August 2

son in which he will appear to our joy will display his glory, and draw forth our praise. In the mean time let our minds be kept in perfect peace, being stayed upon God; and let us remember, if things are gloomy and discouraging, that the lower the ebb of the tide, the nearer the flow. It is often darkest just before the break of day. "IN THE MOUNT IT SHALL BE SEEN."

AUGUST 2.—"I will consider in my dwelling-place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest."—Isaiah 18:4.

PREACHERS should be very sparing of their animadversions on the translation of the Scriptures in common use; not only because they tend to shake confidence and awaken suspicions in their hearers, but because they are generally needless. It is not illiteracy that commends the present version; the ablest scholars are the most satisfied with it upon the whole. Yet while the original is divine, the rendering is human; and therefore we need not wonder if an occasional alteration is necessary. This is peculiarly the case where the sense is very obscure or even imperceptible without it.

If the words as they now stand in the text remain, his "dwelling-place" is heaven, and the meaning is, that he would there consider how to succour and bless his people, for he careth for them: but a word must be supplied to show the import—"I will consider in my dwelling-place" how I can prove "like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest." But the margin, and Lowth, and every modern expositor make his "dwelling-place" not the place of his consideration, but the object; and read, "I will regard my dwelling-place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest." Now what his dwelling-place was we can easily determine. It was Zion—"Whose dwelling is in Zion." "This is my rest for ever, here will I dwell, for I have desired it." And Watts has well added—

"The God of Jacob chose the hill Of Zion for his ancient rest; And Zion is his dwelling still, His Church is with his presence blest."

And his concern for the welfare of the one is far surpassed by his regard for the other. And how is this regard exercised? Here are two images.

First, "like a clear heat upon herbs." The margin again says, "Like a clear heat after rain;" and I wish, says the excellent translator of Isaiah, who has adopted it, that there was better evidence in support of it. The reason is, that he probably feared, as others in reading it may fear, that "a clear heat upon herbs" would be rather unfavourable, and cause them to droop if not to die. And this would be the case in some instances; but not in all; and it is enough for a metaphor to have one just and strong resemblance. Read the dying words of David; "And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain." Now after rain, "the clear shining," or "a clear heat upon herbs" would produce immediately fresh vigour and shootings. Even in our own climate the effect upon the grass and plants is soon visible; but in