-That such is the case with the passage which I have read for the text, I shall endeavour, in this discourse, to show.

These words were addressed by the prophet Isaiah, to the pious remnant of true believers among the Jews; for they are described as those who "follow after righteousness, and seek the Lord." At this time, however, as it appears from the context, they were in an afflicted and a discouraged state. And such a state would be attended with its peculiar trials and temptations; and consequently, would stand in need of appropriate direction and support. What direction then does the Prophet give? What support does he point out to them? He calls them to the exercise of deep and serious reflection. He bids them candidly and closely to compare past things with present circumstances, and thus to see whether there was not ground for consolation and encouragement: for this is the meaning and object of the figurative exhortation in the text, "Look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit, whence ye are digged." Was it on a public account that they were concerned? Were they grieved and discouraged at the depressed state of the Church? Let them call to mind, how small its beginnings had been; how unpromising its commencement; when the

Lord had " called Abraham alone," a single individual, without any apparent prospect of issue, and yet had so blessed and increased him, that out of this Rock, the whole nation and church of Israel had been produced. Were their afflictions and discouragements of a private nature? Were they cast down under a sense of their own present trials and troubles? Let them reflect on their natural condition; on the state in which they had been found; on the way by which they had been led;" on the hole of the pit out of which they had been digged;" the depth of corruption, guilt, and misery from which they had been originally brought. If they were now built up "as lively stones," in the spiritual temple of God; yet let them call to mind the rough materials out of which they had been formed, and the expence, and trouble, and time, which it had cost, to fit them for their present station. Reflections of this nature would tend to instruct and comfort them under existing circumstances; would point out their duty, and minister consolation.

A

From this explanation of the text, I would deduce the following important Inference, namely, That it is the duty, and will be for the benefit of every true servant of God, occasionally to reflect, with due seriousness, on his own original state, on the rise and

progress of religion in his own soul, and of the experience which he has thus individually had of the divine power, goodness, and mercy.

With a view to a practical application of this Inference, I shall endeavour more particularly,

I. To point out the Persons here addressed. II. To explain the Exhortation addressed to them.

I. The Persons addressed in the text, we have already observed, are the true servants of God: but in more particularly pointing them out, we must attend to the description here given of them. And in this description we shall perceive a striking illustration of the fact noticed above, namely, of the sameness of true religion at all times, and under every dispensation. The Persons here described are those, who "follow after righteousness, and seek the Lord."- Such were the true people of God under the Jewish Church. And how exactly does this description accord to the true people of God under the Christian Church? How could they be more properly described, than as Persons, who follow after righteousness, and seek the Lord ?" Attend to the particulars of the description. They They "seek the Lord." -The expression to seek, implies desire and endeavour. The persons here spoken

of desire to have the Lord for their God. They have in their judgements decidedly chosen Him for their portion; and they long above all things to be at peace with Him, to walk with Him, to have communion with Him. Convinced that sin, if persisted in, must be their ruin; that the world with all its allurements cannot make them happy; that idols cannot profit them; they have renounced all these vanities; they have ceased to trust in them, and to be influenced by them. Their desire now is to obtain that peace, and happiness, and honour, which come from God only. It is the secret language of their hearts, "Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us." "Whom have we in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that we desire besides Thee." And while they thus supremely desire the favour of God, they anxiously and diligently endeavour to obtain it. They use the appointed means, in which God hath promised to reveal Himself to man. They wait upon Him in those ordinances, in which He is graciously to be found; in which He causes His Beauty and Glory to be seen; in which He gladdens the heart and refreshes the Souls of those who search for Him.

But especially the Persons here spoken of, seek the Lord, by following after

righteousness." the Description. Righteousness in Scripture has a twofold meaning. It sometimes denotes that external Righteousness, which is imputed to the true believer in Christ, and in this sense it signifies Justification. At other times it refers to that internal Holiness, which is the work of the Spirit of Christ in the believer's heart, and in this sense it means Sanctification. In the passage before us, we may understand it in both these senses. Those who seek the Lord are following after Righteousness, both Justification and Sanctification; and following after them in the way, in which alone, according to the covenant of mercy, these blessings are to be found. They are seeking them by faith in Jesus Christ, in dependence on His promises, and through the power of His Spirit. Deeply convinced of their own guilt, and of their utter insufficiency to save themselves, they are looking for pardon, acceptance, and eternal life solely through the sufferings and obedience of Him, who was their Substitute and Surety. Their only hope of heaven is founded on His merits. They are earnestly longing with the Apostle St. Paul, "to win Christ, and to be found in Him, not having their own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the Righteous

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