III. _"We shall be able to shake ourselves loose from our evil habits by and by."_ They imagine that they can repent and reform at any time, and they are firmly resolved to do so before death. Perhaps there could not be found a single sinner who does not secretly cherish in his breast wicked Balaam's desire, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!" But this idea that men can repent and reform at any time is a delusion. As men continue in sin (1) _The power to reform decays._ (2) _The desire to reform dies out._ The love of sin takes entire possession of the man. It enwraps him as ivy unchecked will enwrap a tree; at first with no more strength than a child's finger, in the end with the strength of a thousand giants. It is the oldest sinners who cling to their vices most desperately, who are bound by them as by cart-ropes. (3) _The opportunities for reform rapidly diminish and often end unexpectedly_ (Prov. xxix. 1; 1 Thess. v. 3). Inquire by what cords of vanity _you_ are bound. Break them! (Dan. iv. 27.) Look to Jesus, who came into the world for the very purpose of setting at liberty them that are bound. FOOTNOTES: [1] See Notes on CORDS OF VANITY, pp. 121, 122. THE PROPHET'S CALL. vi. 1-12. _In the year that King Uzziah died, &c._ We have here the history of Isaiah's call to his great life-work. Perhaps in a modern biography this chapter would have been placed first. But there was wisdom in placing it where it stands; it was well to give some insight into the real character of the men along who Isaiah was called to labour, for thus we are enabled more easily to understand the nature of the mission on which he was sent.[1] Studying this chapter as a history of the prophet's call, I learn--