--ISAIAH lv.
6, 7.
Some of you, surely, while the first lesson was being read this
morning, must have felt the beauty of it; and if you were thoughtful,
perplexed, weary, sad at heart, perhaps you felt that it was more
than beautiful--that it was full of comfort. And so it should be
full of comfort to you, my friends. God meant it to give you
comfort. For though it was written and spoken by a man of like
passions with ourselves, it was just as truly written and spoken by
God, who made heaven and earth. It is true and everlasting, the
message which it brings, and like all true and everlasting words, it
is the voice of God who cannot change; who makes no difference
between Jew and Gentile, between us in England here, and nations
which perished hundreds of years ago.
And what is its message? What was God's word to the old Jews, among
all their sin, and sorrow, and labour?
Is it the message of a stern judge, saying: "Pay me that thou owest,
to the uttermost farthing; and if you cannot do that, fret and
torment yourselves in shame and terror here on earth, for all your
sins, if, possibly, you may chance to change my mind, and find
forgiveness at the last day?"
Is it the message of a proud tyrant, saying: "If you are miserable,
and fallen, and sinful, what is that to me? I am perfect, blest,
contented with myself, alone in my glory, far away beyond the sight
of men, beyond the sun and stars--what are you worms of earth to me?"
Or is it the voice of a loving Father, calling to his self-willed
children who have gone proudly and boldly away from their Father's
house, and thrown off their Father's government, and said in their
conceit: "We are men.
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