Newspaper Page Text
VOL. X.
Commmticatnms.
Opelika, Ala., June 1, 1860.
Brother Beebe: —Having been rancli from
home of late, I have not bad the opportunity of
attending to the request of sister Jane Y Harmon,
who requested a comment on Isa. xl. 1. As I have
a little spare time this morning, I will try to write
a little, and finally finish the letter, as opportunity
is given. The text reads. “ Comfort ye , comfort
ye my people, saith your God”
One great design of the Almighty in giving the
Scriptures, is to comfort Lis people thereby. See
Rom. xv. 4. The very text we are about to con
sider is fraught with .words of sweeter comfort. —
It is the language of the Almighty, who has made
heaven and earth, and holds the entire destiny of
nations and kingdoms in his own Almighty hand.
He speaks words of comfort to his disconsolate
and afflicted people, and his word must be obeyed.
He has comfort to gi.ve to all that mourn in Zion,
to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for
mourning the garment or praise for the spirit of
heaviness. It is worthy of special notice, that
though the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness
thereof, yet there are a people whom he claims in
a special and peculiar sense from all others. He
calls them “My people,” “My chosen,” “My
treasure, “My jewels,” “ a peculiar people.” Thus
setting them forth in special distinction from all
other people. In Isa. xliii. 21, He says, “ This
people have I formed for myself, they shall show
forth my praise.” If we wish to know who is in
tended by the phrase, “ This people,” we can soon
determine by looking at the 20th verse of the same
chapter, where the Lord says, “ My people, my
chosen.” Here are words of comfort, my peop'e,
my chosen. This people he has formed for himself
in a peculiar manner, and they shall show forth
his praise in giving honor and glory to his name
for his choice and for his love, and for that grace
which is manifested to them through Christ Jesus
in bringing them to a knowledge of their inheri
tance. The text is so worded as to present the
Lord in the most affectionate and endearing rela
tion to his people. Comfort ye, comfort ye my
people. David says, “ Happy is that people whose
God is the Lord.” Happy is he who hath the
God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the
Lord his God.” Psa. cxliv. 15. Therefore we
may speak words of great comfort to this people.
This people while in this evil world, need comfort.
They have many and sore trials and sorrows ol
heart, which the world knows nothing about.—
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“ ©m a, ©hi uiu, aJST!!?
COVINGTON, NEWTON CO., GA., JULY 1, 1860.
That which gives others comfort often makes them
very sad. They cannot rejoice in iniquity, but
they greatly rejoice in the truth. Christ Jesus is
their life and salvation, and their only hope of ac
eepiance with God. The Lord has taught them
that they are helpless sinners, and made them to
feel the curse and condemnation of his holy law.
They have learned that no man can come unto the
Father, but by Jesus Christ. Jesus must bear
their sins in his own body, and make an atonement
for them. He alone is the Way, the Truth, and
the Life, hence nothing but the truth as it is in
Jesus, will comfort the people of God.
In the connection of the text, the prophet brings
forcibly to view the glorious reign ©f grace, as
manifested in the gospel dispensation in distinction
from all the types, shadows and ceremonies of the
law. Prophets and wise men desired to see these
things, but died J without the sight, only as they
embraced them by faith. But “Speak ye com
fortably to Jerusalem.” All things shadowed forth
in the law, and the prophets shall be fulfilled in
Christ. He will come with strong hand, his work
is before him, and his reward is with him. He
• ’ ■*’ |
will feed his Hock hke a shepherd, gather AhU
lambs with his arm, and carry them in Lis bosom.
Redemption and salvation from sin is in him. —
Therefore, “ Comfort ye, comfort ye my people,
saith your God.” “ Sing 0 heaven ; and be joy
ful, 0 earth, and break forth into singing, O moun
tains; for the Lord hath comforted his people ,
and will have mercy upon his afflicted.” Isaiah
xlix. 13.
The Lord knows how to comfort, and when to
comfort. His promise is often applied to his dis*
tressed children, to give them comfort. It is a
pleasant word to us in distress, to hear him say,
u I will never leave nor forsake thee.” All other
friends may fail us, and all other comforts be taken
away, but the strength of Israel will not lie, he
will never forsake his people in any trouble or dis
tress. True indeed they often think the Lord has
forsaken them, and forgotten to be gracious, but
even when they think he is farthest oft* from them,
he is then very nigh. They are passing through
certain scenes and trials, where they cannot behold
his hand, he makes darkness his pavillion, and
round about him are dark waters, and thick clouds
of the sky. Yet, though it be ever so dark and
mysterious to us, and we may think like good old
Jacob, that “all these things are against us.”—
Still the hand of God is in it all, and it will then
yield the peaceable fruit of lighteousness to us, so
that we may be enabled to exclaim, “Surely the
Lord is in this place, and I knew it not.”
When Christ Jesus was about to be taken from
his disciples, they were troubled at the thought,
but had they then known all things connected
with his going away, they would have rejoiced,
because if he went not away, the comforter would
not come. He promised them most positively that
he would not leave them comfortless. The com
forter which God’s people have is the Holy Ghost,
the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive.
This great comforter is always nigh and shall abide
with the saints forever. It applies all the bless
ings of grace and salvation, and brings them to
the heart and understanding of all saints. It
searches all things, yea, the deep things of God,
and makes manifest our interest- in the blood and
righteousness of Christ. If we feel the love of
God burning within us, it is because it is shed
abroad there by the Holy Ghost.
Comfort ye , comfort ye my people , saith your
God. In conclusion I would say to sister Har
mon, and to all that are in any trouble, that I
humbly hope that God will apply the words of the
text to your comfort. Sorrow and distress are no
evidences that you are not one of God’s people. —
If you were not in trouble and sorrow, you would
] no, need this comfort of the^ gospel of Ti
you feel to be poor, helpless and dependant, there
is unsearchable riches in Christ for you. He gives
his riches to none but the poor and needy, the
hungry and thirsty. Hence we bear, “Ho every
one that thirstetb, come ye to the waters, come
buy wine and milk without money, and without
price.” Do you thirst for living water? This
water is in Jesus, it is a precious fountain that is
open to the house of David, and to the inhabitants
of Jerusalem for sin and uncleanness. There you
may drink freely, and bathe in the fountain of
God’s eternal love, and bask away in that comfort
which none but God can give. Finally, all God’s
people will be caught up to meet the Lord in the
air, and so shall they ever be with the Lord, —
“ Wherefore comfort one another with these words,”
1 Thess. iv. 18.
W. M. MITCHELL.
Mount Morris, June 11, 1860.
Brethren in Christ —As I have a few moments
leisure I thought I would write a few words for the
comfort of God’s dear children, if it will not crowd
out more valuable matter. The 89th Psalm and 18th
verse you will find the words, For the Lord is my
defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king. —
David knew by experience that the Lord was his
defence, and the Holy One of Israel his king, and
in the Lord he trusted ; for he bad seen his own
wicked heart when God opened his eyes, and b®
found he was a poor helpless sinner before God, and