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to the Jewish people, condemning them for their idolatry and guilt, and warning them of the inevitable destruction that would overtake them if they persevered in sin. It was then proper to show them that this Being, whose laws they violated, was infinitely pure and holy, and could not therefore view their transgressions with indifference. And lest they should imagine that his threatenings would be without effect, and that he could not punish so many sinners, the seraphim add, that he is the Lord of Hosts, who has myriads of angels at his command, and whose glory and power appear not only in the temple where there were then such splendid manifestations of them, but also in all the earth. How then shall the guilty escape, if they persevere in their rebellion? The immaculate holiness of God will demand their punishment, and his power will execute, by a single word, all the decrees of his jus tice.

VERSE 4.

The contemplation of the zeal and reverence of the seraphim, of the greatness and purity of the God whom they worshipped, had filled the prophet with humility; but when, in addition to these circumstances, "the posts of the door moved at the voice of" the seraphim's "cry, and the house was filled with smoke," he was overwhelmed with consterna tion and terror; he immediately perceived, from these emblematical representations, that God now appeared as a Judge, and threatened to overturn the temple, which had been profaned, and to pour out his fury upon the people. That the shaking of the posts and the smoke were signs of the approaching judgments of God, is rendered probable by the two following texts, which we select from numbers

of similar import. Amos, representing the Lord ready to exercise his vengeance upon Judah and Israel, says: "I saw the Lord standing upon the altar, and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake.". (ix. i.) And David, recounting how God had utterly destroyed all his enemies, says: "There went a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured." (Ps. xviii. 8.) The shaking of the posts of the temple, and a cloud of smoke, are, then, prophetical emblems, indicative of approaching judgments. Isaiah, comprehending the sad signification of them, is filled with apprehension, and immediately cries out:

VERSE 5.

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"Wo is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the king, the Lord of hosts.". The sight of the divine purity had penetrated the prophet with a deep sense of his own guilt, and of the guilt of the Jewish people, and he trembles lest he should perish with his criminal countrymen amidst the approaching desolation. "Wo is me, for I am undone," if thou, Most Holy Lord, comest forth to punish transgression, as these signals of impending judgments assure me:" for I am a man of unclean lips;" I am far removed from that purity of heart and life which would render me perfectly conformed to thee, or conformed even to these seraphim; neither can I hope that thy judgments will be averted by the purity of my nation, "for I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;" I know fully our deep guilt and desert of punishment, " for I have seen the King, the Lord of hosts;" and by contrasting our conduct with his holy cha

racter, I perceive that we all deserve to sink under

his vengeance. Carnal security destroys men. Whilst they fondly believe that they, are in the road to heaven, they do not think of seeking deliverance from that guilt which defiles them, and leads them to the second death; but as soon as holy fear seizes them, as their conscience is awakened, and they are humbled under a sense of their sins, the Father of mercy regards them with compassion, pardons their sins, and communicates to them his grace.. This is what Isaiah experiences. God, touched by his humiliation, assures him instantly of the pardon of his sins, and of the powerful succours of his grace to support him, and enable him suitably to discharge the sacred ministry committed to him

VERSES 6, 7.

“Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar" of burnt-offerings by which I stood," and he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged." The live coal denotes the means which God uses for our purification. We may therefore understand by it the operation of the Blessed Spirit in the soul, where it consumes sin, and kin dles a holy love to God. The Spirit is often represented in scripture under this image of fire: "He who cometh after me," said the Baptist, speaking of Jesus Christ, "shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." And it was under this emblem, that the miraculous gifts of grace were conferred on the apostles on the day of pentecost. The address of the seraphim, then, announced to the prophet two blessings which are inseparable; inward sanctifica

tion and the pardon of sin: these can never be disjoined, since there is forgiveness with God only, that may be feared.

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VERSE 8.

The Jewish people deserved long since to be rejected; but God resolves to send one more message to them. "Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Isaiah, filled with zeal for that God who had testified his love for him, immediately offers himself for this service. He cries with equal ardour and humility, "Here am I, send me." I am ready, O my God, to 'I expose myself to every danger for thy service; proteeted by thy power, I have nothing to fear; enlightened by thy Spirit, my weakness does not affright me. Speak, Lord, and I will fly to obey thy orders.'

Having thus explained to you at some length, the nature and circumstances of this vision, let us now, II. Deduce from it some practical instructions.

1. The seraphim afford us a model for imitation. Jesus Christ has animated us in our Christian course, by promising that if we are faithful, we shall be made like to the angels in heaven; but if we would resemble them hereafter in glory, we must first resemble them here in temper. Let us, therefore, prepare in time to join the concert of these holy intelligences. They burn with love to God. Let us seek for the influences of that Spirit, who will consume all our unholy desires and criminal wishes; who will lift our affections above the perishable objects of time and sense, and fix them on the uncreated glories of the Great I AM.

They, notwithstanding their vast endowments, bend with reverence and humility before the throne of the Lord. Let us then cultivate this same hu

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mility. If seraphs are overwhelmed when contemplating the infinite distance between them and the Lord, what deep abasement should constantly fill the souls of us, poor worms of the dust!

They fly with rapidity to execute the commandments of God. And you, unfruitful Christians, who talk much of your virtues and graces, but whose lives are not marked with any actions of piety and benevolence, remember, that you must imitate the holy alacrity and active labours of these spirits, before you can hope to enjoy their society in the future world. Holy love, deep humility, a diligent performance of the commands of God are, then, three things taught us by the consideration of the seraphim.

2. Besides these, we must feel what the seraphs cannot feel, because they are sinners, but what the prophet here experienced, and what every son of man must experience before his iniquities are pardoned; I mean, such a view of the unsullied holiness of God as will convince the once secure sinner of his guilt and just desert of punishment. Christians, you have had these humbling views; once you could reflect with self-complacency on your external morality; you could not believe yourselves those vile and guilty wretches, who deserved eternal death. You acknowledged yourselves to be transgressors, but then your offences appeared to be comparatively trifling, and to be counterbalanced by your amiable qualities. You could not believe yourselves to be thoroughly polluted, and opposed to the character and government of God. But, oh! when the Spirit has given you a view of the glorious holiness of the Lord, your proud thoughts have all vanished; you have seen the enormity of your guilt, you have ac

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