrie, William, 55, 138, 193, 238, 253, 300, 330, 407, 422, 547, 605, 641-643, 671, 675-677, 687. Hall, Dr. N. Hamilton, Dr. J Harris, Jas. . Harrison, J. C. Hartley . Helps for the Pulpit Henry, M. 279, 319, 328, Henry, Philip Hervey, B. , Hinton, Dr. J. II. . Hirst, J. . . . Holdford, J. H. . Homiletical Library, 262, 537, 557, 562, 567, 591, 684. Hordle, J. Horsley, Bp. . Howels, Wni. Hubbard, W. . Hull, E. L. . Humphrey, Dr. H Hutchinson, Dr. Irons, Joseph . 151 96, 239, 592 . 664 . 415 . 15 . 286, 576, 673 341, 348, 359, 372 . 326 . 635 . 122, 470 . 318, 439, 441 . 311 411, 414, 419, 479, 648, 652, 659, 669, Jackson, 1L . Jackson, Wni. James, J. A. . Jamison, Dr. . Jay, W. . 120, 242, 246, 343, 344, 570, 589 Johnson, E. . . . . . . 411 Johnson, J. ..... . 444 10 . 443 . 86 . 669 95 34, 69, 230, 649 . 272 . 169 146 143 664 421 557 Johnston, F. . Johnstone, G. Johnstone, J. Jovvett, J. Keaoh, B. Keith, . Kemble, C. . Kennedy, \)v. Kidd, T. Kuox-Little, Canon KoUock, Dr. H. . Lambert, G. . Lathrop, Dr. .L Latimer, R. S. Lavington, S. Leighton, Archbishop Lessey, T. Linsley, Dr. J. H. . Lynch, T. T. PACE 579, 580 . 369 179, 262 2, 7, 444 . 287 . 378 . 92 30, 158 58, 567, 686 . 650 . 224 . 161 . 467 . 462 50, 73 . 640 422 ". 547 . 587 Lyth, Dr. J., 189, 220, 287, 360, 414, 422. 525, 555, 557, 571, 593, 595, 598, 611,612, 616, 631, 637, 640, 641, 643, 644, 652, 655, 656, 658, 663, 669, 673, 675, 677-687. Macdonald, J. A Maclaren, Dr. A. Macmillaii, H. Maclauriti, J. . M'All, Dr. R. S. Manning, W. 53, 115, 1 Manning, H. E. M'Neil, Dr. . Maurice, F. D. Man ton. Dr. T. Mays, F. W. . Mayers, W. J. JIartineau, Dr. J. M'Auslane, Dr. A. Melville, H. 4, 18, 29, 90 Moffiit, J. R. . Muter, Dr. R. Natt, J. Neat, C. Nestor, G. Newton, J. Newton, Dr. R. Newell, W. . N. M. . Noel, G. T. . Norton, J. N. Orton, Job . Page, E. Page, G. A. . Palmer, Dr. R. Parker, Dr. J. Parkinson, R. Paxton, Dr. W. 51 Payson, Dr. E. Pearsall, J. G. Peck, Dr. Peddie, J. . 571, ), 22C . 492 553, 627, 666 . 565 . 135 . 530 25, 140, 561, 566, 635 . 98 221, 232 . 13 497-501 . 611 . 296 266, 556 577, 578, 592 222, 270, 362 . 655 . 525 . 575 . 143 . 668 373, 501 . 68 . 267 . 80 105, 458 . 313 . 249 384, 407, 514 . 358 . 480 119, 207, 322, 655 . 621 . 425 . 586 . 683 . 105 147, 150 CONTENTS. Pellew, Dr. G. Phelps, Dr. A. I'ontycross, T. "Pulpit Outlines" PunshoD, Dr. W. M. PAGE . 489 111, 204 . 152 . 662 86, 198, 628-631, 661 Eawlinson, John 21, 23, 36, 60, 76, 89, 123, 149, 172, 182, 213, 233, 241, 251, 263, 276, 306, 338, 382, 393, 412, 442, 459, 480, 483, 501, 541, 555, 559, 562, 574, 581, 588, 599, 608, 614, 639, 640, 643, 648. 652, 661, 669, 682. Rees, Dr 9, 72 Rees, D. . . 19, 143, 177, 232, 578 Bedford, Dr 7 Raleigh, Dr. Alexander Rawlings, C. . Reeve, J. W. Reeve, W. R. J. . Richardson, W. Roberts, W. . Roberts, E. . Robertson, F. W. . Robinson, Ralph . Rogers, J. G. R., T. E. . 303 . 77 . 94 99, 129 . 276 . 131, 410 224, 344, 615 . 685 . 619 113, 320, 321 . 627 . 436 . 56 . 289, 616 . 550, 608 . 349 . 163 . 73 1, 227 . 346 33, 75,129,349,374,643 . 107, 110 88, 226, 245, 310, 325, Sermons for Boys and Girls Seward, W. . Sherman, Jas. Shittler, R. . Shrewsbury, J. W. Shrimpton, S. Short, C. Simcock, J. M. Simeon, C. Simpson, Bishop , Sketches of Sermons, 395, 4G8, 496. Slye, J 191 Smith, Dr. Geo., 181, 412, 554, 563, 566, 568, 577, 585, 680, 684. Smith, T 117 Smith, Dr. J. P 655 Smith, Jas 150 Spencer, Dr. S. . . . 127, 491, 516 Spurgeon, C. H. . 25, 41, 49, 59, 63, 118, 122, 130, 157, 167, 227, 255, 281-284, 305, 335, 347, 367, 375, 395-397, 402, 443, 452, 455, 475, 494, 496, 499, 502-505, 514, 519-521, 543-545, 552, 604, 632, . 640, 643, 645, 672. Spurgeon, J. A 237 Stanford, Dr. 0 360 Stark, Dr. J 202 " Stems and Twigs " Stewart, Jas. . Stewart, J. H. Stephenson, T. Stephenson, T. \l. . Stratten " Studies for the PuJpit " Sullivan, W. H. . Taft, J. R. . Talmage, Dr. . Taylor, Dr. William " The British Pulpit " . The Weekly Pulpit " PAGE . 499 . 425, 659 233, 563, 565, 670 . 160 . 558 455 355, 524, 66*1, 679 . 475 . 685 . 437 65, 81, 165, 380 . 343 . 602 " The Study and the Pulpit," 103, 125, 197, 434 Thodey, Samuel, 71, 91, 102, 142, 197, 231, 273, 294, 319, 353, 376, 410, 511, 541, 548, 554, 556, 560, 567, 577, 600, 602, 617, 640, 657, 661, 672, 673, 674, 676, 678, 679, 680, 681, 683, 686. Thomas, Dr. David . . . 11, 30 Thompson, Dr. A 12, 54, 79 Tuck, R 485, 487 Tucker, Alfred, 116, 184, 257, 259, 262, 272, 275, 288, 295, 316, 318, 324, 327, 331, 333, 336, 340, 363, 365, 366, 406, 417, 42i>, 438, 440, 445, 446, 448, 460, 513, 517, 519, 542, 546, 550, 568, 594, 596, 606-609, 618, 619, 625, 651, 676, 681, 684, 686, 687. Tyng, Dr. H 137, 506 Tyng, Dr. S. H 647 Venn, 474 Villiers, H. M 189 Vassar, J. E. 15 Vaughan, Dr. R 351 Vaughan, J 174 Vaughan, Dr. J. C. . . . 27, 637 Waddy, Dr. S. D 538 Wagstaff, F 478 Walker, J. H 254, 386 Walton, J 466 Walton, W. C 384 Warren, Dr. S 101 Wardrop, J 379 Watson, Richard 5, 211, 267, 411, 600, 685 Wesleyan Methodist Magazine . . 301 Williams, J. P 432, 632 Wilson, Bishop . . .612 614, 664 Woodman, C. B 491 Woodward, H 418 Wonnacott, H 34 Young, W. ai CONTENTS. TIMES, SEASONS, AND OCCASIONS. PAGE Advent G, 270, 648, 651 Autumn 14, 678 Anuiversaiy ...... 670 Bible Society 587-591 Christmas 5, 89 Christian Workers . . 322-324, 539 Close of the Year 262 Funeral Sermons . . 416, 420, 608-611 Good Friday, 328, 373, 375, 454, 458, 475, 492, 506, 521, 532, S42, 545, 672, Hospital Sunday 483 Mission Services, 270-272, 318, 366, 445, 607, 617, 677, 683, 686 Missionary, 9, 12, 23, 80, 83, 89, 102, 152, 154, 240, 242, 328, 333, 338, 356, 397, 429, 444, 458, 533, 546, 570, 581, 587, 591, 652, 654, 664, 666, 669, 680. New Year Ordination Sermon Sabbath Observance Sacramental . Spring .... Sunday-School Anniversary The Day of Prayer, &c., on behalf of Thanksgiving Trinity Sundays The Relief of Distress Watch Night Whitsuntide . Young People Men PGE . 151, 299 . 442 . 594, 636 491, 513, 516, 642 . 182, 664 27, 278, 358 Universal . 184 . 673 29, 92, 263 . 628, 632 . 616 177-184, 218 56, 68, 235, 261 . 49, 159 E E E A T A. Page 116, » 117, 184, 187, 359, 487, 569, line 3 from the bottom : omit " all." line 4 from the top : for " And makes a heaven, a heaven," read ' And makes a heaven, of heaven." line 16 from the bottom : read " Luke xi. 13, with Matt. vii. 11." line 18 from the bottom : omit " the." line 29 from the bottom : read " bill." line 17 from the top : read " 157." line 9 from the top : /or " III." substitute " 3." 12 HOMILETIO COMMEIfTARY ON ISAIAH. Comfort for the Suffering. xl. 1-5. Comfort ye, <&c. It is generally agreed that these last tweuty-six chapters relate to the re- storation of the Jews from their cap- tivity in Babylon. They are the Gospel of the Old Testament. This is their value to us. Put into the briefest words, the ideas contained in the first five verses of this chapter are — 'That a glorious change awaits the exiles, consisting of a new and generous manifestation of Jehovah's presence, for which His people are exhorted to prepare. The prophet is commanded to speak words of comfort to those captives from Jerusalem — to assure them that her warfare, her time of slavery, is about to end ; that her sins are par- doned, abundantly expiated by her -sufferings ; that her God is coming to deliver her from the oppressor; and that she must prepare the way for His coming, as heralds ride before a con- quering king. The comforting announcement which the prophet was to make to Jerusalem was — 1. That her afiliction had become full, and had therefore come to an end. 2. Her iniquity is atoned for and the justice of God is satisfied. 3. The third clause repeats the substance of the previous ones with greater em- phasis and in a fuller tone. The double punishment which she had endured is not to be taken in VOL. 11. a judicial sense, in which case God would appear over-rigid, and therefore unjust. The compassion of God re- garded what His justice had been obliged to inflict upon Jerusalem as superabundant. But this is only the negative side of the consolation. What positive salvation is to be expected ? " Hark, the voice of one crying ! " The sum- mons proceeds in a commanding tone : "Let every valley be exalted," &c. Spiritually interpreted, the command points to the encouragement of those that are cast down, the humiliation of the self-righteous and self-secure, the changing of dishonesty into simplicity, and of haughtiness into submission. Israel is to take care that God shall find them in such an inward and out- ward state as shall enable Him to fulfil His purpose. "And the glory of Jehovah," &c. When the way is prepared for the coming One, the glory of the God of salvation will be unveiled ; and this revelation is made for the sake of Israel, but not secretly or exclusively, for " all flesh " will come to see the salvation of God. " For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it," is the confirmation of the foregoing prophecy. Sufi'ering endured through a long period, comfort promised, the elements of that comfort and the preparation 1 CHAP. XL. I. HOMILETIC COMMENTARY: ISAIAH. 1'or receiving it — these are the chief thoughts and main topics of the pas- sage. I. We all have to suffer, and to suffer for our own sins and for the sins of one another, in one way or another, and in a greater or less de- gree. It is part of the mystery of the world that some lives, even in the morning of their days, are overhung with dark clouds of sorrow. With how many is life a continual struggle with feeble health ; in others, mental cares, cares of business, anxieties ; in others, pangs suffered over sins com- mitted and things left undone. II. The Old and New Testaments say that there is Divine comfort for the sorrowful sufferers. This teaching casts a new light upon human grief. It puts to shame all ancient and modern philosophy. The Divine Phy- sician uses suffering as a medicine (Ps. cxix. 67, 71). 1. We feel ourselves drawn into the true path of life. 2. Then the comfort of another message begins to be felt — that our iniquity is pardoned. 3. Then His Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. III. God is coming over the desert of our lives to reveal His glory to us (ver. 5). IV. But, for coming into the pos- session of this privilege, we must pre- pare the way of the Lord (ver. 4 ; Matt. iii. 2). The conditions of com- fort are here laid down. Christian comfort comes by raising up the whole soul of a man ; by bringing down every proud thought ; by straightening every crooked course ; by chastening and re- fining all that is rugged in character or conduct. It is thus we prepare ourselves for the incoming of God. — Charles Short : Sermons, pp. 255-269. The Lord's People Comforted. xl. 1. ^Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. I. God has a people in the world. In one sense, all whom the Lord de- signs to create anew by His Holy Spirit, and who, though at present afar off, will at length be brought nigh unto Him, are His people (Acts xviii. 10). But these are not the persons referred to in our text, for they cannot at present be known or addressed as God's people ; neither at present are they capable of being comforted, according to the direction here given. The " people " to whom the text re- fers are those who have fled to Christ for refuge from the wrath to come, and who are earnestly desiring to walk in newness of life. II. It is the will of God that His people should enjoy the comforts of religion. The very nature of the re- ligion He has given is to inspire com- fort, as it is the very nature of the sun to diffuse liglit and heat. If His people are sorrowful or dejected, it is not because of their religion, but be- cause they have too little religion, or because they do not know how to use 2 the religion which they have. But it is desirable that they should be com- forted— 1. For their own sakes. While they lack peace and joy they can never be as diligent as they ought to be in the duties of religion (H. E. I. 306- 308). 2. For the honour of religion. The despondency and gloom of pro- fessors affords a handle to those wlio- speak evil of the Christian life, and misrepresent it as a life of melancholy (H. E. I. 756-762). For these reasons God's people should lay aside all unreasonable fears, and preachers of the Gospel should consider it an essential part of their office to mini- ster to the people of God that con- solation whicli belongs to them, and which they are capable of receiving. "Comfort ye," kc. m. Let us examine a few of the most common causes of that want of comfort of which God's people fre- quently complain. 1. Their inhiinderstanding the nature and extent of that pardon of sin which the Gospel provides. Reclaimed from a HOMILETIG COMMENTARY : ISAIAH. CHAP. XL. r. worldly course, the recollection of their former sins is very painful to them. It often overspreads their minds like a thick cloud, and fills them with darkness and alarm. They are not indeed without a hope that they shall obtain forgiveness at last for Christ's sake ; but still they ask themselves, " What if God should 7wt pardon me at lastr' (H. E. I. 1268). But God does not offer to pardon you at some distant day. He offers, in the Gospel, to forgive you noiv ; na.y, He tells you, that if you have in your heart come to Christ and believed in Him, your sins are already forgiven (Rom. viii. 1 ; Luke vii. 47; Col. ii. 13; 1 John ii. 12 ; Isa. xliv. 22). The pardon vouch- safed is a present pardon (H. E. I. 2332-2339). When the prodigal re- turned to his father's house a penitent, were not his offences fully and in- stantly forgiven and his self-reproaches stopped] Was he told, amid all the pleasures of the feast provided for him, that he must not enjoy himself too much, because perhaps his father might some years afterwards remember his past misconduct and visit it upon him'? An apprehension of this kind would doubtless have much diminished his comfort ; but would it not have been groundless and unreasonable 1 Equally groundless and unreasonable are your apprehensions, if you have indeed come to Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Put them away and rejoice in a present salvation (2 Cor. iv. 19; John v. 24). 2. Their seeking comfort where it is not to be found. It is one of their privi- leges that they are renewed in the spirit of their minds, but this renewal ■ is not, and cannot be, at present per- fect. But they forget this, and when they look within themselves they find so many imperfections that they are greatly distressed. If you are never to partake of the peace and consola- tions of Christianity so long as you fall short of the spiritual standard of obedience, you must go mourning all your days : for the more spiritually- minded you grow, the more spiritual will that standard become in your estimation, and consequently the more unholy you will appear in your oum eyes. You can never find comfort by poring into your own heart. Peace and joy come by believing. Christ is the only source of consolation to the soul. If you wanted light, would you expect to find it by looking down- wards on the ground, or upwards to the sun? Would the Israelite, when bitten by the serpents, have found relief by meditating on his wounds and lamenting the violence and deadly nature of his disease 1 No ; it was by looking on the serpent of brass that he found a cure, and had his heart filled with hope and joy. Look unto Jesus, rejoice in the sufficiency of His grace to redeem you from all evil (Jude 24 ; H. E. I. 4470-4474). 3. Their mistaking the proofs and marks of a really religious state. They say, " If we were the Lord's people, we should feel it in our hearts." Buc who has told you that warm and rapturous feelings are sure proofs of a truly religious state 1 (1.) As a matter of fact, they are really reasons for suspicion when they are experienced at the outset of a religious life (Matt, xiii. 5). There is a religion that is like a bundle of thorns on fire ; for a little time there is noise and light and some measure of heat, but presently the flame subsides, the fire goes out, and all is dark and chill. (2.) Even when feelings are real, it is not pos- sible for them to be long wound up to one high pitch (H. E. I. 2073, 2074). (3.) The Bible never bids you judge of your rehgious state by your own feelings. You are there told that you are to walk, not by sight, but by faith ; and if by faith, not by feelings. The promises are not made to feeling, but to faith. St. Paul did not say to the jailer who asked Avhat he must do to be saved, " Feel that you have Christ in your heart, and you shall be saved ;" but, ^'Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ," &c. Are you humbly believing in Jesus Christ as your only Saviour? Are you living in dependence on the Divine promises, and in a faithful use of the means of grace 1 Are you doing the duties of your station in depeu- 3 CHAP. XL. I, 2. IIOMILETW COMMENTARY : ISAIAH. dence on God, aud with a desire to please, serve, aud honour Him? Are you walking in Christian holiness? Then the comforts of Christianity be- hmg to you. Receive them in faith. Be not discouraged because you cannot find in yourselt this or that feeling, liejoice in the Lord ; believe His pro- mises, because they are His. Abraliam against hope believed in hope. He had nothing but the bare word of the Almighty on which he could confide. But what other ground of confidence could he desire 1 You have the same word; confide in that. " He tliat be- lieveth on the Son hath everlasting life." You believe on Him, therefore you have everlasting life. What you )uay feel is nothing to the purpose. Your salvation is grounded, not on the changeable feelings of a frail and mutable creature, but on the faithful- ness of Him who cannot lie (H. E. I. 20f^i-10(Sl).— Edward Cooper: Practi- cal and Familiar Sermons, vol vii- 345-362. The Cure for Anxiety. xl. 1, 2. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God, &c. The skill of a physician is shown — 1. In detecting the disease under which his patient sufiers ; and, 2. In choosing the best remedy. There is as great variety in the dis- eases of the soul as in those of the body : there is the moral palsy, fever, consumption, answering in their symp- toms to the corporeal maladies simi- larly designated ; and some souls re- quire quite a different regimen from all others. I. A PREVALENT SICKNESS. 1. This is pointed out in the words, " Cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished," &c. The condition of Jerusalem is one of distress, anxiety, and distraction ; and this so well ac- cords with a passage in the Psalms that it may be connected wdth it : " In the multitude of my thoughts within me. Thy comforts delight my soul." The disease is here more clearly described — a " multitude of thoughts." An old translation has it, " In the multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart. Thy comforts liave refreshed ray soul; " and Bishop Austin's version is, " In the multitude of my anxieties within me ; " whilst the representation in the original Hebrew would seem that of a man involved in a labyrinth from whose intricacies there was no way of escape. All this agrees precisely with the case of Jerusalem in the text ; and what cause of distressing anxiety would there be Avhilst there was warfare un- finished and sin unforgiven ! The case of sickness, then, so emphatically prescribed for, is that under which the righteous may be labouring from the difTiculties Avhich encompass him. 2. Who labour most under this dis- ease % The persons supposed are they who strive to walk according to the precepts of religion. A man may be " a man after God's own heart," and yet subject to the invasion of a crowd of anxieties ; and it is never a part of our business to lessen the extent of what is blameworthy, nor to endeavour to persuade the righteous that iree- dom from anxiety is not a privilege to be sought after. The Christian may rise superior to all intruders, and prove that they do but heighten the blessedness of the blessing (H. E. I. 2053, 4054-4056). II. Is THE PRESCRIPTION SUFFI- CIENT ? The disease incapacitates for any process of argument ; it were of little use to prescribe dark sayings, mysterious dogmas, as though God, in His dealings Avith His distracted people, did but prescribe the aj^pli- cation of " things hard to be under- stood." With David, recourse was not had to the mysteries of God, but only to His comfort — and with these the Psalmist found that he could delight his soul. Of what does this comfort consist? Of the rich assurances of His forgiving and accepting love ; of HOMILETIC COMMENTARY: ISAIAH. CHAP. XL. 3-5. the gracious declarations of His ever- lasting purpose to preserve to the end those chosen in Christ ; the multi- plied, promises of spiritual guidance, protection, victory ; the foretastes of immortality ; the glimpses of things "within the veil." It is the part of a righteous man, in his season of anxiety and distraction, to confine himself to those comforts, regarding them as a sick man does the medicines given him, as the cordial specially adapted to his state. Observe that the comforting mes- sage is to be delivered to Jerusalem, and that annexed is a statement of "her warfare" being "accomplished." Connect with the exclamation of Paul, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course." It is no fjir- fetched application of the text to affirm it as specially appropriate on the approach of the last enemy — death. It is here that the power of all mere human resources must even- tually fail ; for when a man thinks on what it is to die; when he reflects that die he must, so inevitable is the doom; and yet, that die he cannot, so certain is his immortality, — in vain does the world offer its richest possessions, or philosophy its conclusions. It can only be what emanates from another world, what comes with authority from another world, that can have a solacing power, when it is the loosen- ing of our connection with this world which causes the confused tumult in the soul ; and Christianity furnishes an abundance of what is needed for allaying the fear of death and sootli- ing man's passage to the tomb. The anxious believer has then only to give himself meekly over into the Good Shepherd's hands. Let him not argue, let him not debate, let him not sit in judgment; let him simply have recourse to the comforts of God. " None," says Christ, " can pluck them out of my hands." Christ holds His sheep ; it is not the sheep that hold Christ, and God has caused it to be said of him, '• Comfort ye, com- fort ye my servant, and tell him that his warfare is accomplished." — Henry Melvill, B.D.: Golden Leduies, 1851, pp. 737-744. The Divine Glory Eevealed in Christ. {Preached on Christmas Day. ) xl. 3-5. The voice of Him that crieth in the wilderness,