Intoxicated with passion, not with wine.

Schultens thinks that this circumlocution, as he calls it, gradum adfert incomparabiliter majorem; and that it means, not simply without wine, but much more than with wine. Gram. Hebrews p. 182. See his note on Job xxx. 38.

The bold image of the cup of God's wrath, often employed by the sacred writers, (see note on chap. i. 22,) is nowhere handled with greater force and sublimity than in this passage of Isaiah, ver. 17-23. Jerusalem is represented in person as staggering under the effects of it, destitute of that assistance which she might expect from her children; not one of them being able to support or to lead her. They, abject and amazed, lie at the head of every street, overwhelmed with the greatness of their distress; like the oryx entangled in a net, in vain struggling to rend it, and extricate himself.

This is poetry of the first order, sublimity of the highest character.

Plato had an idea something like this: "Suppose, "says he, "God had given to men a medicating potion inducing fear, so that the more any one should drink of it, so much the more miserable he should find himself at every draught, and become fearful of every thing both present and future; and at last, though the most courageous of men, should be totally possessed by fear: and afterwards, having slept off the effects of it, should become himself again. " De Leg. i., near the end. He pursues at large this hypothesis, applying it to his own purpose, which has no relation to the present subject. Homer places two vessels at the disposal of Jupiter, one of good, the other of evil. He gives to some a potion mixed of both; to others from the evil vessel only: these are completely miserable. Iliad xxiv. 527-533.

doioi gar te piqoi katakeiatai en diov oudei dwrwn, oia didwsi, kakwn, eterov de eawn, �w men kammixav dwh zeuv terpikeraunov, allote men te kakw oge kuretai, allote d� esqlw� �w de ke twn lugrwn, lwbhton eqhke.

kai e kakh boubrwstiv epi cqona dian elaunei� foita d� oute qeoisi qeoisi tetimenov, outi brotoisin.

"Two urns by Jove's high throne have ever stood, The source of evil one, and one of good; From thence the cup of mortal man he fills, Blessings to these, to those distributes ills; To most he mingles both: the wretch decreed To taste the bad unmixed, is cursed indeed: Pursued by wrongs, by meagre famine driven, He wanders outcast both of earth and heaven." Pope

Is. 51:1-3 It is good for those privileged by the new birth, to consider that they were shapen in sin. This should cause low thought of ourselves, and high thoughts of Divine grace. It is the greates comfort to be made serviceable to the glory of God. The more holines men have, and the more good they do, the more gladness they have. Le us seriously reflect upon our guilt. To do so will tend to keep the heart humble, and the conscience awake and tender. They make Chris more precious to the soul, and give strength to our attempts an prayers for others.

Is. 51:4-8 The gospel of Christ shall be preached and published. Ho shall we escape if we neglect it? There is no salvation withou righteousness. The soul shall, as to this world, vanish like smoke, an the body be thrown by like a worn-out garment. But those whose happiness is in Christ's righteousness and salvation, will have the comfort of it when time and days shall be no more. Clouds darken the sun, but do not stop its course. The believer will enjoy his portion while revilers of Christ are in darkness

Is. 51:9-16 The people whom Christ has redeemed with his blood, as wel as by his power, will obtain joyful deliverance from every enemy. He that designs such joy for us at last, will he not work such deliveranc in the mean time, as our cases require? In this world of changes, it is a short step from joy to sorrow, but in that world, sorrow shall neve come in view. They prayed for the display of God's power; he answer them with consolations of his grace. Did we dread to sin against God we should not fear the frowns of men. Happy is the man that fears God always. And Christ's church shall enjoy security by the power an providence of the Almighty.

Is. 51:17-23 God calls upon his people to mind the things that belon to their everlasting peace. Jerusalem had provoked God, and was made to taste the bitter fruits. Those who should have been her comforters were their own tormentors. They have no patience by which to kee possesion of their own souls, nor any confidence in God's promise, by which to keep possession of its comfort. Thou art drunken, not a formerly, with the intoxicating cup of Babylon's idolatries, but with the cup of affliction. Know, then, the cause of God's people may for time seem as lost, but God will protect it, by convincing the conscience, or confounding the projects, of those that strive agains it. The oppressors required souls to be subjected to them, that ever man should believe and worship as they would have them. But all the could gain by violence was, that people were brought to outwar hypocritical conformity, for consciences cannot be forced __________________________________________________________________

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