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3 lines
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<p>Here is, I. The time fixed for the continuance of the desolations of Tyre, which were not to be perpetual desolations: <i>Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Isa.23.15" href="/passage/?search=Isa.23.15">Isa. 23:15</a>. So long it shall lie neglected and buried in obscurity. It was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar much about the time that Jerusalem was, and lay as long as it did in its ruins. See the folly of that proud ambitious conqueror. What the richer, what the stronger, was he for making himself master of Tyre, when all the inhabitants were driven out of it and he had none of his own subjects to spare for the replenishing and fortifying of it? It is surprising to see what pleasure men could take in destroying cities and making <i>their memorial perish with them</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Ps.9.6" href="/passage/?search=Ps.9.6">Ps. 9:6</a>. He trampled on the pride of Tyre, and therein served God’s purpose; but with greater pride, for which God soon after humbled him.</p>
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<p class="tab-1">II. A prophecy of the restoration of Tyre to its glory again: <i>After the end of seventy years, according to the years of one king</i>, or one dynasty or family of kings, that of Nebuchadnezzar; when that expired, the desolations of Tyre came to an end. And we may presume that Cyrus at the same time when he released the Jews, and encouraged them to rebuild Jerusalem, released the Tyrians also, and encouraged them to rebuild Tyre. Thus the prosperity and adversity of places, as well as persons, are <i>set the one over against the other</i>, that the most glorious cities may not be secure nor the most ruinous despair. It is foretold, 1. That God’s providence shall gain smile upon this ruined city (<a class="bibleref" title="Isa.23.17" href="/passage/?search=Isa.23.17">Isa. 23:17</a>): <i>The Lord will visit Tyre</i> in mercy; for, though he contend, he will not contend for ever. It is not said, Her old acquaintance shall visit her, the colonies she has planted, and the trading cities she has had correspondence with (they have forgotten her); but, The Lord shall visit her by some unthought-of turn; he shall cause his indignation towards her to cease, and then things will run of course in their former channel. 2. That she shall use her best endeavours to recover her trade again. She shall sing as a harlot, that has been some time under correction for her lewdness; but, when she is set at liberty (so violent is the bent of corruption), she will use her old arts of temptation. The Tyrians having returned from their captivity, and those that remained recovering new spirits thereupon, they shall contrive how to force a trade, shall procure the best choice of goods, under-sell their neighbours, and be obliging to all customers; as a harlot that has been forgotten, when she comes to be spoken of again, recommends herself to company by singing and playing, <i>takes a harp, goes about the city</i>, perhaps in the night, serenading, <i>makes sweet melody, and sings many songs</i>. These are innocent and allowable diversions, if soberly, and moderately, and modestly used; but those that value themselves upon their virtue should not be over-fond of them, nor ambitious to excel in them, because, whatever they are now, anciently they were some of the baits with which harlots used to entice fools. Tyre shall now by degrees come to be the mart of nations again; she shall <i>return to her hire</i>, to her traffic, <i>and shall commit fornication</i> (that is, she shall have dealings in trade, for the prophet carries on the similitude of a harlot) <i>with all the kingdoms of the world</i> that she had formerly traded with in her prosperity. The love of worldly wealth is a spiritual whoredom, and therefore covetous people are called <i>adulterers and adulteresses</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Jas.4.4" href="/passage/?search=Jas.4.4">Jas. 4:4</a>), and covetousness is spiritual idolatry. 3. That, having recovered her trade again, she shall make a better use of it than she had done formerly; and this good she should get by her calamities (<a class="bibleref" title="Isa.23.18" href="/passage/?search=Isa.23.18">Isa. 23:18</a>): <i>Her merchandise, and her hire, shall be holiness to the Lord</i>. The trade of Tyre, and all the gains of her trade, shall be devoted to God and to his honour and employed in his service. It shall not be treasured and hoarded up, as formerly, to be the matter of their pride and the support of their carnal confidence; but it shall be laid out in acts of piety and charity. What they can spare from the maintenance of themselves and their families <i>shall be for those that dwell before the Lord</i>, for the priests, the Lord’s ministers, that attend in his temple at Jerusalem; not to maintain them in pomp and grandeur, but that they and theirs may <i>eat sufficiently</i>, may have food convenient for them, with as little as may be of that care which would divert them from their ministration, and that they may have, not rich and fine clothing, but <i>durable clothing</i>, that which is strong and la
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