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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>I S A I A H.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXXV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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As after a prediction of God's judgments upon the world
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+24:1-23"><I>ch.</I> xxiv.</A>)
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follows a promise of great mercy to be had in store for his church
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+25:1-2"><I>ch.</I> xxv.</A>),
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so here after a black and dreadful scene of confusion in the foregoing
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chapter we have, in this, a bright and pleasant one, which, though it
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foretel the flourishing estate of Hezekiah's kingdom in the latter part
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of his reign, yet surely looks as far beyond that as the prophecy in
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the foregoing chapter does beyond the destruction of the Edomites; both
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were typical, and it concerns us most to look at those things which
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they were typical of, the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of heaven.
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When the world, which lies in wickedness, shall be laid in ruins, and
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the Jewish church, which persisted in infidelity, shall become a
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desolation, then the gospel church shall be set up and made to
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flourish.
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I. The Gentiles shall be brought into it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:1,2,7">ver. 1, 2, 7</A>.
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II. The well-wishers to it, who were weak and timorous, shall be
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encouraged,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:3,4">ver. 3, 4</A>.
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III. Miracles shall be wrought both on the souls and on the bodies of
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men,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:5,6">ver. 5, 6</A>.
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IV. The gospel church shall be conducted in the way of holiness,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:8,9">ver. 8, 9</A>.
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V. It shall be brought at last to endless joys,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:10">ver. 10</A>.
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Thus do we find more of Christ and heaven in this chapter than one
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would have expected in the Old Testament.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Isa35_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa35_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa35_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa35_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Blessings of the Gospel.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 720.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them;
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and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
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2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and
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singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the
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excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, <I>and</I> the excellency of our God.
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3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
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4 Say to them <I>that are</I> of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear
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not: behold, your God will come <I>with</I> vengeance, <I>even</I> God
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<I>with</I> a recompence; he will come and save you.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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In these verses we have,</P>
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<P>
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I. The desert land blooming. In the foregoing chapter we had a populous
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and fruitful country turned into a horrid wilderness; here we have in
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lieu of that, a wilderness turned into a good land. When the land of
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Judah was freed from the Assyrian army, those parts of the country that
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had been made as a wilderness by the ravages and outrages they
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committed began to recover themselves, and to look pleasantly again,
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and to blossom as the rose. When the Gentile nations, that had been
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long as a wilderness, bringing forth no fruit to God, received the
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gospel, joy came with it to them,
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<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>.
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When Christ was preached in Samaria there was <I>great joy in that
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city</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+8:8">Acts viii. 8</A>);
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those that sat in darkness saw a great and joyful light, and then they
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blossomed, that is, gave hopes of abundance of fruit; for that was it
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which the preachers of the gospel aimed at
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+15:16">John xv. 16</A>),
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to <I>go and bring forth fruit,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+1:13,Col+1:6">Rom. i. 13; Col. i. 6</A>.
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Though blossoms are not fruit, and often miscarry and come to nothing,
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yet they are in order to fruit. Converting grace makes the soul that
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was <I>a wilderness to rejoice with joy and singing,</I> and to
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<I>blossom abundantly.</I> This flourishing desert shall have all
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<I>the glory of Lebanon</I> given to it, which consisted in the
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strength and stateliness of its cedars, together with <I>the excellency
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of Carmel and Sharon,</I> which consisted in corn and cattle. Whatever
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is valuable in any institution is brought into the gospel. All the
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beauty of the Jewish church was admitted into the Christian church, and
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appeared in its perfection, as the apostle shows at large in his
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epistle to the Hebrews. Whatever was excellent an desirable in the
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Mosaic economy is translated into the evangelical institutes.</P>
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<P>
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II. The glory of God shining forth: <I>They shall see the glory of the
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Lord.</I> God will manifest himself more than ever in his grace and
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love to mankind (for that is his glory and excellency), and he shall
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give them eyes to see it, and hearts to be duly affected with it. This
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is that which will make the desert blossom. The more we see by faith of
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the glory of the Lord and the excellency of our God the more joyful and
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the more fruitful shall we be.</P>
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<P>
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III. The feeble and faint-hearted encouraged,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>.
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God's prophets and ministers are in a special manner charged, by virtue
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of their office, to <I>strengthen the weak hands,</I> to comfort those
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who could not yet recover the fright they had been put into by the
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Assyrian army with an assurance that God would now return in mercy to
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them. This is the design of the gospel,
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1. To strengthen those that are weak and to confirm them--the weak
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hands, which are unable either to work or fight, and can hardly be
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lifted up in prayer, and the feeble knees, which are unable either to
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stand or walk and unfit for the race set before us. The gospel
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furnishes us with strengthening considerations, and shows us where
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strength is laid up for us. Among true Christians there are many that
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have weak hands and feeble knees, that are yet but babes in Christ; but
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it is our duty to strengthen our brethren
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:32">Luke xxii. 32</A>),
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not only to bear with the weak, but to do what we can to confirm them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+15:1,1Th+5:14">Rom. xv. 1; 1 Thess. v. 14</A>.
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It is our duty also to strengthen ourselves, to lift up <I>the hands
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which hang down</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+12:12">Heb. xii. 12</A>),
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improving the strength God has given us, and exerting it.
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2. To animate those that are timorous and discouraged: <I>Say to those
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that are of a fearful heart,</I> because of their own weakness and the
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strength of their enemies, that are <I>hasty</I> (so the word is), that
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are for betaking themselves to flight upon the first alarm, and giving
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up the cause, that say, in their haste, "We are cut off and undone"
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+31:22">Ps. xxxi. 22</A>),
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there is enough in the gospel to silence these fears; it says to them,
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and let them say it to themselves and one to another, <I>Be strong,
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fear not.</I> Fear is weakening; the more we strive against it the
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stronger we are both for doing and suffering; and, for our
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encouragement to strive, he that says to us, <I>Be strong</I> has laid
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help for us upon one that is mighty.</P>
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<P>
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IV. Assurance given of the approach of a Saviour: "<I>Your God will
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come with vengeance.</I> God will appear for you against your enemies,
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will recompense both their injuries and your losses." The Messiah will
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come, in the fulness of time, to take vengeance on the powers of
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darkness, to spoil them, and make a show of them openly, to recompense
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those that mourn in Zion with abundant comforts. <I>He will come and
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save us.</I> With the hopes of this the Old-Testament saints
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strengthened their weak hands. He will come again at the end of time,
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will come in flaming fire, to recompense tribulation to those who have
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troubled his people, and, to those who were troubled, rest, such a rest
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as will be not only a final period to, but a full reward of, all their
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troubles,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:6,7">2 Thess. i. 6, 7</A>.
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Those whose <I>hearts tremble for the ark of God,</I> and who are under
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a concern for his church in the world, may silence their fears with
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this, God will take the work into his own hands. Your God will come,
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who pleads your cause and owns your interest, even God himself, who is
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God alone.</P>
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<A NAME="Isa35_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa35_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa35_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa35_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa35_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa35_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Blessings of the Gospel.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 720.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of
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the deaf shall be unstopped.
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6 Then shall the lame <I>man</I> leap as a hart, and the tongue of
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the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and
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streams in the desert.
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7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty
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land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each
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lay, <I>shall be</I> grass with reeds and rushes.
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8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be
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called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it;
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but it <I>shall be</I> for those: the wayfaring men, though fools,
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shall not err <I>therein.</I>
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9 No lion shall be there, nor <I>any</I> ravenous beast shall go up
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thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk
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<I>there:</I>
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10 And the ransomed of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> shall return, and come to Zion
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with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall
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obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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"<I>Then,</I> when your God shall come, even Christ, to set up his
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kingdom in the world, to which all the prophets bore witness,
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especially towards the conclusion of their prophecies of the temporal
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deliverances of the church, and this evangelical prophet
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especially--then look for great things."</P>
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<P>
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I. Wonders shall be wrought in the kingdoms both of nature and grace,
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wonders of mercy wrought upon the children of men, sufficient to evince
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that it is no less than a God that comes to us.
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1. Wonders shall be wrought on men's bodies
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:5,6"><I>v.</I> 5, 6</A>):
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<I>The eyes of the blind shall be opened;</I> this was often done by
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our Lord Jesus when he was here upon earth, with a word's speaking, and
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one he gave sight to that was <I>born</I> blind,
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<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>.
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By his power the ears of the deaf also were unstopped, with one word.
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<I>Ephphatha--Be opened,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+7:34">Mark vii. 34</A>.
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Many that were lame had the use of their limbs restored so perfectly
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that they could not only go, but <I>leap,</I> and with so much joy to
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them that they could not forbear leaping for joy, as that impotent man,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+3:8">Acts iii. 8</A>.
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The dumb also were enabled to speak, and then no marvel that they were
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disposed to sing for joy,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+9:32,33">Matt. ix. 32, 33</A>.
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These miracles Christ wrought to prove that he was sent of God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:2">John iii. 2</A>),
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nay, working them by his own power and in his own name, he proved that
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he was God, the same who at first made man's mouth, the hearing ear,
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and the seeing eye. When he would prove to John's disciples his divine
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mission he did it by miracles of this kind, in which this scripture was
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fulfilled.
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2. Wonders, greater wonders, shall be wrought on men's souls. By the
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word and Spirit of Christ those that were spiritually blind were
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enlightened
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+26:18">Acts xxvi. 18</A>),
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those that were deaf to the calls of God were made to hear them
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readily, so Lydia, whose heart <I>the Lord opened,</I> so <I>that she
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attended,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:14">Acts xvi. 14</A>.
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Those that were impotent to every thing that is good by divine grace
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are made, not only able for it, but active in it, and run the way of
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God's commandments. Those also that were dumb, and knew not how to
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speak of God or to God, having their understandings opened to know him,
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shall thereby have their lips opened to show forth his praise. The
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tongue of the dumb shall sing for joy, the joy of God's salvation.
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Praise shall be perfected out of the mouth of babes and sucklings.</P>
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<P>
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II. The Spirit shall be poured out from on high. There shall be
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<I>waters and streams,</I> rivers of living water; when our Saviour
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spoke of these as the fulfilling of the scripture, and most probably of
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this scripture, the evangelist tells us, <I>He spoke of the Spirit</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+7:38,39">John vii. 38, 39</A>),
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as does also this prophet
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+32:15"><I>ch.</I> xxxii. 15</A>);
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so here
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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<I>in the wilderness,</I> where one would least expect it, <I>shall
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waters break out.</I> This was fulfilled when the <I>Holy Ghost fell
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upon the Gentiles</I> that <I>heard the word</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+10:44">Acts x. 44</A>);
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then were the fountains of life opened, whence streams flowed, that
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watered the earth abundantly. These waters are said to <I>break
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out,</I> which denotes a pleasing surprise to the Gentile world, such
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as brought them, as it were, into a new world. The blessed effect of
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this shall be that the <I>parched ground shall become a pool,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Those that laboured and were heavily laden, under the burden of guilt,
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and were scorched with the sense of divine wrath, found rest, and
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refreshment, and abundant comforts in the gospel. In <I>the thirsty
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land,</I> where no water was, nor ordinances
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+63:1">Ps. lxiii. 1</A>),
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there shall be <I>springs of water,</I> a gospel ministry, and by that
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the administration of all gospel ordinances in their purity and plenty,
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which are <I>the river that makes glad the city of our God,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:4">Ps. xlvi. 4</A>.
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<I>In the habitation of dragons,</I> who chose to dwell in the parched
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scorched ground
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+34:9,13"><I>ch.</I> xxxiv. 9, 13</A>),
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these waters shall flow, and dispossess them, so that, <I>where each
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lay shall be grass with reeds and rushes,</I> great plenty of useful
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|
productions. Thus it was when Christian churches were planted, and
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flourished greatly, in the cities of the Gentiles, which, for many
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|
ages, had been habitations of dragons, or devils rather, as Babylon
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+18:2">Rev. xviii. 2</A>);
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when the property of the idols' temples was altered, and they were
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converted to the service of Christianity, then the habitations of
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dragons became fruitful fields.</P>
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<P>
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III. The way of religion and godliness shall be laid open: it is here
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called <I>the way of holiness</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>)
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the way both of holy worship and a holy conversation. Holiness is the
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rectitude of the human nature and will, in conformity to the divine
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nature and will. The way of holiness is that course of religious duties
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|
in which men ought to walk and press forward, with an eye to the glory
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|
of God and their own felicity in the enjoyment of him. "When our God
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shall come to save us he shall chalk out to us this way by his gospel,
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|
so as it had never been before described."
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1. It shall be an appointed way; not a way of sufferance, but <I>a
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|
highway,</I> a way into which we are directed by a divine authority and
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|
in which we are protected by a divine warrant. It is the King's
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|
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
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God's commandments; it is (as highways usually are) the <I>good old
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|
way,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+6:16">Jer. vi. 16</A>.
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2. It shall be an appropriated way, the way in which God will bring his
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|
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>
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+4:3">Ps. iv. 3</A>),
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shall be reserved for them: <I>The redeemed shall walk there,</I> and
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|
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>
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|
|
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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>
|
|
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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>
|
|
|
|
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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