The metaphor is so exceedingly obvious, as well as beautiful, that one may wonder that it has not been more frequently used. Virgil very elegantly intimates, rather than expresses, the image;] Ecce levis summo de vertice visus Iuli Fundere lumen apex; tactuque innoxia molli Lambere flamma comas, et circum tempora pasci. AEn. ii. 682.

"Strange to relate! from young Iulus' head A lambent flame arose, which gently spread Around his brows, and on his temples fed." And more boldly of AEtna darting out flames from its top:- Interdumque atram prorumpit ad aethera nubem, Turbine fumantem piceo, et candente favilla: Attollitque globos flammarum, et sidera lambit. AEn. iii. 574.

"By turns a pitchy cloud she rolls on high, By turns hot embers from her entrails fly, And flakes of mountain flames, that lick the sky." The disparted tongues, as it were of fire, Acts ii. 3, which appeared at the descent of the Holy Spirit, on the apostles, give the same idea; that is, of flames shooting diversely into pyramidal forms, or points, like tongues. It may be farther observed that the prophet in this place has given the metaphor its full force, in applying it to the action of fire in eating up and devouring whatever comes in its way, like a ravenous animal whose tongue is principally employed in taking in his food or prey; which image Moses has strongly exhibited in an expressive comparison: "And Moab said to the elders of Midian Now shall this collection of people lick up ali that are around about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field," Num. xxii. 4. See also 1 Kings xviii. 38.

Their root shall be as rottenness] qmk cammak, like mak; whence probably our word muck, dung, was derived.

Is. 5:1-7 Christ is God's beloved Son, and our beloved Saviour. The care of the Lord over the church of Israel, is described by the management of a vineyard. The advantages of our situation will be brought into the account another day. He planted it with the choices vines; gave them a most excellent law, instituted proper ordinances The temple was a tower, where God gave tokens of his presence. He se up his altar, to which the sacrifices should be brought; all the mean of grace are denoted thereby. God expects fruit from those that enjo privileges. Good purposes and good beginnings are good things, but no enough; there must be vineyard fruit; thoughts and affections, word and actions, agreeable to the Spirit. It brought forth bad fruit. Wil grapes are the fruits of the corrupt nature. Where grace does not work corruption will. But the wickedness of those that profess religion, an enjoy the means of grace, must be upon the sinners themselves. The shall no longer be a peculiar people. When errors and vice go withou check or control, the vineyard is unpruned; then it will soon be grow over with thorns. This is often shown in the departure of God's Spiri from those who have long striven against him, and the removal of his gospel from places which have long been a reproach to it. The explanation is given. It is sad with a soul, when, instead of the grapes of humility, meekness, love, patience, and contempt of the world, for which God looks, there are the wild grapes of pride passion, discontent, and malice, and contempt of God; instead of the grapes of praying and praising, the wild grapes of cursing an swearing. Let us bring forth fruit with patience, that in the end we may obtain everlasting life.

Is. 5:8-23 Here is a woe to those who set their hearts on the wealth of the world. Not that it is sinful for those who have a house and a fiel to purchase another; but the fault is, that they never know when the have enough. Covetousness is idolatry; and while many envy the prosperous, wretched man, the Lord denounces awful woes upon him. Ho applicable to many among us! God has many ways to empty the mos populous cities. Those who set their hearts upon the world, will justl be disappointed. Here is woe to those who dote upon the pleasures an the delights of sense. The use of music is lawful; but when it draw away the heart from God, then it becomes a sin to us. God's judgment have seized them, but they will not disturb themselves in their pleasures. The judgments are declared. Let a man be ever so high, deat will bring him low; ever so mean, death will bring him lower. The frui of these judgments shall be, that God will be glorified as a God of power. Also, as a God that is holy; he shall be owned and declared to be so, in the righteous punishment of proud men. Those are in a wofu condition who set up sin, and who exert themselves to gratify their base lusts. They are daring in sin, and walk after their own lusts; it is in scorn that they call God the Holy One of Israel. They confoun and overthrow distinctions between good and evil. They prefer their ow reasonings to Divine revelations; their own devices to the counsels an commands of God. They deem it prudent and politic to continu profitable sins, and to neglect self-denying duties. Also, how ligh soever men make of drunkenness, it is a sin which lays open to the wrath and curse of God. Their judges perverted justice. Every sin need some other to conceal it.

Is. 5:24-30 Let not any expect to live easily who live wickedly. Sin weakens the strength, the root of a people; it defaces the beauty, the blossoms of a people. When God's word is despised, and his law cas away, what can men expect but that God should utterly abandon them When God comes forth in wrath, the hills tremble, fear seizes eve great men. When God designs the ruin of a provoking people, he can fin instruments to be employed in it, as he sent for the Chaldeans, an afterwards the Romans, to destroy the Jews. Those who would not hea the voice of God speaking by his prophets, shall hear the voice of their enemies roaring against them. Let the distressed look which wa they will, all appears dismal. If God frowns upon us, how can an creature smile? Let us diligently seek the well-grounded assurance that when all earthly helps and comforts shall fail, God himself wil be the strength of our hearts, and our portion for ever __________________________________________________________________

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