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In conclusion, let me first press upon you the inquiry, Do you yourselves "know the Lord?" So know him, as to fear him, to love him, to serve him? know him in Jesus Christ? know him, as the God that " pardoneth your iniquities and remembereth your sin no more?" Till we know God ourselves, not only are we utterly unqualified to fulfil our duty to others by saying to them, "Know the Lord; " but we are strangers to that which is to lead us to eternal life. O then seek it to-day while it is called to-day, not only for your neighbour's sake, your children's sake, but for your souls' sake. "Acquaint now yourselves with God, and be at peace: "Seek it and you

shall find it."

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Secondly; If you have found the knowledge of God yourselves, Oh, think of your obligations; and then say; are you discharging your duties to others? Are you saying to others, "know the Lord?" "Come ye, and let us go up to the house of the Lord, and he will teach us of his way, and we will walk in his paths."

Thirdly; If thus discharging the duty of the present time, comfort yourselves with the prospect of the future and though you see it not on earth, you shall look down upon it from heaven, and rejoice in having contributed to it. The happiness of the future time is to result from the duty of

the present time-as the harvest from the seedtime. "And he that now goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

SERMON XVII.

ISAIAH XXIX. 18, 19.

AND IN THAT DAY SHALL THE DEAF HEAR THE WORDS OF THE BOOK, AND THE EYES OF THE BLIND SHALL SEE OUT OF OBSCURITY, AND OUT OF DARKNESS. THE MEEK ALSO SHALL INCREASE THEIR JOY IN THE LORD, AND THE POOR AMONG MEN SHALL REJOICE IN THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.

Ir is in the midst of an extensive series of prophecy that these words occur; and the part in which they occur, appears to refer to the times of our blessed Lord, and the events which immediately followed his death and passion, his resurrection and ascension into heaven for us. He himself applies to the Jews of his time the words of the thirteenth verse: "This people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the precept of men." Hence they rejected and crucified the Saviour, who disappointed their carnal hopes,

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exposed their errors, and reproved their sins. And accordingly, as the next verse denounces, God

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proceeded to do a marvellous work and a wonder among his people." "The wisdom of their wise men perished, and the understanding of their prudent men was hid." God cast off his ancient people the Jews, and "called his servants by another name "-adopting the Christian church in the stead of the Jewish. Then, as immediately preceeds the text, the wilds of "Lebanon," which might be taken as an emblem of the Gentile world, were "turned into a fruitful field," and the once "fruitful field" of the house of Israel " was esteemed as a forest."

We shall see then at once, how, especially in the events that accompanied and followed the day of Pentecost, the promises of the text were fulfilled how multitudes that had been spiritually "deaf and blind," "heard the words of the book, and saw out of obscurity, and out of darkness: how "the meek" also "increased their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men rejoiced in the Holy One of Israel."

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But, though the prophetical reference of the passage appears to be directly to that period, and to those events, yet the blessings described are no other than those which always take place, where the gospel comes accompanied with "the Holy

Ghost sent down from heaven." They are blessings, I trust, not unknown among ourselves. May God increase the instances and the measure, in which they are enjoyed, a thousand fold! While we now consider them, may those who have hitherto been "deaf," so hear that their "souls may live!" May those who have hitherto been blind," now see "the light of life!" May "the meek,"-the humble,-" increase their joy in the Lord!" and "the poor in spirit,”—the "broken and contrite in heart,"-be led to "rejoice in the Holy One of Israel," as become, through the intercession and sacrifice of Christ, their reconciled Father and Friend, and "their portion for ever!"

The blessings described appear to divide themselves into two classes, the former adapted to the case of persons now first coming to the knowledge of God; and the latter to those who have previously in some degree known, and loved, and served him. We will consider them under this two-fold division.

I. The COMMUNICATION OF THE RIGHT KNOWLEDGE OF GOD TO THOSE WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN STRANGERS TO IT. "The deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness."

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