mh_parser/vol_split/23 - Isaiah/Chapter 60.xml

<div2 id="Is.lxi" n="lxi" next="Is.lxii" prev="Is.lx" progress="23.68%" title="Chapter LX">
<h2 id="Is.lxi-p0.1">I S A I A H.</h2>
<h3 id="Is.lxi-p0.2">CHAP. LX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Is.lxi-p1" shownumber="no">This whole chapter is all to the same purport, all
in the same strain; it is a part of God's covenant with his church,
which is spoken of in the <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.59.21" parsed="|Isa|59|21|0|0" passage="Isa 59:21">last
verse</scripRef> of the foregoing chapter, and the blessings here
promised are the fruits of the word and Spirit there promised. The
long continuance of the church, even unto the utmost ages of time,
was there promised, and here the large extent of the church, even
unto the utmost regions of the earth; and both these tend to the
honour of the Redeemer. It is here promised, I. That the church
shall be enlightened and shone upon, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.1-Isa.60.2" parsed="|Isa|60|1|60|2" passage="Isa 60:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>. II. That it shall be enlarged
and great additions made to it, to join in the service of God,
<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.3-Isa.60.8" parsed="|Isa|60|3|60|8" passage="Isa 60:3-8">ver. 3-8</scripRef>. III. That the
new converts shall be greatly serviceable to the church and to the
interests of it, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.9-Isa.60.13" parsed="|Isa|60|9|60|13" passage="Isa 60:9-13">ver.
9-13</scripRef>. IV. That the church shall be in great honour and
reputation among men, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.14-Isa.60.16" parsed="|Isa|60|14|60|16" passage="Isa 60:14-16">ver.
14-16</scripRef>. V. That it shall enjoy a profound peace and
tranquility, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.17-Isa.60.18" parsed="|Isa|60|17|60|18" passage="Isa 60:17,18">ver. 17,
18</scripRef>. VI. That, the members of it being all righteous, the
glory and joy of it shall be everlasting, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.19-Isa.60.22" parsed="|Isa|60|19|60|22" passage="Isa 60:19-22">ver. 19-22</scripRef>. Now this has some reference
to the peaceable and prosperous condition which the Jews were
sometimes in after their return out of captivity into their own
land; but it certainly looks further, and was to have its full
accomplishment in the kingdom of the Messiah, the enlargement of
that kingdom by the bringing in of the Gentiles into it, and the
spiritual blessings in heavenly things by Christ Jesus with which
it should be enriched, and all these earnests of eternal joy and
glory.</p>
<scripCom id="Is.lxi-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60" parsed="|Isa|60|0|0|0" passage="Isa 60" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Is.lxi-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.1-Isa.60.8" parsed="|Isa|60|1|60|8" passage="Isa 60:1-8" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Is.lxi-p1.10">
<h4 id="Is.lxi-p1.11">The Extension of the Church. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Is.lxi-p1.12">b. c.</span> 706.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Is.lxi-p2" shownumber="no">1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the
glory of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.lxi-p2.1">Lord</span> is risen upon
thee.   2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and
gross darkness the people: but the <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.lxi-p2.2">Lord</span> shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall
be seen upon thee.   3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy
light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.   4 Lift up
thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves
together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy
daughters shall be nursed at <i>thy</i> side.   5 Then thou
shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be
enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto
thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.   6 The
multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and
Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and
incense; and they shall show forth the praises of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.lxi-p2.3">Lord</span>.   7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be
gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister
unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I
will glorify the house of my glory.   8 Who <i>are</i> these
<i>that</i> fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p3" shownumber="no">It is here promised that the gospel temple
shall be very lightsome and very large.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p4" shownumber="no">I. It shall be very lightsome: <i>Thy light
has come.</i> When the Jews returned out of captivity they had
<i>light and gladness, and joy and honour;</i> they then were made
to <i>know the Lord</i> and to <i>rejoice in his great
goodness;</i> and upon both accounts their light came. When the
Redeemer came to Zion he brought light with him, he himself came to
be a light. Now observe, 1. What this light is, and whence it
springs: <i>The Lord shall arise upon thee</i> (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.2" parsed="|Isa|60|2|0|0" passage="Isa 60:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>), <i>the glory of the Lord</i>
(<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.1" parsed="|Isa|60|1|0|0" passage="Isa 60:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>) <i>shall be
seen upon thee.</i> God is the father and fountain of lights, and
it is in his light that we shall see light. As far as we have the
knowledge of God in us, and the favour of God towards us, our light
has come. When God appears to us, and we have the comfort of his
favour, then <i>the glory of the Lord rises upon us</i> as the
morning light; when he appears for us, and we have the credit of
his favour, when he shows us some token for good and proclaims his
favour to us, then his glory is seen upon us, as it was upon Israel
in the <i>pillar of cloud and fire.</i> When Christ arose as the
sun of righteousness, and in him <i>the day-spring from on high
visited us,</i> then <i>the glory of the Lord was</i> seen upon us,
the glory <i>as of the first-begotten of the Father.</i> 2. What a
foil there shall be to this light: <i>Darkness shall cover the
earth;</i> but, though it be gross darkness, darkness that might be
felt, like that of Egypt, that shall overspread the people, yet the
church, like Goshen, shall have light at the same time. When the
case of the nations that have not the gospel shall be very
melancholy, those <i>dark corners of the earth</i> being <i>full of
the habitations of cruelty</i> to poor souls, the state of the
church shall be very pleasant. 3. What is the duty which the rising
of this light calls for: "<i>Arise, shine;</i> not only receive
this light, and" (as the margin reads it) "<i>be enlightened by
it,</i> but reflect this light; <i>arise and shine</i> with rays
borrowed from it." The children of light ought to shine as lights
in the world. If God's glory be seen upon us to our honour, we
ought not only with our lips, but in our lives, to return the
praise of it <i>to his honour,</i> <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Matt.5.16 Bible:Phil.2.15" parsed="|Matt|5|16|0|0;|Phil|2|15|0|0" passage="Mt 5:16,Php 2:15">Matt. v. 16; Phil. ii. 15</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p5" shownumber="no">II. It shall be very large. When the Jews
were settled again in their own land, after their captivity, many
of the people of the land joined themselves to them; but it does
not appear that there ever was any such numerous accession to them
as would answer the fulness of this prophecy; and therefore we must
conclude that this looks further, to the bringing of the Gentiles
into the gospel church, not their flocking to one particular place,
though under that type it is here described. There is no place now
that is the centre of the church's unity; but the promise respects
their flocking to Christ, and coming by faith, and hope, and holy
love, into that society which is incorporated by the charter of his
gospel, and of the unity of which he only is the centre—that
family which is named from him, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Eph.3.15" parsed="|Eph|3|15|0|0" passage="Eph 3:15">Eph.
iii. 15</scripRef>. The gospel church is expressly called
<i>Zion</i> and <i>Jerusalem,</i> and under that notion all
believers are said to <i>come</i> to it (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.12.22" parsed="|Heb|12|22|0|0" passage="Heb 12:22">Heb. xii. 22</scripRef>. <i>You have come unto Mount
Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem</i>),
which serves for a key to this prophecy, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Eph.2.19" parsed="|Eph|2|19|0|0" passage="Eph 2:19">Eph. ii. 19</scripRef>. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p6" shownumber="no">1. What shall invite such multitudes to the
church: "They shall <i>come to thy light and to the brightness of
thy rising,</i> <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.3" parsed="|Isa|60|3|0|0" passage="Isa 60:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>. They shall be allured to join themselves to thee,"
(1.) "By the light that shines upon thee," the light of the
glorious gospel, which the churches hold forth, in consequence of
which they are called <i>golden candlesticks.</i> This light which
discovers so much of God and his good will to man, by which life
and immortality are brought to light, this shall invite all the
serious well-affected part of mankind to come and join themselves
to the church, that they may have the benefit of this light to
inform them concerning truth and duty. (2.) "By the light with
which thou shinest." The purity and love of the primitive
Christians, their heavenly-mindedness, contempt of the world, and
patient sufferings, were the brightness of the church's rising,
which drew many into it. The beauty of holiness was the powerful
attractive by which Christ had a willing people brought to him in
<i>the day of his power,</i> <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.3" parsed="|Ps|110|3|0|0" passage="Ps 110:3">Ps. cx.
3</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p7" shownumber="no">2. What multitudes shall come to the
church. Great numbers <i>shall come, Gentiles</i> (or
<i>nations</i>) <i>of those that are saved,</i> as it is expressed
with allusion to this, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.21.24" parsed="|Rev|21|24|0|0" passage="Re 21:24">Rev. xxi.
24</scripRef>. <i>Nations</i> shall be <i>discipled</i> (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.28.19" parsed="|Matt|28|19|0|0" passage="Mt 28:19">Matt. xxviii. 19</scripRef>), and even kings,
men of figure, power, and influence, shall be <i>added to the
church.</i> They come from all parts (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.4" parsed="|Isa|60|4|0|0" passage="Isa 60:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>): <i>Lift up thy eyes round
about, and see</i> them coming, <i>devout men out of every nation
under heaven,</i> <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Acts.2.5" parsed="|Acts|2|5|0|0" passage="Ac 2:5">Acts ii. 5</scripRef>.
See how <i>white the fields are already to the harvest,</i>
<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:John.4.35" parsed="|John|4|35|0|0" passage="Joh 4:35">John iv. 35</scripRef>. See them
coming in a body, as one man, and with one consent: They <i>gather
themselves together,</i> that they may strengthen one another's
hands, and encourage one another. <i>Come, and let us go,</i>
<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:Isa.2.3" parsed="|Isa|2|3|0|0" passage="Isa 2:3"><i>ch.</i> ii. 3</scripRef>. "They come
from the remotest parts: <i>They come to thee from far,</i> having
<i>heard the report</i> of thee, as the queen of Sheba, or <i>seen
thy star in the east,</i> as the wise men, and they will not be
discouraged by the length of the journey from coming to thee. There
shall come some of both sexes. Sons and daughters shall come in the
most dutiful manner, as thy sons and thy daughters, resolved to be
of thy family, to submit to the laws of thy family and put
themselves under the tuition of it. They shall come <i>to be nursed
at thy side,</i> to have their education with thee from their
cradle." The church's children must be nursed at her side, not sent
out to be nursed among strangers; there, where alone the
unadulterated milk of the word is to be had, must the church's
new-born babes be nursed, <i>that they may grow thereby,</i>
<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p7.7" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.2.1-1Pet.2.2" parsed="|1Pet|2|1|2|2" passage="1Pe 2:1,2">1 Pet. ii. 1, 2</scripRef>. Those
that would enjoy the dignities and privileges of Christ's family
must submit to the discipline of it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p8" shownumber="no">3. What they shall bring with them and what
advantage shall accrue to the church by their accession to it.
Those that are brought into the church by the grace of God will be
sure to bring all they are worth in with them, which with
themselves they will devote to the honour and service of God and do
good with in their places. (1.) The merchants shall write
<i>holiness to the Lord</i> upon their merchandise and their hire,
as <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.18" parsed="|Isa|23|18|0|0" passage="Isa 23:18"><i>ch.</i> xxiii. 18</scripRef>.
"<i>The abundance of the sea,</i> either the wealth that is fetched
out of the sea (the fish, the pearls) or that which is imported by
sea, <i>shall</i> all <i>be converted to thee</i> and to thy use."
The wealth of the rich merchants shall be laid out in works of
piety and charity. (2.) The mighty men of the nations shall employ
their might in the service of the church: "<i>The forces,</i> or
troops, <i>of the Gentiles shall come unto thee,</i> to guard thy
coasts, strengthen thy interests, and, if occasion be, to fight thy
battles." The forces of the Gentiles had often been against the
church, but now they shall be for it; for as God, when he pleases,
can, and, when we please him, will, make even <i>our enemies to be
at peace with us</i> (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.16.7" parsed="|Prov|16|7|0|0" passage="Pr 16:7">Prov. xvi.
7</scripRef>), so, when Christ overcomes the strong man armed, he
divides his spoils, and makes that to serve his interests which had
been used against them, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.11.22" parsed="|Luke|11|22|0|0" passage="Lu 11:22">Luke xi.
22</scripRef>. (3.) The wealth imported by land-carriage, as well
as that by sea, shall be made use of in the service of God and the
church (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.6" parsed="|Isa|60|6|0|0" passage="Isa 60:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>):
<i>The camels and dromedaries that bring gold and incense</i> (gold
to make the golden altar of and incense and sweet perfumes to burn
upon it), <i>those of Midian and Sheba,</i> shall bring the richest
commodities of their country, not to trade with, but to honour God
with, and not in small quantities, but camel-loads of them. This
was in part fulfilled when the <i>wise men of the east</i> (perhaps
some of the countries here mentioned), drawn by the brightness of
the star, came to Christ, and presented to him treasures of
<i>gold, frankincense, and myrrh,</i> <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.11" parsed="|Matt|2|11|0|0" passage="Mt 2:11">Matt. ii. 11</scripRef>. (4.) Great numbers of sacrifices
shall be brought to God's altar, acceptable sacrifices, and, though
brought by Gentiles, they shall find acceptance, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p8.6" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.7" parsed="|Isa|60|7|0|0" passage="Isa 60:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. <i>Kedar</i> was famous for
flocks, and probably the fattest rams were those of
<i>Nebaioth;</i> these shall come up with acceptance on God's
altar. God must be served and honoured with what we have, according
as he has blessed us, and with the best we have. This was fulfilled
when by the decree of Darius the governors beyond the rivers
(perhaps of some of these countries) were ordered to furnish the
temple at Jerusalem <i>with bullocks, rams, and lambs, for the
burnt-offering of the God of heaven,</i> <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p8.7" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.6.9" parsed="|Ezra|6|9|0|0" passage="Ezr 6:9">Ezra vi. 9</scripRef>. It had a further accomplishment,
and we trust will have, in the bringing in of the fulness of the
Gentiles to the church, which is called the <i>sacrificing</i> or
<i>offering up of the Gentiles</i> unto God, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p8.8" osisRef="Bible:Rom.15.16" parsed="|Rom|15|16|0|0" passage="Ro 15:16">Rom. xv. 16</scripRef>. The flocks and rams are precious
souls; for they are said to minister to the church, and to come up
as living sacrifices, presenting themselves to God by a
<i>reasonable service</i> on <i>his altar,</i> <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p8.9" osisRef="Bible:Rom.12.1" parsed="|Rom|12|1|0|0" passage="Ro 12:1">Rom. xii. 1</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p9" shownumber="no">4. How God shall be honoured by the
increase of the church and the accession of such numbers to it.
(1.) They shall intend the honour of God's name in it. When they
bring their gold and incense it shall not be to show the riches of
their country, nor to gain applause to themselves for piety and
devotion, but to <i>show forth the praises of the Lord,</i>
<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.6" parsed="|Isa|60|6|0|0" passage="Isa 60:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. Our greatest
services and gifts to the church are not acceptable further than we
have an eye to the glory of God in them. And this must 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>
<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.2.9" parsed="|1Pet|2|9|0|0" passage="1Pe 2:9">1 Pet. ii. 9</scripRef>. (2.) God will
advance the honour of his own name by it; so he has said (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.7" parsed="|Isa|60|7|0|0" passage="Isa 60:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>): <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 class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p10" shownumber="no">5. How the church shall herself be affected
with this increase of her numbers, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.5" parsed="|Isa|60|5|0|0" passage="Isa 60:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. (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, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Acts.10.28" parsed="|Acts|10|28|0|0" passage="Ac 10:28">Acts x.
28</scripRef>. 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
(<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.8" parsed="|Isa|60|8|0|0" passage="Isa 60:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>): <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> (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.11.12" parsed="|Rev|11|12|0|0" passage="Re 11:12">Rev. xi. 12</scripRef>), 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>
</div><scripCom id="Is.lxi-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.9-Isa.60.14" parsed="|Isa|60|9|60|14" passage="Isa 60:9-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Is.lxi-p10.6">
<h4 id="Is.lxi-p10.7">The Enlargement of the
Church. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Is.lxi-p10.8">b. c.</span> 706.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Is.lxi-p11" shownumber="no">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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.lxi-p11.1">Lord</span> 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.lxi-p11.2">Lord</span>, The Zion of
the Holy One of Israel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p12" shownumber="no">The promises made to the church in the
<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.1-Isa.60.8" parsed="|Isa|60|1|60|8" passage="Isa 60:1-8">foregoing verses</scripRef> 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 class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p13" shownumber="no">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>
<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.9.17" parsed="|Dan|9|17|0|0" passage="Da 9:17">Dan. ix. 17</scripRef>. 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 (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.10" parsed="|Isa|60|10|0|0" passage="Isa 60:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>): "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 class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p14" shownumber="no">II. Many shall be brought into the church,
even from far countries (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.9" parsed="|Isa|60|9|0|0" passage="Isa 60:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>): <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>
<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:John.11.52" parsed="|John|11|52|0|0" passage="Joh 11:52">John xi. 52</scripRef>. 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> <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Zech.8.23" parsed="|Zech|8|23|0|0" passage="Zec 8:23">Zech.
viii. 23</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p15" shownumber="no">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> (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.11" parsed="|Isa|60|11|0|0" passage="Isa 60:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>), 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 class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p16" shownumber="no">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 (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.10" parsed="|Isa|60|10|0|0" passage="Isa 60:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>), "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 (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.12" parsed="|Isa|60|12|0|0" passage="Isa 60:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>), <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, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.12" parsed="|Ps|2|12|0|0" passage="Ps 2:12">Ps. ii. 12</scripRef>. 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> <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Luke.19.27" parsed="|Luke|19|27|0|0" passage="Lu 19:27">Luke xix. 27</scripRef>.
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> <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.1.8" parsed="|2Thess|1|8|0|0" passage="2Th 1:8">2 Thess. i.
8</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p17" shownumber="no">V. There shall be abundance of beauty added
to the ordinances of divine worship (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.13" parsed="|Isa|60|13|0|0" passage="Isa 60:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>): <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 (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.2.16" parsed="|2Chr|2|16|0|0" passage="2Ch 2:16">2 Chron. ii. 16</scripRef>), and with them shall
be brought other timber, proper for the carved work thereof, which
the enemy had broken down, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.5-Ps.74.6" parsed="|Ps|74|5|74|6" passage="Ps 74:5,6">Ps. lxxiv.
5, 6</scripRef>. 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, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.7" parsed="|Ezek|43|7|0|0" passage="Eze 43:7">Ezek. xliii. 7</scripRef>. The ark is called his
<i>footstool,</i> because it was under the mercy-seat, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p17.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132.7" parsed="|Ps|132|7|0|0" passage="Ps 132:7">Ps. cxxxii. 7</scripRef>. 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,
<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p17.6" osisRef="Bible:Mal.3.1" parsed="|Mal|3|1|0|0" passage="Mal 3:1">Mal. iii. 1</scripRef>. It was likewise
<i>adorned with goodly stones and gifts</i> (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p17.7" osisRef="Bible:Luke.21.5" parsed="|Luke|21|5|0|0" passage="Lu 21:5">Luke xxi. 5</scripRef>), 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 class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p18" shownumber="no">VI. The church shall appear truly great and
honourable, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.14" parsed="|Isa|60|14|0|0" passage="Isa 60:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>.
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," <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.2.36" parsed="|1Sam|2|36|0|0" passage="1Sa 2:36">1 Sam. ii. 36</scripRef>. A promise like this is made to
the church of Philadelphia, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.3.9" parsed="|Rev|3|9|0|0" passage="Re 3:9">Rev. iii.
9</scripRef>. 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>
</div><scripCom id="Is.lxi-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.15-Isa.60.22" parsed="|Isa|60|15|60|22" passage="Isa 60:15-22" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Is.lxi-p18.5">
<h4 id="Is.lxi-p18.6">The Glory of the Church. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Is.lxi-p18.7">b. c.</span> 706.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Is.lxi-p19" shownumber="no">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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.lxi-p19.1">Lord</span>
<i>am</i> thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
  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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.lxi-p19.2">Lord</span> 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.lxi-p19.3">Lord</span> 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.lxi-p19.4">Lord</span> will hasten it in his time.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p20" shownumber="no">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 class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p21" shownumber="no">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 class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p22" shownumber="no">1. She had been despised, but now she
should be honoured, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.15-Isa.60.16" parsed="|Isa|60|15|60|16" passage="Isa 60:15,16"><i>v.</i> 15,
16</scripRef>. 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
(<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.16" parsed="|Isa|60|16|0|0" passage="Isa 60:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>): "<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 class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p23" shownumber="no">2. She had been impoverished, but now she
shall be enriched, and every thing shall be changed for the better
with her, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.17" parsed="|Isa|60|17|0|0" passage="Isa 60:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>.
When those who were raised out of the dust are set among princes,
instead of brass money in their purses they have gold, 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, <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p23.2" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.10" parsed="|2Cor|3|10|0|0" passage="2Co 3:10">2 Cor. iii.
10</scripRef>. 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 class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p24" shownumber="no">3. She had been oppressed by her own
princes, which was sadly complained of, not only as her sin, but as
her misery (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.59.14" parsed="|Isa|59|14|0|0" passage="Isa 59:14"><i>ch.</i> lix.
14</scripRef>); but now all the grievances of that kind shall be
redressed (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p24.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.17" parsed="|Isa|60|17|0|0" passage="Isa 60:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>):
"<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> <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p24.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.3.13" parsed="|Luke|3|13|0|0" passage="Lu 3:13">Luke iii. 13</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p25" shownumber="no">4. She had been insulted by her neighbours,
invaded, spoiled, and plundered; but now it shall be so no more
(<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p25.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.18" parsed="|Isa|60|18|0|0" passage="Isa 60:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>):
"<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>" <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p25.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.147.13" parsed="|Ps|147|13|0|0" passage="Ps 147:13">Ps. cxlvii.
13</scripRef>. 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 class="indent" id="Is.lxi-p26" shownumber="no">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> <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p26.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.21.23 Bible:Rev.22.5" parsed="|Rev|21|23|0|0;|Rev|22|5|0|0" passage="Re 21:23,22:5">Rev. xxi. 23;
xxii. 5</scripRef>. 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 (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p26.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.19" parsed="|Isa|60|19|0|0" passage="Isa 60:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>): <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
(<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p26.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.20" parsed="|Isa|60|20|0|0" passage="Isa 60:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>): "<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>" <scripRef id="Is.lxi-p26.4" osisRef="Bible:Jas.1.17" parsed="|Jas|1|17|0|0" passage="Jam 1:17">James i. 17</scripRef>.
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
(<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p26.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.21" parsed="|Isa|60|21|0|0" passage="Isa 60:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>): <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>
<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p26.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.1.5" parsed="|Ps|1|5|0|0" passage="Ps 1:5">Ps. i. 5</scripRef>. 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> (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p26.7" osisRef="Bible:Eph.2.10" parsed="|Eph|2|10|0|0" passage="Eph 2:10">Eph. ii.
10</scripRef>), are <i>wrought to the self-same thing,</i>
<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p26.8" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.5.5" parsed="|2Cor|5|5|0|0" passage="2Co 5:5">2 Cor. v. 5</scripRef>. 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 (<scripRef id="Is.lxi-p26.9" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.22" parsed="|Isa|60|22|0|0" passage="Isa 60:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>):
"<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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