SERMON.

"I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron."-ISAIAH xlv., 2.

YN this chapter the Lord, by his servant the prophet,

predicts things concerning Cyrus, King of Persia, whom he had fore-ordained the deliverer of the Jews from their 70 years captivity. Some account is given in the first verse of Cyrus, he is termed the Lord's anointed. Not on account of his being anointed with material oil, as was usual in the case of the Kings of Israel, and Judah, but because it was the will of God's purpose that he should be a King, and was qualified by him to do those great things which he did under the direction of God. Therefore it is said of him, "whose right hand I have holden," that is whom I have raised up, supported, strengthened, guided, and directed. The success of every enterprise depends upon God, "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it; except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." The Lord then in his providence taking Cyrus by the hand led him on step by step, from victory to victory, enabling him to do wondrous things. Cyrus was only the instrument by whom the Lord worked, "To subdue nations

before him, and I will loose the loins of Kings, to open before him the two-leaved gates, and the gates shall not be shut." This in a most remarkable manner was fulfilled in the case of Belshazzar, King of Babylon, as we are informed in Dan. v., 6. The King in the midst of his levity having made a feast to a thousand of his lords, saw the form of a man's hand, which wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall. "Then the King's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another." Wherever Cyrus came, the gates of the cities and palaces were opened to receive him as their conqueror, and thus he came to the gates of the palace of the King of Babylon, which he effected by a stratagem. The gates were shut, but a noise being made, the King gave orders to see what was the matter. On the gates, for that purpose, being opened, the soldiers of Cyrus rushed in and slew the King, as we read, Dan. v., 30., “In that night was Belshazzar, the King of the Chaldeans slain." The reason God did these things was for the sake of his people Israel, verse 4, "For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have called thee by name," not for thy sake to do honour to thee, naming thee by name, so long before thou wast born, but to assure the people of the Jews, the Lord's nation and people, of their deliverance, and that though he suffered them to be overcome by their enemies he had not forgotten them, but would most certainly at the end of 70 years arise for their help, and bring about their deliverance. For thus it was predicted by the prophet Jeremiah. And the whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the King of Babylon 70 years. And it shall come to pass when 70 years

are accomplished, that I will punish the King of Babylon, and so we have it in the 13th verse of this chapter, "I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways and he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts." Now all this came to pass just according unto the Word of the Lord by his servants. Thus it is written "Now in the first year of Cyrus, King of Persia, he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, "Thus saith Cyrus, King of Persia, all the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me, and He hath charged me to build Him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah, who is there among you of all His people? The Lord his God be with him and let him go up!" 2 Chron., xxxvi., 22-23. When the proclamation of Cyrus was published it came upon the poor captive Jews so very sudden as to appear like a dream, "When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream." They could hardly tell whether it was a real thing or a vision, the news was so great and so good, too good to be true. Oh how astounding is the breaking forth of divine mercy on behalf of the chosen. Nature cannot credit the report, only faith, even the faith of God's elect, which is the gift of God, can embrace tidings of peace. When they, as it were, came to themselves and so perceived the fact of that they heard, they said "Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing." Now they that had formerly been drunken with sorrow sitting down by the rivers of Babylon weeping in bitterness swelling as it were, the flowing stream with their tears, having cast their harps upon the willows, having no heart to make use of them, now in the days of prosperity found use both for their tongue and harp, they sing the songs of

Zion. "The singers went before, the players on instruments

Lord hath done great things Thus the Lord delivered His Now in this account is there Yes! blessed be God there is,

follow after," they shout "the for us, whereof we are glad." Israel by the hand of Cyrus. no vein of spiritual truth? for at the 8th verse, "Drop down ye heavens from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness, let the earth open and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together, I, the Lord have created it." These words do not fit Cyrus so well, as our most glorious Christ And it is thus the Holy Ghost, by His servant the prophet, leads us from Cyrus to Christ, from the Type to the Anti-Type, from the temporal redemption of the Jews, to the spiritual redemption of the Lord's people. The Redeemer in his divine nature came from heaven, He was the Lord from heaven, and yet made of a woman in the lowest parts of the earth. Thus the "Rod that came forth out of the stem of Jesse, and the branch that grew out of his roots, became beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel." Not beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth excellent and comely in the estimation of all men. To some He is as a root out of a dry ground, he hath no form or comeliness. But to them who by the revelation of Him in them by the Holy Ghost, have escaped the wrath of God, to such He is indeed glorious and precious. Now may the Lord the Holy Spirit direct our minds to the glorious things of the grace of God, enfolded in the words I first read, "I will go before thee, etc."

FIRST. The Lord has gone before his people.

SECONDLY. The good things He will do for them.

FIRST. The Lord has gone before his people. Yes, blessed be His precious name, and the desire of their souls is towards Him; the secret wish of their souls is to follow after Him. The Holy Ghost stirs them up and inspires them to this, "Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord, His going is prepared as the morning, and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth," Hosea vi., 3. No man can follow after the Lord except God by the spirit of regeneration first turn the heart from death to life, and from sin to holiness. The Lord thrust out the great apostle into His vineyard, to do his work, and He was with him in that work, "Delivering him from the people, and from the Gentiles unto whom He sent Him," "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God." When under the power of Satan, the things agreeable and congenial with that spirit is followed after, "Wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." Even so when led by the influence of the Spirit of God, the heart follows after God. A gracious heart is at times under divine influence, puts forth desires, and endeavours in the use of all means to obtain a soul-comforting knowledge of God, and if some little is known and felt of God, as the God of grace, Oh how that soul does follow after more. "I press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." That which they do so earnestly follow after they will certainly obtain. Nothing can hinder it, God has fixed it, that the election shall obtain it. God who has begun in mercy with His people, He will go on; Come then ye poor, naked, worthless, vile, and guilty (spiritually so)