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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. XLIV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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God, by the prophet, goes on in this chapter, as before,
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I. To encourage his people with the assurance of great blessings he had
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in store for them at their return out of captivity, and those typical
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of much greater which the gospel church, his spiritual Israel, should
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partake of in the days of the Messiah; and hereby he proves himself to
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be God alone against all pretenders,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:1-8">ver. 1-8</A>.
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II. To expose the sottishness and amazing folly of idol-makers and
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idol-worshippers,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:9-20">ver. 9-20</A>.
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III. To ratify and confirm the assurances he had given to his people of
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those great blessings, and to raise their joyful and believing
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expectations of them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:21-28">ver. 21-28</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Isa44_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa44_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa44_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa44_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa44_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa44_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa44_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa44_8"> </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>Prosperity Foretold; The Supremacy of God.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 708.</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 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have
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chosen:
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2 Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> that made thee, and formed thee from the
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womb, <I>which</I> will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and
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thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
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3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods
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upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my
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blessing upon thine offspring:
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4 And they shall spring up <I>as</I> among the grass, as willows by
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the water courses.
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5 One shall say, I <I>am</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s; and another shall call
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<I>himself</I> by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe
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<I>with</I> his hand unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and surname <I>himself</I> by the name
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of Israel.
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6 Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> the King of Israel, and his redeemer the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> of hosts; I <I>am</I> the first, and I <I>am</I> the last; and beside
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me <I>there is</I> no God.
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7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it
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in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the
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things that are coming, and shall come, let them show unto them.
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8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from
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that time, and have declared <I>it?</I> ye <I>are</I> even my witnesses. Is
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there a God beside me? yea, <I>there is</I> no God; I know not <I>any.</I>
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Two great truths are abundantly made out in these verses:--</P>
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<P>
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I. That the people of God are a happy people, especially upon account
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of the covenant that is between them and God. The people of Israel were
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so as a figure of the gospel Israel. Three things complete their
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happiness:--</P>
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<P>
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1. The covenant-relations wherein they stand to God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>.
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Israel is here called <I>Jeshurun--the upright one;</I> for those only,
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like Nathanael, are Israelites indeed, in whom is no guile, and those
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only shall have the everlasting benefit of these promises. Jacob and
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Israel had been represented, in the close of the foregoing chapter, as
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very provoking and obnoxious to God's wrath, and already given to the
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curse and to reproaches; but, as if God's bowels yearned towards him
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and his repentings were kindled together, mercy steps in with a
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<I>non-obstante--notwithstanding,</I> to all these quarrels: "<I>Yet
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now, hear, O Jacob my servant!</I> thou and I will be friends again for
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all this." God had said
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+43:25"><I>ch.</I> xliii. 25</A>),
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<I>I am he that blotteth out thy transgression,</I> which is the only
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thing that creates this distance; and when that is taken away the
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streams of mercy run again in their former channel. The pardon of sin
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is the inlet of all the other blessings of the covenant. So and so I
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will do for them, says God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:12">Heb. viii. 12</A>),
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<I>for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness.</I> Therefore
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<I>hear, O Jacob!</I> hear these comfortable words; therefore <I>fear
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not, O Jacob!</I> fear not thy troubles, for by the pardon of sin the
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property of them too is altered. Now the relations wherein they stand
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to him are very encouraging.
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(1.) They are his <I>servants;</I> and those that serve him he will own
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and stand by and see that they be not wronged.
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(2.) They are his <I>chosen,</I> and he will abide by his choice; he
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knows those that are his, and those whom he has chosen he takes under
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special protection.
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(3.) They are his creatures. He <I>made them,</I> and brought them into
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being; he <I>formed them,</I> and cast them into shape; he began
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betimes with them, for he <I>formed them from the womb;</I> and
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therefore he will help them over their difficulties and help them in
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their services.</P>
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<P>
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2. The covenant-blessings which he has secured to them and theirs,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>.
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(1.) Those that are sensible of their spiritual wants, and the
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insufficiency of the creature to supply them, shall have abundant
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satisfaction in God: <I>I will pour water upon him that is thirsty,</I>
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that thirsts after righteousness; he shall be filled. Water shall be
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poured out to those who truly desire spiritual blessings above all the
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delights of sense.
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(2.) Those that are barren as the dry ground shall be watered with the
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grace of God, with floods of that grace, and God will himself give the
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increase. If the ground be ever so dry, God has floods of grace to
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water it with.
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(3.) The water God will pour out is <I>his Spirit</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+7:39">John vii. 39</A>),
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which God will pour out without measure upon the seed, that is, Christ
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+3:16">Gal. iii. 16</A>),
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and by measure upon all the seed of the faithful, upon all the praying
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wrestling seed of Jacob,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+11:13">Luke xi. 13</A>.
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This is the great New-Testament promise, that God, having sent his
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servant Christ, and upheld him, will send his Spirit to uphold us.
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(4.) This gift of the Holy Ghost is the great blessing God had reserved
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the plentiful effusion of for the latter days: <I>I will pour my
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Spirit,</I> that is, <I>my blessing;</I> for where God gives his Spirit
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he will give all other blessings.
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(5.) This is reserved for the seed and offspring of the church; for so
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the covenant of grace runs: <I>I will be a God to thee and to thy
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seed.</I> To all who are thus made to partake of the privileges of
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adoption God will give the spirit of adoption.
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(6.) Hereby there shall be a great increase of the church. Thus it
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shall be spread to distant places. Thus it shall be propagated and
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perpetuated to after-times: <I>They shall spring up</I> and grow as
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fast <I>as willows by the watercourses,</I> and in every thing that is
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virtuous and praiseworthy shall be eminent and excel all about them, as
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the willows overtop the grass among which they grow,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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Note, It is a great happiness to the church, and a great pleasure to
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good men, to see the rising generation hopeful and promising. And it
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will be so if God pour his Spirit upon them, that blessing, that
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blessing of blessings.</P>
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<P>
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3. The consent they cheerfully give to their part of the covenant,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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When the Jews returned out of captivity they renewed their covenant
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with God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+50:5">Jer. l. 5</A>),
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particularly that they would have no more to do with idols,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+14:2,3,8">Hos. xiv. 2, 3, 8</A>.
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Backsliders must thus repent and do their first works. Many of those
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that were without did at that time join themselves to them, invited by
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that glorious appearance of God for them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+8:23,Es+8:17">Zech. viii. 23; Esth. viii. 17</A>.
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And they say, <I>We are the Lord's</I> and <I>call themselves by the
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name of Jacob;</I> for there was one law, one covenant, <I>for the
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stranger and for those that were born in the land.</I> And doubtless it
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looks further yet, to the conversion of the Gentiles, and the
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multitudes of them who, upon the effusion of the Spirit, after Christ's
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ascension, should be <I>joined to the Lord</I> and <I>added to the
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church.</I> These converts are <I>one and another,</I> very many, of
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different ranks and nations, and all welcome to God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+3:11">Col. iii. 11</A>.
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When one does it another shall by his example be invited to do it, and
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then another; thus the zeal of one may provoke many.
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(1.) They shall resign themselves to God: not one in the name of the
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rest, but every one for himself shall say, "<I>I am the Lord's;</I> he
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has an incontestable right to rule me, and I submit to him, to all his
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commands, to all his disposal. I am, and will be, his only, his wholly,
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his for ever, will be for his interests, will be for his praise; living
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and dying I will be his."
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(2.) They shall incorporate themselves with the people of God, <I>call
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themselves by the name of Jacob,</I> forgetting their own people and
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their fathers' house, and desirous to wear the character and livery of
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God's family. They shall love all God's people, shall associate with
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them, give them the right hand of fellowship, espouse their cause, seek
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the good of the church in general and of all the particular members of
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it, and be willing to take their lot with them in all conditions.
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(3.) They shall do this very solemnly. Some of them shall <I>subscribe
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with their hand unto the Lord,</I> as, for the confirming of a bargain,
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a man sets his hand to it, and delivers it as his act and deed. The
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more express we are in our covenanting with God the better,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:7,Jos+24:26,27,Ne+9:38">Exod. xxiv. 7;
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Jos. xxiv. 26, 27; Neh. ix. 38</A>.
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Fast bind, fast find.</P>
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<P>
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II. That, as the Israel of God are a happy people, so the God of Israel
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is a great God, and he is God alone. This also, as the former, speaks
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abundant satisfaction to all that trust in him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:6-8"><I>v.</I> 6-8</A>.
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Observe here, to God's glory and our comfort,
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1. That the God we trust in is a God of incontestable sovereignty and
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irresistible power. He is <I>the Lord,</I> Jehovah, self-existent and
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self-sufficient; and he is <I>the Lord of hosts,</I> of all the hosts
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of heaven and earth, of angels and men.
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2. That he stands in relation to, and has a particular concern for, his
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church. He is <I>the King of Israel and his Redeemer; therefore</I> his
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Redeemer because his King; and those that take God for their King shall
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have him for their Redeemer. When God would assert himself God alone he
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proclaims himself Israel's God, that his people may be encouraged both
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to adhere to him and to triumph in him.
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3. That he is eternal--<I>the first and the last.</I> He is God from
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everlasting, before the worlds were, and will be so to everlasting,
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when the world shall be no more. If there were not a God to create,
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nothing would ever have been; and, if there were not a God to uphold,
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all would soon come to nothing again. He is all in all, is the first
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cause, from whom are all things, and the last end, to and for whom are
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all things
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:36">Rom. xi. 36</A>),
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the <I>Alpha and the Omega,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+1:11">Rev. i. 11</A>.
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4. That he is God alone
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>Besides me there is no God. Is there a God besides me?</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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We will appeal to the greatest scholars. Did they ever in all their
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reading meet with any other? To those that have had the largest
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acquaintance with the world. Did they ever meet with any other? There
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are <I>gods many</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+8:5,6">1 Cor. viii. 5, 6</A>),
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<I>called gods,</I> and counterfeit gods: but is there any besides our
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God that is infinite and eternal, any besides him that is the creator
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of the world and the protector and benefactor of the whole creation,
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any besides him that can do that for their worshippers which he can and
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will do for his? "<I>You are my witnesses.</I> I have been a nonsuch
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to you. You have tried other gods; have you found any of them
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all-sufficient to you, or any of them like me? <I>Yea, there is no
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god," no rock</I> (so the word is), none besides Jehovah that can be a
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rock for a foundation to build on, a rock for shelter to flee to. God
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is the rock, and <I>their rock is not as ours,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+32:4,31">Deut. xxxii. 4, 31</A>.
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<I>I know not any;</I> as if he had said, "I never met with any that
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offered to stand in competition with me, or that durst bring their
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pretensions to a fair trial; if I did know of any that could befriend
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you better than I can, I would recommend you to them; but I know not
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any." There is no God besides Jehovah. He is infinite, and therefore
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there can be no other; he is all-sufficient, and therefore there needs
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no other. This is designed for the confirming of the hopes of God's
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people in the promise of their deliverance out of Babylon, and, in
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order to that, for the curing of them of their idolatry; when the
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affliction had done its work it should be removed. They are reminded of
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the first and great article of their creed, that <I>the Lord their God
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is one Lord,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+6:4">Deut. vi. 4</A>.
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And therefore,
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(1.) They needed not to hope in any other god. Those on whom the sun
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shines need neither moon nor stars, nor the light of their own fire.
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(2.) They needed not to fear any other god. Their own God was more able
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to do them good than all the false and counterfeit gods of their
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enemies were to do them hurt.
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5. That none besides could foretel these things to come, which God now
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by his prophet gave notice of to the world, above 200 years before they
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came to pass
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
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"<I>Who, as I, shall call,</I> shall call Cyrus to Babylon? Is there
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any but God that can call effectually, and has every creature, every
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heart, at his beck? Who <I>shall declare it,</I> how it shall be, and
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by whom, as I do?" Nay, God goes further; he not only sees it in order,
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as having the foreknowledge of it, but <I>sets it in order,</I> as
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having the sole management and direction of it. Can any other pretend
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to this? He has always set things in order according to the counsel of
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his own will, ever <I>since he appointed the ancient people,</I> the
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people of Israel, who could give a truer and fuller account of the
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antiquities of their own nation than any other kingdom in the world
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could give of theirs. Ever since he appointed that people to be his
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peculiar people his providence was particularly conversant about them,
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and he told them beforehand the events that should occur respecting
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them--their bondage in Egypt, their deliverance from it, and their
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settlement in Canaan. All was set in order in the divine predictions
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|
as well as in the divine purposes. Could any other have done so? Would
|
|
any other have been so far concerned for them? He challenges the
|
|
pretenders to show the things that shall come hereafter: "Let them, if
|
|
they can, tell us the name of the man that shall destroy Babylon ad
|
|
deliver Israel? Nay, if they cannot pretend to tell us <I>the things
|
|
that shall come</I> hereafter, let them tell us the things that <I>are
|
|
coming,</I> that are nigh at hand and at the door. Let them tell us
|
|
what shall come to pass to-morrow; but they cannot do that; fear them
|
|
not therefore, nor be afraid of them. What harm can they do you? What
|
|
hindrance can they give to your deliverance, when I have told thee it
|
|
shall be accomplished in its season, and I have solemnly declared it?"
|
|
Note, Those who have the word of God's promise to depend upon need not
|
|
be afraid of any adverse powers or policies whatsoever.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Isa44_9"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa44_10"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa44_11"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa44_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa44_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa44_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa44_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa44_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa44_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa44_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa44_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa44_20"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Folly of Idolatry.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 708.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>9 They that make a graven image <I>are</I> all of them vanity; and
|
|
their delectable things shall not profit; and they <I>are</I> their
|
|
own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.
|
|
10 Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image <I>that</I> is
|
|
profitable for nothing?
|
|
11 Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen,
|
|
they <I>are</I> of men: let them all be gathered together, let them
|
|
stand up; <I>yet</I> they shall fear, <I>and</I> they shall be ashamed
|
|
together.
|
|
12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and
|
|
fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of
|
|
his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he
|
|
drinketh no water, and is faint.
|
|
13 The carpenter stretcheth out <I>his</I> rule; he marketh it out
|
|
with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out
|
|
with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man,
|
|
according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the
|
|
house.
|
|
14 He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the
|
|
oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the
|
|
forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish <I>it.</I>
|
|
15 Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take
|
|
thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth <I>it,</I> and baketh
|
|
bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth <I>it;</I> he maketh it a
|
|
graven image, and falleth down thereto.
|
|
16 He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he
|
|
eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he
|
|
warmeth <I>himself,</I> and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the
|
|
fire:
|
|
17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god, <I>even</I> his graven
|
|
image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth <I>it,</I> and prayeth
|
|
unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou <I>art</I> my god.
|
|
18 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their
|
|
eyes, that they cannot see; <I>and</I> their hearts, that they cannot
|
|
understand.
|
|
19 And none considereth in his heart, neither <I>is there</I>
|
|
knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in
|
|
the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I
|
|
have roasted flesh, and eaten <I>it:</I> and shall I make the residue
|
|
thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?
|
|
20 He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside,
|
|
that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, <I>Is there</I> not a lie in
|
|
my right hand?
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Often before, God, by the prophet, had mentioned the folly and strange
|
|
sottishness of idolaters; but here he enlarges upon that head, and very
|
|
fully and particularly exposes them to contempt and ridicule. This
|
|
discourse is intended,
|
|
|
|
1. To arm the people of Israel against the strong temptation they would
|
|
be in to worship idols when they were captives in Babylon, in
|
|
compliance with the custom of the country (they being far from the city
|
|
of their own solemnities) and to humour those who were now their lords
|
|
and masters.
|
|
|
|
2. To cure them of their inclination to idolatry, which was the sin
|
|
that did most easily beset them and to reform them from which they were
|
|
sent into Babylon. As the rod of God is of use to enforce the word, so
|
|
the word of God is of use to explain the rod, that the voice of both
|
|
together may be heard and answered.
|
|
|
|
3. To furnish them with something to say to their Chaldean
|
|
task-masters. When they insulted over them, when they asked, <I>Where
|
|
is your God?</I> they might hence ask them, <I>What are your gods?</I>
|
|
|
|
4. To take off their fear of the gods of their enemies, and to
|
|
encourage their hope in their own God that he would certainly appear
|
|
against those who set up such scandalous competitors as these with him
|
|
for the throne.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Now here, for the conviction of idolaters, we have,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. A challenge given to them to clear themselves, if they can, from the
|
|
imputation of the most shameful folly and senselessness imaginable,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:9-11"><I>v.</I> 9-11</A>.
|
|
|
|
They set their wits on work to contrive, and their hands on work to
|
|
frame, graven images, and they call them <I>their delectable
|
|
things;</I> extremely fond they are of them, and mighty things they
|
|
expect from them. Note, Through the corruption of men's nature, those
|
|
things that should be detestable to them are desirable and delectable;
|
|
but those are far gone in a distemper to whom that which is the food
|
|
and fuel of it is most agreeable. Now,
|
|
|
|
1. We tell them that those that do so are all vanity; they deceive
|
|
themselves and one another, and put a great cheat upon those for whom
|
|
they make these images.
|
|
|
|
2. We tell them that <I>their delectable things shall not profit</I>
|
|
them, nor make them any return for the pleasure they take in them; they
|
|
can neither supply them with good nor protect them from evil. The
|
|
<I>graven images</I> are <I>profitable for nothing</I> at all, nor will
|
|
they ever get any thing by the devoirs they pay to them.
|
|
|
|
3. We appeal to themselves whether it be not a silly sottish thing to
|
|
expect any good from gods of their own making: <I>They are their own
|
|
witnesses,</I> witnesses against themselves, if they would but give
|
|
their own consciences leave to deal faithfully with them, that they are
|
|
blind and ignorant in doing thus. <I>They see not nor know,</I> and let
|
|
them own it, <I>that they may be ashamed.</I> If men would but be true
|
|
to their own convictions, ordinarily we might be sure of their
|
|
conversion, particularly idolaters; for <I>who has formed a god?</I>
|
|
Who but a mad-man, or one out of his wits, would think of forming a
|
|
god, of making that which, if he make it a god, he must suppose to be
|
|
his maker?
|
|
|
|
4. We challenge them to plead their own cause with any confidence or
|
|
assurance. If any one has the front to say that he has formed a god,
|
|
when all his fellows come together to declare what each of them has
|
|
done towards the making of this god, they will all be ashamed of the
|
|
cheat they have put upon themselves, and laugh in their sleeves at
|
|
those whom they have imposed upon; for <I>the workmen</I> that formed
|
|
this god <I>are of men,</I> weak and impotent, and therefore cannot
|
|
possibly make a being that shall be omnipotent, nor can they without
|
|
blushing pretend to do so. <I>Let them all be gathered together,</I> as
|
|
Demetrius and the craftsmen were, to support their sinking trade;
|
|
<I>let them stand up</I> to plead their own cause, and make the best
|
|
they can of it, with hand joined in hand; <I>yet they shall fear</I> to
|
|
undertake it when it comes to the setting to, as conscious to
|
|
themselves of the weakness and badness of their cause, <I>and they
|
|
shall be ashamed</I> of it, not only when they appear singly, but when
|
|
by appearing together they hope to keep one another in countenance.
|
|
Note, Idolatry and impiety are things which men may justly both tremble
|
|
and blush to appear in the defence of.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. A particular narrative of the whole proceeding in making a god; and
|
|
there needs no more to expose it than to describe it and tell the story
|
|
of it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The persons employed about it are handicraft tradesmen, the meanest
|
|
of them, the very same that you would employ in making the common
|
|
utensils of your husbandry, a cart or a plough. You must have a
|
|
<I>smith,</I> a blacksmith, who <I>with the tongs works in the
|
|
coals;</I> and it is hard work, for he <I>works with the strength of
|
|
his arms,</I> till <I>he is hungry</I> and his strength fails, so eager
|
|
is he, and so hasty are those who set him at the work to get it
|
|
despatched. He cannot allow himself time to eat or drink, for <I>he
|
|
drinks no water, and</I> therefore <I>is faint,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
Perhaps it was a piece of superstition among them for the workman not
|
|
to eat or drink while he was making a god. The plates with which the
|
|
smith was to cover the image, or whatever iron-work was to be done
|
|
about it, <I>he fashioned with hammers,</I> and made it all very exact,
|
|
according to the model given him. Then comes <I>the carpenter,</I> and
|
|
he takes as much care and pains about the timber-work,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
He brings his box of tools, for he has occasion for them all: <I>He
|
|
stretches out his rule</I> upon the piece of wood, <I>marks it with a
|
|
line,</I> where it must be sawed or cut of; <I>he fits it,</I> or
|
|
polishes it, <I>with planes,</I> the greater first and then the less;
|
|
<I>he marks out with the compasses</I> what must be the size and shape
|
|
of it; and it is just what he pleases.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The form in which it is made is that of a man, a poor, weak, dying
|
|
creature; but it is the noblest form and figure that he is acquainted
|
|
with, and, being his own, he has a peculiar fondness for it and is
|
|
willing to put all the reputation he can upon it. He makes it
|
|
<I>according to the beauty of a man,</I> in comely proportion, with
|
|
those limbs and lineaments that are the beauty of a man, but are
|
|
altogether unfit to represent the beauty of the Lord. God put a great
|
|
honour upon man when, in respect of the powers and faculties of his
|
|
souls, he made him after the image of God; but man does a great
|
|
dishonour to God when he makes him, in respect of bodily parts and
|
|
members, after the image of man. Nor will it at all atone for the
|
|
affront so far to compliment his god as to take the fairest of the
|
|
children of men for his original whence to take his copy, and to give
|
|
him all the beauty of a man that he can think of; for all the <I>beauty
|
|
of the body of a man,</I> when pretended to be put upon him who is an
|
|
infinite Spirit, is a deformity and diminution to him. And, when the
|
|
goodly piece is finished, it must <I>remain in the house,</I> in the
|
|
temple or shrine prepared for it, or perhaps in the dwelling house if
|
|
it be one of the <I>lares</I> or <I>penates--the household gods.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. The matter of which it is mostly made is sorry stuff to make a god
|
|
of; it is the stock of a tree.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) The tree itself was fetched out <I>of the forest,</I> where it
|
|
grew among other trees, of no more virtue or value than its neighbours.
|
|
It was a <I>cedar,</I> it may be, or a <I>cypress,</I> or an
|
|
<I>oak,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
Perhaps he had an eye upon it some time before for this use, and
|
|
<I>strengthened it for himself,</I> used some art or other to make it
|
|
stronger and better-grown than other trees were. Or, as some read it,
|
|
<I>which hath strengthened or lifted up itself among the trees of the
|
|
forest,</I> the tallest and strongest he can pick out. Or, it may be,
|
|
it pleases his fancy better to take <I>an ash,</I> which is of a
|
|
quicker growth, and which was of his own planting for this use, and
|
|
which has been nourished with rain from heaven. See what a fallacy he
|
|
puts upon himself, in making that his refuge which was of his own
|
|
planting, and which he not only gave the form to, but prepared the
|
|
matter for; and what an affront he puts upon the God of heaven in
|
|
setting up that a rival with him which was nourished by his rain, that
|
|
rain which falls upon the just and unjust.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) The boughs of this tree were good for nothing but for fuel; to
|
|
that use were they put, and so were the chips that were cut off from it
|
|
in the working of it; they are <I>for a man to burn,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:15,16"><I>v.</I> 15, 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
To show that that tree has no innate virtue in it for its own
|
|
protection, it is as capable of being burnt as any other tree; and, to
|
|
show that he who chose it had no more antecedent value for it than for
|
|
any other tree, he makes no difficulty of throwing part of it into the
|
|
fire as common rubbish, asking no question for conscience' sake.
|
|
|
|
[1.] It serves him for his parlour-fire: <I>He will take thereof and
|
|
warm himself</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
and he finds the comfort of it, and is so far from having any regret in
|
|
his mind for it that he saith, <I>Aha! I am warm; I have seen the
|
|
fire;</I> and certainly that part of the tree which served him for
|
|
fuel, the use for which God and nature designed it, does him a much
|
|
greater kindness and yields him more satisfaction than ever that will
|
|
which he makes a god of.
|
|
|
|
[2.] It serves him for his kitchen-fire: <I>He eats flesh</I> with it,
|
|
that is, he dresses the flesh with it which he is to eat; he
|
|
<I>roasteth roast, and is satisfied</I> that he has not done amiss to
|
|
put it to this use. Nay,
|
|
|
|
[3.] It serves him to heat the oven with, in which we use that fuel
|
|
which is of least value: <I>He kindles it and bakes bread</I> with the
|
|
heat of it, and none charges him with doing wrong.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) Yet, after all, the stock or body of the tree shall serve to make
|
|
a god of, when it might as well have served to make a bench, as one of
|
|
themselves, even a poet of their own, upbraids them, <I>Horat. Sat.</I>
|
|
1.8:</P>
|
|
|
|
<CENTER>
|
|
<TABLE BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD>Olim truncus eram ficulnus, inutile lignum,
|
|
<BR>Quum faber, incertus scamnum faceretne Priapum,
|
|
<BR>Maluit esse deum; deus inde ego--</TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
</CENTER>
|
|
|
|
<BR>
|
|
<CENTER>
|
|
<TABLE BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD>In days of yore our godship stood
|
|
<BR>A very worthless log of wood,
|
|
<BR>The joiner, doubting or to shape us
|
|
<BR>Into a stool or a Priapus,
|
|
<BR>At length resolved, for reasons wise,
|
|
<BR>Into a god to bid me rise.--F<FONT SIZE=-1>RANCIS.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
</CENTER>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
And another of them threatens the idol to whom he had committed the
|
|
custody of his woods that, if he did not preserve them to be fuel for
|
|
his fire, he should himself be made use of for that purpose:</P>
|
|
|
|
<CENTER>
|
|
<TABLE BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD>Furaces moneo manus repellas,
|
|
<BR>Et silvam domini focis reserves,
|
|
<BR>Si defecerit hæc, et ipse lignum es.</TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
</CENTER>
|
|
|
|
<CENTER>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH=400 BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD>Drive the plunderers away, and preserve the wood for thy
|
|
<DD>master's hearth, or thou thyself shalt be converted into</DD>
|
|
<DD>fuel.--M<FONT SIZE=-1>ARTIAL.</DD></FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
</CENTER>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
When the besotted idolater has thus served the meanest purposes with
|
|
part of his tree, and the rest has had time to season (he makes that a
|
|
god in his imagination while that is in the doing, <I>and worships
|
|
it</I>): He <I>makes it a graven image, and falls down thereto</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
that is
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>The residue thereof he makes a god, even his graven image,</I>
|
|
according to his fancy and intention; he <I>falls down to it, and
|
|
worships it,</I> gives divine honours to it, prostrates himself before
|
|
it in the most humble reverent posture, as a servant, as a suppliant;
|
|
<I>he prays to it,</I> as having a dependence upon it, and great
|
|
expectations from it; <I>he saith, Deliver me, for thou art my god.</I>
|
|
There where he pays his homage and allegiance he justly looks for
|
|
protection and deliverance. What a strange infatuation is this, to
|
|
expect help from gods that cannot help themselves! But it is this
|
|
praying to them that makes them gods, not what the smith or the
|
|
carpenter did to them. What we place our confidence in for deliverance
|
|
that we make a god of.</P>
|
|
|
|
<CENTER>
|
|
<TABLE BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD>Qui fingit sacros, auro vel marmore, vultus
|
|
<BR>Non facit ille deos; qui rogat, ille facit.</TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
</CENTER>
|
|
|
|
<CENTER>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH=400 BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD>He who supplicates the figure, whether it be of gold or of
|
|
<DD>marble, makes it a god, and not he who merely</DD>
|
|
<DD>constructs it.--M<FONT SIZE=-1>ARTIAL.</FONT></DD></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
</CENTER>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Here is judgment given upon this whole matter,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:18-20"><I>v.</I> 18-20</A>.
|
|
|
|
In short, it is the effect and evidence of the greatest stupidity and
|
|
sottishness that one could ever imagine rational beings to be guilty
|
|
of, and shows that man has become worse than the beasts that perish;
|
|
for they act according to the dictates of sense, but man acts not
|
|
according to the dictates of reason
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>They have not known nor understood</I> common sense; men that act
|
|
rationally in other things in this act most absurdly. Though they have
|
|
some knowledge and understanding, yet they are strangers to, nay, they
|
|
are rebels against the great law of consideration
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>None considers in his heart,</I> nor has so much application of mind
|
|
as to reason thus with himself, which one would think he might easily
|
|
do, though there were none to reason with him: "<I>I have burnt part of
|
|
this tree in the fire,</I> for baking and roasting; <I>and</I> now
|
|
<I>shall I make the residue thereof an abomination?</I>" (that is,
|
|
<I>an idol,</I> for that is an abomination to God and all wise and good
|
|
men); "shall I ungratefully choose to do, or presumptuously dare to do,
|
|
what the Lord hates? shall I be such a fool as to fall down to the
|
|
stock of a tree--a senseless, lifeless, helpless thing? shall I so far
|
|
disparage myself, and make myself like that I bow down to?" A growing
|
|
tree may be a beautiful stately thing, but the stock of a tree has lost
|
|
its glory, and he has lost his that gives glory to it. Upon the whole,
|
|
the sad character given of these idolaters is,
|
|
|
|
1. That they put a cheat upon themselves
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>They feed on ashes;</I> they feed themselves with hopes of advantage
|
|
by worshipping these idols, but they will be disappointed as much as a
|
|
man that would expect nourishment by feeding on ashes. Feeding on ashes
|
|
is an evidence of a depraved appetite and a distempered body; and it is
|
|
a sign that the soul is overpowered by very bad habits when men, in
|
|
their worship, go no further than the sight of their eyes will carry
|
|
them. They are wretchedly deluded, and it is their own fault: <I>A
|
|
deceived heart</I> of their own, more than the deceiving tongue of
|
|
others, <I>has turned them aside</I> from the faith and worship of the
|
|
living God to dumb idols. They are <I>drawn away of their own lusts and
|
|
enticed.</I> The apostasy of sinners from God is owing entirely to
|
|
themselves and to the evil heart of unbelief that is in their own
|
|
bosom. A revolting and rebellious heart is a deceived heart.
|
|
|
|
2. That they wilfully persist in their self-delusion and will not be
|
|
undeceived. There is none of them that can be persuaded so far to
|
|
suspect himself as to say, <I>Is there not a lie in my right hand?</I>
|
|
and so to think of delivering his soul. Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Idolaters have a lie in their right hand; for an idol is a lie, is
|
|
not what it pretends, performs not what it promises, and it is a
|
|
<I>teacher of lies,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+2:18">Hab. ii. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It highly concerns those that are secure in an evil way seriously
|
|
to consider whether there be not a lie in their right hand. Is not
|
|
that a lie which with complacency we hold fast as our chief good? Are
|
|
our hearts set upon the wealth of the world and the pleasures of sense?
|
|
They will certainly prove a lie in our right hand. And is not that a
|
|
lie which with confidence we hold fast by, as the ground on which we
|
|
build our hopes for heaven? If we trust to our external professions and
|
|
performances, as if those would save us, we deceive ourselves with a
|
|
lie in our right hand, with a house built on the sand.
|
|
|
|
(3.) Self-suspicion is the first step towards self-deliverance. We
|
|
cannot be faithful to ourselves unless we are jealous of ourselves. He
|
|
that would deliver his soul must begin with putting this question to
|
|
his own conscience. <I>Is there not a lie in my right hand?</I>
|
|
|
|
(4.) Those that are given up to believe in a lie are under the power of
|
|
strong delusions, which it is hard to get clear of,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+2:11">2 Thess. ii. 11</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Isa44_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa44_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa44_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa44_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa44_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa44_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa44_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa44_28"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Encouragement to the People of God.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 708.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>21 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou <I>art</I> my
|
|
servant: I have formed thee; thou <I>art</I> my servant: O Israel,
|
|
thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
|
|
22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions,
|
|
and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed
|
|
thee.
|
|
23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath done <I>it:</I> shout, ye
|
|
lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains,
|
|
O forest, and every tree therein: for the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath redeemed
|
|
Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
|
|
24 Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee
|
|
from the womb, I <I>am</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> that maketh all <I>things;</I> that
|
|
stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the
|
|
earth by myself;
|
|
25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh
|
|
diviners mad; that turneth wise <I>men</I> backward, and maketh their
|
|
knowledge foolish;
|
|
26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the
|
|
counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be
|
|
inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I
|
|
will raise up the decayed places thereof:
|
|
27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy
|
|
rivers:
|
|
28 That saith of Cyrus, <I>He is</I> my shepherd, and shall perform
|
|
all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built;
|
|
and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
In these verses we have,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The duty which Jacob and Israel, now in captivity, were called to,
|
|
that they might be qualified and prepared for the deliverance designed
|
|
them. Our first care must be to get good by our afflictions, and then
|
|
we may hope to get out of them. The duty is expressed in two words:
|
|
<I>Remember</I> and <I>return,</I> as in the counsel to Ephesus,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:4,5">Rev. ii. 4, 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
1. "<I>Remember these, O Jacob!</I> Remember what thou hast been told
|
|
of the folly of idolatry, and let the convictions thou art now under be
|
|
ready to thee whenever thou art tempted to that sin. Remember that
|
|
<I>thou art my servant,</I> and therefore must not serve other
|
|
masters."
|
|
|
|
2. <I>Return unto me,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is the great concern of those who have backslidden from God to
|
|
hasten their return to him; and this is that which he calls them to
|
|
when they are in affliction, and when he is returning to them in a way
|
|
of mercy.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The favours which Jacob and Israel, now in captivity, were assured
|
|
of; and what is here promised to them upon their remembering and
|
|
returning to God is in a spiritual sense promised to all that in like
|
|
manner return to God. It is a very comfortable word, for more is
|
|
implied in it than is expressed
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>O Israel! thou shalt not be forgotten of me,</I> though for the
|
|
present thou seemest to be so." When we begin to remember God he will
|
|
begin to remember us; nay, it is he that remembers us first. Now
|
|
observe here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The grounds upon which God's favourable intentions to his people
|
|
were built and on which they might build their expectations from him.
|
|
He will deliver them out of captivity; for,
|
|
|
|
(1.) They are his servants, and therefore he has a just quarrel with
|
|
those that detain them. <I>Let my people go, that they may serve
|
|
me.</I> The servants of the King of kings are under special protection.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He formed them into a people, formed them <I>from the womb,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
From the first beginning of their increase into a nation they were
|
|
under his particular care and government, more than any other people;
|
|
their national constitution was of his framing, and his covenant with
|
|
them was the charter by which they were incorporated. They are his,
|
|
and he will save them.
|
|
|
|
(3.) He has redeemed them formerly, has many a time redeemed them out
|
|
of great distress, and he is still the same, in the same relation to
|
|
them, has the same concern for them. "Therefore <I>return unto me, for
|
|
I have redeemed thee,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
Whither wilt thou go, but to me?" Having redeemed them, as well as
|
|
formed them, he has acquired a further title to them and propriety in
|
|
them, which is a good reason why they should dutifully return to him
|
|
and why he will graciously return to them. The <I>Lord has redeemed
|
|
Jacob;</I> he is about to do it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>);
|
|
|
|
he has determined to do it; for he is the Lord their Redeemer,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, The work of redemption which God has by his Son wrought for us
|
|
encourages us to hope for all promised blessings from him. He that has
|
|
redeemed us at so vast an expense will not lose his purchase.
|
|
|
|
(4.) He has <I>glorified himself in them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
and therefore will do so still,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+12:28">John xii. 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is matter of comfort to us to see God's glory interested in the
|
|
deliverances of the church; for <I>therefore</I> he will certainly
|
|
redeem Jacob, because thus he will glorify himself. And <I>this</I>
|
|
assures us that he will perfect the redemption of his saints by Jesus
|
|
Christ, because there is a day set when he will be glorified and
|
|
admired in them all.
|
|
|
|
(5.) He has pardoned their sins, which were the cause of their calamity
|
|
and the only obstruction to their deliverance,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Therefore</I> he will break the yoke of captivity from off their
|
|
necks, because he has <I>blotted out, as a thick cloud, their
|
|
transgressions.</I> Note,
|
|
|
|
[1.] Our transgressions and our sins are as a cloud, a thick cloud;
|
|
they interpose between heaven and earth, and for a time suspend and
|
|
intercept the correspondence between the upper and lower world (sin
|
|
<I>separates between us and God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+59:2"><I>ch.</I> lix. 2</A>);
|
|
|
|
they threaten a storm, a deluge of wrath, as thick clouds do, which God
|
|
will rain upon sinners.
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+11:6">Ps. xi. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
[2.] When God pardons sin he blots out this cloud, this thick cloud, so
|
|
that the intercourse with heaven is laid open again. God looks down
|
|
upon the soul with favour; the soul looks up to him with pleasure. The
|
|
cloud is scattered by the influence of the Sun of righteousness. It is
|
|
only through Christ that sin is pardoned. When sin is pardoned, like a
|
|
cloud that is scattered, it appears no more, it is quite gone. The
|
|
<I>iniquity of Jacob shall be sought for, and not found,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+50:20">Jer. l. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
And the comforts that flow into the soul when sin is pardoned are like
|
|
the <I>clear shining after clouds and rain.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The universal joy which the deliverance of God's people should bring
|
|
along with it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Sing, O you heavens!</I> This intimates,
|
|
|
|
(1.) That the whole creation shall have cause for joy and rejoicing in
|
|
the redemption of God's people; to that it is owing that it subsists
|
|
(that it is rescued from the curse which the sin of man brought upon
|
|
the ground) and that it is again put into a capacity of answering the
|
|
ends of its being, and is assured that though now it groans, being
|
|
burdened, it shall at last be delivered from the bondage of corruption.
|
|
The greatest establishment of the world is the kingdom of God in it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+96:11-13,98:7-9">Ps. xcvi. 11-13; xcviii. 7-9</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) That the angels shall rejoice in it, and the inhabitants of the
|
|
upper world. The heavens shall sing, for the Lord has done it. And
|
|
there is joy in heaven when God and man are reconciled
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:7">Luke xv. 7</A>),
|
|
|
|
joy when Babylon falls,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+18:20">Rev. xviii. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
(3.) That those who lay at the greatest distance, even the inhabitants
|
|
of the Gentile world, should join in these praises, as sharing in these
|
|
joys. The <I>lower parts of the earth,</I> the forest and the trees
|
|
there, shall bring in the tribute of thanksgiving for the redemption of
|
|
Israel.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. The encouragement we have to hope that though great difficulties,
|
|
and such as have been thought insuperable, lie in the way of the
|
|
church's deliverance, yet, when the time for it shall come, they shall
|
|
all be got over with ease; for <I>thus saith Israel's Redeemer, I am
|
|
the Lord that maketh all things,</I> did make them at first and am
|
|
still making them; for providence is a continued creation. All being,
|
|
power, life, emotion, and perfection, are from God. He <I>stretches
|
|
forth the heavens alone,</I> has no help nor needs any; and the earth
|
|
too he <I>spreads abroad by himself,</I> and by his own power. Man was
|
|
not by him when he did it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+38:4">Job xxxviii. 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
nor did any creature advise or assist; only his own eternal wisdom and
|
|
Word was by him then as <I>one brought up with him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+8:30">Prov. viii. 30</A>.
|
|
|
|
His stretching out the heavens by himself denotes the boundless extent
|
|
of his power. The strongest man, if he has to stretch a thing out, must
|
|
get somebody or other to lend a hand; but God stretched out the vast
|
|
expanse and keeps it still upon the stretch, himself, by his own power.
|
|
Let not Israel be discouraged then; nothing is too hard for him to do
|
|
that made the world,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+124:8">Ps. cxxiv. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
And, having made all things, he can make what use he pleases of all,
|
|
and has it in his power to serve his own purposes by them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. The confusion which this would put upon the oracles of Babylon, by
|
|
the confutation it would give them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
God, by delivering his people out of Babylon, would <I>frustrate the
|
|
tokens of the liars,</I> of all the lying prophets, that said the
|
|
Babylonian monarchy had many ages yet to live, and pretended to ground
|
|
their predictions upon some token, some sign or other, which, according
|
|
to the rules of their arts, foreboded its prosperity. How mad will
|
|
these conjurors grow with vexation when they see that their skill fails
|
|
them, and that the contrary happens to that which they so coveted and
|
|
were so confident of. Nor would it only baffle their pretended
|
|
prophets, but their celebrated politicians too: He <I>turns the wise
|
|
men backward.</I> Finding they cannot go on with their projects, they
|
|
are forced to quit them; and so he makes the judges fools, <I>and makes
|
|
their knowledge foolish.</I> Those that are made acquainted with Christ
|
|
see all the knowledge they had before to be foolishness in comparison
|
|
with the knowledge of him. And those that are adversaries to him will
|
|
find all their counsels, like Ahitophel's, turned into foolishness, and
|
|
themselves <I>taken in their own craftiness,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+3:19">1 Cor. iii. 19</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. The confirmation which this would give to the oracles of God, which
|
|
the Jews had distrusted and their enemies despised: God <I>confirms the
|
|
word of his servant</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>);
|
|
|
|
he confirms it by accomplishing it in its season; and <I>performs the
|
|
counsel of the messengers</I> whom he hath many a time sent to his
|
|
people, to tell them what great blessings he had in store for them.
|
|
Note, The exact fulfilling of the prophecies of scripture is a
|
|
confirmation of the truth of the whole book and an incontestable
|
|
evidence of its divine origin and authority.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
6. The particular favours God designed for his people, that were now in
|
|
captivity,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:26-28"><I>v.</I> 26-28</A>.
|
|
|
|
These were foretold long before they went into captivity, that they
|
|
might see reason to expect a correction, but no reason to fear a final
|
|
destruction.
|
|
|
|
(1.) It is here supposed that Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah,
|
|
should for a time lie in ruins, dispeopled and uninhabited; but it is
|
|
promised that they shall be rebuilt and repeopled. When Isaiah lived,
|
|
Jerusalem and the cities of Judah were full of inhabitants; but they
|
|
will be emptied, burnt, and destroyed. It was then hard to believe that
|
|
concerning such strong and populous cities. But the justice of God will
|
|
do that; and, when that is done, it will be hard to believe that ever
|
|
they will recover themselves again, and yet the zeal of the Lord of
|
|
hosts will do that to. God has said to Jerusalem, <I>Thou shalt be
|
|
inhabited;</I> for, while the world stands, God will have a church in
|
|
it, and therefore he will raise up those who <I>shall say to Jerusalem,
|
|
Thou shalt be built;</I> for, if it be not built, it cannot be
|
|
inhabited,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+69:35,36">Ps. lxix. 35, 36</A>.
|
|
|
|
When God's time shall have come for the building up of his church, let
|
|
him alone to find both houses for his people (for they shall not lie
|
|
exposed) and people for his houses, for they shall not stand empty. The
|
|
cities of Judah too shall again be built. The Assyrian army under
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Sennacherib only took them, and then, upon the defeat of that army,
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they returned undamaged to the right owners; but the Chaldean army
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|
demolished them, and by carrying away the inhabitants left them to go
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|
to decay of themselves; for, if less judgments prevail not to humble
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and reform men, God will send greater. Yet these desolations shall not
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be perpetual. God will <I>raise up the</I> wastes and <I>decayed places
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thereof;</I> for he will not contend for ever. The city of strangers,
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when it is ruined, shall never be built
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+25:2"><I>ch.</I> xxv. 2</A>),
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but the city of God's own children is but discontinued for a time.
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(2.) It is here supposed that the temple too should be destroyed, and
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|
lie for a time rased to the foundations; but it is promised that the
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|
foundation of it shall again be laid, and no doubt built upon. As the
|
|
desolation of the sanctuary was to all the pious Jews the most mournful
|
|
part of the destruction, so the restoration and re-establishment of it
|
|
would be the most joyful part of the deliverance. What joy can they
|
|
have in the rebuilding of Jerusalem if the temple there be not rebuilt?
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|
for it is that which makes it a holy city and truly beautiful. This
|
|
therefore was the chief thing that the Jews had at heart and had in
|
|
view in their return; therefore they would go back to Jerusalem, to
|
|
<I>build the house of the Lord God of Israel there,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+1:3">Ezra i. 3</A>.
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(3.) It is here supposed that very great difficulties would lie in the
|
|
way of this deliverance, which it would be impossible for them to wade
|
|
through; but it is promised that by a divine power they shall all be
|
|
removed
|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>):
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<I>God saith to the deep, Be dry;</I> so he did when he brought Israel
|
|
out of Egypt, and so he will again when he brings them out of Babylon,
|
|
if there be occasion. <I>Who art thou, O great mountain?</I> Dost thou
|
|
stand in the way? Before Zerubbabel, the commander-in-chief of the
|
|
returning captives, <I>thou shalt become a plain,</I>
|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+4:7">Zech. iv. 7</A>.
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So, <I>Who art thou, O great deep?</I> Dost thou retard their passage
|
|
and think to block it up? Thou shalt be dry, and thy rivers that supply
|
|
thee shall be dried up. When Cyrus took Babylon by draining the river
|
|
Euphrates into many channels, and so making it passable for his army,
|
|
this was fulfilled. Note, Whatever obstructions lie in the way of
|
|
Israel's redemption, God can remove them with a word's speaking.
|
|
|
|
(4.) It is here supposed that none of the Jews themselves would be able
|
|
by might and power to force their way out of Babylon but it is promised
|
|
that God will raise up a stranger from afar off, that shall fairly open
|
|
the way for them, and now at length he names the very man, many scores
|
|
of years before he was born or thought of
|
|
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>):
|
|
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|
<I>That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd.</I> Israel is his people,
|
|
and the sheep of his pasture. These sheep are now in the midst of
|
|
wolves, in the hands of the thief and robber; they are impounded for
|
|
trespass. Now Cyrus shall be his shepherd, employed by him to release
|
|
these sheep, and to take care of their return to their own green
|
|
pasture again. "In this <I>he shall perform all my pleasure,</I> shall
|
|
bring about what is purposed by me and will be highly pleasing to me."
|
|
Note,
|
|
|
|
[1.] The most contingent things are certain to the divine prescience.
|
|
He knew who was the person, and what was his name, that should be the
|
|
deliverer of his people, and, when he pleased, he could let his church
|
|
know it, that, when they heard of such a name beginning to be talked of
|
|
in the world, they might <I>lift up their heads with joy, knowing that
|
|
their redemption drew nigh.</I>
|
|
|
|
[2.] It is the greatest honour of the greatest men to be employed for
|
|
God as instruments of his favour to his people. It was more the praise
|
|
of Cyrus to be God's shepherd than to be emperor of Persia.
|
|
|
|
[3.] God makes what use he pleases of men, of mighty men, of those that
|
|
act with the greatest freedom; and, when they think to do as they
|
|
please, he can overrule them, and make them do as he pleases. Nay, in
|
|
those very things wherein they are serving themselves, and look no
|
|
further than that, God is serving his own purposes by them and making
|
|
them to perform all his pleasure. Rich princes shall do what poor
|
|
prophets have foretold.</P>
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