Essex Congregational Remembrancer Isaiah 61:1-8 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me; because the LORD has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek… Our Lord Himself directs us to consider Him as speaking in these words. I. THE DEPLORABLE OBJECTS HE REGARDS. Captives. This slavery — 1. So universal as to our species. 2. Dreadful in its operations upon the individual. Voluntary, and submitted to as though it were a blessing rather than a curse. 4. Diversified as to the degree of its influence and the manner of its operations. 5. Cruel in its present effects and inconceivably more wretched in its final results. Men are guilty as well as enslaved. II. THE GRACIOUS DESIGN OF THE OFFICE WHICH HE SUSTAINS. To effect deliverance for the captives. To this He is consecrated by the Spirit of the Lord. 1. By Him the claims of justice are perfectly satisfied. 2. Christ dissolves or breaks the power which leads us captive. 3. He induces the captive to accept deliverance when it is offered to him. 4. He renders their deliverance permanent, and prevents them from being again entangled in the yoke of bondage. III. THE CORRESPONDING MANNER IN WHICH HIS GRACIOUS DESIGN IS TO BE MADE KNOWN. By proclamation. 1. It indicates that His office and its design are to be made universally known. 2. It is intended to excite universal attention — to create the most deep and lively interest. It is a proclamation which at once demands and deserves attention. 3. It shows that deliverance is to be effected in a way perfectly consistent with the freedom of human agency. 4. It is in such a way as to secure the glory of their deliverance to Him who thus proclaims it. (Essex Congregational Remembrancer.) Parallel Verses KJV: The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; |
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