+II. Those who have undergone this preparation will devote themselves unreservedly to God's service.+ 1. _There will spring up spontaneously within them a desire to serve God._ They will not need to be pressed into this service; they will volunteer (ver. 8). 2. _They will not be deterred by the difficulty or painfulness of the service to which they are called._ It was a hard and distasteful service that was demanded of Isaiah--to prophesy to an unbelieving and scoffing generation (ch. v. 18, 19); to enter upon a ministry that would leave men worse than it found them (vers. 9, 10). Nor was this ministry to be brief; it was to be prolonged through many years (vers. 11, 12). Note: in sending Isaiah on such a ministry there was nothing inconsistent with the Divine righteousness or goodness. God's truth must be proclaimed, whether men will heed or reject it; and the inevitable effect of such proclamation of the truth is to render those who reject it more stupid and wicked than they were before (2 Cor. ii. 16; John ix. 39). But, painful as it was, Isaiah did not shrink from it. Nor do any who have passed through such a preparation as his. They do not ask concerning a work or duty, "Is it easy?" "Is it pleasant?" but, "Does God call me to it?" Paul: (Acts xxi. 13). +III. There is great encouragement for those who have unreservedly devoted themselves to the service of God.+ 1. _What God demands from them is not success, but faithfulness._ He did not require Isaiah to convert his fellow-countrymen, but to prophesy to them faithfully. There his responsibility began and ended. So is it with preachers, teachers, and priests to-day. Men measure by success, but God by faithfulness. What a difference is the result, _e.g.,_ in such a case as that of Carey, who laboured for years without making one convert! or in such a case as Isaiah's! 2. _No faithful servant of God will ever labour without some success._ Isaiah was not to toil altogether in vain. There was to be a wide-spread apostacy of his countrymen, but not a universal apostacy; a small remnant would still cleave to the Lord (ver. 13); and doubtless Isaiah's ministry did much to keep them in the paths of righteousness. So is it with us; much of our seed may be wasted, but not all of it (Ps. cxxvi. 6; 1 Cor. xv. 58). FOOTNOTES: