STORY XXVII.

THE VISION OF ISAIAH.

Ir appears from the Bible, that in old times God was often pleased to reveal his will to his servants in a vision; or, by a strong impression of things on their minds, that they might properly know and discharge their duty.

Isaiah was favoured with a sublime vision. He beheld, in solemn thought, the Lord Jesus, seated on a throne," high and lifted up," in all his majesty and glory; and "the skirts of his flowing robes filled the temple." As there is no monarch like to the divine Saviour, so there is no throne like his. His throne is "lifted up" above all

other thrones.

* John xii. 41.

Before him stood the seraphim; these are happy spirits who were filled with love and zeal for the divine Majesty. Each of them had six wings; with two they veiled their faces, as if dazzled with the awful glories of their Lord; with two they covered their feet, as unworthy to stand in his holy presence; and with two they did fly, showing the joyful readiness with which they obey the commands of their Sovereign.

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These happy spirits cried aloud to each other, and they said, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory!" That is, the Divine excellence is above our thoughts,there is no bounds to it. All beings, and all worlds, are subject to his control: the whole earth is full of the glory of his works of creation, providence, and grace." And "the posts of the doors" of the vast temple which the prophet saw, and the temple itself, seemed to shake and tremble at this display of the divine Majesty.

When the prophet saw this glorious vision, his mind was deeply affected with the unlikeness be

"Woe is me," he said,

tween himself and God.

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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!" Those who have right views of God, are always abased before him.

The mind of the prophet was so much affected with a sense of his guilt, that he thought he could never again speak for God, or go with his messages. He was struck dumb, and confounded before his Lord and Master. But at this solemn moment, when he stood trembling, fearing his Lord would say, I will employ thee no more; thou art an unprofitable servant; begone from my presence!-yes, at this moment,-" one of the seraphim flew to him, having a coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar; and he laid it upon his mouth, and said, "Lo, this hath touched thy lips, and thy iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged," or expiated."

The altar for burnt-offerings in the temple, had on it a perpetual fire; a lamb bled on it, and was

consumed each morning and evening. This sacrifice was an emblem, or type, of the Lord Jesus, who was the true "Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world." " "Without the shedding of blood there was no remission;" and "the blood of bulls and of goats could not take away sin;" it was of no avail for this purpose. These were but "shadows of good things to come, of which Christ was the substance."

Through the merit of the Saviour's offering, the Lord now assured the prophet that he was accepted in the Beloved; and that all his sins were pardoned. Now, he heard the voice of the Lord himself saying, "Whom shall I send; and who will go for us?" And the prophet could not help replying, "Here am I; send me !"

A sight of the grandeur and holiness of his Lord, and of his own sinfulness, struck him dumb; but a sense of God's pardoning mercy, opened his lips, and made him " ready for every good word and work."

A sense of God's pardoning love fills the soul

with holy joy. "O Lord," says the pardoned rebel, "I will praise thee, for though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou confortest me."

A sense of God's pardoning mercy fills the spirit with holy love. "I count," says the redeemed sinner, "all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ.""

A sense of God's pardoning love will sustain the mind, and fill it with holy delight, in the midst of heavy affliction. "I reckon," says such an one," that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed.in us.""

A sense of God's pardoning mercy will inspire the heart with holy zeal for the Divine honour. "I am ready," said one who enjoyed this great blessing, "not only to be bound, but to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus."? Such persons have ever been the best messengers of the Lord to guilty men. They love him so much, that they regard the hardest task as easy,