mere matters of fact. The very subjects of which they treat naturally render them obscure. Most of them are predictions of the future mercies or judgments of God, either towards the Jews, or other nations, which were to be fulfilled at some distant period. The style of these predictions is more figurative than the other parts of Scripture, and their frequent method of describing future events by actions as well as by words, adds considerably to the obscurity. It has been endeavoured in these Lectures to throw some light upon the most obscure passages; in the hope that the common reader may receive some information, and that such as are more advanced in knowledge may be encouraged to study these inspired writings.

Some worthy Members of our Church have expressed their surprise, that the reformers of our excellent Liturgy should have selected for the Sunday Lessons so many chapters that have no small degree of obscurity in them. In answer to this it may be observed, that in many of these chapters the folly and wickedness of idolatry are particularly pointed out: and therefore, at the Reformation from Popery, in order to expose the worship of images then in use, it was thought advisable for those chapters to be read publicly and frequently, in which that scan. dalous practice was set in the strongest light.

A

COURSE OF LECTURES,

&c.

FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT.

Morning Service.

ISAIAH I.

ISAIAH begins his prophecy by calling heaven and earth to bear witness to the ingratitude of the Israelites, who, like ungrateful children, had rebelled against the parents who brought them up. He represents them as more stupid and senseless than even brute beasts; for they remember where they are fed, and reverence the hand that feeds them: whereas the children of Israel have not only forgotten the mercies of God, but have broken his laws, and thereby provoked him to anger.

The prophet goes on to describe their wretched state, which resembles a body worn down with sickness and sores, from head to foot, without any medicine to mollify and relieve it. Nor is the situation of their country less deplorable, being over-run by the invasion of their enemies; so that the daughter of Sion, that is, the city of Jerusalem, is left perfectly desolate, like a miserable solitary hut, left for shelter in the midst of a vineyard or garden of herbs.

B

The next subject of complaint, which the prophet brings against them, is their placing so much dependance upon the outward ceremonies of' religion, as if the great Lord of all things could take delight in the bloody sacrifices of bullocks and goats. On the contrary, he tells them, that the very ordinances which God himself had appointed, the solemnities of his worship, and even the prayers, which with uplifted hands they pour out before him, shall be accounted as abominations in his sight. The reason

for his thus rejecting them is expressed in these plain words, your hands are full of blood: as if he had said, when the heart is stained with impurity, and the actions of men contradict their professions of piety, all their prayers and offerings will be of no avail.

But as the Lord is a God of mercy, so he willeth not that any man should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Thus too Isaiah informs the Israelites, that, notwithstanding all their grievous offences against God and their neighbour, if they would heartily repent, if they would cease to do their former evil deeds, and would from henceforth learn to do the good actions which he had commanded, they should be cleansed from the impurity of their foulest sins, nor would the least stain of them be left behind, more than in the whitest snow, or in the purest fleece of wool. Good and evil therefore were offered to their choice, and whichever they chose, they well knew what effects it would produce.

To encourage them to turn from their evil ways, the prophet describes to them, in strong colours, the wickedness of their former evil courses, and the happy change which God would work in them, upon their true repentance. He represents their city as in a state of adultery against God, as deserting his laws, and encouraging violence and bloodshed. Things of the greatest value were become corrupt and worthless. They, who from their rank should be examples of integrity, had themselves rebelled

and given themselves up to wrong and robbery. The very judges were defiled with gifts, and had perverted the judgment of the fatherless and widows. The consequence of these heinous sins could not but be fatal; such transgressors and sinners must come to destruction; and they, who thus forsake the Lord, must surely be consumed. But in the midst of judgment God is pleased to remember mercy, and to declare, that when their dross should be thoroughly purged away, that is, when they were cleansed from their impurities, and entirely converted, he would restore them to their former state, and their habitation should again be called the city of righteousness.

The conclusion of the chapter relates to those groves of trees, where the heathen nations practised their idolatries; and the prophet forwarns the people of Israel, that if they follow the same idolatrous course, they themselves should fade like a withered leaf, and become barren and unfruitful, like a garden parched with drought. Neither would any thing be able to save them from the divine wrath, which would consume all those who forsook the worship of the true God, as easily as tow is set on fire by the smallest spark.

The principal instruction to be drawn from this chapter is this: that a pure heart and an upright conduct are much more acceptable to God than the strictest attention to any outward ordinances; and that a sincere repentance for our sins will, through the mercy of God, restore us to his favour. Such were the gracious promises made to the Jews: we Christians may embrace these promises with still greater confidence; since that divine Saviour, who was but faintly shadowed out to them, hath actually appeared, to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT.

Evening Service.

ISAIAH III.

THE former part of this chapter relates to the establishment of the Gospel, which, the prophet says, shall come to pass in the last days, that is, in the last dispensation of his will which God shall reveal to mankind. Then the mountain of the Lord's house, that is, the church of Christ, shall be exalted above every thing that opposes it, and people out of every nation upon earth shall become converts to it. For, as it is God's pleasure that his divine law should be first preached at Jerusalem, and then go forth to all nations, so shall it be the general wish of the people to resort to the house of God, for instruction in their duty. The powerful influence of God's word shall have a wonderful effect upon the true converts to the gospel: the genuine characters of that gospel are peace and love, and therefore they, who sincerely practise it, will prefer the arts of peace to the horrid cruelties of war; they will convert their swords and spears, those instruments of destruction, into the useful instruments of agriculture, the plough-share and the pruning-hook; so that the dreadful trade of war shall be entirely laid aside.

Isaiah, having foretold the coming of Christ's kingdom, proceeds, in the sixth verse, to give the reason why God had rejected and forsaken his people, even the house of Jacob: and this was upon account of their idolatry, and the confidence they placed in a variety of things which were forbidden in the law. They resorted to the east, which has been ever famous for vain pretenders to knowledge; and like their neighbours the Philistines, they affected to be skilful in foretelling future events. Be