Volume I

_By the_ REV. R. A. BERTRAM _and_ _The_ REV. ALFRED TUCKER

[LOGO] PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY NEW YORK

PREFATORY NOTES.

1. In the preparation of this Commentary, my aim throughout has been evangelical and practical. A study of the Book of Isaiah suggests many historical, critical, and speculative questions, but these I have entirely disregarded. I have asked only, What messages from God has this inspired prophet for the men of this generation? What instruction has he to give us? What warnings? What encouragements? What consolations? To these questions I believe there are answers in the outlines I have myself prepared, and in those I have obtained from other sources.

2. As my work proceeded, my methods somewhat changed. I discovered that I had commenced the Commentary on too large a scale, and that it was in danger of becoming too large and costly. I therefore ceased to append illustrations to the outlines, and contented myself with giving references to illustrations in my _"Homiletic Encyclopædia of Illustrations in Theology and Morals"_ and my _"Dictionary of Poetical Illustrations,"_ using for this purpose the letters H. E. I. and P. D.

3. I also ceased to prepare outlines on _all_ the texts, and limited myself to those most likely to be profitable to ordinary congregations.

4. As I proceeded, I also became more convinced that a book intended to be helpful to many minds should contain the best thoughts of many minds; and therefore, instead of preparing outlines which might be expanded into sermons, I condensed sermons preached by others into outlines. Remembering that I was working for ministers, I stripped the _thoughts_ contained in those sermons of most of their dress, and so the substance of a sermon of twenty pages was frequently placed on a page. The result is that in this volume a hundred and fifty students of Scripture--Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Congregationalists and Baptists--combine to offer to their brethren suggestions as to the best practical uses to which the writings of Isaiah may be put today.

5. On pp. 447-496 are some valuable outlines obtained too late for insertion in their proper places. Three of them are interesting specimens of Welsh preaching.

CONTENTS.

INDEX OF SUBJECTS.

Advent Thoughts and Joys Adversity, The Bread of Afflicted, The Duty of the Afflictions of God's People, The Allotments of Land to the Poor Altar and a Saviour for Egypt, An Amusement, Earthly Apostates, The Doom of the Appeal and an Argument, An Appropriation, The Grand Ariel Art, The Noblest Assyrian, The Assyrian Invasion of Judah Atonement, The

Babylon, The Doom of Beautiful Visions Exchanged for Realities Belief, The Restoration of Believer's Dignity and Power, The Blessed Life, A Blessedness of the Servant of God, The Blind Leaders Book That Will Bear Testing, A

Call to the Careless, A Call to the Revolted, A Call to Study, A Canticle, A Sad Chambers of Safety Chastisement Cheering Words and Solemn Warnings Children of Babylon, Their Doom Children, Spare the Child-Training Christ a Tested Saviour Christ, Comfort in Christ, His Empire Christ, His Government Christ, His Name--"Wonderful" Christ, His Second Coming Christ, His Titles and Government Christ, His Triumphs Christ Our Counsellor Christ, The Ensign of the Nations Christ, The Everlasting Father Christ, The Healer and Joy-Giver Christ, The Mighty God Christ, The Prince of Peace Christ, The Reconciler of Men Christ a Righteous Judge Christ a Sure Foundation Christ, The Beauty of His Character Christ, Suretyship of Christian Liberality Christian's Refuge, The Church of Christ, Characteristics of the Church, Fiery Ordeal of Church, The Christian, A Continuation of the Jewish Cleaning for the Vilest Cleaning Spirit, The Comfort for the Desponding Comfort in Christ Command, A Plain Conqueror Conquered, The Consideration, Religious Controlling Fact, A Conversion, A Happy Cords and Cart-Ropes Cords of Vanity Counsel, A Threefold Counsellor, The Only Covetousness Cry for Help, A Curse Done Away, The

Day of the Lord, The Day of Visitation, The Days of Deliverance Death and the Grave Death, Distress in Prospect of Death, Preparation for Death, The Contrasts of Deliverance, A Great Depravity, Total Depravity, Transmitted Despisers, The Doom of the Disabled Ship, The Discipline of Sin, The Divine Anger Divine Disappointments Divine Ideal of Israel Realised, The Divine Judgments, The Twofold Effect of Divine Patience, Trials of the Divine Salvation Rejected Dreaming Drink and Its Woes Drunkard, The Miseries of the Dumah, The Burden of

Early Religious Training Earthly Song and the Heavenly Voice East Wind, The Day of the Encouragement for the Timid England's Crying Sin Evil-Doers, The Seed of Exiles' Return, The

Faith's Impregnable Citadel Faith, The Condition of Firmness False Refuges Female Pride and Luxury Fears and Comforts Feast for Faith, A Festivity and Forgetfulness Foolish King and a Wise One, A Forgetfulness of God Forsaken of God Forsaking the Lord

Gladness, The Duty of Glorifying God in the Fires God Avenging His Own Elect God Exalted in the Great Day God, His Goodness to the Church God's Gracious Invitation to Sinners God's Ideal of Goodness God's Invitation to Shelter God's Judgments God's Outstretched Hand God's Perpetual Presence with His People God's Promises God's Readiness to Listen to the Needy God's Reluctance to Punish God's Righteousness God Oppressed God Our Refuge or Our Ruin God, Two Constant Feelings in His Mind God's Outcasts God's People Forsaken Godly, Prospect of the Good and Evil, The Sin of Confounding Gospel, Future Triumphs of the Gospel, The Blessings of the Gospel Feast, The Gospel Trumpet, The Government, The Curse of a Weak Grave and its Mysteries, The Great Deliverance, A Great Dethronement, The Great Task, The Growing Light Guiding Voice, The

"Hallowed Be Thy Name" Harvest, The Joy of the Haughtiness Heaven, The Happiness of Heedfulness Hezekiah's Prayer Hezekiah's Prudent Silence Hezekiah's Resolution Hezekiah's Song Hezekiah's Strength and Weakness Hezekiah Tried Holiness Accomplished, Peace Ordained Holiness, Man's, God's Workmanship Home Life and Influence

Ignorance, The Evils of Illustrious Inhabitant, An Immanuel Impenitent, Certainty of the Destruction of the In Whom Art Thou Trusting? Inconsiderateness Incorrigible, Doom of the Iniquity a Burden Injustice, Legalised Instinct Followed, Reason Disregarded Intellectual Pride Isaiah, His Interview with Ahaz Isaiah, His Vision of the King and His Kingdom Isaiah, His Vision of God Isaiah, His Vision of the Last Days Isaiah, The Evangelical Prophet Israel, Future Prosperity of Israel, God's Indictment against Israel, The Doom of Impenitent

Joy of Salvation, The Joy of the Meek Joy Religious Just Man's Security, The

King in Trouble, A Knowledge of God Knowledge of God, Importance of Religious

Language, Its Influence on Character Latter-Day Glory, The Law and the Testimony, The Leadership Life, Its Diminutions and Changes Life, The Shortening of Light of the Lord, The Lip Service Instead of Heart Worship Littles, The Power of

Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz Man's Imagined Independence of God Man's Insignificance and God's Supremacy Man Proposes, God Disposes Material and the Mortal, The Memorable Answer, A Messengers Wanted Messiah, The Glory of the Ministerial Duty, Some Aspects of Ministerial Fidelity, Dislike to Missionary Success, The Essential Condition of Mockery, Irreligious Momentous Decisions Momentous Inquiry, A Money, The Love of Moral Ablution Moral Declension Moral History of a Rising Soul, The Moral Obduracy Moral Perversity Moral Wilderness Transformed

National Bereavement, Lessons from a National Greatness National Peace, The Gift of God National Revival National Ungodliness Necromancy Needless Stripes New Song for New Hearts, A Night and Morning Night Longings for God No Sickness There! Nobility and Security

Opportunities, The Use of Oppressed and Their Relief, The Oppression of the Poor Our Trust and Our Test

Parable of the Husbandman, The Parable of the Vineyard, The Peace, National Peace, Perfect Peace, The Work of Righteousness Peaceful Keeping Perversion of Right and Wrong Piety, Irreligious Pleader and the Judge, The Politicians, Biblical Praise for Preservation Prayer, A Christian Prayer, A King's Prayer in Trouble Prayer, Reasons for the Rejection of Privileges, Great Prophecy the Voice of God Prophet of the Lord, The Prophet's Call, The Prophet's Mission, Duration of the Protecting Hand, The Providence Public Worship, The Possibilities of Punishment of the Wicked, The Punishment, The Purpose of Purposes and Panics

Quietness, Christian Quietness, Strength in

Rabshakehs, Modern Recompense, The Great Law of Recovery from Sickness Redemption, The Divine Idea of Rejected Sacrifices Rejection of Divine Truth, The Religion, True and False Remnants of Society, The Retirement, Religious Revelation of God, The Rivers, Enriching Rivers of Waters Road to the City, The

Saint's Attitude in Time of Trouble Sanctuary in God Scepticism Self-Conceit Self-Scrutiny in God's Presence Sensuality Sentence of Doom, A Seraphim, The Shameless Sinners Short Bed and the Narrow Covering, The Sick and Dying, Duties of the Sickness, Recovery from Sight of God and a Sense of Sin, A Sin and Grace Sin, Its Destructiveness Sin, The Origin and End of Sinner's Danger and Refuge, The Sinners Self-Destroyed Social Regeneration Sodom and Gomorrah Solemn Disclaimer, A Song to the Vineyard, A Sorrow, The Banishment of Spirit of the Lord, The Spiritual Husbandry Spiritual Usurpers Renounced Spirituality of the Divine Nature, The Spreading the Letter before the Lord Stability through Faith Startling Charge, A Statesmen, The Death of Stone of Stumbling, The Storms of Life, The Strange and Sad Errand, A Stream Rejected for the River, The Suffering, Unsanctified Submission under God's Rebuke Summons to Jerusalem, The Supplications, Fruitless

Taking Hold of God's Strength Teachers of Truth, Their Duty in Times of National Perversion Terrible Picture, A Terrible Resolve, A Things To Be Considered Thoughtlessness Threatened, But Safe Tophet Ordained of Old Tow and the Spark, The Transformation Trinity in Unity, The Trumpet, The Great Trust and Trials

Unbelief, The Inexcusableness of

Vanity of Earthly Help in Time of Trial Virgin's Son, The Volunteer Service

Waiting, Divine and Human Waiting on God War Waters of Shiloah, The Wells of Salvation Wild Grapes Wise Lessons from Wicked Lips World, A Sorrowless World's Misery, The Remedy of the Worthless Husks Wrong Names, The Sin of Using

Zion, The Controversy of Zion, The Futility of Fighting Against

INDEX OF AUTHORS.

Abbott, J. S. C. Adams, W. Adeney, W. F. Alexander, Dr. Ambrose, William Anderson, James Anderson, Dr. W.

Barfield, A. F. Barry, Bishop Bateman, Josiah Bather, Archdeacon Baxendale, Walter Beecher, Henry Ward Bennett, Dr. Bertram, R. A. Bingham, R. Blomfield, Bishop Blunt, H. Boone, J. S. Bradley, Charles Brathwaite, M. Brierley, J. Brooke, Stopford A. Brooks, William Buckingham, S. G. Bunting, Dr. Burns, Dr. Jabez Burrows, W. Bushnell, Dr. Butler, William Archer

Cheever, Dr. Clark, George Clayton, G. Clemance, Dr. Close, Dean Cooper, Edward Corbin, John Cowles, Dr. Creswell, Henry Crow, E. Currie, D. D.

Davies, Samuel Dowling, J. G.

Edmond, Dr. Emmons, Dr. Erskine, Ralph Exell, J. S.

Forrest, R. W. Foster, John Fraser, Bishop Fuller, Andrew

Gerard, Dr. Gibson, A. Gilfillan, G. Goodwin, H. Goulburn, Dean Griffin, E. Guinness, H. G. Gurney, J. H. Guthrie, William

Hall, Robert Hancock, W. Hare, Julius Charles Harris, W. Hawes, Dr. Heber, Reginald Hobart, Dr. Holdeck, Dr. Hood, E. Paxton Hubbard, W.

Irons, Joseph

James, John Angell Jay, William Johnson, John Johnston, John Jonas, William Jupe, Charles

Kennedy, Dr. Kennicott, Dr. Kidd, Thornhill Kollock, Dr.

Lewis, Dr. Liddon, Canon Lilley, J. Osborne Logan, John Lyth, Dr.

Macculloch, R. Maclaren, A. Magie, Dr. Manning, W. Marriott, John Mathew, G. Maurice, F. D. McAuslane, Dr. Melvill, H. Miall, G. R. Milne, John Milner, Dr. Moore, Charles Monks, Richard Monod, Horace Morgan, James

Neave, Thomas Nesbit, R. Newman, John Henry Norton, John N.

Oliver, T.

Packer, John Parker, Dr. Parkes, William Parkman, R. C. Piele, Dr. Pott, J. H. Pratten, B. P. Punshon, Dr.

Rawlinson, John Reeve, William Roberts, Arthur Roberts, William Robins, S. Robjohns, H. T.

Salomon, G. Scott, Adam Shedd, Dr. Sherman, J. Sherwood, J. M. Shuttleworth, Dr. Simcock, J. Macrae Skelton Smith, George Spencer, Thomas Spurgeon, C. H. Statham, W. M. "Stems and Twigs" Stirling, J. Storrs, Dr. Superville, Daniel de

Talmage, Dr. Taylor. Dr. W. M. Thodey, Samuel Thomas, Dr. David Thompson, B. Tucker, Dr.

Villiers, H. M.

Walker, H. F. Watson, Richard Watt, John Wood, J. R. Woodford, J. R.

TIMES, SEASONS, AND OCCASIONS.

Advent Sermons Bible Society Sermon Christmas Sermons Death of a Statesman Easter Sunday First Sunday of the Year Freehold Land Society Sermon Funeral Sermon Harvest Thanksgiving Last Sermon of the Year Missionary Sermons Ordination or Visitation Sermons Parliamentary Election Sermon Peace Society Sermons Seamen, Sermon to Sunday-School Anniversary Temperance Sermons Thanksgiving Sermon Time of National Distress Trinity Sunday Whitsuntide

TEXTS.

i. 1. The Prophet of the Lord

i. 2. Prophecy the Voice of God

i. 2, 3. An Appeal and an Argument

i. 2-6. God's Indictment against Israel

i. 3. Thoughtlessness Inconsiderateness Things to be Considered Religious Consideration Instinct Followed--Reason Disregarded

i. 4. Iniquity a Burden Transmitted Depravity Forsaking the Lord

i. 5. Moral Obduracy Needless Stripes

i. 5-8. Total Depravity

i. 9. God's Reluctance to Punish

i. 10. The Summons to Jerusalem

i. 11. Rejected Sacrifices

i. 11, 16, 17. True and False Religion

i. 13. The Possibilities of Public Worship

i. 14. God Oppressed

i. 15. Worthless Husks Reasons for the Rejection of Prayer A Startling Charge

i. 16. Moral Ablution A Plain Command

i. 17. The Great Task The Noblest Art The Oppressed and Their Relief God's Ideal of Goodness

i. 18. God's Gracious Invitation to Sinners Cleansing for the Vilest Comfort for the Desponding Sin and Grace Self-scrutiny in God's Presence

i. 19-20. Sinners Self-destroyed

i. 20. The Certainty of the Destruction of the Impenitent

i. 21-23. Moral Declension

i. 21. An Illustrious Inhabitant

i. 22. The Possible Degeneracy of Valuable Things

i. 24. A Terrible Resolve

i. 24-27. The Purpose of Punishment

i. 25, 26. The Divine Idea of Redemption

i. 26. Social Regeneration

i. 27, 28. The Twofold Effect of Divine Judgments

i. 28. Forsaking the Lord

i. 28-31. The Doom of the Apostates

i. 31. The Tow and the Spark

ii. 1-5. Isaiah's Vision of the Last Days

ii. 2-5. The Latter-Day Glory

ii. 2. The Future Triumphs of the Gospel

ii. 4. The Cessation of War

ii. 5. The Light of the Lord The Walk of the Soul in the Light of the Lord

ii. 6-22. A Terrible Picture

Heb. xiii. 5, ii. 6. God's People Forsaken

ii. 6. Forsaken of God

ii. 6-9. The Material and the Moral

ii. 10. The Sinner's Danger and Refuge

ii. 17. God Exalted in the Great Day

ii. 18. The Great Dethronement

ii. 22. Man's Insignificance and God's Supremacy Lessons from a National Bereavement

iii. 1-3. The Death of Statesmen

iii. 1-8. National Greatness

iii. 9. Shameless Sinners

iii. 10, 11. Cheering Words and Solemn Warnings The Great Law of Recompense

iii. 12. The Curse of a Weak Government Blind Leaders

iii. 15. Oppression of the Poor

iii. 13-15. The Pleader and the Judge

iii. 16, 17. Haughtiness

iii. 16--iv. 1. Female Pride and Luxury

iv. 1. The Desolating and Disorganising Power of War

iv. 2-6. The Divine Ideal of Israel Realised

iv. 2-5. God's Perpetual Presence with His People

iv. 4. The Cleansing Spirit

v. 1-7. The Parable of the Vineyard The Parable of the Vineyard Great Privileges

v. 2. Divine Disappointments

v. 4. The Inexcusability and Hopelessness of Unbelief

v. 4-6. A Sad Canticle

v. 7, 8. On the Advantage of Small Allotments of Land to the Poor

v. 8-21. Wild Grapes

v. 8-10. Covetousness

v. 8. God's Curse on the Covetous

v. 11. The Miseries of the Drunkard

v. 11-17. National Ungodliness

v. 11, 12. Sensuality

v. 12. Earthly Amusement Festivity and Forgetfulness

v. 13-15. The Evils of Ignorance

v. 14, 15. Death and the Grave

v. 18. Cords of Vanity Cords and Cart-Ropes

v. 19. Scepticism

v. 20. The Influence of Language on Character The Sin of Confounding Good and Evil On the Perversion of Right and Wrong The Sin of Using Wrong Names Moral Perversity

v. 21. Self-Conceit Intellectual Pride

v. 22. The Woe of the Drunkard The Woe of the Drunkard Drink and Its Woes

v. 24. The Doom of Despisers

v. 24-30. The Doom of Impenitent Israel

vi. 1-12. The Prophet's Call

vi. 1, 2, 5-7. The Service of the Seraphim

vi. 1-3. The Trinity in Unity

vi. 1-5. Revelations of God

vi. 1-7. Isaiah's Vision

vi. 1-2. The Seraphim

vi. 2. A Glorious Example

vi. 2-4. The Seraphim and Their Song

vi. 5-7. A Sight of God and a Sense of Sin

vi. 5-8. The Moral History of a Rising Soul

vi. 8. Volunteer Service Messengers Wanted

vi. 9, 10. A Strange and Sad Errand The Rejection of Divine Truth

vi. 11-13. The Duration of the Prophet's Mission

vii. 1-9. Fears and Comforts Faith's Impregnable Citadel

vii. 1, 2. Purpose and Panics

vii. 3-25. Isaiah's Interview with Ahaz

vii. 4. A Threefold Counsel Heedfulness

vii. 9. Faith, The Condition of Firmness Stability through Faith

vii. 12. Man's Imagined Independence of God Momentous Decisions Irreligious Piety

vii. 13. Trials of the Divine Patience

vii. 13-16. The Virgin's Son

vii. 14. Immanuel

vii. 15. The Great Object of Child-Training

vii. 17-25. A Sentence of Doom

viii. 1-4. Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz

viii. 5-8. The Stream Rejected for the River

viii. 6-8. The Waters of Shiloah

viii. 9, 10. Threatened, But Safe

viii. 11-15. Biblical Politicians

viii. 13. "Hallowed Be Thy Name"

viii. 14. God Our Refuge, or Our Ruin The Stone of Stumbling Sanctuary in God

viii. 16-18. The Duty of Teachers of Truth in Times of National Perversion

viii. 17. Waiting on the Lord in Desertion and Gloom Penitential Waiting on God

viii. 19-22. Necromancy

viii. 20. The Law and the Testimony

viii. 21, ix. 13. Unsanctified Suffering

ix. 2-7. The Remedy of the World's Misery

ix. 3. The Joy of Harvest

ix. 6. The Titles and Government of Christ The Government of Christ His Name . . . Wonderful Christ our Counsellor The Mighty God The Everlasting Father The Prince of Peace

ix. 7. The Empire of Christ The Security for the Fulfilment of God's Promises

ix. 8-x. 4. The Outstretched Hand of God

ix. 10. Wise Lessons from Wicked Lips

ix. 14. The Duty of the Afflicted

ix. 15, 16. Leadership

ix. 17. Two Constant Feelings in the Mind of God Divine Anger

ix. 19. The Destructiveness of Sin

x. 1-4. Legalised Injustice

x. 3. The Day of Visitation

x. 5-34. The Assyrian Invasion of Judah The Assyrian

x. 7-15. Man Proposes, God Disposes

x. 20. A Happy Conversion

x. 20-23. The Remnants of Society

xi. and xii. Isaiah's Vision of the King and His Kingdom

xi. 2. The Spirit of the Lord

xi. 3. The Righteous Judge

xi. 9. The Universal Diffusion and Redemptive Power of the Knowledge of God The Diffusion of the Knowledge of God

xi. 10. The Ensign of the Nations

xi. 10-16. The Reconciler of Men

xii. 1. A New Song for New Hearts

xii. 3. Wells of Salvation

xii. 6. The Duty of Gladness

xiii. 1. The Proud City Doomed

xiii. 6. The Day of the Lord

xiii. 16. The Doom of the Children of Babylon

xiii. 17. The Love of Money

xiii. 18. Spare the Children

xiii. 19. Sodom and Gomorrah

xiv. 3, 4. The Joy of Salvation

xiv. 9-12. The Grave and Its Mysteries

xiv. 11. The Contrasts of Death The Conqueror Conquered

xiv. 20. The Seed of Evildoers

xiv. 32. A Memorable Answer

xvi. 4. God's Outcasts

xvi. 12. Fruitless

xvii. 5-7. Diminutions and Changes of Life

xvii. 7, 8. Sanctified Affliction

xvii. 10, 11. Forgetfulness of God

xvii. 12. The Punishment of the Wicked

xix. 1-3, 14. True National Greatness

xix. 18-20. An Altar and a Saviour for Egypt