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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. LX.</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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This whole chapter is all to the same purport, all in the same strain;
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it is a part of God's covenant with his church, which is spoken of in
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the
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+59:21">last verse</A>
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of the foregoing chapter, and the blessings here promised are the
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fruits of the word and Spirit there promised. The long continuance of
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the church, even unto the utmost ages of time, was there promised, and
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here the large extent of the church, even unto the utmost regions of
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the earth; and both these tend to the honour of the Redeemer. It is
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here promised,
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I. That the church shall be enlightened and shone upon,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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II. That it shall be enlarged and great additions made to it, to join
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in the service of God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:3-8">ver. 3-8</A>.
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III. That the new converts shall be greatly serviceable to the church
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and to the interests of it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:9-13">ver. 9-13</A>.
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IV. That the church shall be in great honour and reputation among men,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:14-16">ver. 14-16</A>.
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V. That it shall enjoy a profound peace and tranquility,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:17,18">ver. 17, 18</A>.
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VI. That, the members of it being all righteous, the glory and joy of
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it shall be everlasting,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:19-22">ver. 19-22</A>.
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Now this has some reference to the peaceable and prosperous condition
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which the Jews were sometimes in after their return out of captivity
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into their own land; but it certainly looks further, and was to have
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its full accomplishment in the kingdom of the Messiah, the enlargement
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of that kingdom by the bringing in of the Gentiles into it, and the
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spiritual blessings in heavenly things by Christ Jesus with which it
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should be enriched, and all these earnests of eternal joy and
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glory.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Isa60_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa60_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa60_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa60_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa60_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa60_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa60_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa60_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>The Extension of the Church.</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 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> is risen upon thee.
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2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross
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darkness the people: but the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> shall arise upon thee, and his
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glory shall be seen upon thee.
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3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the
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brightness of thy rising.
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4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather
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themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from
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far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at <I>thy</I> side.
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5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall
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fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be
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converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto
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thee.
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6 The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of
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Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall
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bring gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee,
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the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up
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with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my
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glory.
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8 Who <I>are</I> these <I>that</I> fly as a cloud, and as the doves to
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their windows?
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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It is here promised that the gospel temple shall be very lightsome and
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very large.</P>
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<P>
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I. It shall be very lightsome: <I>Thy light has come.</I> When the Jews
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returned out of captivity they had <I>light and gladness, and joy and
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honour;</I> they then were made to <I>know the Lord</I> and to
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<I>rejoice in his great goodness;</I> and upon both accounts their
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light came. When the Redeemer came to Zion he brought light with him,
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he himself came to be a light. Now observe,
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1. What this light is, and whence it springs: <I>The Lord shall arise
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upon thee</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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<I>the glory of the Lord</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>)
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<I>shall be seen upon thee.</I> God is the father and fountain of
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lights, and it is in his light that we shall see light. As far as we
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have the knowledge of God in us, and the favour of God towards us, our
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light has come. When God appears to us, and we have the comfort of his
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favour, then <I>the glory of the Lord rises upon us</I> as the morning
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light; when he appears for us, and we have the credit of his favour,
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when he shows us some token for good and proclaims his favour to us,
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then his glory is seen upon us, as it was upon Israel in the <I>pillar
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of cloud and fire.</I> When Christ arose as the sun of righteousness,
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and in him <I>the day-spring from on high visited us,</I> then <I>the
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glory of the Lord was</I> seen upon us, the glory <I>as of the
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first-begotten of the Father.</I>
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2. What a foil there shall be to this light: <I>Darkness shall cover
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the earth;</I> but, though it be gross darkness, darkness that might be
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felt, like that of Egypt, that shall overspread the people, yet the
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church, like Goshen, shall have light at the same time. When the case
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of the nations that have not the gospel shall be very melancholy, those
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<I>dark corners of the earth</I> being <I>full of the habitations of
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cruelty</I> to poor souls, the state of the church shall be very
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pleasant.
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3. What is the duty which the rising of this light calls for:
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"<I>Arise, shine;</I> not only receive this light, and" (as the margin
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reads it) "<I>be enlightened by it,</I> but reflect this light;
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<I>arise and shine</I> with rays borrowed from it." The children of
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light ought to shine as lights in the world. If God's glory be seen
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upon us to our honour, we ought not only with our lips, but in our
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lives, to return the praise of it <I>to his honour,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+5:16,Php+2:15">Matt. v. 16; Phil. ii. 15</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. It shall be very large. When the Jews were settled again in their
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own land, after their captivity, many of the people of the land joined
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themselves to them; but it does not appear that there ever was any such
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numerous accession to them as would answer the fulness of this
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prophecy; and therefore we must conclude that this looks further, to
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the bringing of the Gentiles into the gospel church, not their flocking
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to one particular place, though under that type it is here described.
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There is no place now that is the centre of the church's unity; but the
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promise respects their flocking to Christ, and coming by faith, and
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hope, and holy love, into that society which is incorporated by the
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charter of his gospel, and of the unity of which he only is the
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centre--that family which is named from him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:15">Eph. iii. 15</A>.
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The gospel church is expressly called <I>Zion</I> and <I>Jerusalem,</I>
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and under that notion all believers are said to <I>come</I> to it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+12:22">Heb. xii. 22</A>.
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<I>You have come unto Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the
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heavenly Jerusalem</I>), which serves for a key to this prophecy,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+2:19">Eph. ii. 19</A>.
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Observe,</P>
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<P>
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1. What shall invite such multitudes to the church: "They shall <I>come
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to thy light and to the brightness of thy rising,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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They shall be allured to join themselves to thee,"
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(1.) "By the light that shines upon thee," the light of the glorious
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gospel, which the churches hold forth, in consequence of which they are
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called <I>golden candlesticks.</I> This light which discovers so much
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of God and his good will to man, by which life and immortality are
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brought to light, this shall invite all the serious well-affected part
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of mankind to come and join themselves to the church, that they may
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have the benefit of this light to inform them concerning truth and
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duty.
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(2.) "By the light with which thou shinest." The purity and love of the
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primitive Christians, their heavenly-mindedness, contempt of the world,
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and patient sufferings, were the brightness of the church's rising,
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which drew many into it. The beauty of holiness was the powerful
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attractive by which Christ had a willing people brought to him in
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<I>the day of his power,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+110:3">Ps. cx. 3</A>.</P>
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<P>
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2. What multitudes shall come to the church. Great numbers <I>shall
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come, Gentiles</I> (or <I>nations</I>) <I>of those that are saved,</I>
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as it is expressed with allusion to this,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:24">Rev. xxi. 24</A>.
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<I>Nations</I> shall be <I>discipled</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+28:19">Matt. xxviii. 19</A>),
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and even kings, men of figure, power, and influence, shall be <I>added
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to the church.</I> They come from all parts
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>Lift up thy eyes round about, and see</I> them coming, <I>devout men
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out of every nation under heaven,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+2:5">Acts ii. 5</A>.
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See how <I>white the fields are already to the harvest,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+4:35">John iv. 35</A>.
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See them coming in a body, as one man, and with one consent: They
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<I>gather themselves together,</I> that they may strengthen one
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another's hands, and encourage one another. <I>Come, and let us go,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+2:3"><I>ch.</I> ii. 3</A>.
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"They come from the remotest parts: <I>They come to thee from far,</I>
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having <I>heard the report</I> of thee, as the queen of Sheba, or
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<I>seen thy star in the east,</I> as the wise men, and they will not be
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discouraged by the length of the journey from coming to thee. There
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shall come some of both sexes. Sons and daughters shall come in the
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most dutiful manner, as thy sons and thy daughters, resolved to be of
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thy family, to submit to the laws of thy family and put themselves
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under the tuition of it. They shall come <I>to be nursed at thy
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side,</I> to have their education with thee from their cradle." The
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church's children must be nursed at her side, not sent out to be nursed
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among strangers; there, where alone the unadulterated milk of the word
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is to be had, must the church's new-born babes be nursed, <I>that they
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may grow thereby,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+2:1,2">1 Pet. ii. 1, 2</A>.
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Those that would enjoy the dignities and privileges of Christ's family
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must submit to the discipline of it.</P>
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<P>
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3. What they shall bring with them and what advantage shall accrue to
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the church by their accession to it. Those that are brought into the
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church by the grace of God will be sure to bring all they are worth in
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with them, which with themselves they will devote to the honour and
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service of God and do good with in their places.
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(1.) The merchants shall write <I>holiness to the Lord</I> upon their
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merchandise and their hire, as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:18"><I>ch.</I> xxiii. 18</A>.
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"<I>The abundance of the sea,</I> either the wealth that is fetched out
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of the sea (the fish, the pearls) or that which is imported by sea,
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<I>shall</I> all <I>be converted to thee</I> and to thy use." The
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wealth of the rich merchants shall be laid out in works of piety and
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charity.
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(2.) The mighty men of the nations shall employ their might in the
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service of the church: "<I>The forces,</I> or troops, <I>of the
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Gentiles shall come unto thee,</I> to guard thy coasts, strengthen thy
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interests, and, if occasion be, to fight thy battles." The forces of
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the Gentiles had often been against the church, but now they shall be
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for it; for as God, when he pleases, can, and, when we please him,
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will, make even <I>our enemies to be at peace with us</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+16:7">Prov. xvi. 7</A>),
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so, when Christ overcomes the strong man armed, he divides his spoils,
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and makes that to serve his interests which had been used against them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+11:22">Luke xi. 22</A>.
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(3.) The wealth imported by land-carriage, as well as that by sea,
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shall be made use of in the service of God and the church
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>The camels and dromedaries that bring gold and incense</I> (gold to
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make the golden altar of and incense and sweet perfumes to burn upon
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it), <I>those of Midian and Sheba,</I> shall bring the richest
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commodities of their country, not to trade with, but to honour God
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with, and not in small quantities, but camel-loads of them. This was in
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part fulfilled when the <I>wise men of the east</I> (perhaps some of
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the countries here mentioned), drawn by the brightness of the star,
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came to Christ, and presented to him treasures of <I>gold,
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frankincense, and myrrh,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+2:11">Matt. ii. 11</A>.
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(4.) Great numbers of sacrifices shall be brought to God's altar,
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acceptable sacrifices, and, though brought by Gentiles, they shall find
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acceptance,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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<I>Kedar</I> was famous for flocks, and probably the fattest rams were
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those of <I>Nebaioth;</I> these shall come up with acceptance on God's
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altar. God must be served and honoured with what we have, according as
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he has blessed us, and with the best we have. This was fulfilled when
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by the decree of Darius the governors beyond the rivers (perhaps of
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some of these countries) were ordered to furnish the temple at
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Jerusalem <I>with bullocks, rams, and lambs, for the burnt-offering of
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the God of heaven,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:9">Ezra vi. 9</A>.
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It had a further accomplishment, and we trust will have, in the
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bringing in of the fulness of the Gentiles to the church, which is
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called the <I>sacrificing</I> or <I>offering up of the Gentiles</I>
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unto God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+15:16">Rom. xv. 16</A>.
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The flocks and rams are precious souls; for they are said to minister
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to the church, and to come up as living sacrifices, presenting
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themselves to God by a <I>reasonable service</I> on <I>his altar,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+12:1">Rom. xii. 1</A>.</P>
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<P>
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4. How God shall be honoured by the increase of the church and the
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accession of such numbers to it.
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(1.) They shall intend the honour of God's name in it. When they bring
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their gold and incense it shall not be to show the riches of their
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country, nor to gain applause to themselves for piety and devotion, but
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to <I>show forth the praises of the Lord,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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Our greatest services and gifts to the church are not acceptable
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further than we have an eye to the glory of God in them. And this must
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be our business in our attendance on public ordinances, to <I>give unto
|
|
the Lord the glory due to his name;</I> for <I>therefore,</I> as these
|
|
here, we are called out of darkness into light, that we should <I>show
|
|
forth the praises of him that called us,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+2:9">1 Pet. ii. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) God will advance the honour of his own name by it; so he has said
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>I will glorify the house of my glory.</I> The church is the house of
|
|
God's glory, where he manifests his glory to his people and receives
|
|
that homage by which they do honour to him. And it is for the glory of
|
|
this house, and of him that keeps house there, both that the Gentiles
|
|
shall bring their offerings to it and that they shall be accepted
|
|
therein.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. How the church shall herself be affected with this increase of her
|
|
numbers,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
(1.) She shall be in a transport of joy upon this account: "<I>Thou
|
|
shalt see</I> and <I>flow together</I>" (or flow to and fro), "as in a
|
|
pleasing agitation about it, surprised at it, but extremely glad of
|
|
it."
|
|
|
|
(2.) There shall be a mixture of fear with this joy: "<I>Thy heart
|
|
shall fear,</I> doubting whether it be lawful to <I>go in to the
|
|
uncircumcised</I> and <I>eat with them.</I>" Peter was so impressed
|
|
with this fear that he needed a vision and voice from heaven to help
|
|
him over it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+10:28">Acts x. 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
But,
|
|
|
|
(3.) "When this fear is conquered thy heart shall be enlarged in holy
|
|
love, so enlarged that thou shalt have room in it for all the Gentile
|
|
converts; thou shalt not have such a narrow soul as thou hast had nor
|
|
affections so confined within the Jewish pale." When God intends the
|
|
beauty and prosperity of his church he gives this largeness of heart
|
|
and an extensive charity.
|
|
|
|
(4.) These converts flocking to the church shall be greatly admired
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Who are these that fly as a cloud?</I> Observe,
|
|
|
|
[1.] How the conversion of souls is here described. It is flying to
|
|
Christ and to his church, for thither we are directed; it is flying
|
|
like a cloud, though in great multitudes, so as to overspread the
|
|
heavens, yet with great unanimity, all as one cloud. They shall come
|
|
with speed, as a cloud flying on the wings of the wind, and come
|
|
openly, and in the view of all, <I>their</I> very <I>enemies beholding
|
|
them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+11:12">Rev. xi. 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
and yet not able to hinder them. They shall <I>fly as doves to their
|
|
windows,</I> in great flights, many together; they fly on the wings of
|
|
the harmless dove, which flies low, denoting their innocency and
|
|
humility. They fly to Christ, to the church, to the word and
|
|
ordinances, as doves, by instinct, to their own windows, to their own
|
|
home; thither they fly for refuge and shelter when they are pursued by
|
|
the birds of prey, and thither they fly for rest when they have been
|
|
wandering and are weary, as Noah's dove to the ark.
|
|
|
|
[2.] How the conversion of souls is here admired. It is spoken of with
|
|
wonder and pleasure: <I>Who are these?</I> We have reason to wonder
|
|
that so many flock to Christ: when we see them all together we shall
|
|
wonder whence they all came. And we have reason to admire with pleasure
|
|
and affection those that do flock to him: <I>Who are these?</I> How
|
|
excellent, how amiable are they! What a pleasant sight is it to see
|
|
poor souls hastening to Christ, with a full resolution to abide with
|
|
him!</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Isa60_9"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa60_10"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa60_11"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa60_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa60_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa60_14"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Enlargement of the Church.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 706.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish
|
|
first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold
|
|
with them, unto the name of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God, and to the Holy One
|
|
of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.
|
|
10 And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and
|
|
their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote
|
|
thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.
|
|
11 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall
|
|
not be shut day nor night; that <I>men</I> may bring unto thee the
|
|
forces of the Gentiles, and <I>that</I> their kings <I>may be</I> brought.
|
|
12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall
|
|
perish; yea, <I>those</I> nations shall be utterly wasted.
|
|
13 The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the
|
|
pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my
|
|
sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
|
|
14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending
|
|
unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves
|
|
down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city
|
|
of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The promises made to the church in the
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:1-8">foregoing verses</A>
|
|
|
|
are here repeated, ratified, and enlarged upon, designed still for the
|
|
comfort and encouragement of the Jews after their return out of
|
|
captivity, but certainly looking further, to the enlargement and
|
|
advancement of the gospel church and the abundance of spiritual
|
|
blessings with which it shall be enriched.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. God will be very gracious and propitious to them. We must begin with
|
|
that promise, because thence all the rest take rise. The sanctuary that
|
|
was desolate begins to be repaired when God <I>causes his face to shine
|
|
upon it,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+9:17">Dan. ix. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
All the favour that the people of God find with men is owing to the
|
|
light of God's countenance and his favour to them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
|
|
|
|
"All shall now make court to thee, <I>for in my wrath I smote thee,</I>
|
|
while thou wast in captivity" (and the sufferings of the church,
|
|
especially by its corruptions, decays, and divisions, against which
|
|
these promises will be its relief, are sad tokens of God's
|
|
displeasure), "But now <I>in my favour have I had mercy on thee,</I>
|
|
and therefore have all this mercy in store for thee."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Many shall be brought into the church, even from far countries
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Surely the isles shall wait for me,</I> shall welcome the gospel,
|
|
and shall attend God with their praises for it and their ready
|
|
subjection to it. <I>The ships of Tarshish,</I> transport-ships, shall
|
|
lie ready to carry members from far distant regions to the church, or
|
|
(which is equivalent) to carry the ministers of the church to remote
|
|
parts, to preach the gospel and to bring in souls to join themselves to
|
|
the Lord. Observe,
|
|
|
|
1. Who are brought--<I>thy sons,</I> that is, such as are designed to
|
|
be so, those <I>children of God that are scattered abroad,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+11:52">John xi. 52</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. What they shall bring with them. They live at such a distance that
|
|
they cannot bring their flocks and their rams; but, like those who
|
|
lived remote from Jerusalem (who, when they came up to worship at the
|
|
feast, because they could not bring their tithes in kind, turned them
|
|
into money), they shall <I>bring their silver and gold with them.</I>
|
|
Note, When we give up ourselves to God we must with ourselves give up
|
|
all we have to him. If we honour him with our spirits, we shall honour
|
|
him with our substance.
|
|
|
|
3. To whom they shall devote and dedicate themselves and all they are
|
|
worth--<I>to the name of the Lord thy God,</I> to God as the Lord of
|
|
all and the church's God and King, even to the <I>Holy One of
|
|
Israel</I> (whom Israel worships as a Holy One, in the beauty of
|
|
holiness), <I>because he has glorified thee.</I> Note, The honour God
|
|
puts upon his church and people should not only engage us to honour
|
|
them, but invite us to join ourselves to them. <I>We will go with you,
|
|
for God is with you,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+8:23">Zech. viii. 23</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Those that come into the church shall be welcome; for so spacious
|
|
is the holy city that though, <I>Lord, it is done as thou hast
|
|
commanded, yet still there is room. "Therefore thy gates shall be open
|
|
continually</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
not only because thou hast no reason to fear thy enemies, but because
|
|
thou hast reason to expect thy friends." It is usual with us to leave
|
|
our doors open, or leave some one ready to open them, all night, if we
|
|
look for a child or a guest to come in late. Note, Christ is always
|
|
ready to entertain those that come to him, is never out of the way, nor
|
|
can they ever come unseasonably; the gate of mercy is always open,
|
|
night and day, or shall soon be opened to those that knock. Ministers,
|
|
the door-keepers, must be always ready to admit those that offer
|
|
themselves to the Lord. God not only keeps a good house in his church,
|
|
but he keeps open house, that at any time, by the preaching of the
|
|
word, <I>in season and out of season, the forces of the Gentiles,</I>
|
|
and the kings or commanders of those forces, <I>may be brought</I> into
|
|
the church. <I>Lift up your heads, O you gates!</I> and let such
|
|
welcome guests as these come in.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. All that are about the church shall be made in some way or other
|
|
serviceable to it. Though dominion is far from being founded in men's
|
|
grace, it is founded in God's; and he that made the inferior creatures
|
|
useful to man will make the nations of men useful to the church. The
|
|
earth helped the woman. <I>All things are for your sakes.</I> So here
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
"Even <I>the sons of strangers,</I> that have neither knowledge of thee
|
|
nor kindness for thee, that have always been <I>aliens to the
|
|
commonwealth of Israel,</I> even they <I>shall build up thy wall, and
|
|
their kings shall</I> in that and other things <I>ministers unto
|
|
thee</I> and not think it any disparagement to them to do so." This was
|
|
fulfilled when the king of Persia, and the governors of the provinces
|
|
by his order, were aiding and assisting Nehemiah in building the wall
|
|
about Jerusalem. Rather than Jerusalem's walls shall lie still in
|
|
ruins, the <I>sons of the stranger</I> shall be raised up to build
|
|
them. Even those that do not belong to the church may be a protection
|
|
to it. And the greatest of men should not think it below them to
|
|
minister to the church, but rejoice that they are in a capacity, and
|
|
have a heart, to do it any service. Nay, it is the duty of all to do
|
|
what they can in their places to advance the interests of God's kingdom
|
|
among men; it is at their peril if they do not; for
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>The nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish;</I>
|
|
not that they must perish by the sword or by human anathemas, or as if
|
|
this gave any countenance to the using of external force for the
|
|
propagating of the gospel, or as if men might be compelled by penalties
|
|
and punishments to come into the church; by no means. But those who
|
|
will not by faith submit to Jesus Christ, the King of the church, and
|
|
serve him, shall perish eternally,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+2:12">Ps. ii. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those that will not be subject to Christ's golden sceptre, to the
|
|
government of his word and Spirit, that will not be brought under, or
|
|
kept in, by the discipline of his family, shall be broken in pieces by
|
|
his iron rod. <I>Bring them forth and slay them before me,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+19:27">Luke xix. 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
Nations of such shall be utterly and eternally wasted, when Christ
|
|
shall come to take vengeance on those that <I>obey not his gospel,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:8">2 Thess. i. 8</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. There shall be abundance of beauty added to the ordinances of divine
|
|
worship
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The glory of Lebanon,</I> the strong and stately cedars that grow
|
|
there, <I>shall come unto thee,</I> as of old to Solomon, when he built
|
|
the temple
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+2:16">2 Chron. ii. 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
and with them shall be brought other timber, proper for the carved work
|
|
thereof, which the enemy had broken down,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+74:5,6">Ps. lxxiv. 5, 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
The temple, the <I>place of God's sanctuary,</I> shall be not only
|
|
rebuilt, but beautified. It is the <I>place of his feet,</I> where he
|
|
rests and resides,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+43:7">Ezek. xliii. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
The ark is called his <I>footstool,</I> because it was under the
|
|
mercy-seat,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+132:7">Ps. cxxxii. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
This he will make glorious in the eyes of his people and of all their
|
|
neighbours. <I>The glory of the latter house,</I> to which this refers,
|
|
though in many instances inferior, was yet really <I>greater than the
|
|
glory of the former,</I> because Christ came to that temple,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+3:1">Mal. iii. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was likewise <I>adorned with goodly stones and gifts</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+21:5">Luke xxi. 5</A>),
|
|
|
|
to which this promise may have some reference; yet so slightly did
|
|
Christ speak of them there that we must suppose it to have its full
|
|
accomplishment in the beauties of holiness, and the graces and comforts
|
|
of the Spirit, with which gospel ordinances are adorned and
|
|
enriched.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VI. The church shall appear truly great and honourable,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
The people of the Jews, after their return out of captivity, by degrees
|
|
became more considerable, and made a better figure than one would have
|
|
expected, after they had been so much reduced, and than any of the
|
|
other nations recovered that had been in like manner humbled by the
|
|
Chaldeans. It is probable that many of those who had oppressed them in
|
|
Babylon, when they were themselves driven out by the Persians, made
|
|
their court to the Jews for shelter and supply and were willing to
|
|
scrape acquaintance with them. This prophecy is further fulfilled when
|
|
those that have been enemies to the church are wrought upon by the
|
|
grace of God to see their error, and come, and join themselves to it:
|
|
"<I>The sons of those that afflicted thee,</I> if not they themselves,
|
|
yet their children, shall crouch to thee, shall beg pardon for their
|
|
folly and beg an interest in thy favour and admission into thy family,"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+2:36">1 Sam. ii. 36</A>.
|
|
|
|
A promise like this is made to the church of Philadelphia,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:9">Rev. iii. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
And it is intended to be,
|
|
|
|
1. A mortification to the proud oppressors of the church, that have
|
|
afflicted her, and despised her, and taken a pleasure in doing so; they
|
|
shall be brought down; their spirits shall be broken, and their
|
|
condition shall be so mean and miserable that they shall be glad to be
|
|
obliged to those whom they have most studied to disoblige. Note, Sooner
|
|
or later God will pour contempt upon those that put contempt upon his
|
|
people.
|
|
|
|
2. An exaltation to the poor oppressed ones of the church; and this is
|
|
the honour that shall be done to them, they shall have an opportunity
|
|
of doing good to those who have done evil to them and saving those
|
|
alive who have afflicted and despised them. It is a pleasure to a good
|
|
man, and he accounts it an honour, to show mercy to those with whom he
|
|
has found no mercy. Yet this is not all. "They shall not only become
|
|
suppliants to thee for their own interest, but they shall give honour
|
|
to thee: <I>They shall call thee, The city of the Lord;</I> they shall
|
|
at length be convinced that thou art a favourite of heaven, and the
|
|
particular care of the divine providence." That city is truly great and
|
|
honourable, it is strong, it is rich, it is safe, it is beautiful, it
|
|
is the most desirable place that can be to live in, which is <I>the
|
|
city of the Lord,</I> which he owns, in which he dwells, in which
|
|
religion is uppermost. Such a one is Zion; it is the place which God
|
|
has chosen to put his name there; it is <I>the Zion of the Holy One of
|
|
Israel;</I> therefore, we may be sure, it is a holy city, else the Holy
|
|
One of Israel would never be called the patron of it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Isa60_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa60_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa60_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa60_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa60_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa60_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa60_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa60_22"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Glory of the Church.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 706.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>15 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man
|
|
went through <I>thee,</I> I will make thee an eternal excellency, a
|
|
joy of many generations.
|
|
16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt
|
|
suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
|
|
<I>am</I> thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
|
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17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring
|
|
silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make
|
|
thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.
|
|
18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor
|
|
destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls
|
|
Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
|
|
19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for
|
|
brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
|
|
shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
|
|
20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon
|
|
withdraw itself: for the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> shall be thine everlasting light,
|
|
and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.
|
|
21 Thy people also <I>shall be</I> all righteous: they shall inherit
|
|
the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my
|
|
hands, that I may be glorified.
|
|
22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a
|
|
strong nation: I the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> will hasten it in his time.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The happy and glorious state of the church is here further foretold,
|
|
referring principally and ultimately to the Christian church and the
|
|
spiritual peace of that, but under the type of that little gleam of
|
|
outward peace which the Jews sometimes enjoyed after their return out
|
|
of captivity. This is here spoken of,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
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I. As compared with what it had been. <I>This</I> made her peace and
|
|
honour the more pleasant, that her condition had been much
|
|
otherwise.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. She had been despised, but now she should be honoured,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:15,16"><I>v.</I> 15, 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
Jerusalem had been forsaken and hated, abandoned by her friends,
|
|
abhorred by her enemies; no man went through that desolate city, but
|
|
declined it as a rueful spectacle; it was an <I>astonishment and a
|
|
hissing.</I> But now it shall be made an eternal excellency, being
|
|
reformed from idolatry and having recovered the tokens of God's favour,
|
|
and it shall be <I>the joy</I> of good people for <I>many
|
|
generations.</I> Yet considering how short Jerusalem's excellency was,
|
|
and how short it came of the vast compass of this promise, we must look
|
|
for the full accomplishment of it in the perpetual excellencies of the
|
|
gospel church, far exceeding those of the Old-Testament church, and the
|
|
glorious privileges and advantages of the Christian religion, which are
|
|
indeed the joy of many generations. Two things are here spoken of as
|
|
her excellency and joy, in opposition to her having been forsaken and
|
|
hated:--
|
|
|
|
(1.) She shall find herself countenanced by her neighbours. The
|
|
nations, and their kings, that are brought to embrace Christianity,
|
|
shall lay themselves out for the good of the church, and maintain its
|
|
interests with the tenderness and affection that the nurse shows to the
|
|
child at her breasts
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Thou shalt suck the milk of the Gentiles,</I> not suck their blood
|
|
(that is not the spirit of the gospel); thou <I>shalt suck the breast
|
|
of kings,</I> who shall be to thee as nursing fathers."
|
|
|
|
(2.) She shall find herself countenanced by her God: <I>"Thou shalt
|
|
know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer,</I> shalt know it
|
|
by experience; for such a salvation, such a redemption, shall be
|
|
wrought out for thee as plainly discovers itself to be the work of the
|
|
Lord, the work of a mighty one, for it is a great salvation, of the
|
|
<I>Mighty One of Jacob,</I> for it secures the welfare of all those
|
|
that are Israelites indeed." They before knew the Lord to be their God;
|
|
now they know him to be their Saviour, their Redeemer. Their Holy One
|
|
now appears their Mighty One.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. She had been impoverished, but now she shall be enriched, and every
|
|
thing shall be changed for the better with her,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
When those who were raised out of the dust are set among princes,
|
|
instead of brass money in their purses they have bold, and instead of
|
|
iron vessels in their houses they have silver ones, and other
|
|
improvements agreeable: so much shall the spiritual glory of the
|
|
New-Testament church exceed the external pomp and splendour of the
|
|
Jewish economy, which had no glory in comparison with that which quite
|
|
excels it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+3:10">2 Cor. iii. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
When we had baptism in the room of circumcision, the Lord's supper in
|
|
the room of the passover, and a gospel ministry in the room of a
|
|
Levitical priesthood, we had gold instead of brass. Sin turned gold
|
|
into brass when Rehoboam made brazen shields instead of the golden ones
|
|
he had pawned; but God's favour, when that returns, will turn brass
|
|
again into gold.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. She had been oppressed by her own princes, which was sadly
|
|
complained of, not only as her sin, but as her misery
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+59:14"><I>ch.</I> lix. 14</A>);
|
|
|
|
but now all the grievances of that kind shall be redressed
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>I will make thy officers peace;</I> men of peace shall be made
|
|
officers, and shall be indeed justices, not patrons of injustice, and
|
|
justices of peace, not instruments of trouble and vexation. They shall
|
|
<I>be peace,</I> that is, they shall sincerely seek thy welfare and by
|
|
their means thou shalt enjoy good." They shall be <I>peace,</I> for
|
|
they shall be righteousness; and <I>then</I> the peace is as a river,
|
|
when the righteousness is as the waves of the sea. Even
|
|
<I>exactors,</I> whose business it is to demand the public tribute,
|
|
though they be exact, must not be exacting, but must be just to the
|
|
subject as well as to the prince, and, according to the instructions
|
|
John Baptist gave to the publicans must <I>exact no more than is
|
|
appointed them,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+3:13">Luke iii. 13</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. She had been insulted by her neighbours, invaded, spoiled, and
|
|
plundered; but now it shall be so no more
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Violence shall no more be heard in thy land;</I> neither the
|
|
threats and triumphs of those that do violence nor the outcries and
|
|
complaints of those that suffer violence shall again be heard, but
|
|
every man shall peaceably enjoy his own. There shall be no <I>wasting
|
|
nor destruction,</I> either of persons of possessions, any where
|
|
<I>within thy borders;</I> but <I>thy walls shall be called
|
|
salvation</I> (they shall be safe, and means of safety to thee) <I>and
|
|
thy gates shall be praise,</I> praise to thee (every one shall commend
|
|
thee for the good condition they are kept in), and praise to thy God,
|
|
<I>who strengthens the bars of thy gates,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:13">Ps. cxlvii. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
When God's salvation is upon the walls it is fit that his praises
|
|
should be in the gates, the places of concourse.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. As completed in what it shall be. It should seem that in the close
|
|
of this chapter we are directed to look further yet, as far forward as
|
|
to the glory and happiness of heaven, under the type and figure of the
|
|
flourishing state of the church on earth, which yet was never such as
|
|
to come any thing near to what is here foretold; and several of the
|
|
images and expressions here made use of we find in the description of
|
|
the <I>new Jerusalem,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:23,22:5">Rev. xxi. 23; xxii. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
As the prophets sometimes insensibly pass from the blessings of the
|
|
Jewish church to the spiritual blessings of the Christian church, which
|
|
are eternal, so sometimes they rise from the church militant to the
|
|
church triumphant, where, and where only, all the promised peace, and
|
|
joy, and honour will be in perfection.
|
|
|
|
1. God shall be all in all in the happiness here promised; so he is
|
|
always to true believers
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The sun and the moon shall be no more thy light.</I> God's people,
|
|
when they enjoy his favour, and walk in the light of his countenance,
|
|
make little account of sun and moon, and the other lights of this
|
|
world, but could walk comfortably in the light of the Lord though they
|
|
should withdraw their shining. In heaven there shall be no occasion for
|
|
sun or moon, for it is the inheritance of the saints in light, such
|
|
light as will swallow up the light of the sun as easily as the sun does
|
|
that of a candle. "Idolaters worshipped the sun and moon (which some
|
|
have thought the most ancient and plausible idolatry); but these
|
|
<I>shall be no more thy light,</I> shall no more be idolized, but the
|
|
Lord shall be to thee a constant light, both day and night, in the
|
|
night of adversity as well as in the day of prosperity." Those that
|
|
make God their only light shall have him their all-sufficient light,
|
|
their <I>sun and shield. Thy God shall be thy glory.</I> Note, God is
|
|
the glory of those whose God he is and will be so to eternity. It is
|
|
their glory that they have him for their God, and they glory in it; it
|
|
is to them instead of beauty. God's people are, upon <I>this</I>
|
|
account, an honourable people, that they have an interest in God as
|
|
their sin covenant.
|
|
|
|
2. The happiness here promised shall know no change, period, or allay
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Thy sun shall no more go down,</I> but it shall be eternal day,
|
|
eternal sunshine, with thee; that shall not be thy sun which is
|
|
sometimes eclipsed, often clouded, and, though it shine ever so bright,
|
|
ever so warm, will certainly set and leave thee in the dark, in the
|
|
cold, in a few hours; but <I>he</I> shall be a sun, a fountain of light
|
|
to thee, who is himself the <I>Father of all lights,</I> with whom
|
|
there is <I>no variableness,</I> nor <I>shadow of turning,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+1:17">James i. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
We read of the sun's standing still once, and not hasting to go down
|
|
for the space of a day, and it was a glorious day, never was the like;
|
|
but what was that to the day that shall never have a night? Or, if it
|
|
had, it should be a light night; for <I>neither shall thy moon withdraw
|
|
itself;</I> it shall never wane, shall never change, but be always at
|
|
the full. The comforts and joys that are in heaven, the glories
|
|
provided for the soul, as the light of the sun, and those prepared for
|
|
the glorified body too, as the light of the moon, shall never know the
|
|
least cessation or interruption; how should they when <I>the Lord
|
|
shall</I> himself <I>be thy everlasting light</I>--a light which never
|
|
wastes nor can ever be extinguished? <I>And the days of thy mourning
|
|
shall be ended,</I> so as never to return; for <I>all tears shall be
|
|
wiped away,</I> and the fountains of them, sin and affliction, dried
|
|
up, so that <I>sorrow and sighing shall flee away</I> for ever.
|
|
|
|
3. Those that are entitled to this happiness, being duly prepared and
|
|
qualified for it, shall never be put out of the possession of it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Thy people,</I> that shall inhabit this New Jerusalem, <I>shall all
|
|
be righteous,</I> all justified by the righteousness of the Messiah,
|
|
all sanctified by his Spirit; all that people, that Jerusalem, must be
|
|
righteous, must have that <I>holiness without which no man shall see
|
|
the Lord.</I> They are all righteous, for we know that <I>the
|
|
unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God.</I> There are no
|
|
people on earth that are all righteous; there is a mixture of some bad
|
|
in the best societies on this side heaven; but there are no mixtures
|
|
there. They shall be <I>all righteous,</I> that is, they shall be
|
|
entirely righteous; as there shall be none corrupt among them, so there
|
|
shall be no corruption in them; the <I>spirits of just men</I> shall
|
|
there be <I>made perfect.</I> And they shall be <I>all the
|
|
righteous</I> together who shall replenish the New Jerusalem; it is
|
|
called the <I>congregation of the righteous,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+1:5">Ps. i. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
And, because they are <I>all righteous,</I> therefore <I>they shall
|
|
inherit the land for ever,</I> for nothing but sin can turn them out of
|
|
it. The perfection of the saints' holiness secures the perpetuity of
|
|
their happiness.
|
|
|
|
4. The glory of the church shall redound to the honour of the church's
|
|
God: "They shall appear to be the <I>branch of my planting, the work of
|
|
my hands,</I> and I will own them as such." It was by the grace of God
|
|
that they were designed to this happiness; they are <I>the branch of
|
|
his planting,</I> or of his plantations; he broke them off from the
|
|
wild olive and grafted them into the good olive, transplanted them out
|
|
of the field, when they were as tender branches, into his nursery,
|
|
that, being now planted in his <I>garden on earth,</I> they might
|
|
shortly be removed to his <I>paradise in heaven.</I> It was by his
|
|
grace likewise that they were prepared and fitted for this happiness;
|
|
they <I>are the work of his hands</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+2:10">Eph. ii. 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
are <I>wrought to the self-same thing,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+5:5">2 Cor. v. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is a work of time, and, when it shall be finished, will appear a
|
|
work of wonder; and God will be glorified, who began it, and carried it
|
|
on; for the Lord Jesus will then be <I>admired in all those that
|
|
believe.</I> God will glorify himself in glorifying his chosen.
|
|
|
|
5. They will appear the more glorious, and God will be the more
|
|
glorified in them, if we compare what they are with what they were, the
|
|
happiness they have arrived at with the smallness of their beginnings
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>A little one shall become a thousand and a small one a strong
|
|
nation.</I>" The captives that returned out of Babylon strangely
|
|
multiplied, and became a strong nation. The Christian church was a
|
|
little one, a very small one at first--the number of their names was
|
|
once but 120; yet it became a thousand. The stone cut out of the
|
|
mountain without hands swelled so as to fill the earth. The triumphant
|
|
church, and every glorified saint, will be a thousand out of a little
|
|
one, a strong nation out of a small one. The grace and peace of the
|
|
saints were at first like a <I>grain of mustard-seed,</I> but they
|
|
increase and multiply, and make a little one to become a thousand, the
|
|
weak to be as David. When they come to heaven, and look back upon the
|
|
smallness of their beginning, they will wonder how they got thither.
|
|
And so wonderful is all this promise that it needed the ratification
|
|
with which it is closed: <I>I the Lord will hasten it in his
|
|
time</I>--all that is here said relating to the Jewish and Christian
|
|
church, to the militant and triumphant church, and to every particular
|
|
believer.
|
|
|
|
(1.) It may seem too difficult to be brought about, and therefore may
|
|
be despaired of; but the God of almighty power has undertaken it: "<I>I
|
|
the Lord will do it,</I> who can do it, and who have determined to do
|
|
it." It will be done by him whose power is irresistible and his
|
|
purposes unalterable.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It may seem to be delayed and put off so long that we are out of
|
|
hopes of it; but, as the Lord will do it, so he will <I>hasten it,</I>
|
|
will do it with all convenient speed; though much time may pass before
|
|
it is done, no time shall be lost; he will <I>hasten it in its
|
|
time,</I> in the proper time, in the season wherein it will be
|
|
beautiful; he will do it in the time appointed by his wisdom, though
|
|
not in the time prescribed by our folly. And this is really hastening
|
|
it; for, though it seem to tarry, it does not tarry if it come in God's
|
|
time, for we are sure that that is the best time, which he that
|
|
believes will patiently wait for.</P>
|
|
|
|
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