Homilist Isaiah 6:5-8 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the middle of a people of unclean lips… Whilst holiness is the normal, depravity is the actual state of man. A restoration to his spiritual condition is his profoundest necessity. What is the path of the soul up from the depths of depravity to those sunny heights of holiness where unfallen spirits live an exultant life? I. A VISION OF THE GREAT RULER AS THE HOLIEST OF BEINGS. Three facts show this. 1. There can be no excitement of the moral sensibilities and powers without a vision of God. Show me a soul that has never had an inner vision of God, and you show me a soul whose moral powers are in a chrysalis state. 2. The means which the great God has ever employed to restore men are visions of Himself. What is the Bible but a record of Divine visions and manifestations to man? What is the Gospel — "God's power unto salvation" — but the manifestation of the Eternal in Christ? Here He appears to man in the "face of Jesus Christ." 3. The history of all restored souls shows that the improvement commences at this stage. II. A PROFOUND CONSCIOUSNESS OF OUR FALLEN STATE. "Then said I, Woe is me!" etc. The prophet's consciousness included four things. 1. A deep sense of his personality. "I am undone." He feels himself singled out from the millions. 2. A sense of personal ruin. 3. A sense of personal sin. 4. A sense of personal sin heightened by a remembrance of his neighbours' sins. So long as conscience is torpid, men often make the sinful conduct of others an apology for their own; but when conscience awakes, such sophistries depart. III. A REMOVAL OF THE CRUSHING SENSE OF GUILT. "Then flew one of the seraphim unto me," etc. Three thoughts are suggested by this. 1. There are Divine means for the removal of sin. 2. The means are something in connection with sacrifice. 3. The means are employed by a Divinely appointed ministry. Let that seraphim stand as the emblem of a true minister, and we see that his work is to take the purifying elements from the altar, and apply them to men. He has to take burning thoughts, and burning thoughts must come from the Cross. IV. AN EVER-OPEN AND SENSITIVE EAR TO THE VOICE OF GOD. "I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Three thoughts will develop the general and practical meaning of these words. 1. The great God has deep thoughts about our race. 2. Just as the soul is cleared of sin does it become conscious of these thoughts. It will hear the voice of God in every sound, and see His glory in every form. 3. This consciousness of the Divine thoughts about the race is a necessary stage in the moral progress of the soul. V. A HEARTY READINESS TO DO WHAT THE SUPREME WILL DEMANDS. "Here am I; send me." To reach this point is to be in sympathy with the great and good every. where; this is heaven. Conclusion — Art thou in the first stage, O my soul? Stay not there; a mere vision of the holy God will only fire thee with remorse; struggle on. Art thou in the second? Stay not there; hell is somewhere in that direction; struggle on. Art thou in the third? Stay not there; freedom from sin is but negative excellence; struggle on. Art thou in the fourth? Happy spirit! thou hast scaled the mountains of difficulty and darkness. Thy jubilee has commenced. Thou art in conscious companion. ship and concert with the Infinite. Still stay not there; struggle on. Ascend to the last; and from that supernal altitude, with the vast and beaming universe around thee, look ever, in waiting attitude, to thy Maker, and say, "Here am I; send me." (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then said I, Woe is me! 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. |
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