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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. LVII.</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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The prophet, in this chapter, makes his observations,
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I. Upon the deaths of good men, comforting those that were taken away
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in their integrity and reproving those that did not make a due
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improvement of such providences,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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II. Upon the gross idolatries and spiritual whoredoms which the Jews
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were guilty of, and the destroying judgments they were thereby bringing
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upon themselves,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:3-12">ver. 3-12</A>.
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III. Upon the gracious returns of God to his people to put an end to
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their captivity and re-establish their prosperity,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:13-21">ver. 13-21</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Isa57_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa57_2"> </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>Death of the Righteous.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 706.</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 righteous perisheth, and no man layeth <I>it</I> to heart: and
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merciful men <I>are</I> taken away, none considering that the
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righteous is taken away from the evil <I>to come.</I>
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2 He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds,
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<I>each one</I> walking <I>in</I> his uprightness.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The prophet, in the close of the foregoing chapter, had condemned the
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watchmen for their ignorance and sottishness; here he shows the general
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stupidity and senselessness of the people likewise. No wonder they were
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inconsiderate when their watchmen were so, who should have awakened
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them to consideration. We may observe here,</P>
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<P>
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I. The providence of God removing good men apace out of this world.
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<I>The righteous,</I> as to this world, <I>perish;</I> they are gone
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and their place knows them no more. Piety exempts none from the arrests
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of death, nay, in persecuting times, the most righteous are most
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exposed to the violences of bloody men. The first that died died a
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martyr. Righteousness delivers from the sting of death, but not from
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the stroke of it. They are said to <I>perish</I> because they are
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utterly removed from us, and to express the great loss which this world
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sustains by the removal of them, not that their death is their undoing,
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but it often proves an undoing to the places where they lived and were
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useful. Nay, even <I>merciful men are taken away,</I> those good men
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that are distinguished from the righteous, for whom <I>some would even
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dare to die,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+5:7">Rom. v. 7</A>.
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Those are often removed that could be worst spared; the fruitful trees
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are cut down by death and the barren left still to cumber the ground.
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Merciful men are often taken away by the hands of men's malice. Many
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good works they have done, and for some of them they are stoned. Before
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the captivity in Babylon perhaps there was a more than ordinary
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mortality of good men, so that there were scarcely any left,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+5:1">Jer. v. 1</A>.
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The godly ceased, and the faithful failed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+12:1">Ps. xii. 1</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. The careless world slighting these providences, and disregarding
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them: <I>No man lays it to heart, none considers it.</I> There are very
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few that lament it as a public loss, very few that take notice of it as
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a public warning. The death of good men is a thing to be laid to heart
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and considered more than common deaths. Serious enquiries ought to be
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made, wherefore God contends with us, what good lessons are to be
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learned by such providences, what we may do to help to make up the
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breach and to fill up the room of those that are removed. God is justly
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displeased when such events are not laid to heart, when the voice of
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the rod is not heard nor the intentions of it answered, much more when
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it is rejoiced in, as the slaying of the witnesses is,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+11:10">Rev. xi. 10</A>.
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Some of God's choicest blessings to mankind, being thus easily parted
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with, are really undervalued; and it is an evidence of very great
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incogitancy. Little children, when they are little, least lament the
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death of their parents, because they know not what a loss it is to
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them.</P>
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<P>
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III. The happiness of the righteous in their removal.</P>
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<P>
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1. They <I>are taken away from the evil to come,</I> then when it is
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just coming,
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(1.) In compassion to them, that they may not <I>see the evil</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+22:20">2 Kings xxii. 20</A>),
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nor share in it, nor be in temptation by it. When the deluge is coming
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they are called into the ark, and have a hiding-place and rest in
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heaven when there was none for them under heaven.
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(2.) In wrath to the world, to punish them for all the injuries they
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have done to the righteous and merciful ones; those are taken away that
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stood in the gap to turn away the judgments of God, and then what can
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be expected but a deluge of them? It is a sign that God intends war
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when he calls home his ambassadors.</P>
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<P>
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2. They go to be easy out of the reach of that evil. The righteous man,
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who while he lived walked in his uprightness, when he dies <I>enters
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into peace</I> and <I>rests in his bed.</I> Note,
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(1.) Death is gain, and rest, and bliss, to those only who walked in
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their uprightness, and who, when they die, can appeal to God concerning
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it, as Hezekiah
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+20:3">2 Kings xx. 3</A>).
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<I>Now, Lord, remember it.</I>
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(2.) Those that practised uprightness, and persevered in it to the end,
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shall find it well with them when they die. Their souls then enter into
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peace, into the world of peace, where peace is in perfection and where
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there is no trouble. <I>Enter thou into the joy of the Lord.</I> Their
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bodies rest in their beds. Note, The grave is a bed of rest to all the
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Lord's people; there they rest from all their labours,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+14:13">Rev. xiv. 13</A>.
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And the more weary they were the more welcome will that rest be to
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them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+3:17">Job iii. 17</A>.
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This bed is made in the darkness, but that makes it the more quiet; it
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is a bed out of which they shall rise refreshed in the morning of the
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resurrection.</P>
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<A NAME="Isa57_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa57_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa57_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa57_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa57_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa57_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa57_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa57_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa57_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa57_12"> </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>A Charge against the People.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 706.</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>3 But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of
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the adulterer and the whore.
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4 Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a
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wide mouth, <I>and</I> draw out the tongue? <I>are</I> ye not children of
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transgression, a seed of falsehood,
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5 Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree,
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slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the
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rocks?
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6 Among the smooth <I>stones</I> of the stream <I>is</I> thy portion;
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they, they <I>are</I> thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink
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offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive
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comfort in these?
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7 Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even
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thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.
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8 Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy
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remembrance: for thou hast discovered <I>thyself to another</I> than
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me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee <I>a
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covenant</I> with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest
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<I>it.</I>
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9 And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst
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increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and
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didst debase <I>thyself even</I> unto hell.
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10 Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; <I>yet</I> saidst
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thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine
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hand; therefore thou wast not grieved.
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11 And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast
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lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid <I>it</I> to thy heart?
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have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?
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12 I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they
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shall not profit thee.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here a high charge, but a just one no doubt, drawn up against
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that wicked generation out of which God's righteous ones were removed,
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because the world was not worthy of them. Observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. The general character here given of them, or the name and title by
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which they stand indicted,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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They are told to draw near and hear the charge, are set to the bar, and
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arraigned there as <I>sons of the sorceress,</I> or of a witch, <I>the
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seed of an adulterer and a whore,</I> that is, they were such
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themselves, they were strongly inclined to be such, and their ancestors
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were such before them. Sin is sorcery and adultery, for it is departing
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from God and dealing with the devil. They were <I>children of
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disobedience.</I> "Come," says the prophet, "draw near hither, and I
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will read you your doom; to the righteous death will bring peace and
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rest, but not to you; you are <I>children of transgression</I> and <I>a
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seed of falsehood</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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that have it by kind, and have it woven into your very nature, to
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backslide from God and to deal treacherously with him,"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+48:8"><I>ch.</I> xlviii. 8</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. The particular crimes laid to their charge.</P>
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<P>
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1. Scoffing at God and his word. They were a generation of scorners
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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"<I>Against whom do you sport yourselves?</I> You think it is only
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against the poor prophets whom you trample upon as contemptible men,
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but really it is against God himself, who sends them, and whose message
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they deliver." Mocking the messengers of the Lord was Jerusalem's
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measure-filling sin, for what was done to them God took as done to
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himself. When they were reproved for their sins, and threatened with
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the judgments of God, they ridiculed the word of God with the rudest
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and most indecent gestures and expressions of disdain. They sported
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themselves, and made themselves merry, with that which should have made
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them serious, and under which they should have humbled themselves.
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They made wry mouths at the prophets, and drew out the tongue, contrary
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to all the laws of good breeding; nor did they treat God's prophets
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with the common civility with which they would have treated a
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gentleman's servant that had been sent to them on an errand. Note,
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Those who mock at God, and bid defiance to his judgments, had best
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consider who it is towards whom they conduct themselves so
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insolently.</P>
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<P>
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2. Idolatry. This was that sin which the people of the Jews were most
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notoriously guilty of before the captivity; but that affliction cured
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them of it. In Isaiah's time it abounded, witness the abominable
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idolatries of Ahaz (which some think are particularly referred to here)
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and of Manasseh.
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(1.) They were dotingly fond of their idols, were inflamed with them,
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as those that burn in unlawful unnatural lusts,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+1:27">Rom. i. 27</A>.
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They were <I>mad upon their idols,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+50:38">Jer. l. 38</A>.
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They inflamed themselves with them by their violent passions in the
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worship of them, as those of Baal's prophets that <I>leaped upon the
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altar, and cut themselves,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+18:26,28">1 Kings xviii. 26, 28</A>.
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Note, Vile corruptions, the more they are gratified the more they are
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inflamed. They worshipped their idols <I>under every green tree,</I> in
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the open air, and in the shade; yet that did not cool the heat of their
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impetuous lusts, but rather the charming beauty of the green trees made
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them the more fond of their idols which they worshipped there. Thus
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that in nature which is pleasing, instead of drawing them to the God of
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nature, drew them from him. The flame of their zeal in the worship of
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false gods may shame us for our coldness and indifference in the
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worship of the true God. They strove to inflame themselves, but we
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distract and deaden ourselves.
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(2.) They were barbarous and unnaturally cruel in the worship of their
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idols. They slew their children, and offered them in sacrifice to their
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idols, not only in the valley of the son of Hinnom, the headquarters of
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that monstrous idolatry, but in other valleys, in imitation of that,
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and <I>under the cliffs of the rock,</I> in dark and solitary places,
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the fittest for such works of darkness.
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(3.) They were abundant and insatiable in their idolatries. They never
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thought they could have idols enough, nor could spend enough upon them
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and do enough in their service. The Syrians had once a notion of the
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God of Israel that he was a God of the hills, but not a <I>God of the
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valleys</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+20:28">1 Kings xx. 28</A>);
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but these idolaters, to make sure work, had both.
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[1.] They had gods of the valleys, which they worshipped in the low
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places by the water side
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>Among the smooth stones of the valley,</I> or brook, <I>is thy
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portion.</I> If they saw a smooth carved stone, though set up but for a
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way-mark or a mere-stone, they were ready to worship it, as the papists
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do crosses. Or in stony valleys they set up their gods, which they
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called their <I>portion,</I> and took for their lot, as God's people
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take him for their lot and portion. But these gods of stone would
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really be no better a portion for them, no better a lot, than the
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smooth stones of the stream near which they were set up, for sometimes
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they worshipped their rivers. "<I>They, they, are the lot</I> which
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thou trustest to and art pleased with, but thou shalt be put off with
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it for thy lot, and miserable will thy case be." See the folly of
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sinners, who take the smooth stones of the stream for their portion,
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when they might have the precious stones of God's Jerusalem, and the
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high priest's ephod, to portion themselves with. Having taken these
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idols for their lot and portion, they stick at no charge in doing
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honour to them: "<I>To them hast thou poured a drink-offering, and
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offered a meat-offering,</I> as if they had given thee thy meat and
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drink." They loved their idols better than their children, for their
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own tables must be robbed to replenish the altars of their idols. Have
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we taken the true God for our portion? Is he, even he, our lot? Let us
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then serve him with our meat and drink, not, as they did, by depriving
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ourselves of the use of them, but by eating and drinking to his glory.
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Here, in a parenthesis, comes in an expression of God's just resentment
|
|
of this wickedness of theirs: <I>Should I receive comfort in
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these</I>--in such a people as this? Can those expect that God will
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|
take any pleasure in them, or accept their devotions at his altar, who
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thus serve Baal with the gifts of his providence? God takes comfort in
|
|
his people, while they are faithful to him; but what comfort can he
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|
take in them when those that should be his witnesses against the
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idolatries of the world do themselves fall in with them? <I>Should I
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have compassion on these?</I> (so some), or <I>should I repent me
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|
concerning these?</I> so others. "How can they expect that I should
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|
spare them, and either adjourn or abate their punishment, when they are
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so very provoking? <I>Shall I not visit for these things?</I>"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+5:7,9">Jer. v. 7, 9</A>.
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[2.] They had gods of the hills too
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Upon a lofty and high mountain</I> (as if thou wouldst vie with the
|
|
high and lofty One himself,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>)
|
|
|
|
<I>hast thou set thy bed,</I> thy idol, thy idol's temple and altar,
|
|
the bed of thy uncleanness, where thou committest spiritual whoredom,
|
|
with all the wantonness of an idolatrous fancy, and in direct violation
|
|
of the covenant of thy God. <I>Thither wentest thou up</I> readily
|
|
enough, though it was up-hill, <I>to offer sacrifice.</I>" Some think
|
|
this bespeaks the impudence they arrived at in their idolatries; at
|
|
first they had some sense of shame, when they worshipped their idols in
|
|
the valleys, in obscure places; but they soon conquered that, and came
|
|
to do it upon the lofty high mountains. They were not ashamed, neither
|
|
could they blush.
|
|
|
|
[3.] As if these were not enough, they had household-gods too, their
|
|
<I>lares</I> and <I>penates. Behind the doors and the posts</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
|
|
|
|
where the law of God should be written for a memorandum to them of
|
|
their duty, they set up the remembrance of their idols, not so much to
|
|
keep up their own remembrance of them (they were so fond of them that
|
|
they could not forget them), but to show to others how mindful they
|
|
were of them, and to put their children in mind of them, and possess
|
|
them betimes with a veneration for these dunghill deities.
|
|
|
|
[4.] As they were insatiable in their idolatries, so they were
|
|
inseparable from them. They were hardened in their wickedness; they
|
|
worshipped their idols openly and in public view, as being neither
|
|
ashamed of the sin nor afraid of the punishment; they went as publicly,
|
|
and in as great crowds, to the idol-temples, as ever they had gone to
|
|
God's house. This was like an impudent harlot, <I>discovering
|
|
themselves to another than God,</I> making profession of another than
|
|
the true religion. They took a pride in making proselytes to their
|
|
idolatries, and not only went up themselves to their high places, but
|
|
<I>enlarged their bed,</I> that is, their idol-temples, and (as the
|
|
margin reads the following words) <I>thou hewedst it for thyself larger
|
|
than theirs,</I> than theirs from whom thou copiedst it, and tookest
|
|
the platform of it, as Ahaz of his altar from that which he saw at
|
|
Damascus,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+16:10">2 Kings xvi. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
And being thus involved over head and ears, as it were, in their
|
|
idolatries, there is no parting them from them. Ephraim is now joined
|
|
to idols both in love and league. <I>First,</I> In league: "<I>Thou
|
|
hast made a covenant with them,</I> with the idols, with the
|
|
idol-worshippers, to live and die together." This was a complete
|
|
renunciation of their covenant with God and an avowed resolution to
|
|
persist in their apostasy from him. <I>Secondly,</I> In love: "<I>Thou
|
|
lovedst their bed,</I> that is, the temple of an idol, wherever thou
|
|
sawest it." Justly therefore were they given up to their own hearts'
|
|
lusts.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. Another sin charged upon them is their trusting in and seeking to
|
|
foreign aids and succours, and contracting a communion with the Gentile
|
|
powers
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Thou wentest to the king,</I> which some understand of the idol they
|
|
worshipped, particularly <I>Moloch,</I> which signifies <I>a king.</I>
|
|
"Thou didst every thing to ingratiate thyself with those idols, didst
|
|
offer incense and sweet ointments at their altars." Or it may be meant
|
|
of the king of Assyria, whom Ahaz made his court to, or of the king of
|
|
Babylon, whose ambassadors Hezekiah caressed, or of other kings of the
|
|
nations whose idolatrous usages they admired and were desirous to learn
|
|
and imitate, and for that end went and sent to cultivate an
|
|
acquaintance and correspondence with them, that they might be like them
|
|
and strengthen themselves by an alliance with them. See here,
|
|
|
|
(1.) What an expense they were at in forming and procuring this grand
|
|
alliance. They went <I>with ointments and perfumes,</I> either
|
|
bestowed upon themselves, to beautify their own faces and so make
|
|
themselves considerable and worthy the friendship of the greatest king,
|
|
or to be presented to those whose favour they were ambitious of,
|
|
because a man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great
|
|
men. "When the first present of rich perfumes was thought too little,
|
|
thou didst increase them;" and thus many seek the ruler's favour,
|
|
forgetting that, after all, every man's judgment proceeds from the
|
|
Lord. So fond were they of those heathen princes that they not only
|
|
went themselves, in all their airs, to those that were near them, but
|
|
sent messengers to those that were afar off,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+18:2"><I>ch.</I> xviii. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) How much they hereby disparaged themselves and laid the honour of
|
|
their crown and nation in the dust: <I>Thou didst debase thyself even
|
|
unto hell.</I> They did so by their idolatries. It is a dishonour to
|
|
the children of men, who are endued with the powers of reason, to
|
|
worship that as their god which is the creature of their own fancy and
|
|
the work of their own hands, to bow down to the stock of a tree. It is
|
|
much more a dishonour to the children of God, who are blessed with the
|
|
privilege of divine revelation, to forsake such a God as they know
|
|
theirs to be for a thing of nought, their own mercies for lying
|
|
vanities. They likewise debased themselves by truckling to their
|
|
heathen neighbours, and depending upon them, when they had a God to go
|
|
to who is all-sufficient and in covenant with them. How did those shame
|
|
themselves to the highest degree, and sink themselves to the lowest,
|
|
that forsook the fountain of life for broken cisterns and the rock of
|
|
ages for broken reeds! Note, Sinners disparage and debase themselves;
|
|
the service of sin is an ignominious slavery; and those who thus debase
|
|
themselves to hell will justly have their portion there.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The aggravations of their sin.
|
|
|
|
1. They had been tired with disappointments in their wicked courses,
|
|
and yet they would not be convinced of the folly of them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way;</I> thou hast
|
|
undertaken a mighty task, to find out true satisfaction and happiness
|
|
in that which is vanity and a lie." Those that set up idols, instead of
|
|
God, for the object of their worship, and princes, instead of God, for
|
|
the object of their hope and confidence, and think thus to better
|
|
themselves and make themselves easy, go a great way about, and will
|
|
never come to their journey's end: <I>Thou art wearied in the
|
|
multitude,</I> or <I>multiplicity, of thy ways</I> (so some read it):
|
|
those that forsake the only right way wander endlessly in a thousand
|
|
by-paths, and lose themselves in the many inventions which they have
|
|
sought out. They weary themselves with fresh chases and fierce ones,
|
|
but never gain their point, like the Sodomites, that <I>wearied
|
|
themselves to find the door</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+19:11">Gen. xix. 11</A>)
|
|
|
|
and could not find it at last. The pleasures of sin will soon surfeit,
|
|
but never satisfy; a man may quickly tire himself in the pursuit of
|
|
them, but can never repose himself in the enjoyment of them. They found
|
|
this by experience. The idols they had often worshipped never did them
|
|
any kindness; the kings they courted distressed them, and helped them
|
|
not; and yet they were so wretchedly besotted that they could not say,
|
|
"<I>There is no hope;</I> it is in vain any longer to expect that
|
|
satisfaction in creature-confidences, and in the worship of idols,
|
|
which we have so often looked for, and never met with." Note, Despair
|
|
of happiness in the creature, and of satisfaction in the service of
|
|
sin, is the first step towards a well-grounded hope of happiness in God
|
|
and a well-fixed resolution to keep to his service; and those are
|
|
inexcusable who have had sensible convictions of the vanity of the
|
|
creature, and yet will not be brought to say, "There is no hope to be
|
|
happy short of the Creator."
|
|
|
|
2. Though they were convinced that the way they were in was a sinful
|
|
way, yet, because they had found some present sensual pleasure and
|
|
worldly profit by it, they could not persuade themselves to be sorry
|
|
for it: "<I>Thou hast found the life of thy hand</I>" (or <I>the living
|
|
of it</I>); thou boastest how fortune smiles upon thee, and therefore
|
|
thou art not grieved, any more than Ephraim when he said
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+12:8">Hos. xii. 8</A>),
|
|
|
|
"<I>I have become rich; I have found out substance.</I>" Note,
|
|
Prosperity in sin is a great bar to conversion from sin. Those that
|
|
live at ease in their sinful projects, are tempted to think God favours
|
|
them, and therefore they have nothing to repent of. Some read it
|
|
ironically, or by way of question: "Thou hast found the life of thy
|
|
hand, hast found true satisfaction and happiness, no doubt thou hast;
|
|
hast thou not? And therefore thou art so far from being grieved that
|
|
thou blessest thyself in thy own evil way; but review thy gains once
|
|
more, and come to a balance of profit and loss, and then say, What
|
|
fruit hast thou of those things whereof thou art ashamed and for which
|
|
<I>God shall bring thee into judgment?</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+6:21">Rom. vi. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
3. They had dealt very unworthily with God by their sin; for,
|
|
|
|
(1.) It should seem they pretended that the reason why they left God
|
|
was because he was too terrible a majesty for them to deal with; they
|
|
must have gods that they could be more free and familiar with. "But,"
|
|
says God, "<I>of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast
|
|
lied,</I> that thou hast dealt falsely and treacherously with me, and
|
|
dissembled in thy covenants with me and prayers to me? What did I ever
|
|
do to frighten thee from me? What occasion have I given thee to think
|
|
hardly of me, that thou hast gone to seek a kinder master?"
|
|
|
|
(2.) However, it is certain that they had no true reverence of God nor
|
|
any serious regard to him. So that question is commonly understood,
|
|
"<I>Of whom hast thou been afraid, or feared?</I> Of none; for thou
|
|
hast not feared me whom thou shouldst fear; for thou hast lied to me."
|
|
Those that dissemble with God make it to appear they stand in no awe of
|
|
him. "Thou <I>hast not remembered me,</I> neither what I have said nor
|
|
what I have done, neither the promises nor the threatenings, nor the
|
|
performances of either; thou hast <I>not laid them to thy heart,</I> as
|
|
thou wouldst have done if thou hadst feared me." Note, Those who lay
|
|
not the word of God and his providences to their hearts do thereby show
|
|
that they have not the fear of God before their eyes. And multitudes
|
|
are ruined by fearlessness, forgetfulness, and mere carelessness; they
|
|
do not aright nor to good purpose fear any thing, remember any thing,
|
|
nor lay any thing to heart. Nay,
|
|
|
|
(3.) They were hardened in their sin by the patience and forbearance of
|
|
God. "<I>Have not I held my peace of old,</I> and for a long time?
|
|
These things thou hast done and I kept silence. And therefore, as it
|
|
follows here, thou fearest me not;" as if because God had spared long
|
|
he would never punish,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+8:11">Eccl. viii. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
Because he kept silence the sinner thought him altogether such a one as
|
|
himself, and stood in no awe of him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. Here is God's resolution to call them to an account, though he had
|
|
long borne with them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>I will declare</I> (like that,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:21">Ps. l. 21</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>But I will reprove thee), I will declare thy righteousness,</I>
|
|
which thou makest thy boast of, and let the world see, and thyself too,
|
|
to thy confusion, that it is all a sham, all a cheat, it is not what it
|
|
pretends to be. When thy righteousness comes to be examined it will be
|
|
found that it was unrighteousness, and that there was no sincerity in
|
|
all thy pretensions. I will declare <I>thy works,</I> what they have
|
|
been and what the gain thou pretendest to have gotten by them, and it
|
|
will appear that at long-run <I>they shall not profit thee,</I> nor
|
|
turn to any account." Note, Sinful works, as they are works of
|
|
darkness, and there is no reason nor righteousness in them, so they are
|
|
unfruitful works and there is nothing got by them; and, however they
|
|
look now, it will be made to appear so another day. Sin profits not,
|
|
nay, it ruins and destroys.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Isa57_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa57_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa57_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa57_16"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Vanity of Idols; Divine Greatness and Condescension.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 706.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>13 When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the
|
|
wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take <I>them:</I> but he
|
|
that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall
|
|
inherit my holy mountain;
|
|
14 And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take
|
|
up the stumbling block out of the way of my people.
|
|
15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth
|
|
eternity, whose name <I>is</I> Holy; I dwell in the high and holy
|
|
<I>place,</I> with him also <I>that is</I> of a contrite and humble spirit,
|
|
to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of
|
|
the contrite ones.
|
|
16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always
|
|
wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls
|
|
<I>which</I> I have made.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
I. God shows how insufficient idols and creatures were to relieve and
|
|
succour those that worshipped them and confided in them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>When thou criest</I> in thy distress and anguish, lamentest thy
|
|
misery and callest for help, <I>let thy companies deliver thee,</I> thy
|
|
idol-gods which thou hast heaped to thyself companies of, the troops of
|
|
the confederate forces which thou hast relied so much upon, let them
|
|
deliver thee if they can; expect no other relief than what they can
|
|
give." Thus God said to Israel, when in their trouble they called upon
|
|
him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+10:14">Judg. x. 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Go, and cry to the gods which you have chosen, let them deliver
|
|
you.</I> But in vain is salvation hoped for from them: <I>The wind
|
|
shall carry them all away,</I> the wind of God's wrath, that breath of
|
|
his mouth which shall slay the wicked; they have made themselves as
|
|
chaff, and therefore the wind will of course hurry them away. Vanity
|
|
they are, and <I>vanity shall take them</I> away, to vanity they shall
|
|
be reduced, and vanity shall be their recompence. Both the idols and
|
|
their worshippers shall come to nothing.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He shows that there was a sufficiency, an all-sufficiency, in him
|
|
for the comfort and deliverance of all those that put their confidence
|
|
in him and made their application to him. Their safety and satisfaction
|
|
appear the more comfortable because their hopes are crowned with
|
|
fruition, when those that seek to other helpers have their hopes
|
|
frustrated: "<I>He that puts his trust in me,</I> and in me only, he
|
|
shall be happy, both for soul and body, for this world and the
|
|
other."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Observe, in general,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Those that trust in God's providence take the best course to
|
|
secure their secular interests. They <I>shall possess the land,</I> as
|
|
much of it as is good for them, and what they have they shall have it
|
|
from a good hand and hold it by a good title.
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+37:3">Ps. xxxvii. 3</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>They shall dwell in the land, and verily they shall be fed.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Those that trust in God's grace take the best course to secure
|
|
their sacred interests. They <I>shall inherit my holy mountain.</I>
|
|
They shall enjoy the privileges of the church on earth, and be brought
|
|
at length to the joys of heaven; and no wind shall carry them away.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. More particularly,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) The captives, that trust in God, shall be released
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>They shall say</I> (that is, the messengers of his providence, in
|
|
that great event shall say), <I>Cast you up, cast you up, prepare the
|
|
way.</I> When God's time shall have come for their deliverance the way
|
|
of bringing it about shall be made plain and easy, obstacles shall be
|
|
removed, difficulties that seemed insuperable shall be speedily got
|
|
over, and all things shall concur both to accelerate and facilitate
|
|
their return. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+40:3,4"><I>ch.</I> xl. 3, 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
This refers to the provision which the gospel, and the grace of it,
|
|
have made for our ready passage through this world to a better. The way
|
|
of religion is now cast up; it is a highway; ministers' business is to
|
|
direct people in it, and to help them over the discouragements they
|
|
meet with, that nothing may offend them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) The contrite, that trust in God, shall be <I>revived,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those that trusted to idols and creatures for help went with their
|
|
<I>ointments and perfumes</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>);
|
|
|
|
but here God shows that those who may expect help from him are such as
|
|
are destitute of, and set themselves at a distance from, the gaieties
|
|
of the world and the delights of sense. God's glory appears here very
|
|
bright,
|
|
|
|
[1.] In his greatness and majesty: He is <I>the high and lofty One that
|
|
inhabits eternity.</I> Let this inspire us with very high and
|
|
honourable thoughts of the God with whom we have to do, <I>First,</I>
|
|
That his being and perfections are exalted infinitely above every
|
|
creature, not only above what they have themselves, but above what they
|
|
can conceive concerning him, <I>far above all their blessing and
|
|
praise,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+9:5">Neh. ix. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>He is the high and lofty One,</I> and there is no creature like him,
|
|
nor any to be compared with him. The language likewise intimates his
|
|
sovereign dominion over all and the incontestable right he has to give
|
|
both law and judgment to all. He is <I>higher than the highest</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+5:8">Eccl. v. 8</A>),
|
|
|
|
than the <I>highest heavens,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+113:4">Ps. cxiii. 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> That with him there is neither beginning of days nor
|
|
end of life, nor change of time; he is both immortal and immutable. He
|
|
only <I>has immortality,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+6:16">1 Tim. vi. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
He has it of himself, and he has it constantly; he inhabits it, and
|
|
cannot be dispossessed of it. We must shortly remove into eternity, but
|
|
God always inhabits it. <I>Thirdly,</I> That there is an infinite
|
|
rectitude in his nature, and an exact conformity with himself and a
|
|
steady design of his own glory in all that he does; and this appears in
|
|
every thing by which he has made himself known, for his name is
|
|
<I>holy,</I> and all that desire to be acquainted with him must know
|
|
him as a holy God. <I>Fourthly,</I> That the peculiar residence and
|
|
manifestation of his glory are in the mansions of light and bliss
|
|
above: "<I>I dwell in the high and holy place,</I> and will have all
|
|
the world to know it." Whoever have any business with God must direct
|
|
to him as their Father in heaven, for there he dwells. These great
|
|
things are here said of God to inspire us with a holy reverence of him,
|
|
to encourage our confidence in him, and to magnify his compassion and
|
|
condescension to us, that though he is thus high yet he has respect
|
|
unto the lowly; he that rides on the heavens by his name JAH stoops to
|
|
concern himself for poor <I>widows</I> and <I>fatherless,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+68:4,5">Ps. lxviii. 4, 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
[2.] In his grace and mercy. He has a tender pity for the humble and
|
|
contrite, for those that are so in respect of their state. If they be
|
|
his people, he will not overlook them though they are poor and low in
|
|
the world, and despised and trampled upon by men; but he here refers to
|
|
the temper of their mind; he will have a tender regard to those who,
|
|
being in affliction, accommodate themselves to their affliction, and
|
|
bring their mind to their condition, be it ever so low and ever so sad
|
|
and sorely broken--those that are truly penitent for sin, who mourn in
|
|
secret for it, and have a dread of the wrath of God, which they have
|
|
made themselves obnoxious to, and are submissive under all his rebukes.
|
|
Now, <I>First,</I> With these God will dwell. He will visit them
|
|
graciously, will converse familiarly with them by his word and Spirit,
|
|
as a man does with those of his own family; he will be always nigh to
|
|
them and present with them. He that dwells in the highest heavens
|
|
dwells in the lowest hearts and inhabits sincerity as surely as he
|
|
inhabits eternity. In these he delights. <I>Secondly,</I> He will
|
|
revive their heart and spirit, will speak that to them, and work that
|
|
in them by the word and Spirit of his grace, which will be reviving to
|
|
them, as a cordial to one that is ready to faint. He will give them
|
|
reviving joys and hopes sufficient to counterbalance all the griefs and
|
|
fears that break their spirits. He dwells with them, and his presence
|
|
is reviving.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) Those with whom he contends, if they trust in him, shall be
|
|
relieved, and received into favour,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
He will <I>revive the heart of the contrite ones,</I> for he will not
|
|
contend for ever. Nothing makes a soul contrite so much as God's
|
|
contending, and therefore nothing revives it so much as his ceasing his
|
|
controversy. Here is,
|
|
|
|
[1.] A gracious promise. It is not promised that he will never be angry
|
|
with his people, for their sins are displeasing to him, or that he will
|
|
never contend with them, for they must expect the rod; but he <I>will
|
|
not contend for ever,</I> nor be always wroth. As he is not soon angry,
|
|
so he is not long angry. He will not always chide. Though he contend
|
|
with them by convictions of sin, he will not contend for ever; but,
|
|
instead of the spirit of bondage, they shall receive the Spirit of
|
|
adoption. He has torn, but he will heal. Though eh contend with them by
|
|
the rebukes of providence, yet the correction shall not last always,
|
|
shall not last long, shall last no longer than there is need
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+1:6">1 Pet. i. 6</A>),
|
|
|
|
no longer than they can bear, no longer than till it has done its work.
|
|
Though their whole life be calamitous, yet their end will be peace, and
|
|
so will their eternity be.
|
|
|
|
[2.] A very compassionate consideration, upon which this promise is
|
|
grounded: "If I should contend for ever, <I>the spirit would fail
|
|
before me, ever the souls which I have made.</I>" Note, <I>First,</I>
|
|
God is the Father of spirits,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+12:9">Heb. xii. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those with whom he will not always contend are the souls that he has
|
|
made, that he gave being to by creation and a new being to by
|
|
regeneration. <I>Secondly,</I> Though the Lord is for the body, yet he
|
|
concerns himself chiefly for the souls of his people, that the spirit
|
|
do not fail, and its graces and comforts. <I>Thirdly,</I> When
|
|
troubles last long, the spirit even of good men is apt to fail. They
|
|
are tempted to entertain hard thoughts of God, to think it in vain to
|
|
serve him; they are ready to put comfort away from them, and to despair
|
|
of relief, and then the spirit fails. <I>Fourthly,</I> It is in
|
|
consideration of this that God will not contend for ever; for he will
|
|
not forsake the work of his own hands nor defeat the purchase of his
|
|
Son's blood. The reason is taken not from our merit, but from our
|
|
weakness and infirmity; for <I>he remembers that we are flesh</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+78:39">Ps. lxxviii. 39</A>)
|
|
|
|
and that flesh is weak.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Isa57_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa57_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa57_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa57_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa57_21"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Divine Forbearance and Mercy.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 706.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote
|
|
him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way
|
|
of his heart.
|
|
18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him
|
|
also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.
|
|
19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to <I>him that
|
|
is</I> far off, and to <I>him that is</I> near, saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; and I
|
|
will heal him.
|
|
20 But the wicked <I>are</I> like the troubled sea, when it cannot
|
|
rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
|
|
21 <I>There is</I> no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The body of the people of Israel, in this account of God's dealings
|
|
with them, is spoken of as a particular person
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:17,18"><I>v.</I> 17, 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
but divided into two sorts, differently dealt with--some who were sons
|
|
of peace, to whom peace is spoken
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>),
|
|
|
|
and others who were not, who have nothing to do with peace,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:20,21"><I>v.</I> 20, 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The just rebukes which that people were brought under for their sin:
|
|
<I>For the iniquity of his covetousness I was wroth, and smote him.</I>
|
|
Covetousness was a sin that abounded very much among that people.
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+6:13">Jer. vi. 13</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>From the least to the greatest of them, every one is given to
|
|
covetousness.</I> Those that did not worship images were yet carried
|
|
away by this spiritual idolatry: for such is covetousness; it is making
|
|
money the god,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+3:5">Col. iii. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
No marvel that the people were covetous when their watchmen themselves
|
|
were notoriously so,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:11"><I>ch.</I> lvi. 11</A>,
|
|
|
|
Yet, covetous as they were, in the service of their idols they were
|
|
prodigal,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
And it is hard to say whether their profuseness in that or their
|
|
covetousness in every thing else was more provoking. But for this
|
|
iniquity, among others, God was angry with them, and brought one
|
|
judgment after another upon them, and their destruction at last by the
|
|
Chaldeans.
|
|
|
|
1. God was wroth. He resented it, took it very ill that a people who
|
|
were devoted to himself, and portioned in himself, should be so
|
|
entirely given up to the world and choose that for their portion.
|
|
Note, Covetousness is an iniquity that is very displeasing to the God
|
|
of heaven. It is a heart-sin, but he sees it, and <I>therefore</I>
|
|
hates it, and looks upon it with jealousy, because it sets up a rival
|
|
with him in the soul. It is a sin which men <I>bless themselves in</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+49:18">Ps. xlix. 18</A>)
|
|
|
|
and in which their neighbours <I>bless them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+10:3">Ps. x. 3</A>);
|
|
|
|
but God abhors it.
|
|
|
|
2. He motes him, reproved him for it by his prophets, corrected him by
|
|
his providence, punished him in those very things he so doted upon and
|
|
was covetous of. Note, Sinners shall be made to feel from the anger of
|
|
God. Those whom he is wroth with he smites; and covetousness
|
|
particularly lays men under the tokens of God's displeasure. Those that
|
|
set their hearts upon the wealth of this world are disappointed of it
|
|
or it is embittered to them; it is either clogged with a cross or
|
|
turned into a curse.
|
|
|
|
3. God hid himself from him when he was under these rebukes, and
|
|
continued wroth with him. When we are under the rod, if God manifest
|
|
himself to us, we may bear it the better; but if he both smite us and
|
|
hide himself from us, send us no prophets, speak to us no comfortable
|
|
word, show us no token for good, if he <I>tear and go away</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+5:14">Hos. v. 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
we are very miserable.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Their obstinacy and incorrigibleness under these rebukes: <I>He
|
|
went on frowardly in the way of his heart,</I> in his evil way. He was
|
|
not sensible of the displeasure of God that he was under. He felt the
|
|
smart of the rod, but had no regard at all to the hand; the more he was
|
|
crossed in his worldly pursuits the more eager he was in them. He
|
|
either would not see his error or if he saw it would not amend it.
|
|
Covetousness was the way of his heart; it was what he was inclined to
|
|
and intent upon, and he would not be reclaimed, but <I>in his distress
|
|
he trespassed yet more,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+28:22">2 Chron. xxviii. 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
See the strength of the corruption of men's hearts, and the sinfulness
|
|
of sin, which will take its course in despite of God himself and all
|
|
the flames of his wrath. See also how insufficient afflictions of
|
|
themselves are to reform men, unless God's grace work with them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. God's wonderful return in mercy to them, notwithstanding the
|
|
obstinacy of the generality of them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The greater part of them went on frowardly, but there were some
|
|
among them that were mourners for the obstinacy of the rest; and with
|
|
an eye to them, or rather for his own name's sake, God determines not
|
|
to contend for ever with them. <I>With the froward</I> God may justly
|
|
<I>show himself froward</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+18:26">Ps. xviii. 26</A>),
|
|
|
|
and <I>walk contrary</I> to those that <I>walk contrary</I> to him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+26:24">Lev. xxvi. 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
When this sinner here went on frowardly in the way of his heart, one
|
|
would think it should have followed, "I have seen his ways and will
|
|
destroy him, will abandon him, will never have any thing more to do
|
|
with him." But such are the riches of divine mercy and grace, and so do
|
|
they rejoice against judgment, that it follows, <I>I have seen his ways
|
|
and will heal him.</I> See how God's goodness takes occasion from man's
|
|
badness to appear so much the more illustrious; and where sin has
|
|
abounded grace much more abounds. God's reasons of mercy are fetched
|
|
from within himself, for in us there appears nothing but what is
|
|
provoking: "I have seen his ways, and yet I will heal him for my own
|
|
name's sake." God knew how bad the people were, and yet would not cast
|
|
them off. But observe the method. God will first give him grace, and
|
|
then, and not till then, give him peace: "I have seen his way, that he
|
|
will never turn to me of himself, and therefore I will turn him." Those
|
|
whom God has mercy in store for he has grace in readiness for, to
|
|
prepare and qualify them for that mercy which they were running from as
|
|
fast as they could.
|
|
|
|
(1.) God will heal him of his corrupt and vicious disposition, will
|
|
cure him of his covetousness, though it be ever so deeply rooted in him
|
|
and his heart have been long exercised to covetous practices. There is
|
|
no spiritual disease so inveterate, but almighty grace can conquer it.
|
|
|
|
(2.) God <I>will lead him also;</I> not only amend what was amiss in
|
|
him, that he may cease to do evil, but direct him into the way of duty,
|
|
that he may learn to do well. He goes on frowardly, as Saul, yet
|
|
breathing out threatenings and slaughter, but God will lead him into a
|
|
better mind, a better path. And them,
|
|
|
|
(3.) He will restore those comforts to him which he had forfeited and
|
|
lost, and for the return of which he had thus prepared him. There was a
|
|
wonderful reformation wrought upon captives in Babylon, and then a
|
|
wonderful redemption wrought for them, which brought comfort to them,
|
|
to their mourners, to those among them that mourned for their own sins,
|
|
the sins of their people, and the desolations of the sanctuary. To
|
|
those mourners the mercy would be most comfortable, and to them God had
|
|
an eye in working it out. Blessed are those that mourn, for to them
|
|
comfort belongs, and they shall have it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. Now, as when that people went into captivity some of them were good
|
|
figs, very good, others of them bad figs, very bad, and accordingly
|
|
their captivity was to them for their good or for <I>their hurt</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+24:8,9">Jer. xxiv. 8, 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
so, when they came out of captivity, still some of them were good,
|
|
others bad, and the deliverance was to them accordingly.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) To those among them that were good their return out of captivity
|
|
was peace, such peace as was a type and earnest of the peace which
|
|
should be preached by Jesus Christ
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>I create the fruit of the lips, peace.</I>
|
|
|
|
[1.] God designed to give them matter for praise and thanksgiving, for
|
|
that is the <I>fruit of the lips</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+13:15">Heb. xiii. 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
the <I>calves of the lips,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+14:2">Hos. xiv. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>I create this.</I> Creation is out of nothing, and this is surely
|
|
out of worse than nothing, when God creates matter of praise for those
|
|
that went on frowardly in the way of their heart.
|
|
|
|
[2.] In order to this, peace shall be published: <I>Peace, peace</I>
|
|
(perfect peace, all kinds of peace) <I>to him that is afar off</I> from
|
|
the general rendezvous, or from the head-quarters, as well as <I>to him
|
|
that is near.</I> Peace with God; though he has contended with them, he
|
|
will be reconciled and will let fall his controversy. Peace of
|
|
conscience, a holy security and serenity of mind, after the many
|
|
reproaches of conscience and agitations of spirit they had been under
|
|
their captivity. Thus God creates the fruit of the lips, fresh matter
|
|
for thanksgiving; for, when he speaks peace to us, we must speak
|
|
praises to him. This peace is itself of God's creating. He, and he
|
|
only, can work it; it is the fruit of the lips, of his lips--he
|
|
commands it, of the minister's lips--he speaks it by them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+40:1"><I>ch.</I> xl. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is the fruit of preaching lips and praying lips; it is the fruit of
|
|
Christ's lips, whose lips drop as a honeycomb; for to him this is
|
|
applied,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+2:17">Eph. ii. 17</A>:
|
|
|
|
<I>He came and preached peace to you who were afar off,</I> you
|
|
Gentiles as well as to the Jews, who were nigh-to after-ages, who were
|
|
afar off in time, as well as to those of the present age.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) To those among them that were wicked, though they might return
|
|
with the rest, their return was no peace,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
The wicked, wherever he is, in Babylon or in Jerusalem, carries about
|
|
with him the principle of his own uneasiness, and is like the troubled
|
|
sea. God healed those to whom he spoke peace
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>I will heal them;</I> all shall be well again and set to rights; but
|
|
the wicked would not be healed by the grace of God and therefore shall
|
|
not be healed by his comforts. They are always like the sea in a storm,
|
|
for they carry about with them,
|
|
|
|
[1.] Unmortified corruptions. They are not cured and conquered, and
|
|
their ungoverned lusts and passions make them like the troubled sea
|
|
when it cannot rest, vexatious to all about them and therefore uneasy
|
|
to themselves, noisy and dangerous. When the intemperate heats of the
|
|
spirit break out in scurrilous and abusive language, then the troubled
|
|
sea casts forth mire and dirt.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Unpacified consciences. They are under a frightful apprehension of
|
|
guilt and wrath, that they cannot enjoy themselves; when they seem
|
|
settled they are in disquietude, when they seem merry they are in
|
|
heaviness; like Cain, who always dwelt in the land of shaking. The
|
|
terrors of conscience disturb all their enjoyments, and cast forth such
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mire and dirt as make them a burden to themselves. Though this does not
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appear (it may be) at present, yet it is a certain truth, what this
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prophet had said before
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+48:22"><I>ch.</I> xlviii. 22</A>),
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and here repeats
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>),
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<I>There is no peace to the wicked,</I> no reconciliation to God (nor
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can they be upon good terms with him, while they go on still in their
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trespasses), no quietness or satisfaction in their own mind, no real
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good, no peace in death, because no hope. <I>My God hath said it,</I>
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and all the world cannot unsay it, That there is no peace to those that
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allow themselves in any sin. What have they to do with peace?</P>
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