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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Isaiah XXXV].</TITLE>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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<CENTER>
<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>I S A I A H.</B></FONT>
<BR>
<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXXV.</FONT>
<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
</CENTER>
<FONT SIZE=-1>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
As after a prediction of God's judgments upon the world
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+24:1-23"><I>ch.</I> xxiv.</A>)
follows a promise of great mercy to be had in store for his church
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+25:1-2"><I>ch.</I> xxv.</A>),
so here after a black and dreadful scene of confusion in the foregoing
chapter we have, in this, a bright and pleasant one, which, though it
foretel the flourishing estate of Hezekiah's kingdom in the latter part
of his reign, yet surely looks as far beyond that as the prophecy in
the foregoing chapter does beyond the destruction of the Edomites; both
were typical, and it concerns us most to look at those things which
they were typical of, the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of heaven.
When the world, which lies in wickedness, shall be laid in ruins, and
the Jewish church, which persisted in infidelity, shall become a
desolation, then the gospel church shall be set up and made to
flourish.
I. The Gentiles shall be brought into it,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:1,2,7">ver. 1, 2, 7</A>.
II. The well-wishers to it, who were weak and timorous, shall be
encouraged,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:3,4">ver. 3, 4</A>.
III. Miracles shall be wrought both on the souls and on the bodies of
men,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:5,6">ver. 5, 6</A>.
IV. The gospel church shall be conducted in the way of holiness,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:8,9">ver. 8, 9</A>.
V. It shall be brought at last to endless joys,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:10">ver. 10</A>.
Thus do we find more of Christ and heaven in this chapter than one
would have expected in the Old Testament.</P>
</FONT>
<A NAME="Isa35_1"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa35_2"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa35_3"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa35_4"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Blessings of the Gospel.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 720.</TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them;
and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
&nbsp; 2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and
singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the
excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, <I>and</I> the excellency of our God.
&nbsp; 3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
&nbsp; 4 Say to them <I>that are</I> of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear
not: behold, your God will come <I>with</I> vengeance, <I>even</I> God
<I>with</I> a recompence; he will come and save you.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
In these verses we have,</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
I. The desert land blooming. In the foregoing chapter we had a populous
and fruitful country turned into a horrid wilderness; here we have in
lieu of that, a wilderness turned into a good land. When the land of
Judah was freed from the Assyrian army, those parts of the country that
had been made as a wilderness by the ravages and outrages they
committed began to recover themselves, and to look pleasantly again,
and to blossom as the rose. When the Gentile nations, that had been
long as a wilderness, bringing forth no fruit to God, received the
gospel, joy came with it to them,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+67:3,4,96:11,12">Ps. lxvii. 3, 4; xcvi. 11, 12</A>.
When Christ was preached in Samaria there was <I>great joy in that
city</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+8:8">Acts viii. 8</A>);
those that sat in darkness saw a great and joyful light, and then they
blossomed, that is, gave hopes of abundance of fruit; for that was it
which the preachers of the gospel aimed at
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+15:16">John xv. 16</A>),
to <I>go and bring forth fruit,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+1:13,Col+1:6">Rom. i. 13; Col. i. 6</A>.
Though blossoms are not fruit, and often miscarry and come to nothing,
yet they are in order to fruit. Converting grace makes the soul that
was <I>a wilderness to rejoice with joy and singing,</I> and to
<I>blossom abundantly.</I> This flourishing desert shall have all
<I>the glory of Lebanon</I> given to it, which consisted in the
strength and stateliness of its cedars, together with <I>the excellency
of Carmel and Sharon,</I> which consisted in corn and cattle. Whatever
is valuable in any institution is brought into the gospel. All the
beauty of the Jewish church was admitted into the Christian church, and
appeared in its perfection, as the apostle shows at large in his
epistle to the Hebrews. Whatever was excellent an desirable in the
Mosaic economy is translated into the evangelical institutes.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. The glory of God shining forth: <I>They shall see the glory of the
Lord.</I> God will manifest himself more than ever in his grace and
love to mankind (for that is his glory and excellency), and he shall
give them eyes to see it, and hearts to be duly affected with it. This
is that which will make the desert blossom. The more we see by faith of
the glory of the Lord and the excellency of our God the more joyful and
the more fruitful shall we be.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
III. The feeble and faint-hearted encouraged,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>.
God's prophets and ministers are in a special manner charged, by virtue
of their office, to <I>strengthen the weak hands,</I> to comfort those
who could not yet recover the fright they had been put into by the
Assyrian army with an assurance that God would now return in mercy to
them. This is the design of the gospel,
1. To strengthen those that are weak and to confirm them--the weak
hands, which are unable either to work or fight, and can hardly be
lifted up in prayer, and the feeble knees, which are unable either to
stand or walk and unfit for the race set before us. The gospel
furnishes us with strengthening considerations, and shows us where
strength is laid up for us. Among true Christians there are many that
have weak hands and feeble knees, that are yet but babes in Christ; but
it is our duty to strengthen our brethren
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:32">Luke xxii. 32</A>),
not only to bear with the weak, but to do what we can to confirm them,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+15:1,1Th+5:14">Rom. xv. 1; 1 Thess. v. 14</A>.
It is our duty also to strengthen ourselves, to lift up <I>the hands
which hang down</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+12:12">Heb. xii. 12</A>),
improving the strength God has given us, and exerting it.
2. To animate those that are timorous and discouraged: <I>Say to those
that are of a fearful heart,</I> because of their own weakness and the
strength of their enemies, that are <I>hasty</I> (so the word is), that
are for betaking themselves to flight upon the first alarm, and giving
up the cause, that say, in their haste, "We are cut off and undone"
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+31:22">Ps. xxxi. 22</A>),
there is enough in the gospel to silence these fears; it says to them,
and let them say it to themselves and one to another, <I>Be strong,
fear not.</I> Fear is weakening; the more we strive against it the
stronger we are both for doing and suffering; and, for our
encouragement to strive, he that says to us, <I>Be strong</I> has laid
help for us upon one that is mighty.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
IV. Assurance given of the approach of a Saviour: "<I>Your God will
come with vengeance.</I> God will appear for you against your enemies,
will recompense both their injuries and your losses." The Messiah will
come, in the fulness of time, to take vengeance on the powers of
darkness, to spoil them, and make a show of them openly, to recompense
those that mourn in Zion with abundant comforts. <I>He will come and
save us.</I> With the hopes of this the Old-Testament saints
strengthened their weak hands. He will come again at the end of time,
will come in flaming fire, to recompense tribulation to those who have
troubled his people, and, to those who were troubled, rest, such a rest
as will be not only a final period to, but a full reward of, all their
troubles,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:6,7">2 Thess. i. 6, 7</A>.
Those whose <I>hearts tremble for the ark of God,</I> and who are under
a concern for his church in the world, may silence their fears with
this, God will take the work into his own hands. Your God will come,
who pleads your cause and owns your interest, even God himself, who is
God alone.</P>
<A NAME="Isa35_5"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa35_6"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa35_7"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa35_8"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa35_9"> </A>
<A NAME="Isa35_10"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Blessings of the Gospel.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 720.</TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of
the deaf shall be unstopped.
&nbsp; 6 Then shall the lame <I>man</I> leap as a hart, and the tongue of
the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and
streams in the desert.
&nbsp; 7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty
land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each
lay, <I>shall be</I> grass with reeds and rushes.
&nbsp; 8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be
called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it;
but it <I>shall be</I> for those: the wayfaring men, though fools,
shall not err <I>therein.</I>
&nbsp; 9 No lion shall be there, nor <I>any</I> ravenous beast shall go up
thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk
<I>there:</I>
&nbsp; 10 And the ransomed of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> shall return, and come to Zion
with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall
obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
"<I>Then,</I> when your God shall come, even Christ, to set up his
kingdom in the world, to which all the prophets bore witness,
especially towards the conclusion of their prophecies of the temporal
deliverances of the church, and this evangelical prophet
especially--then look for great things."</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
I. Wonders shall be wrought in the kingdoms both of nature and grace,
wonders of mercy wrought upon the children of men, sufficient to evince
that it is no less than a God that comes to us.
1. Wonders shall be wrought on men's bodies
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:5,6"><I>v.</I> 5, 6</A>):
<I>The eyes of the blind shall be opened;</I> this was often done by
our Lord Jesus when he was here upon earth, with a word's speaking, and
one he gave sight to that was <I>born</I> blind,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+9:27,12:22,20:30,Joh+9:6">Matt. ix. 27; xii. 22; xx. 30; John ix. 6</A>.
By his power the ears of the deaf also were unstopped, with one word.
<I>Ephphatha--Be opened,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+7:34">Mark vii. 34</A>.
Many that were lame had the use of their limbs restored so perfectly
that they could not only go, but <I>leap,</I> and with so much joy to
them that they could not forbear leaping for joy, as that impotent man,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+3:8">Acts iii. 8</A>.
The dumb also were enabled to speak, and then no marvel that they were
disposed to sing for joy,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+9:32,33">Matt. ix. 32, 33</A>.
These miracles Christ wrought to prove that he was sent of God
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:2">John iii. 2</A>),
nay, working them by his own power and in his own name, he proved that
he was God, the same who at first made man's mouth, the hearing ear,
and the seeing eye. When he would prove to John's disciples his divine
mission he did it by miracles of this kind, in which this scripture was
fulfilled.
2. Wonders, greater wonders, shall be wrought on men's souls. By the
word and Spirit of Christ those that were spiritually blind were
enlightened
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+26:18">Acts xxvi. 18</A>),
those that were deaf to the calls of God were made to hear them
readily, so Lydia, whose heart <I>the Lord opened,</I> so <I>that she
attended,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:14">Acts xvi. 14</A>.
Those that were impotent to every thing that is good by divine grace
are made, not only able for it, but active in it, and run the way of
God's commandments. Those also that were dumb, and knew not how to
speak of God or to God, having their understandings opened to know him,
shall thereby have their lips opened to show forth his praise. The
tongue of the dumb shall sing for joy, the joy of God's salvation.
Praise shall be perfected out of the mouth of babes and sucklings.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. The Spirit shall be poured out from on high. There shall be
<I>waters and streams,</I> rivers of living water; when our Saviour
spoke of these as the fulfilling of the scripture, and most probably of
this scripture, the evangelist tells us, <I>He spoke of the Spirit</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+7:38,39">John vii. 38, 39</A>),
as does also this prophet
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+32:15"><I>ch.</I> xxxii. 15</A>);
so here
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
<I>in the wilderness,</I> where one would least expect it, <I>shall
waters break out.</I> This was fulfilled when the <I>Holy Ghost fell
upon the Gentiles</I> that <I>heard the word</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+10:44">Acts x. 44</A>);
then were the fountains of life opened, whence streams flowed, that
watered the earth abundantly. These waters are said to <I>break
out,</I> which denotes a pleasing surprise to the Gentile world, such
as brought them, as it were, into a new world. The blessed effect of
this shall be that the <I>parched ground shall become a pool,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
Those that laboured and were heavily laden, under the burden of guilt,
and were scorched with the sense of divine wrath, found rest, and
refreshment, and abundant comforts in the gospel. In <I>the thirsty
land,</I> where no water was, nor ordinances
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+63:1">Ps. lxiii. 1</A>),
there shall be <I>springs of water,</I> a gospel ministry, and by that
the administration of all gospel ordinances in their purity and plenty,
which are <I>the river that makes glad the city of our God,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:4">Ps. xlvi. 4</A>.
<I>In the habitation of dragons,</I> who chose to dwell in the parched
scorched ground
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+34:9,13"><I>ch.</I> xxxiv. 9, 13</A>),
these waters shall flow, and dispossess them, so that, <I>where each
lay shall be grass with reeds and rushes,</I> great plenty of useful
productions. Thus it was when Christian churches were planted, and
flourished greatly, in the cities of the Gentiles, which, for many
ages, had been habitations of dragons, or devils rather, as Babylon
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+18:2">Rev. xviii. 2</A>);
when the property of the idols' temples was altered, and they were
converted to the service of Christianity, then the habitations of
dragons became fruitful fields.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
III. The way of religion and godliness shall be laid open: it is here
called <I>the way of holiness</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>)
the way both of holy worship and a holy conversation. Holiness is the
rectitude of the human nature and will, in conformity to the divine
nature and will. The way of holiness is that course of religious duties
in which men ought to walk and press forward, with an eye to the glory
of God and their own felicity in the enjoyment of him. "When our God
shall come to save us he shall chalk out to us this way by his gospel,
so as it had never been before described."
1. It shall be an appointed way; not a way of sufferance, but <I>a
highway,</I> a way into which we are directed by a divine authority and
in which we are protected by a divine warrant. It is the King's
highway, the King of Kings' highway, in which, though we may be
waylaid, we cannot be stopped. The <I>way of holiness</I> is the way of
God's commandments; it is (as highways usually are) the <I>good old
way,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+6:16">Jer. vi. 16</A>.
2. It shall be an appropriated way, the way in which God will bring his
own chosen to himself, but <I>the unclean shall not pass over it,</I>
either to defile it or to disturb those that walk in it. It is a way by
itself, distinguished from the way of the world, for it is a way of
separation from, and nonconformity to, this world. <I>It shall be for
those</I> whom the Lord has <I>set apart for himself</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+4:3">Ps. iv. 3</A>),
shall be reserved for them: <I>The redeemed shall walk there,</I> and
the satisfaction they take in these <I>ways of pleasantness</I> shall
be out of the reach of molestation from an evil world. <I>The unclean
shall not pass over it,</I> for it shall be a fair way; those that walk
in it are the <I>undefiled in the way,</I> who <I>escape the pollution
that is in the world.</I>
3. It shall be a straight way: <I>The wayfaring men,</I> who choose to
travel in it, <I>though fools,</I> of weak capacity in other things,
shall have such plain directions from the word and Spirit of God in
this way that they <I>shall not err therein;</I> not that they shall be
infallible even in their own conduct, or that they shall in nothing
mistake, but they shall not be guilty of any fatal misconduct, shall
not so miss their way but that they shall recover it again, and get
well to their journey's end. Those that are in the narrow way, though
some may fall into one path and others into another, not all equally
right, but all meeting at last in the same end, shall yet never fall
into the broad way again; the Spirit of truth shall lead them into all
truth that is necessary for them. Note, The way to heaven is a plain
way, and easy to hit. <I>God has chosen the foolish things of the
world,</I> and made them wise to salvation. <I>Knowledge is easy to him
that understands.</I>
4. It shall be a safe way: <I>No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous
beast</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
none <I>to hurt or destroy.</I> Those that keep close to this way keep
out of the reach of Satan the roaring lion, that wicked one touches
them not. Those that walk in the way of holiness may proceed with a
holy security and serenity of mind, knowing that nothing can do them
any real hurt; they shall be quiet from the fear of evil. It was in
Hezekiah's days, some time after the captivity of the ten tribes, that
God, being displeased with the colonies settled there, <I>sent lions
among them,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+17:25">2 Kings xvii. 25</A>.
But Judah keeps her integrity, and therefore <I>no lions shall be
there.</I> Those that walk in the <I>way of holiness</I> must separate
themselves from the unclean and the ravenous, must <I>save themselves
from an untoward generation;</I> hoping that they themselves are of the
redeemed, let them walk <I>with the redeemed</I> who <I>shall walk
there.</I></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
IV. The end of this way shall be everlasting joy,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
This precious promise of peace now will end shortly in endless joys and
rest for the soul. Here is good news for the citizens of Zion, rest to
the weary: <I>The ransomed of the Lord,</I> who therefore ought to
follow him wherever he goes
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+14:4">Rev. xiv. 4</A>),
<I>shall return and come to Zion,</I>
1. To serve and worship God in the church militant: they shall deliver
themselves out of Babylon
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+2:7">Zech. ii. 7</A>),
shall <I>ask the way to Zion</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+50:5">Jer. l. 5</A>),
and shall <I>find the way</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+52:12"><I>ch.</I> lii. 12</A>.
God will open to them a door of escape out of their captivity, and it
shall be an effectual door, though there be many adversaries. They
shall join themselves to the gospel church, that <I>Mount Zion,</I>
that <I>city of the living God,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+12:22">Heb. xii. 22</A>.
They shall come with songs of joy and praise for their deliverance out
of Babylon, where they wept upon every <I>remembrance of Zion,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+137:1">Ps. cxxxvii. 1</A>.
Those that by faith are made citizens of the gospel Zion may <I>go on
their way rejoicing</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+8:39">Acts viii. 39</A>);
they shall sing in the ways of the Lord, and be still praising him.
They rejoice in Christ Jesus, and the sorrows and signs of their
convictions are made to flee away by the power of divine consolations.
Those that mourn are blessed, for they shall be comforted.
2. To see and enjoy God in the church triumphant; those that walk in
<I>the way of holiness,</I> under guidance of their Redeemer, shall
come to Zion at last, to the heavenly Zion, shall come in a body, shall
all be presented together, <I>faultless, at the coming of Christ's
glory with exceeding joy</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jude+1:24,Re+7:17">Jude 24; Rev. vii. 17</A>);
they shall come with songs. When God's people returned out of Babylon
to Zion they came <I>weeping</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+50:4">Jer. l. 4</A>);
but they shall come to heaven singing a new song, which no man can
learn,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+14:3">Rev. xiv. 3</A>.
When they shall <I>enter into the joy of their Lord</I> it shall be
what the joys of this world never could be <I>everlasting joy,</I>
without mixture, interruption, or period. It shall not only fill their
hearts, to their own perfect and perpetual satisfaction, but it shall
be <I>upon their heads,</I> as an ornament of grace and a crown of
glory, as a garland worn in token of victory. Their joy shall be
visible, and no longer a secret thing, as it is here in this world; it
shall be proclaimed, to the glory of God and their mutual
encouragement. They shall then obtain the joy and gladness which they
could never expect on this side heaven; <I>and sorrow and sighing shall
flee away</I> for ever, as the shadows of the night before the rising
sun. Thus these prophecies, which relate to the Assyrian invasion,
conclude, for the support of the people of God under that calamity, and
to direct their joy, in their deliverance from it, to something higher.
Our joyful hopes and prospects of eternal life should swallow up both
all the sorrows and all the joys of this present time.</P>
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