is too high for us; let us "walk humbly with our God."* "Seek not out (says the wise son of Sirach) the things that are too hard for thee; neither search the things that are above thy strength: but what is commanded thee, think thereupon with reverence; for it is not needful for thee to see with thine eyes the things that are in secret."† *Micah vi. 8. + Ecclesiasticus iii. 21. SERMON VIII. THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST. ISAIAH IX. 1, 2. Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Napthali; and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. IT has been the fate of this important Book of Prophecy to meet with worse Interpreters, both ancient and modern, than, perhaps, any other parts of the Sacred Volume. Our English Translation also, though in general not inferior to any other, has introduced some obscurity into the passage which I have just read to you; which however may possibly be removed without much difficulty. The first verse of Chap. ix. should evidently be transferred to the end of Chap. viii., by which the connection of the Prophecy with the History of the people, who are the objects of it, will be more easily understood. In the preceding Chapter the Prophet had been describing the calamities which would befal this people in consequence of the invasion of the King of Assyria: after which he consoles them with a prospect of future blessings, which would make them ample amends for the sufferings they had endured. I do not know how I can render the whole paragraph more perspicuous than by stating it in the words of a late elegant writer and eminent Divine of our Church, whose Translation of this Book is well known and justly admired.*" But there shall not hereafter be darkness in the land which was distressed: in the former time he debased the land of Zebulon and the land of Napthali; but in the latter time he hath made it glorious: even the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Nations." The land inhabited by the Tribes of Zebulon, Napthali, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is the Country or District of Galilee, surrounding the Lake or Sea of Genesareth, was the Country which was most severely afflicted * Bishop Lowth. Notwithstanding the objections which have been made to certain parts of this Translation by some foreign Critics, it must be considered, on the whole, as a work of great merit. under Tiglath-Pileser, King of Assyria.* The same was also the Country which first enjoyed the blessing of our Lord's public ministry; the first which heard his divine instructions, and was witness to his miraculous works. In order to make it more evident how the Prophecy applies to the people above mentioned, we shall find by recurring to the Book of Judges,† that the Tribes of Asher, Zebulon, and Napthali are represented as having the smallest share in expelling the ancient idolatrous inhabitants of Palestine, and that, in consequence of their negligence, a large portion of the Heathens was, for a long time, dwelling together with the people of God. Even so late as the reign of David the Jebusites were still in Jerusa lem.‡ It might be, therefore, with a view to this dereliction of their duty that, in the invasion of Pekah and the King of Assyria, the chief weight of the calamity fell on these Tribes; and it was at the time when they were on the point of being carried away captive that this Prophecy was uttered. Hence they are described as in great vexation; more grievously vexed and harassed than they had formerly been by the incursion of the Syrians.§ This was the darkness which overspread them, and * 2 Kings, xv. 29; 1 Chron. v. 26; Lightfoot's Chronicle of the Times, &c. of the O. T. p. 103, Ed. 1684. † Ch. i. 30—35. ‡ 2 Sam. v. 6. § 2 Chron. xvi. 4. oppres these were the people who, having walked in darkness, were to see a great light. Accordingly the Prophecy, as expressed by the same learned Prelate, is thus continued:-"Thou hast multiplied the nation; thou hast increased their joy.* They rejoice before thee, as with the joy of harvest; as they rejoice who divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burthen, the staff laid on his shoulder, the rod of his sor, hast thou broken, as in the day of Midian: (that is, on occasion of the victory over the Midianites by Gideon; see Judges vii. 22,) for the greaves of the armed warrior in the conflict, and the garment rolled in blood, shall be for a burning, even fuel for the fire. For unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, the Mighty God, the Father of the everlasting age, the Prince of Peace." It was therefore by the Incarnation of the Son of God, the Advent of the Messiah, that the people which sate in darkness saw a great light; saw the rise of that Day-Star, that Prince of the house of David, "of whose government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his * For the reason of omitting the negative here, the reader may consult the Commentary of Bishop Patrick. + See 2 Peter, i. 19. |