kingdoms for the ransom of His Israel in former days, has given a more precious gift than Ethiopia and Seba, yea, than a whole aggregate of nations, for the redemption of His elect Church throughout the whole world. Have we not, in this mightiest Ransom, a pledge and guarantee for the bestowment of every needed blessing, alike for His Israel collectively and for believers individually. "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also, freely give us all things?" (Rom. viii. 32.)

Let us joyfully listen to this soothing refrain, this tender lullaby of God, "Fear not! fear not!" We may well trust the faithfulness of the Great Shepherd, who "calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out." Throughout life, in the midst of all its trials, amid environing floods and flames, we may safely rely on the strength and security of that chain, with its fourfold link, which binds us to the Everlasting arms Creator,' 'Redeemer,' 'God in Cove

nant,' 'Father;'-and at death, when a Greater than Cyrus shall appear "unexpectedly" at the midnight hour-when the startling summons shall be heard, "Behold He cometh!'-when the cry of many shall be "in the ships," seeking unavailing shelter in refuges of lies, from the face of the Conqueror :-Oh! on that "day of the Lord of Hosts," which is to be "upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures" (Isa. ii. 16), to be able, like captive Israel in Babylon, to hear, in that very cry, the proclamation to His Church that the last fetters of bondage are removed; that the harp may be taken down from the willows, and the last tear dried. Crossing the border river and entering the true Canaan, we shall listen to the joyous welcome, "Fear not, I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine :" while this shall be the confession and song of Eternity,-"We went through fire and through water; but Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place" (Ps. lxvi. 12).

“Thou knowest, Lord, the weariness and sorrow
Of the sad heart that comes to Thee for rest;
Cares of to-day and burdens for to-morrow,
Blessings implored, and sins to be confessed.

Thou knowest all the past-how long and blindly,
On the dark mountains the lost wanderer strayed,
How the Good Shepherd followed, and how kindly
He bore it home upon His shoulders laid.

Thou knowest all the future gleams of gladness,
By stormy clouds too quickly overcast,
Hours of sweet fellowship, and parting sadness,
And the dark river to be crossed at last.

Therefore I come, Thy gentle call obeying,
And lay my sins and sorrows at Thy feet;
On everlasting strength my weakness staying,
Clothed in Thy robe of righteousness complete."

"IN THE MULTITUDE OF MY THOUGHTS WITHIN ME

THY COMFORTS DELIGHT MY SOUL."

"This people whom I have formed for myself,

My praise shall they recount.

But thou hast not invoked me, O Jacob;

Thou hast not wearied thyself for me, O Israel (Delitzsch).
Thou hast not brought me the lamb of thy burnt-offerings,
Neither with thy sacrifices hast thou honoured me:

I have not made a slave of thee in (exacting) oblations,
Nor wearied thee with (demands of) frankincense (Barnes).
Thou hast bought me no spice-cane for silver,

Nor refreshed me with the fat of thy sacrifices (Delitzsch);
But thou hast burdened me with thy sins (Lowth),

Thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.

I, I am He who blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake,

And thy sins I will not remember.

Remind me of thy plea; let us enter into debate together: Declare thou, that thou mayest justify thyself.

I have made thy transgressions as a dense cloud to vanish, And thy sins like a vapour;

Return to me; for I have redeemed thee."

-ISAIAH xliii. 21-26; xliv. 22.

44

VIII.

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people,
saith your God."

"I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. . . . I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee."

Sovereign
Grace.

-ISAIAH xliii. 25; xliv. 22.

WHO are these to whom the gracious promises just dwelt upon in the preceding exposition have been given; who have had heaped upon them pledge on pledge of covenant faithfulness and love, till word and metaphor can go no farther? Who are they that are thus guaranteed a divine escort through flood and river, fire and flame; for whose sake the sandy desert is so transformed, that the very wild beasts roaming its