A SERMON, &c. ISAIAH lii. 7. "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" AMONG the events connected with the ancient church, there are few more remarkable than was the Babylonish captivity: and the unhappy condition of the Jewish people during that period is a subject of frequent notice in the sacred writings. To know that Jerusalem was laid waste, and the temple, which God had honoured with the special symbol of His presence, was utterly destroyed, must have been a source of deep affliction to every individual of that nation who venerated either the country or the religion of his fathers: and it was a natural effect of his depression, that he should sit down by the waters and weep; his harp hung upon the willows, himself incapable of singing in a strange land the songs of Zion. To these captives the prophet here announces the tidings of deliverance. Anticipating the decree of Cyrus, which was in due time to restore them to their country, he speaks of that period as already arrived. In the visions of prophecy he contemplates the bearers of this intelligence, as hastening over the mountains to proclaim it, and expresses his admiration at the sight. But in the deliverance of that people, there is shadowed forth to us a greater event: and this passage is accordingly cited by St. Paul as applicable to the days of the gospel; when to the Gentile, as well as to the Jew, should be proclaimed the message of redemption, and all nations should be invited to hear it. We shall consider these words, therefore, principally with reference to the Christian dispensation. They present, according to the usual style of Hebrew poetry, the same subject under somewhat different views: and scarcely shall we find, in the writings of the evangelical prophet himself, in so short a passage, a more * Rom. x. 15. attractive and more striking description of the gospel message. May our meditations upon it contribute, through the divine aid, to fix in our minds a deeper sense of the excellence of the gospel, and a more earnest desire to make known and to extend the blessings of it! I. (1) The gospel is represented, then, as a publication of peace. To the captive Jew, this term would be sufficiently intelligible: he knew, from the existing condition of his countrymen, that the Almighty was against them: and under this conviction, he must have felt, that there was no peace either for them or for himself, till it should please God to turn again their captivity, and restore them to their lost inheritance. And what in a spiritual sense is the state of the whole human race? All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;* they are alienated from Him, by the original and inherent depravity of the mind, and enemies to Him by wicked works; sinful by nature, and sinners by practice. This is true of every man, so long as he follows the corrupt inclinations of his own heart. He may have a fair reputation in the world, but there is * Rom. iii. 23. depression, that he should waters and weep; his harp lows, himself incapable of s land the songs of Zion. To these captives the prop the tidings of deliverance. decree of Cyrus, which was store them to their country, period as already arrived. prophecy he contemplates t intelligence, as hastening ove proclaim it, and expresses his sight. But in the deliveran there is shadowed forth to u and this passage is accordingly as applicable to the days of to the Gentile, as well as to t proclaimed the message of re nations should be invited to h We shall consider these principally with reference to pensation. They present, usual style of Hebrew poetry, under somewhat different vie shall we find, in the writings prophet himself, in so short a * Rom. x. 15. |