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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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<HR>
<!-- (Begin Body) -->
<CENTER>
<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>I S A I A H.</B></FONT>
<BR>
<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. LX.</FONT>
<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
</CENTER>
<FONT SIZE=-1>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
This whole chapter is all to the same purport, all in the same strain;
it is a part of God's covenant with his church, which is spoken of in
the
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+59:21">last verse</A>
of the foregoing chapter, and the blessings here promised are the
fruits of the word and Spirit there promised. The long continuance of
the church, even unto the utmost ages of time, was there promised, and
here the large extent of the church, even unto the utmost regions of
the earth; and both these tend to the honour of the Redeemer. It is
here promised,
I. That the church shall be enlightened and shone upon,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
II. That it shall be enlarged and great additions made to it, to join
in the service of God,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:3-8">ver. 3-8</A>.
III. That the new converts shall be greatly serviceable to the church
and to the interests of it,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:9-13">ver. 9-13</A>.
IV. That the church shall be in great honour and reputation among men,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:14-16">ver. 14-16</A>.
V. That it shall enjoy a profound peace and tranquility,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:17,18">ver. 17, 18</A>.
VI. That, the members of it being all righteous, the glory and joy of
it shall be everlasting,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:19-22">ver. 19-22</A>.
Now this has some reference to the peaceable and prosperous condition
which the Jews were sometimes in after their return out of captivity
into their own land; but it certainly looks further, and was to have
its full accomplishment in the kingdom of the Messiah, the enlargement
of that kingdom by the bringing in of the Gentiles into it, and the
spiritual blessings in heavenly things by Christ Jesus with which it
should be enriched, and all these earnests of eternal joy and
glory.</P>
</FONT>
<A NAME="Isa60_1"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa60_2"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa60_3"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa60_4"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa60_5"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa60_6"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa60_7"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa60_8"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Extension of the Church.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 706.</TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> is risen upon thee.
&nbsp; 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross
darkness the people: but the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> shall arise upon thee, and his
glory shall be seen upon thee.
&nbsp; 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the
brightness of thy rising.
&nbsp; 4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather
themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from
far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at <I>thy</I> side.
&nbsp; 5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall
fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be
converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto
thee.
&nbsp; 6 The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of
Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall
bring gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of
the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
&nbsp; 7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee,
the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up
with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my
glory.
&nbsp; 8 Who <I>are</I> these <I>that</I> fly as a cloud, and as the doves to
their windows?
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
It is here promised that the gospel temple shall be very lightsome and
very large.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
I. It shall be very lightsome: <I>Thy light has come.</I> When the Jews
returned out of captivity they had <I>light and gladness, and joy and
honour;</I> they then were made to <I>know the Lord</I> and to
<I>rejoice in his great goodness;</I> and upon both accounts their
light came. When the Redeemer came to Zion he brought light with him,
he himself came to be a light. Now observe,
1. What this light is, and whence it springs: <I>The Lord shall arise
upon thee</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
<I>the glory of the Lord</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>)
<I>shall be seen upon thee.</I> God is the father and fountain of
lights, and it is in his light that we shall see light. As far as we
have the knowledge of God in us, and the favour of God towards us, our
light has come. When God appears to us, and we have the comfort of his
favour, then <I>the glory of the Lord rises upon us</I> as the morning
light; when he appears for us, and we have the credit of his favour,
when he shows us some token for good and proclaims his favour to us,
then his glory is seen upon us, as it was upon Israel in the <I>pillar
of cloud and fire.</I> When Christ arose as the sun of righteousness,
and in him <I>the day-spring from on high visited us,</I> then <I>the
glory of the Lord was</I> seen upon us, the glory <I>as of the
first-begotten of the Father.</I>
2. What a foil there shall be to this light: <I>Darkness shall cover
the earth;</I> but, though it be gross darkness, darkness that might be
felt, like that of Egypt, that shall overspread the people, yet the
church, like Goshen, shall have light at the same time. When the case
of the nations that have not the gospel shall be very melancholy, those
<I>dark corners of the earth</I> being <I>full of the habitations of
cruelty</I> to poor souls, the state of the church shall be very
pleasant.
3. What is the duty which the rising of this light calls for:
"<I>Arise, shine;</I> not only receive this light, and" (as the margin
reads it) "<I>be enlightened by it,</I> but reflect this light;
<I>arise and shine</I> with rays borrowed from it." The children of
light ought to shine as lights in the world. If God's glory be seen
upon us to our honour, we ought not only with our lips, but in our
lives, to return the praise of it <I>to his honour,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+5:16,Php+2:15">Matt. v. 16; Phil. ii. 15</A>.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. It shall be very large. When the Jews were settled again in their
own land, after their captivity, many of the people of the land joined
themselves to them; but it does not appear that there ever was any such
numerous accession to them as would answer the fulness of this
prophecy; and therefore we must conclude that this looks further, to
the bringing of the Gentiles into the gospel church, not their flocking
to one particular place, though under that type it is here described.
There is no place now that is the centre of the church's unity; but the
promise respects their flocking to Christ, and coming by faith, and
hope, and holy love, into that society which is incorporated by the
charter of his gospel, and of the unity of which he only is the
centre--that family which is named from him,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:15">Eph. iii. 15</A>.
The gospel church is expressly called <I>Zion</I> and <I>Jerusalem,</I>
and under that notion all believers are said to <I>come</I> to it
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+12:22">Heb. xii. 22</A>.
<I>You have come unto Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the
heavenly Jerusalem</I>), which serves for a key to this prophecy,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+2:19">Eph. ii. 19</A>.
Observe,</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
1. What shall invite such multitudes to the church: "They shall <I>come
to thy light and to the brightness of thy rising,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
They shall be allured to join themselves to thee,"
(1.) "By the light that shines upon thee," the light of the glorious
gospel, which the churches hold forth, in consequence of which they are
called <I>golden candlesticks.</I> This light which discovers so much
of God and his good will to man, by which life and immortality are
brought to light, this shall invite all the serious well-affected part
of mankind to come and join themselves to the church, that they may
have the benefit of this light to inform them concerning truth and
duty.
(2.) "By the light with which thou shinest." The purity and love of the
primitive Christians, their heavenly-mindedness, contempt of the world,
and patient sufferings, were the brightness of the church's rising,
which drew many into it. The beauty of holiness was the powerful
attractive by which Christ had a willing people brought to him in
<I>the day of his power,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+110:3">Ps. cx. 3</A>.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
2. What multitudes shall come to the church. Great numbers <I>shall
come, Gentiles</I> (or <I>nations</I>) <I>of those that are saved,</I>
as it is expressed with allusion to this,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:24">Rev. xxi. 24</A>.
<I>Nations</I> shall be <I>discipled</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+28:19">Matt. xxviii. 19</A>),
and even kings, men of figure, power, and influence, shall be <I>added
to the church.</I> They come from all parts
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
<I>Lift up thy eyes round about, and see</I> them coming, <I>devout men
out of every nation under heaven,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+2:5">Acts ii. 5</A>.
See how <I>white the fields are already to the harvest,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+4:35">John iv. 35</A>.
See them coming in a body, as one man, and with one consent: They
<I>gather themselves together,</I> that they may strengthen one
another's hands, and encourage one another. <I>Come, and let us go,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+2:3"><I>ch.</I> ii. 3</A>.
"They come from the remotest parts: <I>They come to thee from far,</I>
having <I>heard the report</I> of thee, as the queen of Sheba, or
<I>seen thy star in the east,</I> as the wise men, and they will not be
discouraged by the length of the journey from coming to thee. There
shall come some of both sexes. Sons and daughters shall come in the
most dutiful manner, as thy sons and thy daughters, resolved to be of
thy family, to submit to the laws of thy family and put themselves
under the tuition of it. They shall come <I>to be nursed at thy
side,</I> to have their education with thee from their cradle." The
church's children must be nursed at her side, not sent out to be nursed
among strangers; there, where alone the unadulterated milk of the word
is to be had, must the church's new-born babes be nursed, <I>that they
may grow thereby,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+2:1,2">1 Pet. ii. 1, 2</A>.
Those that would enjoy the dignities and privileges of Christ's family
must submit to the discipline of it.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
3. What they shall bring with them and what advantage shall accrue to
the church by their accession to it. Those that are brought into the
church by the grace of God will be sure to bring all they are worth in
with them, which with themselves they will devote to the honour and
service of God and do good with in their places.
(1.) The merchants shall write <I>holiness to the Lord</I> upon their
merchandise and their hire, as
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:18"><I>ch.</I> xxiii. 18</A>.
"<I>The abundance of the sea,</I> either the wealth that is fetched out
of the sea (the fish, the pearls) or that which is imported by sea,
<I>shall</I> all <I>be converted to thee</I> and to thy use." The
wealth of the rich merchants shall be laid out in works of piety and
charity.
(2.) The mighty men of the nations shall employ their might in the
service of the church: "<I>The forces,</I> or troops, <I>of the
Gentiles shall come unto thee,</I> to guard thy coasts, strengthen thy
interests, and, if occasion be, to fight thy battles." The forces of
the Gentiles had often been against the church, but now they shall be
for it; for as God, when he pleases, can, and, when we please him,
will, make even <I>our enemies to be at peace with us</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+16:7">Prov. xvi. 7</A>),
so, when Christ overcomes the strong man armed, he divides his spoils,
and makes that to serve his interests which had been used against them,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+11:22">Luke xi. 22</A>.
(3.) The wealth imported by land-carriage, as well as that by sea,
shall be made use of in the service of God and the church
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
<I>The camels and dromedaries that bring gold and incense</I> (gold to
make the golden altar of and incense and sweet perfumes to burn upon
it), <I>those of Midian and Sheba,</I> shall bring the richest
commodities of their country, not to trade with, but to honour God
with, and not in small quantities, but camel-loads of them. This was in
part fulfilled when the <I>wise men of the east</I> (perhaps some of
the countries here mentioned), drawn by the brightness of the star,
came to Christ, and presented to him treasures of <I>gold,
frankincense, and myrrh,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+2:11">Matt. ii. 11</A>.
(4.) Great numbers of sacrifices shall be brought to God's altar,
acceptable sacrifices, and, though brought by Gentiles, they shall find
acceptance,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
<I>Kedar</I> was famous for flocks, and probably the fattest rams were
those of <I>Nebaioth;</I> these shall come up with acceptance on God's
altar. God must be served and honoured with what we have, according as
he has blessed us, and with the best we have. This was fulfilled when
by the decree of Darius the governors beyond the rivers (perhaps of
some of these countries) were ordered to furnish the temple at
Jerusalem <I>with bullocks, rams, and lambs, for the burnt-offering of
the God of heaven,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:9">Ezra vi. 9</A>.
It had a further accomplishment, and we trust will have, in the
bringing in of the fulness of the Gentiles to the church, which is
called the <I>sacrificing</I> or <I>offering up of the Gentiles</I>
unto God,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+15:16">Rom. xv. 16</A>.
The flocks and rams are precious souls; for they are said to minister
to the church, and to come up as living sacrifices, presenting
themselves to God by a <I>reasonable service</I> on <I>his altar,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+12:1">Rom. xii. 1</A>.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
4. How God shall be honoured by the increase of the church and the
accession of such numbers to it.
(1.) They shall intend the honour of God's name in it. When they bring
their gold and incense it shall not be to show the riches of their
country, nor to gain applause to themselves for piety and devotion, but
to <I>show forth the praises of the Lord,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
Our greatest services and gifts to the church are not acceptable
further than we have an eye to the glory of God in them. And this must
be our business in our attendance on public ordinances, to <I>give unto
the Lord the glory due to his name;</I> for <I>therefore,</I> as these
here, we are called out of darkness into light, that we should <I>show
forth the praises of him that called us,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+2:9">1 Pet. ii. 9</A>.
(2.) God will advance the honour of his own name by it; so he has said
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
<I>I will glorify the house of my glory.</I> The church is the house of
God's glory, where he manifests his glory to his people and receives
that homage by which they do honour to him. And it is for the glory of
this house, and of him that keeps house there, both that the Gentiles
shall bring their offerings to it and that they shall be accepted
therein.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
5. How the church shall herself be affected with this increase of her
numbers,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
(1.) She shall be in a transport of joy upon this account: "<I>Thou
shalt see</I> and <I>flow together</I>" (or flow to and fro), "as in a
pleasing agitation about it, surprised at it, but extremely glad of
it."
(2.) There shall be a mixture of fear with this joy: "<I>Thy heart
shall fear,</I> doubting whether it be lawful to <I>go in to the
uncircumcised</I> and <I>eat with them.</I>" Peter was so impressed
with this fear that he needed a vision and voice from heaven to help
him over it,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+10:28">Acts x. 28</A>.
But,
(3.) "When this fear is conquered thy heart shall be enlarged in holy
love, so enlarged that thou shalt have room in it for all the Gentile
converts; thou shalt not have such a narrow soul as thou hast had nor
affections so confined within the Jewish pale." When God intends the
beauty and prosperity of his church he gives this largeness of heart
and an extensive charity.
(4.) These converts flocking to the church shall be greatly admired
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>):
<I>Who are these that fly as a cloud?</I> Observe,
[1.] How the conversion of souls is here described. It is flying to
Christ and to his church, for thither we are directed; it is flying
like a cloud, though in great multitudes, so as to overspread the
heavens, yet with great unanimity, all as one cloud. They shall come
with speed, as a cloud flying on the wings of the wind, and come
openly, and in the view of all, <I>their</I> very <I>enemies beholding
them</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+11:12">Rev. xi. 12</A>),
and yet not able to hinder them. They shall <I>fly as doves to their
windows,</I> in great flights, many together; they fly on the wings of
the harmless dove, which flies low, denoting their innocency and
humility. They fly to Christ, to the church, to the word and
ordinances, as doves, by instinct, to their own windows, to their own
home; thither they fly for refuge and shelter when they are pursued by
the birds of prey, and thither they fly for rest when they have been
wandering and are weary, as Noah's dove to the ark.
[2.] How the conversion of souls is here admired. It is spoken of with
wonder and pleasure: <I>Who are these?</I> We have reason to wonder
that so many flock to Christ: when we see them all together we shall
wonder whence they all came. And we have reason to admire with pleasure
and affection those that do flock to him: <I>Who are these?</I> How
excellent, how amiable are they! What a pleasant sight is it to see
poor souls hastening to Christ, with a full resolution to abide with
him!</P>
<A NAME="Isa60_9"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa60_10"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa60_11"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa60_12"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa60_13"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa60_14"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Enlargement of the Church.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 706.</TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish
first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold
with them, unto the name of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God, and to the Holy One
of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.
&nbsp; 10 And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and
their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote
thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.
&nbsp; 11 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall
not be shut day nor night; that <I>men</I> may bring unto thee the
forces of the Gentiles, and <I>that</I> their kings <I>may be</I> brought.
&nbsp; 12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall
perish; yea, <I>those</I> nations shall be utterly wasted.
&nbsp; 13 The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the
pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my
sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
&nbsp; 14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending
unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves
down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city
of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
The promises made to the church in the
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:1-8">foregoing verses</A>
are here repeated, ratified, and enlarged upon, designed still for the
comfort and encouragement of the Jews after their return out of
captivity, but certainly looking further, to the enlargement and
advancement of the gospel church and the abundance of spiritual
blessings with which it shall be enriched.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
I. God will be very gracious and propitious to them. We must begin with
that promise, because thence all the rest take rise. The sanctuary that
was desolate begins to be repaired when God <I>causes his face to shine
upon it,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+9:17">Dan. ix. 17</A>.
All the favour that the people of God find with men is owing to the
light of God's countenance and his favour to them
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
"All shall now make court to thee, <I>for in my wrath I smote thee,</I>
while thou wast in captivity" (and the sufferings of the church,
especially by its corruptions, decays, and divisions, against which
these promises will be its relief, are sad tokens of God's
displeasure), "But now <I>in my favour have I had mercy on thee,</I>
and therefore have all this mercy in store for thee."</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. Many shall be brought into the church, even from far countries
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
<I>Surely the isles shall wait for me,</I> shall welcome the gospel,
and shall attend God with their praises for it and their ready
subjection to it. <I>The ships of Tarshish,</I> transport-ships, shall
lie ready to carry members from far distant regions to the church, or
(which is equivalent) to carry the ministers of the church to remote
parts, to preach the gospel and to bring in souls to join themselves to
the Lord. Observe,
1. Who are brought--<I>thy sons,</I> that is, such as are designed to
be so, those <I>children of God that are scattered abroad,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+11:52">John xi. 52</A>.
2. What they shall bring with them. They live at such a distance that
they cannot bring their flocks and their rams; but, like those who
lived remote from Jerusalem (who, when they came up to worship at the
feast, because they could not bring their tithes in kind, turned them
into money), they shall <I>bring their silver and gold with them.</I>
Note, When we give up ourselves to God we must with ourselves give up
all we have to him. If we honour him with our spirits, we shall honour
him with our substance.
3. To whom they shall devote and dedicate themselves and all they are
worth--<I>to the name of the Lord thy God,</I> to God as the Lord of
all and the church's God and King, even to the <I>Holy One of
Israel</I> (whom Israel worships as a Holy One, in the beauty of
holiness), <I>because he has glorified thee.</I> Note, The honour God
puts upon his church and people should not only engage us to honour
them, but invite us to join ourselves to them. <I>We will go with you,
for God is with you,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+8:23">Zech. viii. 23</A>.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
III. Those that come into the church shall be welcome; for so spacious
is the holy city that though, <I>Lord, it is done as thou hast
commanded, yet still there is room. "Therefore thy gates shall be open
continually</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
not only because thou hast no reason to fear thy enemies, but because
thou hast reason to expect thy friends." It is usual with us to leave
our doors open, or leave some one ready to open them, all night, if we
look for a child or a guest to come in late. Note, Christ is always
ready to entertain those that come to him, is never out of the way, nor
can they ever come unseasonably; the gate of mercy is always open,
night and day, or shall soon be opened to those that knock. Ministers,
the door-keepers, must be always ready to admit those that offer
themselves to the Lord. God not only keeps a good house in his church,
but he keeps open house, that at any time, by the preaching of the
word, <I>in season and out of season, the forces of the Gentiles,</I>
and the kings or commanders of those forces, <I>may be brought</I> into
the church. <I>Lift up your heads, O you gates!</I> and let such
welcome guests as these come in.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
IV. All that are about the church shall be made in some way or other
serviceable to it. Though dominion is far from being founded in men's
grace, it is founded in God's; and he that made the inferior creatures
useful to man will make the nations of men useful to the church. The
earth helped the woman. <I>All things are for your sakes.</I> So here
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
"Even <I>the sons of strangers,</I> that have neither knowledge of thee
nor kindness for thee, that have always been <I>aliens to the
commonwealth of Israel,</I> even they <I>shall build up thy wall, and
their kings shall</I> in that and other things <I>ministers unto
thee</I> and not think it any disparagement to them to do so." This was
fulfilled when the king of Persia, and the governors of the provinces
by his order, were aiding and assisting Nehemiah in building the wall
about Jerusalem. Rather than Jerusalem's walls shall lie still in
ruins, the <I>sons of the stranger</I> shall be raised up to build
them. Even those that do not belong to the church may be a protection
to it. And the greatest of men should not think it below them to
minister to the church, but rejoice that they are in a capacity, and
have a heart, to do it any service. Nay, it is the duty of all to do
what they can in their places to advance the interests of God's kingdom
among men; it is at their peril if they do not; for
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
<I>The nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish;</I>
not that they must perish by the sword or by human anathemas, or as if
this gave any countenance to the using of external force for the
propagating of the gospel, or as if men might be compelled by penalties
and punishments to come into the church; by no means. But those who
will not by faith submit to Jesus Christ, the King of the church, and
serve him, shall perish eternally,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+2:12">Ps. ii. 12</A>.
Those that will not be subject to Christ's golden sceptre, to the
government of his word and Spirit, that will not be brought under, or
kept in, by the discipline of his family, shall be broken in pieces by
his iron rod. <I>Bring them forth and slay them before me,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+19:27">Luke xix. 27</A>.
Nations of such shall be utterly and eternally wasted, when Christ
shall come to take vengeance on those that <I>obey not his gospel,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:8">2 Thess. i. 8</A>.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
V. There shall be abundance of beauty added to the ordinances of divine
worship
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
<I>The glory of Lebanon,</I> the strong and stately cedars that grow
there, <I>shall come unto thee,</I> as of old to Solomon, when he built
the temple
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+2:16">2 Chron. ii. 16</A>),
and with them shall be brought other timber, proper for the carved work
thereof, which the enemy had broken down,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+74:5,6">Ps. lxxiv. 5, 6</A>.
The temple, the <I>place of God's sanctuary,</I> shall be not only
rebuilt, but beautified. It is the <I>place of his feet,</I> where he
rests and resides,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+43:7">Ezek. xliii. 7</A>.
The ark is called his <I>footstool,</I> because it was under the
mercy-seat,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+132:7">Ps. cxxxii. 7</A>.
This he will make glorious in the eyes of his people and of all their
neighbours. <I>The glory of the latter house,</I> to which this refers,
though in many instances inferior, was yet really <I>greater than the
glory of the former,</I> because Christ came to that temple,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+3:1">Mal. iii. 1</A>.
It was likewise <I>adorned with goodly stones and gifts</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+21:5">Luke xxi. 5</A>),
to which this promise may have some reference; yet so slightly did
Christ speak of them there that we must suppose it to have its full
accomplishment in the beauties of holiness, and the graces and comforts
of the Spirit, with which gospel ordinances are adorned and
enriched.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
VI. The church shall appear truly great and honourable,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
The people of the Jews, after their return out of captivity, by degrees
became more considerable, and made a better figure than one would have
expected, after they had been so much reduced, and than any of the
other nations recovered that had been in like manner humbled by the
Chaldeans. It is probable that many of those who had oppressed them in
Babylon, when they were themselves driven out by the Persians, made
their court to the Jews for shelter and supply and were willing to
scrape acquaintance with them. This prophecy is further fulfilled when
those that have been enemies to the church are wrought upon by the
grace of God to see their error, and come, and join themselves to it:
"<I>The sons of those that afflicted thee,</I> if not they themselves,
yet their children, shall crouch to thee, shall beg pardon for their
folly and beg an interest in thy favour and admission into thy family,"
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+2:36">1 Sam. ii. 36</A>.
A promise like this is made to the church of Philadelphia,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:9">Rev. iii. 9</A>.
And it is intended to be,
1. A mortification to the proud oppressors of the church, that have
afflicted her, and despised her, and taken a pleasure in doing so; they
shall be brought down; their spirits shall be broken, and their
condition shall be so mean and miserable that they shall be glad to be
obliged to those whom they have most studied to disoblige. Note, Sooner
or later God will pour contempt upon those that put contempt upon his
people.
2. An exaltation to the poor oppressed ones of the church; and this is
the honour that shall be done to them, they shall have an opportunity
of doing good to those who have done evil to them and saving those
alive who have afflicted and despised them. It is a pleasure to a good
man, and he accounts it an honour, to show mercy to those with whom he
has found no mercy. Yet this is not all. "They shall not only become
suppliants to thee for their own interest, but they shall give honour
to thee: <I>They shall call thee, The city of the Lord;</I> they shall
at length be convinced that thou art a favourite of heaven, and the
particular care of the divine providence." That city is truly great and
honourable, it is strong, it is rich, it is safe, it is beautiful, it
is the most desirable place that can be to live in, which is <I>the
city of the Lord,</I> which he owns, in which he dwells, in which
religion is uppermost. Such a one is Zion; it is the place which God
has chosen to put his name there; it is <I>the Zion of the Holy One of
Israel;</I> therefore, we may be sure, it is a holy city, else the Holy
One of Israel would never be called the patron of it.</P>
<A NAME="Isa60_15"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa60_16"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa60_17"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa60_18"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa60_19"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa60_20"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa60_21"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa60_22"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Glory of the Church.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 706.</TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>15 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man
went through <I>thee,</I> I will make thee an eternal excellency, a
joy of many generations.
&nbsp; 16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt
suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
<I>am</I> thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
&nbsp; 17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring
silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make
thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.
&nbsp; 18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor
destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls
Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
&nbsp; 19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for
brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
&nbsp; 20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon
withdraw itself: for the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> shall be thine everlasting light,
and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.
&nbsp; 21 Thy people also <I>shall be</I> all righteous: they shall inherit
the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my
hands, that I may be glorified.
&nbsp; 22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a
strong nation: I the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> will hasten it in his time.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
The happy and glorious state of the church is here further foretold,
referring principally and ultimately to the Christian church and the
spiritual peace of that, but under the type of that little gleam of
outward peace which the Jews sometimes enjoyed after their return out
of captivity. This is here spoken of,</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
I. As compared with what it had been. <I>This</I> made her peace and
honour the more pleasant, that her condition had been much
otherwise.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
1. She had been despised, but now she should be honoured,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:15,16"><I>v.</I> 15, 16</A>.
Jerusalem had been forsaken and hated, abandoned by her friends,
abhorred by her enemies; no man went through that desolate city, but
declined it as a rueful spectacle; it was an <I>astonishment and a
hissing.</I> But now it shall be made an eternal excellency, being
reformed from idolatry and having recovered the tokens of God's favour,
and it shall be <I>the joy</I> of good people for <I>many
generations.</I> Yet considering how short Jerusalem's excellency was,
and how short it came of the vast compass of this promise, we must look
for the full accomplishment of it in the perpetual excellencies of the
gospel church, far exceeding those of the Old-Testament church, and the
glorious privileges and advantages of the Christian religion, which are
indeed the joy of many generations. Two things are here spoken of as
her excellency and joy, in opposition to her having been forsaken and
hated:--
(1.) She shall find herself countenanced by her neighbours. The
nations, and their kings, that are brought to embrace Christianity,
shall lay themselves out for the good of the church, and maintain its
interests with the tenderness and affection that the nurse shows to the
child at her breasts
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
"<I>Thou shalt suck the milk of the Gentiles,</I> not suck their blood
(that is not the spirit of the gospel); thou <I>shalt suck the breast
of kings,</I> who shall be to thee as nursing fathers."
(2.) She shall find herself countenanced by her God: <I>"Thou shalt
know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer,</I> shalt know it
by experience; for such a salvation, such a redemption, shall be
wrought out for thee as plainly discovers itself to be the work of the
Lord, the work of a mighty one, for it is a great salvation, of the
<I>Mighty One of Jacob,</I> for it secures the welfare of all those
that are Israelites indeed." They before knew the Lord to be their God;
now they know him to be their Saviour, their Redeemer. Their Holy One
now appears their Mighty One.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
2. She had been impoverished, but now she shall be enriched, and every
thing shall be changed for the better with her,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
When those who were raised out of the dust are set among princes,
instead of brass money in their purses they have bold, and instead of
iron vessels in their houses they have silver ones, and other
improvements agreeable: so much shall the spiritual glory of the
New-Testament church exceed the external pomp and splendour of the
Jewish economy, which had no glory in comparison with that which quite
excels it,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+3:10">2 Cor. iii. 10</A>.
When we had baptism in the room of circumcision, the Lord's supper in
the room of the passover, and a gospel ministry in the room of a
Levitical priesthood, we had gold instead of brass. Sin turned gold
into brass when Rehoboam made brazen shields instead of the golden ones
he had pawned; but God's favour, when that returns, will turn brass
again into gold.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
3. She had been oppressed by her own princes, which was sadly
complained of, not only as her sin, but as her misery
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+59:14"><I>ch.</I> lix. 14</A>);
but now all the grievances of that kind shall be redressed
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>):
"<I>I will make thy officers peace;</I> men of peace shall be made
officers, and shall be indeed justices, not patrons of injustice, and
justices of peace, not instruments of trouble and vexation. They shall
<I>be peace,</I> that is, they shall sincerely seek thy welfare and by
their means thou shalt enjoy good." They shall be <I>peace,</I> for
they shall be righteousness; and <I>then</I> the peace is as a river,
when the righteousness is as the waves of the sea. Even
<I>exactors,</I> whose business it is to demand the public tribute,
though they be exact, must not be exacting, but must be just to the
subject as well as to the prince, and, according to the instructions
John Baptist gave to the publicans must <I>exact no more than is
appointed them,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+3:13">Luke iii. 13</A>.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
4. She had been insulted by her neighbours, invaded, spoiled, and
plundered; but now it shall be so no more
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>):
"<I>Violence shall no more be heard in thy land;</I> neither the
threats and triumphs of those that do violence nor the outcries and
complaints of those that suffer violence shall again be heard, but
every man shall peaceably enjoy his own. There shall be no <I>wasting
nor destruction,</I> either of persons of possessions, any where
<I>within thy borders;</I> but <I>thy walls shall be called
salvation</I> (they shall be safe, and means of safety to thee) <I>and
thy gates shall be praise,</I> praise to thee (every one shall commend
thee for the good condition they are kept in), and praise to thy God,
<I>who strengthens the bars of thy gates,</I>"
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:13">Ps. cxlvii. 13</A>.
When God's salvation is upon the walls it is fit that his praises
should be in the gates, the places of concourse.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. As completed in what it shall be. It should seem that in the close
of this chapter we are directed to look further yet, as far forward as
to the glory and happiness of heaven, under the type and figure of the
flourishing state of the church on earth, which yet was never such as
to come any thing near to what is here foretold; and several of the
images and expressions here made use of we find in the description of
the <I>new Jerusalem,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:23,22:5">Rev. xxi. 23; xxii. 5</A>.
As the prophets sometimes insensibly pass from the blessings of the
Jewish church to the spiritual blessings of the Christian church, which
are eternal, so sometimes they rise from the church militant to the
church triumphant, where, and where only, all the promised peace, and
joy, and honour will be in perfection.
1. God shall be all in all in the happiness here promised; so he is
always to true believers
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>):
<I>The sun and the moon shall be no more thy light.</I> God's people,
when they enjoy his favour, and walk in the light of his countenance,
make little account of sun and moon, and the other lights of this
world, but could walk comfortably in the light of the Lord though they
should withdraw their shining. In heaven there shall be no occasion for
sun or moon, for it is the inheritance of the saints in light, such
light as will swallow up the light of the sun as easily as the sun does
that of a candle. "Idolaters worshipped the sun and moon (which some
have thought the most ancient and plausible idolatry); but these
<I>shall be no more thy light,</I> shall no more be idolized, but the
Lord shall be to thee a constant light, both day and night, in the
night of adversity as well as in the day of prosperity." Those that
make God their only light shall have him their all-sufficient light,
their <I>sun and shield. Thy God shall be thy glory.</I> Note, God is
the glory of those whose God he is and will be so to eternity. It is
their glory that they have him for their God, and they glory in it; it
is to them instead of beauty. God's people are, upon <I>this</I>
account, an honourable people, that they have an interest in God as
their sin covenant.
2. The happiness here promised shall know no change, period, or allay
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>):
"<I>Thy sun shall no more go down,</I> but it shall be eternal day,
eternal sunshine, with thee; that shall not be thy sun which is
sometimes eclipsed, often clouded, and, though it shine ever so bright,
ever so warm, will certainly set and leave thee in the dark, in the
cold, in a few hours; but <I>he</I> shall be a sun, a fountain of light
to thee, who is himself the <I>Father of all lights,</I> with whom
there is <I>no variableness,</I> nor <I>shadow of turning,</I>"
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+1:17">James i. 17</A>.
We read of the sun's standing still once, and not hasting to go down
for the space of a day, and it was a glorious day, never was the like;
but what was that to the day that shall never have a night? Or, if it
had, it should be a light night; for <I>neither shall thy moon withdraw
itself;</I> it shall never wane, shall never change, but be always at
the full. The comforts and joys that are in heaven, the glories
provided for the soul, as the light of the sun, and those prepared for
the glorified body too, as the light of the moon, shall never know the
least cessation or interruption; how should they when <I>the Lord
shall</I> himself <I>be thy everlasting light</I>--a light which never
wastes nor can ever be extinguished? <I>And the days of thy mourning
shall be ended,</I> so as never to return; for <I>all tears shall be
wiped away,</I> and the fountains of them, sin and affliction, dried
up, so that <I>sorrow and sighing shall flee away</I> for ever.
3. Those that are entitled to this happiness, being duly prepared and
qualified for it, shall never be put out of the possession of it
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>):
<I>Thy people,</I> that shall inhabit this New Jerusalem, <I>shall all
be righteous,</I> all justified by the righteousness of the Messiah,
all sanctified by his Spirit; all that people, that Jerusalem, must be
righteous, must have that <I>holiness without which no man shall see
the Lord.</I> They are all righteous, for we know that <I>the
unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God.</I> There are no
people on earth that are all righteous; there is a mixture of some bad
in the best societies on this side heaven; but there are no mixtures
there. They shall be <I>all righteous,</I> that is, they shall be
entirely righteous; as there shall be none corrupt among them, so there
shall be no corruption in them; the <I>spirits of just men</I> shall
there be <I>made perfect.</I> And they shall be <I>all the
righteous</I> together who shall replenish the New Jerusalem; it is
called the <I>congregation of the righteous,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+1:5">Ps. i. 5</A>.
And, because they are <I>all righteous,</I> therefore <I>they shall
inherit the land for ever,</I> for nothing but sin can turn them out of
it. The perfection of the saints' holiness secures the perpetuity of
their happiness.
4. The glory of the church shall redound to the honour of the church's
God: "They shall appear to be the <I>branch of my planting, the work of
my hands,</I> and I will own them as such." It was by the grace of God
that they were designed to this happiness; they are <I>the branch of
his planting,</I> or of his plantations; he broke them off from the
wild olive and grafted them into the good olive, transplanted them out
of the field, when they were as tender branches, into his nursery,
that, being now planted in his <I>garden on earth,</I> they might
shortly be removed to his <I>paradise in heaven.</I> It was by his
grace likewise that they were prepared and fitted for this happiness;
they <I>are the work of his hands</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+2:10">Eph. ii. 10</A>),
are <I>wrought to the self-same thing,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+5:5">2 Cor. v. 5</A>.
It is a work of time, and, when it shall be finished, will appear a
work of wonder; and God will be glorified, who began it, and carried it
on; for the Lord Jesus will then be <I>admired in all those that
believe.</I> God will glorify himself in glorifying his chosen.
5. They will appear the more glorious, and God will be the more
glorified in them, if we compare what they are with what they were, the
happiness they have arrived at with the smallness of their beginnings
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>):
"<I>A little one shall become a thousand and a small one a strong
nation.</I>" The captives that returned out of Babylon strangely
multiplied, and became a strong nation. The Christian church was a
little one, a very small one at first--the number of their names was
once but 120; yet it became a thousand. The stone cut out of the
mountain without hands swelled so as to fill the earth. The triumphant
church, and every glorified saint, will be a thousand out of a little
one, a strong nation out of a small one. The grace and peace of the
saints were at first like a <I>grain of mustard-seed,</I> but they
increase and multiply, and make a little one to become a thousand, the
weak to be as David. When they come to heaven, and look back upon the
smallness of their beginning, they will wonder how they got thither.
And so wonderful is all this promise that it needed the ratification
with which it is closed: <I>I the Lord will hasten it in his
time</I>--all that is here said relating to the Jewish and Christian
church, to the militant and triumphant church, and to every particular
believer.
(1.) It may seem too difficult to be brought about, and therefore may
be despaired of; but the God of almighty power has undertaken it: "<I>I
the Lord will do it,</I> who can do it, and who have determined to do
it." It will be done by him whose power is irresistible and his
purposes unalterable.
(2.) It may seem to be delayed and put off so long that we are out of
hopes of it; but, as the Lord will do it, so he will <I>hasten it,</I>
will do it with all convenient speed; though much time may pass before
it is done, no time shall be lost; he will <I>hasten it in its
time,</I> in the proper time, in the season wherein it will be
beautiful; he will do it in the time appointed by his wisdom, though
not in the time prescribed by our folly. And this is really hastening
it; for, though it seem to tarry, it does not tarry if it come in God's
time, for we are sure that that is the best time, which he that
believes will patiently wait for.</P>
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