To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,

And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all that mourn;

To appoint unto them that mourn in
Zion,

To give unto them beauty for ashes,*
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit
of heaviness;t

That they might be called trees of righteousness,

The planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.‡—Isa. lxi. 1—3.

"A beautiful crown instead of ashes."-A.Clarke. The Jews put ashes on their heads as a sign of mourning. +Splendid clothing and oil were signs of joy. Flourishing, and bearing good fruit.

VIII. The beatitudes or blessings of

Christ.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom of heaven.* Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.+ Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are

mercy.

:

the merciful for they shall obtain Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.‡ Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely,

*They have the blessings of grace here, and of glory hereafter. + See Psa. xxxvii. 11; Subject An expression of great favour.

xxxvii.

for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.Matt. v. 3-12.

IX. God's gracious invitation.
Ho, every one that thirsteth,
Come ye to the waters,

And he that hath no money;
Come ye, buy, and eat;

Yea, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
Wherefore do ye spend money for

that which is not bread?

And your labour for that which satisfieth not?

Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good,

And let your soul delight itself in '

fatness.

Incline

your ear, and come unto me:

Hear, and your soul shall live;

And I will make an everlasting cove

nant with you,

Even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people,

A leader and commander to the people.

Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not,

And nations that knew not thee shall

run unto thee

Because of the LORD thy God,

And for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.-Isa. lv.

X. The Lord's prayer.-Duty of forgiveness.

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed+ be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us

our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,|| but deliver us from evil: ¶ For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.**

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.-Matt.

vi. 9-15.

*This word teaches the social nature of this prayer, and its extensiveness. Be sanctified, or made holy. Food sufficient for our support. ? Obedience is a debt due to God: as we have often sinned, how many are our "debts," and we have nothing to pay. See Luke vii. 41-48. Trials. ། Or, the evil one, Satan. ** The Hebrew word signifies faithful or true: it here expresses that we sincerely desire what we pray for. So be it.