pal subject of adoring praises to the that such persons have secretly Seraphim before the throne. While practised very gross enormities, or men think little of our holy God, that they use this language in a mistake his character, or continue in mere affectation of humility. But a great measure unacquainted with in reality the same characters and his perfections, commandments, and actions must appear good or bad, judgments; they compare them- according to the balance in which selves with their associates in dis- they are weighed: no wonder thereobedience, and estimate their con- fore that they, who have lately beduct by some defective standard. come acquainted with a holy God Thus enveloped in darkness, they and his perfect law, and who have judge favourably of themselves, ima- learned to judge by another standgine they possess various excellen- ard, are compelled to bring in a cies, and even pretend to merit in verdict against themselves, though the sight of God! Nor is this the before they trusted that they were case only of the moral and virtuous; righteous and despised others. Thus for self-love will furnish the most St. Paul informs us, that " he was criminal with some palliation of alive without the law once: but their vices; they will call them by when the commandment came, sin a soft name, imagine others more revived and he died." He had enfaulty than themselves, and endea-tertained very favourable thoughts vour to compensate for undeniable of his own moral and religious chaand inexcusable transgression, by racter; but when his understanding some pretended good actions or was opened to "behold the glory of qualities! God in the face of Jesus Christ;" But when the Lord directs the he condemned himself as the chief sinner's attention to the Scriptures, of sinners: nay, after all his labours and makes known in some degree and proficiency in Christianity, he his own glorious holiness to the was in his own esteem "less than soul; deep conviction of sin is the the least of all saints." infallible consequence, every plea is silenced, and the trembling criminal is even ready to despond, and deem himself lost beyond all hope of recovery.

But these things were also illustrated to the mind of the prophet by the worship and services, which the Seraphim presented before the Lord of hosts. The holy angels This fully accounts for that change, "excel in strength," and are gloriwhich often takes place, in the opi- ous beyond the conception of mornion that moral and amiable persons tal men: even the most eminent entertain of themselves, when they saints have been dismayed at their have begun seriously to study the benign appearance, or tempted to holy Scriptures. Their decent lives, render them divine honours. Yet on which they formerly reflected these exalted spirits appeared in with abundant self-complacency, are vision, as engaged in adoration of now mentioned in very degrading the great Jehovah; uniting deep language; and even their present humility with their most exalted strict and exemplary conduct is ac- praises; and manifesting the fullest companied with very humble con-conviction that their spotless serfessions of guilt and defilement. vices were inexpressibly beneath This excites the astonishment of the excellency and greatness of that those who judge by other rules; God whom they worshiped. This and they are apt to suspect, either view seems to have greatly con

duced to throw the prophet's mind occasion, he was so overwhelmed into that perturbation, which he with the sense of his own guilt and discovered on the occasion. pollution, that he was almost ready

Men in general keep each other to lie down in despair. Some perin countenance, while they rest sons indeed render his words thus: satisfied with a form of godliness. "Woe is me, I am struck dumb.” They go to a place of worship, and He was struck dumb,' says Bishop to the Lord's table; read or repeat Lowth, because he was a man of a prayer and a thanksgiving; and polluted lips, and dwelt among a please themselves with the idea people of polluted lips; and was that they have done their duty; unworthy either to join the Seranay, they have scarcely an idea of phim in singing God's praises, or a more spiritual worship. But to be the messenger of God to his when their attention is directed to people.' It is however evident, the devout aspirations of David, that he was so alarmed and humDaniel, and other holy men of God; bled, because "his eyes had seen especially when they contemplate the King, the Lord of hosts," that the adorations of the heavenly hosts," his mouth was stopped, he became as described in the sacred Scrip- guilty before God," and he feared, tures; they become sensible by the lest his religious services and procomparison, that they have been, phetical labours should increase his heedlessly or presumptuously, pre- condemnation. This however did senting to the glorious Jehovah a not arise from any immoralities or formal, defiled, and hypocritical ser- impieties which he recollected; or vice, drawing near to him with from conscious hypocrisy or unfaiththeir lips, while their hearts were fulness in his ministry: but from far from him." But this very pro- the conviction of his mind, that his perly leads us, best duties were exceedingly polluted; whether he considered the II. To consider of the peculiar holy majesty of the Lord to whom nature and tendency of that inward they were presented, or compared perturbation, which caused this emi- them with the exalted worship of nent servant of God to exclaim, the heavenly hosts. He would no "Woe is me, for I am undone." doubt reflect, with shame and sor

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Isaiah was called when young to row, on his want of reverence and the prophetical office; and we may humility, in his religious performthence conclude that he had been ances; on the wandering imaginapreserved by divine grace from tions which distracted his attention; every evil way, and had dedicated on the languor of his affections; his earliest days to the service of and on his want of zeal, love, and God. He discharged the sacred admiring gratitude, even in his most trust confided to him for above sixty fervent praises and thanksgivings. years; yet we do not find, during He might also, perhaps, be conscious this long period, that he ever acted of a corrupt self-complacency and inconsistently with his sacred mi- regard to the opinion of men, ming. nistry. In his private deportment ling even with his endeavours to and public work, he seems to have glorify God; and that he had felt sustained a most unexceptionable but little delight in those employcharacter: nor have we any proofs ments, which angels deem their of his sinfulness, but those found in highest privilege, and in which his own confessions. Yet on this they enjoy unalloyed felicity.

As the prophet of the Lord, he the fruit of polluted lips. Nor could had likewise delivered many awful they ever have been satisfied with messages to the rebellious Jews: them, had they not dwelt among but this vision made him afraid, sinners like themselves; and had lest he too should fall under con- not their views of that glorious God demnation, for executing so impor-whom they professed to worship tant an office from corrupt motives, been faint and confused. with a divided heart, and in an im- Let any man carefully and im proper manner. partially examine his own devoHe was at the same time con- tions, in the closet, in the house of vinced, that he "dwelt among a God, or at the Lord's table: let people of polluted lips." The Is-him close every duty or every Sabraelites were distinguished from bath, with endeavours to ascertain other nations, as the worshippers the degree of spiritual worship, and of Jehovah; and when the prophet of a corrupt mixture, which the allcompared himself with them, he seeing eye of a holy God must have supposed that his services were witnessed in his performances; and pure and spiritual. But he now I dare confidently foretell, that he perceived, that he ought not to be will ere long cry out with the prothus satisfied; for when their reli- phet, "We are all as an unclean gious duties and professions were thing, and all our righteousnesses are brought forth to the light, and as filthy rags:" or in the language viewed in connexion with the ado- of the judicious Hooker, The best ration of the Seraphim, it was mani-things that we do have something fest that God might justly reject in them to be pardoned: how then them with abhorrence. It was can we do any thing meritorious or therefore more proper for him to worthy to be rewarded? Our conimitate the lepers, who covered tinual suit to the Lord is and must their lip, and cried, Unclean! un-be, to bear with our infirmities and clean!' pardon our offences.' Thus "the These observations illustrate the Scripture concludes all under sin : apostle's declaration, "There is no that the promise which is by Jesus difference; for all have sinned and Christ might be given to them that come short of the glory of God." believe!" Gal. iii. 22. For these Great diversity is indeed found in are discoveries of sinfulness, from the moral conduct of men; and the which no man can escape, when he Judge of the world will proportion weighs himself in the balance of the the punishments of the wicked to sanctuary: so that every one is left the number and aggravation of their to his choice, either to condemn the crimes but in this one respect, spirituality of the law, and the holithere is no difference," for all have ness of the Lawgiver; or to submit sinned." The most virtuous and re-to the righteousness of God, and to ligious: even they who have served cry for mercy, saying, "Enter not the Lord from their earliest days in into judgment with thy servant, O genuine piety, must fall down be- Lord, for in thy sight shall no man fore him in deep humility; and not living be justified." only confess that they have been guilty of numerous omissions, and deviations from the rule of duty, in thought, word, and deed, but that their very services have often been

Thus humiliation cannot be too deep; we cannot be too sensible of our guilt and pollution, or too entirely delivered from self-confidence. But we may easily be too much

discouraged, and through despond- the foundation of the world." From ency neglect the means of grace, this altar one of the Seraphim took and the duties of our station. Many a live coal, and applied it to the persons, having discovered with prophet's lips, assuring him that his great alarm their guilt and danger," iniquity was taken away, and his and being convinced, by painful ex-sin purged."

perience, of their inability to resist No endeavours were used to com. temptation, or to keep their resolu- fort Isaiah by persuading him, that tions; have rushed impetuously into he thought too ill of his own characwickedness, impiety, or infidelity, ter and services; no intimation was to obtain deliverance from the re-made, that the vision had bewildered proaches of their own consciences: his mind, and inspired groundless and probably but few are duly hum- alarms. On the contrary, the hea bled, without passing through a venly messenger of peace seemed measure of discouraging terrors. to allow that "he was a man of Even the prophet was on this occa- polluted lips," and that his present sion dismayed, as well as laid low judgment of himself was according in self-abasement: and if season- to truth: but he assured him, that able encouragement had not been his guilt was removed by the atonafforded, the very intention of the ing sacrifices, and by faith in the vision would have been counteracted and he unfitted for the arduous services to which he was called.

typified Redeemer. When Simon the Pharisee disdained the weeping penitent, who washed our Lord's feet with her tears, he did not vinIII. Then we consider the re-dicate her character or palliate her lief and encouragement which he guilt; but graciously noticing her received. repentance, faith, and love, he deWe are not indeed warranted to clared, that "her sins which were expect direct assurances by imme- many were forgiven." This is the diate revelation; yet the emblems uniform method of Scripture: but of this vision aptly represent the numbers endeavour to encourage way in which the convinced sinner trembling sinners, by arguing them finds peace and hope, connected into a more favourable opinion of with increasing humiliation. It has themselves, or by pointing out cer been remarked, that the scene of tain good actions or qualities, which this vision was the temple: the may counterbalance their offences. altar of burnt-offering was therefore Such are physicians of no value. full in view, on which the daily They administer fatal opiates to the sacrifices and occasional oblations lethargic, when they have been in a were consuming, by the fire that measure awakened: and they procame down from heaven. The long the distress of the contrite and blood of numberless innocent ani-poor in spirit. No man is terrified mals slain in sacrifice, and their merely by the opinion that his sins bodies consumed to ashes, that are numerous and heinous; but guilty men might be pardoned and through unbelief, ignorance, or conblessed, were constant declarations fused notions of the divine mercy, that sinners deserved death and the and of the blessed gospel of God fiery wrath of God in another world; our Saviour. These are therefore and that deliverance could only be the subjects on which we should obtained by faith in the promised principally insist, if we would bring Redeemer, "the Lamb slain from the distressed in conscience to per

manent comfort and stable peace. Christ. The live coal from the "Faith comes by hearing;" and altar may therefore be considered while we point out" the Lamb of as an emblem of those spiritual afGod that taketh away the sin of the fections, that are kindled in the beworld," we do our part to apply liever's heart by the Holy Ghost, "the live coal from the altar" to which prepare, animate, and even the trembling sinner's lips. For constrain him, to devote his talents when a man is brought to seek en-to the glory of God, and to employ couragement, not from himself or them according to his commandany of his services, but from the ments. This is the baptism of the infinite mercies of God, through Holy Ghost, and of fire, with which the atoning blood of Christ; and to Jesus baptizes his true disciples: perceive the Saviour's power and these sacred influences penetrate willingness" to save unto the utter- and enlighten the mind, warm and most all that come to God through elevate the affections, consume the him :" he will soon rise superior to dross of low and carnal passions, his desponding fears, and possess and transform the whole soul into "a good hope through grace," that the very nature of that divine agent his sins though many are for- by whom they are produced. given;" or at least, that his ini

away.

quity will at length be purged IV. Then let us proceed to consider the effects of this encourageBut whoever may be the messen-ment, on the prophet's disposition ger of peace to the broken in heart, and conduct.

the Holy Spirit is the author and The vision had struck him dumb, giver of this blessing. "When the filled him with consternation, and Comforter is come," saith our Lord, indisposed him for his prophetical " he shall convince the world of office. But now hearing the voice sin:" and "He shall glorify me; of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall for he shall receive of mine and I send, and who will go for us?" shall show it unto you." John xvi. he answered without hesitation, 8-15. When humiliating convic-" Here I am, send me." Neither tions have prepared the heart to the consciousness of his unworthiwelcome a free salvation, the Di-ness and insufficiency, nor the prosvine Comforter enables the sinner pect of difficulties, perils, or selfto see the glory of God, and the denial, produced the least relucharmony of his attributes, in the tancy to the important and arduous person and redemption of Christ: service. His love to the Lord and thus he finds peace and joy in be- zeal for his glory rendered him willlieving, and at length" abounds in ing to go any whither, to any perhope by the power of the Holy son, or on any message. He was Ghost!" This consolation is the ready to face a persecuting tyrant effect of regenerating grace, and or an enraged multitude; to travel accompanied by a new creation of over mountains and seas, or through the soul to holiness. The faith inhospitable deserts. He declined that justifies is living and active: not hardship, poverty, or neglect; it works by love of God and man: but was so desirous, that the name purifies the heart, and overcomes of God should be hallowed, his the world; and thus renders the kingdom promoted, and his will believer fruitful in good works, to done on earth, even as in heaven, the glory of God through Jesus that he exulted in the thought of