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[258]
Adversity, The Bread of[335]
Afflicted, The Duty of the[195]
Afflictions of God’s People, The[290]
Allotments of Land to the Poor[112]
Altar and a Saviour for Egypt, An[244]
Amusement, Earthly[117]
Apostates, The Doom of the[67]
Appeal and an Argument, An[4]
Appropriation, The Grand[252]
Ariel[313]
Art, The Noblest[42]
Assyrian, The[205]
Assyrian Invasion of Judah[204]
Atonement, The[388]
Babylon, The Doom of[469]
Beautiful Visions Exchanged for Realities[406]
Belief, The Restoration of[436]
Believer’s Dignity and Power, The[295]
Blessed Life, A[379]
Blessedness of the Servant of God, The[380]
Blind Leaders[92]
Book That Will Bear Testing, A[396]
Call to the Careless, A[358]
Call to the Revolted, A[346]
Call to Study, A[394]
Canticle, A Sad[111]
Chambers of Safety[283]
Chastisement[245,] [273]
Cheering Words and Solemn Warnings[89]
Children of Babylon, Their Doom[231]
Children, Spare the[232]
Child-Training[166]
Christ a Tested Saviour[304]
Christ, Comfort in[355]
Christ, His Empire[192]
Christ, His Government[186]
Christ, His Name—“Wonderful”[186]
Christ, His Second Coming[258]
Christ, His Titles and Government[185]
Christ, His Triumphs[257]
Christ Our Counsellor[187]
Christ, The Ensign of the Nations[219]
Christ, The Everlasting Father[189]
Christ, The Healer and Joy-Giver[404]
Christ, The Mighty God[188]
Christ, The Prince of Peace[191]
Christ, The Reconciler of Men[220]
Christ a Righteous Judge[213]
Christ a Sure Foundation[299]
Christ, The Beauty of His Character[382]
Christ, Suretyship of[433]
Christian Liberality[356]
Christian’s Refuge, The[351]
Church of Christ, Characteristics of the[384]
Church, Fiery Ordeal of[347]
Church, The Christian, A Continuation of the Jewish[424]
Cleaning for the Vilest[49]
Cleaning Spirit, The[104]
Comfort for the Desponding[49]
Comfort in Christ[355]
Command, A Plain[39]
Conqueror Conquered, The[235]
Consideration, Religious[11]
Controlling Fact, A[386]
Conversion, A Happy[207]
Cords and Cart-Ropes[130]
Cords of Vanity[121]
Counsel, A Threefold[153]
Counsellor, The Only[342]
Covetousness[115]
Cry for Help, A[433]
Curse Done Away, The[405]
Day of the Lord, The[230]
Day of Visitation, The[203]
Days of Deliverance[262]
Death and the Grave[119]
Death, Distress in Prospect of[430]
Death, Preparation for[427]
Death, The Contrasts of[235]
Deliverance, A Great[436]
Depravity, Total[18]
Depravity, Transmitted[14]
Despisers, The Doom of the[128]
Disabled Ship, The[390]
Discipline of Sin, The[291]
Divine Anger[199]
Divine Disappointments[109]
Divine Ideal of Israel Realised, The[101]
Divine Judgments, The Twofold Effect of[66]
Divine Patience, Trials of the[159]
Divine Salvation Rejected[328]
Dreaming[314,] [315]
Drink and Its Woes[127,] [293]
Drunkard, The Miseries of the[116,] [126,] [127]
Dumah, The Burden of[245]
Early Religious Training[298]
Earthly Song and the Heavenly Voice[340]
East Wind, The Day of the[288]
Encouragement for the Timid[401]
England’s Crying Sin[293]
Evil-Doers, The Seed of[237]
Exiles’ Return, The[409]
Faith’s Impregnable Citadel[150]
Faith, The Condition of Firmness[155,] [156]
False Refuges[305,] [488]
Female Pride and Luxury[98]
Fears and Comforts[150]
Feast for Faith, A[312]
Festivity and Forgetfulness[117]
Foolish King and a Wise One, A[418]
Forgetfulness of God[243]
Forsaken of God[79]
Forsaking the Lord[15]
Gladness, The Duty of[228]
Glorifying God in the Fires[251]
God Avenging His Own Elect[378]
God Exalted in the Great Day[453]
God, His Goodness to the Church[284]
God’s Gracious Invitation to Sinners[48]
God’s Ideal of Goodness[46]
God’s Invitation to Shelter[282]
God’s Judgments[66,] [250,] [274,] [398]
God’s Outstretched Hand[194]
God’s Perpetual Presence with His People[102]
God’s Promises[193]
God’s Readiness to Listen to the Needy[334]
God’s Reluctance to Punish[20]
God’s Righteousness[268]
God Oppressed[28]
God Our Refuge or Our Ruin[175]
God, Two Constant Feelings in His Mind[198]
God’s Outcasts[239]
God’s People Forsaken[78]
Godly, Prospect of the[381]
Good and Evil, The Sin of Confounding[124]
Gospel, Future Triumphs of the[73,] [214]
Gospel, The Blessings of the[473]
Gospel Feast, The[253]
Gospel Trumpet, The[293,] [482]
Government, The Curse of a Weak[92]
Grave and its Mysteries, The[235]
Great Deliverance, A[437]
Great Dethronement, The[82]
Great Task, The[41]
Growing Light[490]
Guiding Voice, The[337]
“Hallowed Be Thy Name”[175]
Harvest, The Joy of the[184]
Haughtiness[97]
Heaven, The Happiness of[412]
Heedfulness[154]
Hezekiah’s Prayer[426]
Hezekiah’s Prudent Silence[417]
Hezekiah’s Resolution[434]
Hezekiah’s Song[439]
Hezekiah’s Strength and Weakness[442]
Hezekiah Tried[444]
Holiness Accomplished, Peace Ordained[276]
Holiness, Man’s, God’s Workmanship[277]
Home Life and Influence[444]
Ignorance, The Evils of[115]
Illustrious Inhabitant, An[60]
Immanuel[165]
Impenitent, Certainty of the Destruction of the[57]
In Whom Art Thou Trusting?[416]
Inconsiderateness[9]
Incorrigible, Doom of the[292]
Iniquity a Burden[13]
Injustice, Legalised[202]
Instinct Followed, Reason Disregarded[447]
Intellectual Pride[125]
Isaiah, His Interview with Ahaz[152]
Isaiah, His Vision of the King and His Kingdom[210]
Isaiah, His Vision of God[137]
Isaiah, His Vision of the Last Days[71]
Isaiah, The Evangelical Prophet[1]
Israel, Future Prosperity of[287]
Israel, God’s Indictment against[5]
Israel, The Doom of Impenitent[129]
Joy of Salvation, The[234]
Joy of the Meek[320]
Joy Religious[321]
Just Man’s Security, The[269]
King in Trouble, A[419]
Knowledge of God[214,] [467]
Knowledge of God, Importance of Religious[373]
Language, Its Influence on Character[123]
Latter-Day Glory, The[72]
Law and the Testimony, The[160]
Leadership[197]
Life, Its Diminutions and Changes[241]
Life, The Shortening of[431]
Light of the Lord, The[74,] [75]
Lip Service Instead of Heart Worship[317]
Littles, The Power of[299]
Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz[168]
Man’s Imagined Independence of God[156]
Man’s Insignificance and God’s Supremacy[84]
Man Proposes, God Disposes[205]
Material and the Mortal, The[80]
Memorable Answer, A[238]
Messengers Wanted[144]
Messiah, The Glory of the[250]
Ministerial Duty, Some Aspects of[177,] [489]
Ministerial Fidelity, Dislike to[325]
Missionary Success, The Essential Condition of[359]
Mockery, Irreligious[308]
Momentous Decisions[157]
Momentous Inquiry, A[472]
Money, The Love of[231]
Moral Ablution[36]
Moral Declension[59]
Moral History of a Rising Soul, The[462]
Moral Obduracy[16]
Moral Perversity[458]
Moral Wilderness Transformed[364]
National Bereavement, Lessons from a[84]
National Greatness[86,] [471]
National Peace, The Gift of God[275]
National Revival[281]
National Ungodliness[116]
Necromancy[179]
Needless Stripes[17]
New Song for New Hearts, A[222]
Night and Morning[247,] [472]
Night Longings for God[272]
No Sickness There![390]
Nobility and Security[492]
Opportunities, The Use of[369]
Oppressed and Their Relief, The[44]
Oppression of the Poor[94]
Our Trust and Our Test[304]
Parable of the Husbandman, The[309]
Parable of the Vineyard, The[105,] [107]
Peace, National[275]
Peace, Perfect[263]
Peace, The Work of Righteousness[365]
Peaceful Keeping[476]
Perversion of Right and Wrong[124]
Piety, Irreligious[158]
Pleader and the Judge, The[95]
Politicians, Biblical[173]
Praise for Preservation[441]
Prayer, A Christian[423]
Prayer, A King’s[421]
Prayer in Trouble[280]
Prayer, Reasons for the Rejection of[34]
Privileges, Great[107]
Prophecy the Voice of God[3]
Prophet of the Lord, The[3]
Prophet’s Call, The[132]
Prophet’s Mission, Duration of the[148]
Protecting Hand, The[262]
Providence[370]
Public Worship, The Possibilities of[26]
Punishment of the Wicked, The[244]
Punishment, The Purpose of[63]
Purposes and Panics[151]
Quietness, Christian[326]
Quietness, Strength in[323]
Rabshakehs, Modern[414]
Recompense, The Great Law of[91]
Recovery from Sickness[392]
Redemption, The Divine Idea of[64]
Rejected Sacrifices[23]
Rejection of Divine Truth, The[146]
Religion, True and False[24]
Remnants of Society, The[209]
Retirement, Religious[283]
Revelation of God, The[209]
Rivers, Enriching[385]
Rivers of Waters[339,] [354]
Road to the City, The[410]
Saint’s Attitude in Time of Trouble[371]
Sanctuary in God[463]
Scepticism[122]
Self-Conceit[125]
Self-Scrutiny in God’s Presence[54]
Sensuality[116]
Sentence of Doom, A[167]
Seraphim, The[138,] [140,] [460]
Shameless Sinners[87]
Short Bed and the Narrow Covering, The[306]
Sick and Dying, Duties of the[429]
Sickness, Recovery from[392]
Sight of God and a Sense of Sin, A[142]
Sin and Grace[51]
Sin, Its Destructiveness[200]
Sin, The Origin and End of[322]
Sinner’s Danger and Refuge, The[81]
Sinners Self-Destroyed[56]
Social Regeneration[65]
Sodom and Gomorrah[233]
Solemn Disclaimer, A[284]
Song to the Vineyard, A[479]
Sorrow, The Banishment of[412]
Spirit of the Lord, The[212]
Spiritual Husbandry[368]
Spiritual Usurpers Renounced[278]
Spirituality of the Divine Nature, The[344]
Spreading the Letter before the Lord[494]
Stability through Faith[156]
Startling Charge, A[35]
Statesmen, The Death of[85]
Stone of Stumbling, The[177]
Storms of Life, The[481]
Strange and Sad Errand, A[145]
Stream Rejected for the River, The[170]
Suffering, Unsanctified[181]
Submission under God’s Rebuke[445]
Summons to Jerusalem, The[21]
Supplications, Fruitless[240]
Taking Hold of God’s Strength[286]
Teachers of Truth, Their Duty in Times of National Perversion[177]
Terrible Picture, A[76]
Terrible Resolve, A[61]
Things To Be Considered[10]
Thoughtlessness[7]
Threatened, But Safe[172]
Tophet Ordained of Old[341]
Tow and the Spark, The[69]
Transformation[364,] [399]
Trinity in Unity, The[133]
Trumpet, The Great[482]
Trust and Trials[271]
Unbelief, The Inexcusableness of[456]
Vanity of Earthly Help in Time of Trial[327]
Virgin’s Son, The[161]
Volunteer Service[143]
Waiting, Divine and Human[329]
Waiting on God[178,] [179,] [332]
War[99,] [249,] [449]
Waters of Shiloah, The[172]
Wells of Salvation[224]
Wild Grapes[113]
Wise Lessons from Wicked Lips[465]
World, A Sorrowless[257]
World’s Misery, The Remedy of the[182]
Worthless Husks[32]
Wrong Names, The Sin of Using[125]
Zion, The Controversy of[393]
Zion, The Futility of Fighting Against[316]

INDEX OF AUTHORS.

Abbott, J. S. C.[73]
Adams, W.[84]
Adeney, W. F.[400]
Alexander, Dr.[458]
Ambrose, William[479,] [481,] [482]
Anderson, James[430]
Anderson, Dr. W.[191]
Barfield, A. F.[32]
Barry, Bishop[412]
Bateman, Josiah[187]
Bather, Archdeacon[445]
Baxendale, Walter[17]
Beecher, Henry Ward[209]
Bennett, Dr.[85]
Bertram, R. A.[3]–6, [9,] [13,][14,] [16]–23, [26]–31, [35]–40, [42,] [46,][51,] [56]–64, [66]–68, [72,] [76]–78, [80]–83, [86]–88, [91]–98, [101,][107]–110, [113,] [118]–120, [129]–132, [135,] [140,][145,] [148,] [151]–153, [155,] [157]–159, [166]–177, [180,] [188,] [192]–198, [200,] [203]–205, [210,][212,] [217,] [220,][226,] [230,] [231,][240,] [266,] [290,][292,] [348], [426]
Bingham, R.[299,] [304,] [412]
Blomfield, Bishop[260]
Blunt, H.[351]
Boone, J. S.[453]
Bradley, Charles[409]
Brathwaite, M.[144,] [146]
Brierley, J.[24]
Brooke, Stopford A.[382,] [436]
Brooks, William[488]
Buckingham, S. G.[125]
Bunting, Dr.[473]
Burns, Dr. Jabez[10,] [11,] [48,][127,] [223,] [241,][305,] [381,] [409]
Burrows, W.[385,] [476]
Bushnell, Dr.[285]
Butler, William Archer[238,] [246]
Cheever, Dr.[299]
Clark, George[392,] [439]
Clayton, G.[364]
Clemance, Dr.[406]
Close, Dean[444]
Cooper, Edward[259]
Corbin, John[49,] [252,] [302,] [478]
Cowles, Dr.[107,] [179,] [281]
Creswell, Henry[255]
Crow, E.[332]
Currie, D. D.[472]
Davies, Samuel[304]
Dowling, J. G.[326]
Edmond, Dr.[189]
Emmons, Dr.[355,] [431]
Erskine, Ralph[489]
Exell, J. S.[44,] [61,] [75]
Forrest, R. W.[133]
Foster, John[449]
Fraser, Bishop[471]
Fuller, Andrew[245]
Gerard, Dr.[386]
Gibson, A.[214]
Gilfillan, G.[375]
Goodwin, H.[442]
Goulburn, Dean[447,] [460]
Griffin, E.[348]
Guinness, H. G.[477]
Gurney, J. H.[441]
Guthrie, William[289,] [295,] [306,][329,] [340,] [396,] [414,][434]
Hall, Robert[299,] [344,] [359]
Hancock, W.[299]
Hare, Julius Charles[342,] [365]
Harris, W.[165]
Hawes, Dr.[302]
Heber, Reginald[429]
Hobart, Dr.[67]
Holdeck, Dr.[84]
Hood, E. Paxton[368]
Hubbard, W.[405]
Irons, Joseph[347]
James, John Angell[325]
Jay, William[156,] [207,] [228,][251,] [276,] [301,] [333]
Johnson, John[374]
Johnston, John[79,] [150,] [156]
Jonas, William[41]
Jupe, Charles[5]
Kennedy, Dr.[376]
Kennicott, Dr.[161]
Kidd, Thornhill
Kollock, Dr.[139,] [273]
Lewis, Dr.[402]
Liddon, Canon[258]
Lilley, J. Osborne[419,] [421]
Logan, John[283]
Lyth, Dr.[115]–117, [122,] [125,][127,] [199,] [202,][214,] [235,] [238,] [241]
Macculloch, R.[121,] [154]
Maclaren, A.[348,] [348,] [494]
Magie, Dr.[263,] [361]
Manning, W.[104,] [179,] [206,][213,] [216,] [220,][225,] [232]–234, [237,][240,] [241,] [243]–245, [248,][249,] [254,] [270,] [444]
Marriott, John[420]
Mathew, G.[124]
Maurice, F. D.[469]
McAuslane, Dr.[201]
Melvill, H.[456]
Miall, G. R.[265]
Milne, John[379,] [490]
Milner, Dr.[273]
Moore, Charles[124]
Monks, Richard[433]
Monod, Horace[434]
Morgan, James[478]
Neave, Thomas[105,] [257]
Nesbit, R.[34]
Newman, John Henry[424,] [467]
Norton, John N.[370]
Oliver, T.[434]
Packer, John[339]
Parker, Dr.[65,] [71]
Parkes, William[99,] [262,] [278,][286,] [317]
Parkman, R. C.[112]
Piele, Dr.[284]
Pott, J. H.[418]
Pratten, B. P.[314]
Punshon, Dr.[102]
Rawlinson, John[215,] [224,] [268,][279,] [280,] [287,] [291,][293,] [297,] [307]–309, [315,][318,] [321,] [322,] [328,][330,] [335,] [346,] [356,][362,] [366,] [368,] [371,][380,] [390,] [394,] [401,][404,] [410,] [423,] [427,][438]
Reeve, William[255]
Roberts, Arthur[277,] [323]
Roberts, William[69]
Robins, S.[327]
Robjohns, H. T.
Salomon, G.[74]
Scott, Adam[465]
Shedd, Dr.[54]
Sherman, J.[300]
Sherwood, J. M.[353]
Shuttleworth, Dr.[123]
Simcock, J. Macrae[370,] [378,] [390,] [393,][398,] [417]
Skelton[126]
Smith, George[224,] [252]
Spencer, Thomas[384]
Spurgeon, C. H.[7,] [89,] [222,] [256,][272,] [312,] [334,] [354], [416,] [483,] [492]
Statham, W. M.[247,] [463]
“Stems and Twigs”[111]
Stirling, J.[49]
Storrs, Dr.[298]
Superville, Daniel de[274]
Talmage, Dr.[293,] [310,] [411]
Taylor. Dr. W. M.[388]
Thodey, Samuel[172,] [184,] [187,] [191,][225,] [235,] [239,] [242,][244,] [253,] [257,] [258,][269,] [271,] [282,] [316,][320,] [333,] [335,] [338,][341]
Thomas, Dr. David[462]
Thompson, B.[117]
Tucker, Dr.[358]
Villiers, H. M.[433]
Walker, H. F.[150,] [224]
Watson, Richard[137,] [138,] [182,][275,] [373]
Watt, John[348]
Wood, J. R.[128,] [143,] [247]
Woodford, J. R.[369]

TIMES, SEASONS, AND OCCASIONS.

Advent Sermons[250,] [258,] [453]
Bible Society Sermon[118,] [394,] [396]
Christmas Sermons[161,] [165,] [185]–192, [351]
Death of a Statesman[84,] [85]
Easter Sunday[119]
First Sunday of the Year
Freehold Land Society Sermon[112]
Funeral Sermon[235,] [241,] [390,] [431]
Harvest Thanksgiving[184]
Last Sermon of the Year[441]
Missionary Sermons[72,] [73,] [82,] [182,] [192,] [214,] [219,] [253,] [257,] [316,] [318,] [449,] [473]
Ordination or Visitation Sermons[3,] [132,] [137,] [143,] [144,] [148,] [177,] [197,] [325,] [489]
Parliamentary Election Sermon[173]
Peace Society Sermons[99,] [191,] [214,] [220,] [228]
Seamen, Sermon to[390]
Sunday-School Anniversary[118,] [166,] [232,] [298,] [299,] [373,] [394,] [439]
Temperance Sermons[116,] [126,] [127]
Thanksgiving Sermon[275]
Time of National Distress[270,] [273,] [282]
Trinity Sunday[133]
Whitsuntide[212,] [467]

TEXTS.