THE DOINGS OF MEN. Page. 68 ... ASPECT OF THE WORLD. The Heathen. The Papacy. CONFESSION. "Our iniquities testify against us," SUPPLICATION. "O Lord do thou." "Leave us not," ENCOURAGEMENTS AND PLEAS IN PRAYER: "Thy name's sake," 79 INCENTIVES TO PRAYER AND EFFORT FOR REVIVAL, SPECIAL OCCASIONS FOR PRAYER. The ark and the cloud, THE STRENGTH OF THE CHURCH-WHAT IT IS NOT, .... 1. REVELATION OF THE TRUTH. The Spirit of Truth in the ... 2. EXCELLENCIES OF THE WORD. "Living and powerful." ... 3. POWER OF THE GOSPEL. Permanence and universality. 4. MAINTENANCE AND MANIFESTATION OF THE TRUTH. "beams. Philosophy. Fiction. History. Oratory. Poetry,125 5. INTERPRETATION OF GOD'S TEACHINGS. The voices of 6. APPLICATIONS OF DIVINE TRUTH. Duty of the Church- SECTION SECOND. ... ... ... Page. 153 155 170 176 1. THE POWER OF FAITH. FAITH THE STRENGTH OF THE CHURCH, as the bond of union with Christ. Illustra- FAITH THE STRENGTH OF THE CHURCH'S INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS. As realizing and embracing unseen objects. As laying hold on Divine strength. As conforming its aims to the will of God. As leading to the confident use of those means, and prosecution of that course, which God has promised to bless, DIVINE INFLUENCE AND HUMAN AGENCY. Revival through the combined operation of Heaven and Earth, 2. THE PROGENY OF FAITH. Their likeness and co-operation,174 (1) PEACE AND JOY. "THE PEACE OF GOD"-" passeth all understanding"-yet substantial and stable-"keeps THE JOY OF THE LORD the believer's strength. Rela- tion between "godly sorrow" and the "joy of faith." Contrast between the joy of the world and the "joy of (2) LOVE AND GRATITUDE. Their relation to peace and joy-and to each other. The love of Christ the great model of love-awakens love in its objects-constrains (4) ZEAL AND PATIENCE. Their right place in relation to the other graces. Their excellence when genuine, 202 TRUE REVIVAL THROUGH INCREASE OF FAITH AND ITS ... ... ... ... ... ... Their relation to faith and 204 III. GRACE IN THE LIFE. The fruit of grace in the heart, 206 Truth and holiness embodied in ... 3. THE WORK OF THE LORD. Two errors as to how far it CONNECTION WITH THE PRECEDING TOPICS, RELEASE REALIZED. "Loose thyself from the bands of thy neck." "We were like them that dream." Christian liberty. 1, From the law. 2, From sin. 3, From the doctrines of men. 4, From "the elements of the world" in worship. 5, From the com- mandments of men. 6, From the fear and the favour of man, 224 "Shake thyself from the dust; arise." The allusion. The dust of earthliness and of despondency to be shaken off only by rising. "Arise; shine, for thy light is come." The light of eternity rouses the soul to shake off the dust of earth. Gold diggers in the foundering steamer. The voyage of life. Death may be near-good to realize it. The dust of depressing fears regarding our own souls or the cause of God, to be shaken off by rising to God. RESTING AFTER RISING. "Sit down." No true rest without first rising from man to God-from earth to Heaven. Stoical apathy pernicious. The dove of peace. Rest sought in the wrong way. "Rest in the Lord and wait." Reasons for what is now painful and mysterious. Recent commotions and troubles in the world. India. Overruling hand of God. "of those "whose mind is stayed on Him," 245 RAIMENT OF REJOICING. "Put on thy beautiful garments." "The beauty of the Lord our God upon us.' salvation and robe of righteousness." "Fut on the Lord Jesus Christ." The glory of the Lord seen upon His people now. They shall enter into His glory hereafter, PROMISE OF PRESERVATION. "There shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean." Preservation from pollution-and from destruction. Application of the promise 1. THE DANGER. From the world. From Satan. From the 2. THE DEFENCE. The "wall of fire around the Church, and the glory in the midst of her." PROCESSES OF RESTORATION AND REVIVAL. Vital religion "the work of the Lord "-in what respects. Revival to be sought in dependence on God-and in the way of His appointment. Hopeful indications in the Church and in the world to be gratefully marked, ILLUSTRATIONS OF THESE PROCESSES. Alpine scene-gloom and storm-clouds dispersing-the mountain top and the star. The work of grace in the individual soul-from the gloom of conviction to the rejoicing of hope. Progress of the Church from obscurity to glory. Troublous times blessed to many in nominally Christian communities. Hope for the whole world. The Sun of Righteousness RESTORATION AND REVIVAL. "Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise and sit down, O Jerusalem loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money."-Isaiah lii. 1-3 PART I. RESTORATION FOR THE LOST. LOOKING through the vista opened by the Spirit of Prophecy through those dark clouds which were gathering blacker and heavier over Judah and Jerusalem, Isaiah hailed the glad beams of promise which shot through the gloom that was closing around. Not only did he discern the future restoration of the Jews from that Babylonish captivity which was impending over them; but, beyond that event, and typified by it, he descried the far greater deliverance which was to be wrought out by the Messiah for the Israel of God,-a deliverance from the bondage of Sin and of Satan. "He saw the day of Christ, and was glad." Rapt into future times, he vividly realized, and graphically pourtrayed, "the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow." A Throughout that passage, in particular, from which our text is taken, the emancipation of Judah from the Babylonish yoke is spoken of in language which, in a spiritual sense, is beautifully descriptive of the redemption purchased by Christ for his covenant people. Such is the character of the expressions now before us; and, as the prophecy proceeds, the reference to the great salvation becomes more and more direct; till, in the concluding portion of the chapter, we find the prophet absorbed in the contemplation of the sufferings and triumphs of the Messiah; and we hear from his firetouched lips the prelude of that wonderful strain in which, throughout the following chapter, he dilates upon the deep humiliation and the glorious exaltation of the incarnate Son of God. In the verses which we at present design to consider in their evangelical application, Jerusalem is represented as a captive maid, sitting on the ground, and clad in raiment which betokens a state of bondage and degradation. But the call is addressed to her to awake from the torpor of dull despondency,-to arise, and shake herself from the dust,-to cast off her bonds, and exchange the garb of a slave for the beautiful garments appropriate to a condition of freedom and prosperity, of gladness and exultation. But the question arises, how shall she, who is thus down-trodden and afflicted, effect her liberation, and spring from the dust to assume a seat of honour and dignity? Is it not a mockery of her woe and of her helplessness thus to exhort her to efforts for which she has no strength and no resources? What price has she to pay for her ransom? What power has she to break |