Isaiah 49:24-25 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?… I. THE WEAPONS AND RESOURCES OF THE ENEMY. 1. Idolatry. 2. Imposture. Mohammedanism. 3. Papal superstition. 4. The despotic governments of the earth. 5. Crime in its varied forms. 6. A more liberal sort of religion which shall keep the opposition in countenance, and enable them to wield the name and institutions of Christianity against Christianity, sustained by such as live in pleasure, and will not bow the knee to Christ. 7. The corruption of the purity of revivals of religion. 8. The sword. Can such varied and mighty resistance to the truth be overcome? Can the earth be enlightened? Can the nations be disenthralled? Yes! II. HOW SHALL EVENTS SO DESIRABLE BE ACCOMPLISHED? 1. By the judgments of heaven. 2. By the universal propagation of the Gospel. 3. By frequent and, at last, general revivals of religion. 4. By the special influence of the Holy Spirit. 5. By a new and unparalleled vigour of Christian enterprise. But what can be done? There must be in the Church of God — (1) More faith. (2) More intense love for Christ. (3) More decided action. (4) More courage. (5) Efforts to increase the number and power of evangelical Churches. (6) Special effort to secure to the rising generation an education free from the influence of bad example, and more decidedly evangelical. (7) The vigour of charitable effort must be greatly increased. (8) The jealousies of Christians must yield. (9) We must guard against the dangers peculiar to a state of religious prosperity.Conclusion — Will any take side against the cause of Christ? It will be a fearful experiment! (Lyman Beecher, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?WEB: Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captives be delivered? |
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