Isaiah 42:2-3 - Homilies By W. Clarkson

Quietness of method and hopefulness of spirit.

That these words are rightly referred to our Lord we have the assurance of Scripture ( Matthew 12:1-50 .), as well as the evidence of their perfect applicability. They remind us of—

I. THE QUIETNESS OF HIS METHOD . With a task before him the surpassing greatness of which completely dwarfs every human enterprise, it was a matter of vital consequence that our Lord should adopt the method which would be permanently effective. He might have chosen the loud and violent method. He might have taken

II. THE PATIENT HOPEFULNESS OF HIS SPIRIT . At what point must we give a man up? Regarding his physical nature, there is a point where medical skill can do no more and "gives him up" to die. Is there such a point in his spiritual course?

1 . In nations. Men have contended that some races have been reduced to such a depth of demoralization and brutality that they are irrecoverably lost to virtue and piety. But Christian missions have effectually and finally disposed of this contention.

2 . In individual men. The idea of the restoration of fallen and degraded men is essentially Christian. The most pious and charitable Jew never thought of praying for the redemption of the publican he saw at the counter or the harlot he met in the street; he was astonished and indignant that the great Teacher should address himself to such as these. But as there was no one too far gone in sickness for the Lord to heal, so was there no one too foul or too guilty for him to save and to restore. He did not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax. To the repentant publican he said, "This man is a son of Abraham;" to the weeping woman, "Daughter, thy sins are forgiven thee: go in peace. " This spirit of patient hopefulness is to be our spirit: