HELP ΤΟ ZION'S TRAVELLERS, &c. ISAIAH lvii. 14. CAST YE UP, CAST YE UP, PREPARE THE WAY, TAKE UP THE STUMBLING-BLOCK OUT OF THE WAY OF MY PEOPLE. HESE words seem to have been the lan THE guage of those who in a time of general declension adhered to God and religion, and in every difficulty and danger trusted in the Lord, being encouraged by his precious promises as mentioned in the preceding verse. Knowing by mournful experience the various obstacles and intricacies which annoy and perplex the heavenly traveller in times of distress and obscurity, they are represented as saying on behalf of the discouraged and entangled, to those who were em B ployed in the ways of Zion, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, &c. Whether the text be considered as historical or prophetical, as a relation of what was the request of the godly in the days of the prophet, or a prediction of what would be solicited in some future period, it is evident from the words that the people of God are represented as on a journey, seeking a better country, which is an heavenly, therefore are frequently called strangers, and pilgrims on the earth: that the way in which they are to walk is not at all times easy to be discovered, and when obscurity attends the path, hesitation prevents a progress. Hence the servants of the Lord are called upon to cast up and prepare the way, to render it more visible and obvious to every spiritual passenger, to see that it be raised or elevated and thereby rendered safe, even when floods of persecution and temptation abound, and made as plain as possible, by the removal of every thing tending to injure the weak or benighted traveller: therefore it is added, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people; this desire, this request seems to be represented as the personal and united wish of every good man, whether in the days of the prophet or in future periods of time. For thus saith the Lord, he that putteth his trust in me shall say, Cast ye up, Cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people. Though stumbling-block is mentioned only in the singular, as if pointing to some one danger or difficulty to be removed, yet it is evident from scripture, that various things are so denominated; but the singular number being only used in the words, may denote the dreadful nature and dangerous tendency of the doctrine and practice of idolatry, which was the stumbling-block Balaam taught Balak to cast before the children of Israel, and against which the prophet in this chapter had been bearing his testimony. The doctrine of idolatry in its different forms has been, and continues to be, a fatal stumbling-block to many; hence the church of Pergamos was censured for keeping in her community them that held the doctrine of Balaam; Rev. ii. 14. Again, if the text be considered as the language of every believer, it may refer to, or include whatever was, or may be found of a stumbling nature to each of them. The experiences of Christians are very different respecting what is, or has been, to them of a trying perplexing nature; and as each Christian is ready to fear what has been the principal stumbling-block to him may be the same to others, it is natural to suppose, that as every heart knows its own bitterness, each tried believer would thus express himself, and in reference to his own experience, say, Take the stumbling-block out of the way of my people. Besides, as there is often a prevalence of various errors in different periods, and distinct places, so what is injurious to the people of God as a prevailing stumbling-block in their way, is variable according to the methods taken to obscure, misrepresent, or oppose the solemn and sacred truths, which God has graciously revealed in his word, or lessen their genuine influence and native tendency, as recorded in the holy scrip tures. From these considerations we may infer, that though the text speaks in the singular number, yet the servants of the Lord must expect to have various things of a stumbling nature to remove, according to the different exercises of the saints, or the injury done to truth at different times, and by different persons. The ministers of Christ are set for the defence of the gospel, and are appointed to help the faith and joy of those who have believed through grace. And as this is a day in which errors of various kinds abound, a day of gloominess and perplexity to many sincere Christians who desire to know the truth as it is in Jesus, to be devoted to him through life, as well as found in him at death; for the sake of such I would endeavour, as the Lord shall help, to remove some of those stumbling-blocks which lie in their way rela ting to I. Doctrinal, II. Experimental, and I. Respecting doctrinal difficulties, we may observe the most common and artful methods taken by many to overturn the soul-supporting truth of Christ's divinity. It is only from the sacred scriptures we can have information respecting the person and work of our precious Redeemer to these he appealed in the days of his flesh, saying, Search the scriptures, for they testify of me; but with what deceitfulness is the word of God handled by many, when the person of Christ is the subject of inquiry. 1. Some, in order to overthrow his claim to divinity, and the supreme love of his people, have collected a number of passages of scripture which plainly declare his inferiority to God, from which they infer with an appearance of gravity and goodwill to truth, that as scripture is evidently consistent with itself, he therefore, who is therein declared to be inferior to deity, cannot possibly be divine; but a little attention is sufficient to discover that art is substituted in the room of argument, and sophistry occupies the place of sense. Every good man will rejoice in the har |