And in This Mountain
“And in this motintun shall the Lord of hosts make unto all People a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things fnU oi marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the fstce of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up aeath in victory; and the Lord God will wine away tears from off all faces; and the rehuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoKen it.” — ISA, xxv. €-8.
These words are yet to be fulfilled at the second coming of the Saviour. It is true that the Lord of hosts has long ago prepared this feast, and sent out his serrants, saying: Come, for all things are ready.*’ But it is just as true, that the veil that is spread over all nations is not yet taken away; and Paul tells us plainly, in 1 Cor. xv. 54, that it is in the resurrection morning that these words shall be quite fulfilled: “He hath swallowed up death in victory.”
Still these words have been in some measure fulfilled wherever there has been a peculiar outpouring of the Spirit upon any place. Often at sacrament seasons in our own ld, these words have been fulfilled. God has made Christ a feast of fat things to hungry souls. The leil oi
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unbelief has been torn from many hearts* and the teaa wiped away from many eyes. It is my humble but earnest /desire that next Sabbathlay may be such a day in thii place.* I want to engage all of you who are the cluldren of God to secret and united praya: that it may be so; and I haye, therefore, chosen these words by which to stir you 19 to pray.
I. Consider the Feast. II. The tearing away of the veU. III. The effects of it
I. The Feast.
1. Where is it? Ans, “In this mountain.” (1.) MoriM Ah! it was here that Abraham offered up Isaac. It was here that the passover lamb used to be slain. It was here that Jesus stood and cried, “If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink.” (2.) Mount Olivet f It was here that Jesus said, “I am the true vine.” It was here that Jesus had the cup of wrath set down before him, in that night in which he was betrayed. (3.) Mount Calvary f It was here that they crucified Jesus; and two thieves — one on each hand. It was here that the passers-by wagged their heads, the chief priests mocked, and the thieyes cast the same in his teeth. It was here that there was three hours’ darkness. It was here they pierced his hands and feet. It was here that God forsook his own Son. It was here that infinite wrath was laid upon an infinite Saviour: “In this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things.”
To anxious souls. The world tries to cheer you; they bid you go into company, see more of the world, enjoy pleasure, and drive away these dull thoughts. They spread a feast for you in some lighted hall, with brilliant lamps; and the pipe and the tabor, and wine are in their feasts. Oh! anxious soul, flee these things: remember Lot’s wife. If you are anxious about your soul, flee from the feasts of the world. Stop your ears, and run. Look here how God tries to cheer you — he, too, prepares a feast; but where? On Calvary. There is no light; it is all darkness round the cross; no music, but the groan of a dying Saviour: ^’Eli! Eli! — my God! my God! “Oh! anxious soul, it is there you will find peace and rest. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” The darkest
* The Commimion Sabbath.
8RRM0N XYin. 123 :hat ever was in this world gives light to the wearj The sight of the cross brings within sight of the. That djing sigh which made the rocks to rend, can rend the veil, and give you peace. The Place of 11 is the place of joy. What is it? — A feast of fat things of wines on the
) A feast. It is not a meal, but a feast. At a meal, ell if there be enough for all who sit round the table;: a feast, there should be more than enough — there is a I abundance. The Gospel is compared to a feast: 16 eat of my bread, and drink of the wine that I hare ed.” — Prov. ix. Again, in the Song of Songs: “He ht me to the banqueting house, and his banner over as love.”” Stay me with flagons, comfort me with (; for I am sick of love.’* Again, in Matt, xxii.:
them which are bidden. Behold I have prepared my r; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things ady: come unto the marriage.” it is in Jesus: there is bread enough and to spare, .me that we might have life, and might have it more lantly. There is a feast in a crucified Jesus. His
in the stead of sinners is enough, and more than h, to answer for our sins. It is not only equal to my, but it is far more glorifying to God and his holy law f I had suflFered a hundred deaths. “Comfort ye, come; ye have received at the Lord’s hand double for all lins.” His obeying in the stead of sinners is enough, lore than enough, to cover our nakedness. It is not ^ual to my obeying, but it is far more glorifying to than if I had never sinned. His garment not only 9 the naked soul, but clothes from head to foot; so o shame appears — only Christ appears, the soul is hid. pirit is not only enough, but more than enough, to us holy. There is a well in Christ which we never canst — still rivers of grace which we never can drink dry. istians, learn to feed more on Christ: “Eat, O friends!
yea, drink abundantly, O beloved I” When you are to a feast, there is no greater affront you can put upon tertainer than by being content with a crumb below ple. Yet this is the way the Christians of our day; the Lord of glory. Oh how few seem to feed mudi rist! how few seem to put on his white flowing raihow few seem to Annk deep into his Spintl lA.o&t
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are content with now and then a glimpse of pardon — crumh from the table, and a drop of his Spirit. Awake, dear friends! “These things have I spoken unto you that your joy may be full.”
(2.) A feast of fat things, of wines on the lees. The fat things full of marrow are intended to represent the richest and most nourishing delicacies; and the wines on the lees well refined, to represent the oldest and richest wines; so that, not only is there abundance in this feast, but abundance of the best. Ah! so it is in Christ. First, There is forgiveness of all past sins. Ah! this is the richest of all delicacies to a heavy laden soul. As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. A good conscience is a perpetual feast. Oh! weary sinner, taste and see. ‘^ I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.” These are the apples that a weary soul cries out for:” Comfort me with apples; for I am sick of love.’’ Second, There are the smiles of the Father. The Father himself loveth you. Oh, to pass from the frown of an angry God into the smile of a loving Father! this is a feast to the soul — this is to pass from death unto life. Third, The droppings of the Spirit into the soul — ah! it is this which comforts the soul. This is the oil of gladness that makes the face to shine. This ] makes the cup run over. This is the fiiU well rising vnthin the soul, at once comforting and purifying. Dear friends, be not filled with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. These are the flagons that stay the souj. May you be in the Spirit on the LordV-day!
3. For whom is it? Unto jdl people. “The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.” Ah! there is not a creature under heaven for whom the feast is not prepared. There is not a creature from whom we can keep back the message: ^’All things are ready; come to the marriage.”
Dear anxious souls, why do you keep away from Christ? you say Christ is far from you; alas! he has been at your door all day. Christ is as free to you as to any that ever came to him. Come hungry-^come empty — come sinful — come as you are to feed on glorious Jesus. He is a feast to the hungry soul. Dear dead souls, that never felt one throb of anxiety —
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at never uttered one heartfelt cry to Qod, this message is r jou. The feast is for all people. Christ is as free to u as to any other: “How long, ye simple ones, will y e your simplicity?” “The Spirit and the hride say, Come.”
II. The tearing” away of the veil. 1. Observe there is a veil over every natural heart, a thick ipenetrable veil. (1.) There was a veil in the temple over e entrance to the holiest of all, so that no eye could see e beauty of the Lord within. (2.) There was a veil over .6 face of Moses, when he came down from the mount, for imething of the brightness of Christ shone in his counteince. When the veil was down they could not see his lory. (3.) So there is a veil upon the hearts of the 3ws to this day, when Moses and the prophets are read them. (4.) So is there a veil over your hearts — so many r you as are in your natural state; a thick, impenetrable sil; its name is unbelief. The same veil that hid the eauty of the promised land from Israel in Kadesh-bamea — for they could not enter in, because of unbelieP — that veil; over your hearts this day.
Learn the great reason of your indifference to Christ. “he veil is upon your heart. God may lay down all the ches of his bosom on the table — the unsearchable riches f Christ; yet so long as that veil is over you, you will not love. You see no form nor comeliness in Christ: “And when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should esire him.” — Isa. liii. 2. ‘^ The natural man receiveth not lie things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness nto him: neither can he know them, because they are piritually discerned.” — 1 Cor. ii. 14.
2. Who takes the veil awayf Ans. The Lord of hosts; le that makes the feast is he that tears the veil away. Lh! it is a work of God to take away that covering. We Day argue with you till midnight, telling you of your sin nd misery — we may bring all the sweetest words in the lible to show you that Christ is fairer than the children of aen; still you will go home and say. We see no beauty in im. But God can take away the veil; sometimes he does I; in a moment — sometimes slowly; then Christ is revealed, ad Christ is precious. There is not one of you so sunk in in and worldliness — so dull and heartless in the things of Jod — but your heart would be overcome by the sight of a unveiled Saviour. Oh! let us plead this promifie mllx
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God: “He will destroy in this moontain the fece of the coyering cast orer all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations.” Come and do it, Lord. I will poor out my Spirit unto you.” Pour quickly, Lord.
3. Where? “In this mountain” — in the same place where he makes the feast; he takes the soul to Galyary. Ah, yes; it is within sight of the crucified Saviour that God takes every veil away.
Anxious souls, wait near the cross. Meditate up<m Christ, and him crucified. It is there that God tears the yeU away. Be often at Gethsemane — he often at Golgotha. Oh! that next Sahhath he may reveal himself to all m the breaking of bread. As easy to a thousand as to one soul!
III. JEJfects.
1. Triumph over death, (1.) Even here this is fulfilled. Often the fear of death is taken away in those who trembled before. The soul that has really had the veil taken away can go through the valley, if not singing, at least humbly tmstu, and can say at the end, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit !** Ah! nothing but a real sight of Christ can cheer in death. Worldly people can die stupidly and insensibly; but the unveiled Christian alone can feel in death that the sting is taken away. (2.) In resurrection. When we stand like Christ in body and soul —” When the sea has given up the dead that are in it, and death and hell the dead that are in them” — “When this corruptible shall have put on incorruption — then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
Dear friends, what solemn scenes are before us! Ah! nothing but a sight of Christ as our own Surety and Redeemer can uphold us, in sight of opening graves and reeling worlds. We shall remember his own words, and be still: ‘^ I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I vnll redeem them from death. O death, I vnll be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction.” “Father, 1 will that they also whom thou hast given me may be wiA me where I am, that they may behold my glory.”
2. Triumph over sorrow, (L) Even here, God vripes away the tears of conviction- — the tears of sin and shame - — by revealing Christ. A work of grace always begins in tears; but when GK>d takes the soul to Calvary — ^lookhere: There are thy sins laid upotv Inmianuel; there the Lamb of God is bearmg them; there is all the hell that thou sfaalt mSa. Oh, how sweetly does Qod wipe awaj the tears! Anxious souls, inaj Qod do this for you next Sabbath-day! (2.) Complete fulfilment afler. There will always be tears here because of sin, temptation, sorrow; but there “they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto Hying fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes,”
3. Triumph aver reproaches. Even here God lifte his people above reproaches — he enables them to bless, and cone not: “Loye your enemies; bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that de- ^tefblly use you and persecute you.” But there shall he roll triumph yonder. He will clear up our character. Heve we may endure reproaches all the way! Christians are slighted, despised, trampled on, here; but God will acknowledge them as his jewels at last. The world will itend aghast.