THE WEAK STRENGTHENED.

ISAIAH xl. 31.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their
strength; they shall mount up with wings as
eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint."

OME truths are of limited application, we must be reful therefore not to strain them beyond their limit, cause if we do, we shall not only do violence to em, but harm to ourselves. The truth of promises, omises of scripture too, comes thus before us; we ist not take the comfort of any promise to ourselves, less we are satisfied that the character is ours to hich that promise is applicable; never mind names words, look to character and meaning. This beauul chapter of Isaiah, the 40th, what truth it holds; at promises it sets before us; yet we must mind, cause there are solemn and awful warnings, as well cheering and comforting promises; there is truth both; and may be, we have the character that suits

the warnings most, and not the promises of comfort. Let us ever look to this. It cannot be right for any one to read a chapter, and picking out all the cheering parts, to say, "these are mine, these are mine, I leave the rest, they are not pleasant to me." This is being partial with ourselves, whereas, we ought to judge ourselves. Will you read this chapter through to-day at your leisure? Do I ask too much of you? And will you read it thoughtfully, not too fast either; and will you mind the sober truths, as well as the promises? And when you have done reading, will you try, and find out those passages which seem to suit you most, and lay them up in your memories, and have them out again soon, and try them afresh, and so see if your character mends? This is the way to read Scripture to profit. Merely to hear, or read and forget, read and forget, will be of no avail; we must grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; if we would avoid the condemnation of the slothful and the wicked.

I have now to do with the winding up of the chapter; with the striking and beautiful promise that it sets before us. I wish I could do it well; something after the fashion that such a wonderful word of promise requires; but this is impossible. I should go out of myself if I did this, and you would go out of yourselves to hear it. Let us try our poor best, and may He help our infirmities; He, who taught Isaiah to write, and hath applied that writing times out of

umber to the consciences and souls of multitudes of nners. Yes! may He apply it to us, to me, to you, › each, to all. Amen.

Jacob and Israel seem to be in a desponding way; d the God of Jacob and of Israel is pleased to conescend to take their case into His consideration, and endeavour to comfort them; and He must needs ll others to help Him; for looking on these others e says "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith ur God."

And we also often are in a desponding way. If we n satisfy ourselves, on true grounds, that the God Israel and of Jacob takes our case into consideration so, and condescends to apply Himself in affording medies of help; and also biddeth others, angels and en, be workers together with Him in this noble work d labour of love; this may well cure us of our spondency; it would cure us outright surely, dear ethren, if it were not for the frailty and sinfulness our mortal nature, which cannot bear properly the mfortings of the Almighty; we must wait, we must it with patience, until this frail tabernacle of ours taken down, and our enfranchised soul be clothed on with house from heaven; Oh! there will be pert cure of despondency; there will be no more sorrow, more crying; God will wipe away the tears from all faces.

That the chapter before us is not to be confined to ael and Jacob after the flesh, is manifest to the

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most cursory observer. Deliverance by Cyrus, and return from captivity of Babylon may be meant, but that is not all that is meant in the third verse; we are told as much in the New Testament, where John the Baptist is said to be he that crieth in the wilderness; and who was it that he heralded? It was Jesus Christ, who delivereth His people from the captivity of sin and Satan. Isaiah was not called "Evangelical" without good reason; the promises here set forth may have special reference to Christian times. May Zion lift up her voice with strength and not be afraid; may she say unto the cities of Judah, "behold your God." It is declared directly, of that same God, "He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." I pray you, of whom speaketh the prophet this? We know, we know, 'tis Jesus Christ.

Was Idolatry the crowning sin-was it the foul breach of wedlock, committed by Israel, against Him that was married to her? Will the Lord expostulate with His chosen? Will He argue the matter with them? Will He so shew the folly, as well as the heinousness, of their sin, as to set Israel on self-upbraidings, and cause consciousness of misery and confusion of weakness? Well! He turneth anon to the more pleasing work of comforting again; He delighteth in mercy; He doth not willingly afflict or chide; "Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, my way is hid