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