% '♦•^ lY < i. I * :^^^^^^ % PRINCETON, N. J. Ahimber LECTURES ON THE PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH BY y ROBERT MACCULLOCH, D.p. MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL AT DAIRSIE. so THEY READ IN THE BOOK, IN THE LAW OF GOD DISTINCTLY, AND GAVE THE SENSE, AND CAUSED THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE READING. NEH. VIII. 8. BLESSED IS i.E THAT READETJI, AND THEY THAT HEAR THE WORDS OF THIS PROPHECY, AND KEEP THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN THEREIN ; FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND. REV. I. 3. LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. JOHNSON, ST. PAUL's CKURCH-YARD ; J. MATHEWS, STRAND; W. LAING AND J. & J. FAIRBAIRN, EDINBURGH. M. D C C. X C I. €nteteti in ^taiioitctg BalL TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE Martha Countefs of Elgin and Kincardine. Maduam, THE publication of the following Lc<5tLire$ affords me an agreeable opportunity of teftifying the high efteem which I entertain cf your Ladyfliip's amiable charaifler, and of the illuftricus example whereby you have adorned your elevated ftation ; — and of exprefTmg my grateful fenfe of the favour and patronagfe which I hav£ received from your Noble Family. Impelled by fentiments of refpe6t and grati- tude, I have the honour of prefenting this fmall offering to your Ladyiliip, whofe well-known facred regard to the word of. God, and Vv'hole warm attachment to the interefts of true reli- gion, fully juftify my infcribing to you an Ex- pofition DEDICATION. pofitlon of a mod fublime and intereftlng part of the Holy Scriptures. — ^With fervent prayers to the God of all grace for your temporal and eternal felicity, and for every bleffing to all the Branches of your amiable Family, I am, Madam, Yv^ith great regard, Your Ladyfliip's moft obliged and moft humble fervant, Dairfie,Sept. 20,"1 jy^i. j" Robert Macculloch. THE PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. VARIOUS methods have been employed, by the wifdom of God, for the inflruaion of mankind. Hiftories have been written, in which the great events of antiquity are diftindly recorded, the moil illuflrious charaders are faith- fully delineated, and the moft important leiTons are forcibly inculcated. Laws have been publiih- ed, ftamped with divine authority, fhowing the good and acceptable will of God, in the keeping of which there is a great reward ; and ferving as a lamp to guide our feet into the ways of righ- teoufnefs and peace. Poetry hath difplayed its attractive beauties and graces, with the happy defign of captivating our hearts to the love and obedience of facred truth, and ftimulating our ardour in the practice of goodnefs. The great principles and duties of morality have been en- forced in fhort proverbial fentences, furnifhing excellent pradical rules of adion, and recom- mending, by the moft powerful motives, every part of good condud. Sublime truths, and in- terefting difcoveries, have been prefented to view, refpeding the Eternal God, the operations of his providence, the difpenfLtions of his grace, and the glory of his kingdom, calculated to pro- A duce IV PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. duce the moft falutary effeds. Prophecies have been delivered, at the diftance of ages from the preditfted events, unfolding a fclieme fo aftonilh- ingly vaft, and altogether unparalleled, as fliould ftrike awe and wonder into the hearts of men ; and make us conclude, that the fubjedt, in which we are thus inftruded, muft be of the higheft moment, and greateft concern to mankind. This mode of inflrudion, though prefump- tuoufiy affumed by fome Heathen oracles, is pe- culiar to the Moft High God, with whom a tlioufand years are as one day, and to whom are known all his works from the beginning of the w^orld. For this purpofe he raifed up fucceffively a race of men, under the fpecial direction of his Holy Spirit, who, for many ages, delivered one- predidion after another, giving notice of the great events which, commencing in early ages, rea.cheth to the confummation of all things ; particularly defcribing the dignity of our Re- deemer's perfon, and the glorious purpofes for which he came into the world. This method of conveying knowledge by prophecy, is, above all others, attended with many important ad- vantages. It ferves to raife admiration of that beneficent fcheme devifed by infinite wifdom for our recovery, and to convince mer^ that the fubjed to which it relates muft be of the laft confequence to the inhabitants of this earth. It fhows the truth of the facred oracles in the moft llriking Tight ; and affords a proof, that is con- tinually growling ftronger, that the fcriptures are the word of God. It alfo encourages us to en- tertain the pleafmg hope, that the blelied defigns which PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. v which God hath in view to accomplifh, {hall be proportioned to the greatnefs of the means ufed by him who worketh all in all. With this a- greeable expectation, we enter with pleafure on the confideration of the prophecies before us, deeply impreHed with a fenfe of their excellence, variety, and ufefulnefs. As to the fubjedts treated of in this infpired book : It contains a rich variety of matter, w^ell deferving our moft attentive confideration. The infpired writer having been employed as a teacher of the people, his difcourfes are not merely prophetical, they are replete with in- ftruCtion, admonition, reproof, and confolation. They abound with animated reprefentations of the infinite majefty, the perfedions, providence, and government of Jehovah ; to which is added, a hiftorical defcription of fome interefting events which happened in the days of our prophet. They are enriched with many excellent precepts, which (how us what the Lord our God requireth of us, and dirtCt us in the paths of righteoufnefs, whilft the oppofite fms are marked and repre- hended in fuch a manner as tends to awaken the confcience and affe are long ago buried in the ruins of time. The fen of A71WZ. It is unnecefl'ary, and would be unprofitable, to inquire into the character, the fta- tion, and employment of our prophet's father ; and therefore I lliall not occupy your time, in reciting the vaiious conjeclures which have been formed on thefe fubjects. It is fufficient to remark, that he was probably a refpedable perfon, of confiderable rank, and high reputation among his countrymen : and at the time this prophecy was written, it might be very proper to diftinguifli Ifaiah, by the character of the fon of Amoz, from others of the fame name. Indeed it v/as frequently the cuftom of the poflerity of Abraham, to mention not only the names of men themfelves, but of their fathers ; of which innume- rable inflances occur in the word of God. Which he Jaw concerning Jiidah and Jeriifakm, Thefe were the fubjefts to which the following pre- dictions relate. In the primary fenfe of the words, their inhabitants, who belonged to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, with the Levites refiding among them, were doubtlefs intended, in diilindion from Ephraim, which included the other tribes of Ifrael. Judah was the land they pofieiied ; and Jerufalem was the me- tropolis of the kingdom, in which their kings and nobles, their judges, priefiis, and teachers refided, who conftituted the moil important part of the nation. The people who dwelt in thefe places, were chofen of God to be the objects of his peculiar care and fpecial protection ; their city and country were deflined to be the theatre on which the Moll High, in the laft days, was to difplay the riches of his grace, by efla- biifning the kingdom of Jefus Chrift. As that nation afforded a lively reprefentation of the peculiar people of God under the New Teitament, and that city was a figure Ver. I. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 25 a figure of the Jerufdem that is above, which is the mother of us all, they may be underllood here not only in their literal, but in their figurative fignifica- tion, denoting the church of God under the new and better difpenfation of his grace. This is the obvious meaning of Judah and Jerufalem, in feveral places of the prophetic writings ; as in the following paffage, where the Lord God promiies, * That when he Ihall perform * the good things he hath fpoken of to the houfe of ' Ifrael and the houfe of Judah, in thofe days Judah * iliall be laved, and Ifrael fnall dwell fafely */ Not- withftanding there are in the prophecies before us, fome things relating to Ephraim, to Egypt, to Tyre, and to other nations, Judah and Jerufalem are the chief fubjed of which they treat ; and, it mud be re- membered, thefe iaft-n;entioned places include not only what was literally fo called in ancient times, but the church of the Living God under the New Teila- ment, to which we profeifedly belong. This interefts us more nearly in this portion of fcripture, on w^hich we are now entering, than many are apt to imagine ; and fupplies us with a powerful argument to engage our ferious attention. In the days of UzzLih, 'Jotham^ AJmz, and Heze- kiab, kings of 'judah. The time during which each of thefe kings reigned is particularly mentioned in fcrip- ture hiftory ; and, when added together, make one hundred and twelve or thirteen years. It is evident, Ifaiah muft have exercifed his prophetical office du- ring the whole time in which Jotham and Ahaz fat upon the throne, being thirty-two years f. From what we read in this prophecy, it appears, that he continued in his office until the fourteenth year of Hezeldah ; and fuppolmg he. was appointed to it fo late as two years before Uzziah died, he muil have a6led in the character of a prophet at lead forty-eight years. Some have been of opinion, that he continued * Jer. xxxiii. 16- f See 2 Chron, xxvii. i. and xxviii. 1. about aS LECTURES on the Chap. L about fixty years in the prophetical office, and lived to the reign of Manafieh : under whofe wicked govern- ment, according to tradition, he was put to death, being lawn afunder for pretended blafpheiny ; having declared, that he faw the Lord fitting upon his throne, high and lifted up, and for the fharp reproof admini^ ftered to the princes of Ifrael, from the tenth verfe of this chapter. Under kings of fuch oppofite difpofi- tions and chara6ters, our prophet would no doubt ex- perience very different treatment, and his inflruftions would meet with very different entertainment. Whilfl: Jotham and Hezekiah, who were good kings, fat on the throne of Judah, Il'aiah would certainly enjoy much of their fupport and countenance in the execu- tion of his important ollice : whereas in the time of Ahaz, remarkable for his impiety, he probably fuf- fered much diicouragement and oppofition from that wicked prince, who fhut up the doors of the houfe of the Lord, and eredted altars to idols, notwithitand- ing all the divine eloquence our prophet employed in ftemming the torrent of corruption. -Let us re- member, what is addreiTed to Ifrael is alfo fpoken to us ; that the Lord God is addreffmg us from his holy temple ; and therefore it becomes us, with reverence, to attend to this fure word of prophecy, and to im- prove it, through the divine bleffing, for doftiine, for reproof, for correction, and inflru^tion in righ- teoufnefs, that, like men of God, we may be perfect, thoroughly furnifhed unto all good works. The prophecy recorded in this chapter (lands fingle, and unconnected with thofe which follow; and affords a beautiful fpecimen of the prophet's elegant and forcible manner of writing. It contains a warm remon- ftrance againfl the heinous crimes, and abounding corruptions, of the perfidious and hypocritical, pro- feffmg people of God ; moft animated exhorta- tions to repentance, and a fpeedy return to duty, drawn from the contemplation of their prefent cala- mities, and imminent danger of defolating judg- ments I Ver. 2. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 27 ^lents ; with mod reviving encouragements to the faithful fervants of the Motl High, derived from the agreeable profped of better times, after deferved calamities fhould be inflided on the unfaithful and rebellious, and the promifed blefiings of divine grace communicated. 2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth ; for the LORD hath fpoken, I have nourifhed and brought up children, and they have rebelled againii me. The blelTed God is here introduced, entering a folemn charge and public complaint againil his dif- obedient people, on account of their bale neglect and ingratitude, to the truth and equity of which the whole world is fummoned to attend and bear witnefs. The word tranilated heavens may be derived from one that fignifies a name of honour and dignity ; and fo it intimates, that the heavens are the moft beauti- ful, glorious, and renowned part of creation. It may be compounded of an adverb of place, and a word fignifj'ing waters ; and then It informs us, that God hath therein laid up large ftore of waters, which he feafonably communicates to this earth. It may be deduced from a word that fignifies height or eleva- tion, in refpect of place ; and ferves to remind us of what is obvious to view, that the heavens are the higheft and moft lofty parts of the univerfe : or it may come from one that fignifies to he ajionijhed ; in- ftruding us, that if we fteadily contemplate the hea- vens, we fhall have good reafon to be filled with wonder at the immenfity and beauty, the magnifi- cence and regularity of that fpacious fabric. The word rendered earth feems to be derived from one that fignifies to run, to be in ajiate of adivity and mo- tion ; and may denote, that this earth is in continual motion ; that men, and its other inhabitants, in per- forming their feveral funtlions, are in perpetual acli- D vitv. ir8 LECTURES on the Chap. I \ity. Thcfc diiferent parts of creation, with thefr numerous inhabitants, are here Iblemnly invited, to attend to the important truth the prophet is about to declare. Ye celeftiai fpirits, who are the fpeclators of human a6;ions, and contemplate the conduct of men, liiten to the aftonilhing reprefentation now to be laid before you ! Ye men of God, to whom this earth is given for a poireilion, who are endued with the principles of juit perception and found judgment, men of every character and condition, who feel the influence of truth and equity, hearken to the word of the Lord! And ye in the inferior ranks of crea- tion, who, though incapable of underftanding and judgment, perform your operations according to the laws given you, vv'itneis, as you can, the unbound- ed kindnefs of Jehovah toward his people, and their wretched ingratitude toward him ! This folemn man- ner of addrefs is frequently ufed by the prophets, to •awaken diligent attention to what they are about to deliver. With a llmilar introduction Mofes begins his fublime long, recorded Deut. xxxii. in which he tellihes againft the Ifraelites for their diibbedience ; ' Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will fpeak ; and ' bear, O earth, the words of my mouth.' The mighty God, by the prophet David, fummons all mankind to attend to his appeal *\ And the prophet Jeremiah, expoftulating with the Jews, as to their unnatural revolt from God, exclaims in thefe words, ' Be altonifhed, O ye heavens, at this, and be hor- ' ribly afraid, be ye very defolate, faith the Lordj. The heavens and the earth are here invited, to /jear^ and give ear. The latter of thefe exprellions ferves to explain the former, v/hiifl the repetition of the call points out the high importance, and indifpen- fablc neccll'ity, ot compliance with this requifition. The words of the wifeft of men often deferve but little regard, whereas the didates of eternal wifdom * Pialm I. I. -j- Jer. ii. 12. and Ver. 2. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 29 and truth juftly merit the clofeft application of mind of which we are capable ; and the call being direfted to us in particular, demands our ferious attention, and prompt obedience. Let us then turn away our eyes and ears from feeing and hearing vanity, and hearken diligently to him who caufeth us to hear his glorious voice. Let us earnefdy fupplicate the God of our Lord Jefus Chriil:, the Father of glory, to give us the fpirit of wifdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, that the eyes of our minds being enlightened, we may be thoroughly acquainted with the things freely given us of God, This is highly requifite to our profiting by the fcriptures ; for we read, that when our Saviour, after his refur- redion from the dead, expounded to his difciples the writings of Pi/Jofes and the prophets concerning hinifelf, ' he opened their underftandings to under- *■ fland the fcriptures *': and fmce his exaltation into glory, he fends down his Holy Spirit, according to his promife, to lead his followers into all truth ; which ought to animate us v/ith the reviving hope of obtaining his gracious illumination and afiirtance. That we may reap fubdantial benefit from what God hath fpoken, let us be folicitous to get it deeply im- preifed on our hearts, ftudying to become intimately acquainted with- it, delighting in the difcoveries it presents to our view, and laying it up in our hearts, fo as to be fuitably influenced by it at all times, that we may fhew ourielves, ■ not forgetful hearers, but ' doers of his word |-.' For the Lord hath fpoken. The Vv^ord yehovah, which in this, and many other places of fcripture, is tranilated Lord, fignihes, that he is, and was, and is io come, and denotes the peculiar manner of cxiftencc which is proper to the Mofi: High God, who alone is felf-exiltent. All other beings derive iram him their life and breath, and all things ; whereas his exillencs * i^uke xxiv. 45. f Janics i. 25. 5(5 LECTURES ON the Chap, h is neceffary and independent, as the name Jehovah imports. It is impoflible that we, who are finite de- pendent creatures, can comprehend the idea expreffed by this word, as w^e are utterly unacquainted with neceffary infinite exillence. Indeed we cannot pro- perly defcribe in what manner any material objed exifis with which we are converfant ; and therefore it would be the higheil prefumption, to pretend to explain the exigence of God, who is an infinite eter- nal Spirit. Though exalted far above our molt raifed apprehenfions and praifes, and highly provoked by our ingratitude and difobedience, he hath vouchlafed to fpeak to us. The learned Dr. LoWth, bifhop of London, in his new tranHation of this prophecy, ren- ders this exprefiion, " For it is Jehovah that fpeak- " eth ;'' for which he gives this reafon in his Notes, " There- feems to be an impropriety of demanding " attention to a fpeech already delivered ;" and no doubt there is, had the diicourie been already de- livered to the perfons who are addrelTed. Both tranf- lations feem equally proper, and the reafon of atten- tion is equally good, according to the view in which you confider the v/ords. Hear, and give ear, for (according to our verfion) the Lord hath fpokeyi to me •what I am about to communicate to you, and there- fore it defcrves the fame regard as if you had received it by an audible voice from heaven : or, agreeable to the new tranilation, for it is " the Lord that fpcak- " eth ;" though you hear only the voice of a fellow mortal, the words come from the Eternal God, who flretched out the heavens, and laid the foundation of the earth. We have here a remarkable inftance of that metaphorical kind of fpeech which frequently occurs in fcripture, wherein the faculties of men are attributed to God, and his manner of acting, other- wife unknown to us, is expreffed by a fenfible familiar image. Jehovah hath fpok-n to men in various ways ; fometimcs by forming a diflincl audible voice in the air, as at the baptifm of our Saviour j and at other times Ver. 2. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 31 times through the medium of the prophets, as in the cafe before us. In whatever manner the Lord fpake to our prophet, the faO: is here afcertained in general terms, he hath fpoken. Though this declaration immediately refers to the prophecy contained in this chapter, we may confider it as extending to all the predidions of this book. This affords a powerful ar- gument, to engage our clofeft attention to the fuhjed on which we are entering. It is Jehovah who fpeaks to us, by the prophet Ifaiah, on mattert^ of the higheft importance, in which we are deeply interefted ; and therefore v/e ought to attend to them with the'utmoft diligence and care. / have nourijhed and brought up children. Thefe, and the following words, contain the heavy charge which God, by the prophet, brought againft his pro- feffmg people of old, wherein he contrails the diitin- guiihing favours he had conferred upon them with their undutiful condu6: toward him. The people primarily intended, whom God nouriihed and brought up, were the Jews, to whom our prophet was fent wdth this meifage, to whom pertained the adoption and the covenants, the glory, the giving of the law^ and the promifes. They were repeatedly fpoken of under the defcription of children, and encouraged, by the confideration of this character, to the perform- ance of their duty. With this view their lawgiver affured them, ' Ye are the children of the Lord your ' God * :' and when recounting the benefits which the Lord had conferred upon them, and would far- ther beftow, he thus addreifed them in the fong, re- corded Deut. xxxii. ' Is not he thy Father that bought ' thee ^. hath he not made thee, and eflablifhed thee.' From this intimate relation, they were taught to ex- pect the certain accompli fhment of the precious pro- mifes that v/ere given them ; for God thus fpeaks, by the prophet Jeremiah, ' I will caufe them to walk * Deut. xiv. I, ' by 32 LECTURES on the Chap. I. * by the rivers of waters, in a ftraight way, wherein ' they (hall not Humble : for I am a father, to Ifrael, ' and Ephraim Is my hrft-born *.' in every reipcct did Jehovah act toward that people as a wile and tender-hearted father, never failing to perform all the duties arifmg from th^t endearing relation v.'hich were fui table to their condition. Their adoption, how- ever, was only external and typical of that gracious fpiritual adoption, to which all the peculiar peo}>le of God are admitted under the New Teftament. This inflrutts us, who are profeffedly the children of God, in a higher fenie than thole againfi whom the accufation before us was originally laid, of our inti- mate concern in what is here written. Thefe expreffions, I have nourifhed and brought them up, may be confidered, as including ail thofe innum.erable benehts which Jehovah conferred on the pofterity of Abraham, from the time he formed them to be his people, until they reached their full ftature, in the days of David and Solomon. Not with ftanding the means employed to cruin and opprefs them, he increafed and multiplied them exceedingly ; he watch- ed over them with a parent's care, and provided for them with a parent's liberaUty ; he conducted them fafely through the dangers of the defert ; he fed them with bread from heaven, and water from the rock ; he protected them from their numerous power- ful enemies ; he inltrufted them by his fervants, by his ilatutes and judgments, and his good Spirit; he chaitened them from time to time, as a father doth his children ; and honoured them with the fyn^bols of his gracious prelence. After having thus trained them up under tutors and governors, until the time appointed of the i'ather, and afhgned them the glory of all lands as their inheritance, he elevated them to a mofl Jiourifhing and proiperous conclition In the days of David, and Solomon his ion, lubduing their * Jer. xxxi. 9. enemies Ver. 1. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 33 enemies before them, and invefting them in the pofj. feflion of the promifed land, from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates. Having erefted among them the moil magnificent ftrudure that ever beauti- fied this earth as the place of his worlhip, and efta- bliilied among them the moft excellent laws and facred inititutions for their benefit, he advanced them to the higheft pitch of wordly fplendour and glory, under the reign of the wifeit of men, and the greatefi of princes that ever fwayed a fceptre ; fo that they became the admiration and envy of furrounding na- tions. In this manner, he afforded them a lively in- ftrudive reprefentation of the invaluable fpiritual pri- vileges he confers on his children under the New Teflament, who enjoy the fubflance of all the good things thereby typified. This diitinguifhed honour belongs to all you, who, being born of God, are his obedient children, growing up in all things to the ftature of perfed men in Chrifl Jefus. And they hwue rebelled aga'wi/} me. What an un- grateful return to their gracious Father for fuch multi- plied kindneiTes ! What an affecting fcene does this accufation prefent to our view ! The expreflion de- notes, that they not only forfook him, and renoun- ced his fervice, but they oppofed him, and became his adverfaries. In what numberlefs inllances did the men of Judah rebel againfl the Lord, by opprefTmg the poor, the fatherlefs, and the widow, by perverting righteoufnefs in judgment, by praftifmg deceit and violence, by committing forbidden im.purities, and dealing perfidioufly with God. The charge may re- fer, in a particular manner, to the abominable idola- tries to which they were greatly addicted, which con- tained a profeffed public denial of the true God, joined with an avowed contempt of his glory and authority. This fpirit of defection from the God of tiieir fathers very early difcovered itfclf on various occafions, as in the inflance of Korah and his com- pany, and many others I Itay not to mention. Toward the 34 LECTURES on the Chap. I. the.conclufion of Solomon's reign it began to appear anew ; and under the reign of his fon Rehoboam it grew more prevalent and confpicuous, until that me- morable period in which we are informed, ' That ' prince forfook the law of the Lord, and all Ifrael with him,' as we read, i Chron. xii. i. Still it in- creafed to the days of Ahaz, when it arrived at fuch a prodigious height, that the public worfliip of the Living God was neglected, the temple was profaned, reverence and obedience to Jehovah were laid afide, the priells and Levites joined the bulk of the people in the revolt, the external beauty of their worfhip was loft, and exchanged for the moft odious fuperfti- lion and abominable praftices. What complicated wickednefs is contained in fuch conduft, which exhi- bits to view the vileft ingratitude, the moft infolent pride, the moft fottifli ftapidity, and the higheft con- tempt of God's fupreme authority and multiplied fa- vours ! It deferves our fpecial attention, that the hiftory of the pofterity of Jacob, to which I have now referred, is a mirror which holds up our chara6ter and behaviour, and reprefents them to the life. Like them, brethren, in numberlefs inftances, as a church and nation, and as individuals, we have rebelled againft the Lord, who hath nourilhed and brought us up. Our iniquities teftify againft us, and bear evidence to the truth and juftice of this heavy charge, with which it becomes us to be deeply affeded. 3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the afs his mafters crib ; but Ifrael doth not know, my people doth not confider. In thefe words the fubjecl contained in the former verfe is amplified and illuftrated, the infenfibility and ungrateful condudl of the profeljing people of God is reprefented, as worfe than that of the moft ftupid ani- mals tovard thofe who feed them. The ox and the afs, though deftitute of underftaiiding, and thofe ad- mirable Ver. 3. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 3^ mirable powers whereby men are difllnguiflied from the inferior creation, fecm to exceed us in fagaclty on many occafions, and from them we receive many in- ftrudive leffons. The ox,, though a dull heavy ani- mal, the afs, though to a proverb remarkable for its ftupidity, yet know their owners v/ho are kind to them, and the crib of their mailers where they are fed. There is a peculiar force in the comparifon, wherein the blelfed God defcribes his people, as adling not only beneath their dignity, but in a manner worfe than the beafls, even the mod ftupid among them. Though thefe creatures are fed, not for their own but for their mafters benefit ; though they are not treated as children, but as beafls of burden ; though they are dcftitute of reafon, and opprelTed with labours ; yet they are not infenfible to their benefactors, and the kindnefs fhewn them : whereas the pofterity of Ifrael, admitted, by the favour of God, to be his pe- culiar people, and promoted to the highefl dignity, acknowledged not the Lord their God, but forgot him, and defpifed his commandments. A Heathen, writer obferves, " That men endued with the noble " gift of reafon on that account far excel all the brute *' creation ; and therefore it becomes them to labour *' with their utmoil vigour, not to pafs their life in " filence as cattle, which nature hath formed grovel- " ling, and fubjed; to the belly *." In the language of a Chrillian, it becomes them to employ their rea- fon in acknowledging God their Maker, in diligently tracing effedls to their caufes, in prudently attending to the connection of the means with the ends to which they ought to be fubfervient. To this be- coming exercile let us be excited by all the bleffings of divine providence we enjoy ; , and, in a peculiar man- ner, let the people of God, whom he hath redeemed by the blood of his Son, created for himfelf that they may fhew forth his praife, and enriched with the * SaUuft. cap. I. Bell. Catil, E manifold 6 LECTURES on the Chap. L manifold bleffings of his grace, employ themfelves with reverence and gratitude in his iervice, and the pleafnjg contemplation of his glory. But [frael doth not know, 7ny people doth not confider. The knowledge here meant mufv be that which is at- tended with love, approbation, and delight, in which fenfe it mufl be undenlood in feveral places of fcrip- ture ; as where it is faid, ' The Lord knoweth the ' way of the righteous*,* i.e, he approves of it, and delights in it. ITie confideration here mentiened is nearly of the fame import with the knowledge fpoken of, and intimately conne6led with it ; denoting that ferious meditation, frequent recolledtion, and affec- tionate remembrance, which is often inculcated in the word of God. This is the important duty re- commended to Ifrael by Samuel the prophet, where he thus fpeaks, ' Confider how great things the Lord ' hath done for you f .* Several ancient verfions agree In adding the word me to this verfe + ; which points out the object of this knowledge and confideration, the perfon correfponding to the proprietor and ma- iler fpoken of in the foregoing words, namely the bleifed God himfeli. The import then of the charge contained in this verfe feems to be, that Ifrael, whom Jehovah had chofen from among all the nations of the earth to be his peculiar people, did not love, honour, and worflrlp him, their conftant Preferver, their generous Benefactor, and fupreme Lord, from whofe unm.erited bounty all their comforts flowed, and on whom all their falvation depended. They did not contemplate his glory, they did not medi- tate on his wonderful works, they did not highly efteem his favour, they were not afraid of his righteous dlfpleafure, nor did they view him as the glorious Author of all the profperity and fafety they enjoyed. By their ingratitude, idolatry, and * Pfal. 1. 6. f I Sam. xli. 24. % Sec Dr. Lowth's Note on the words. Other Ver. 4. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 'i^'] other finful practices, they renounced the facred obli- gations whereby they were bound to ftudy the know- ledge and obedience of the Living God. He had not dealt with any nation as with them, having preferved them by his kind providence, he Inflrufted them by his fervants in the knowledge of their duty, he intruded them with his holy laws, promifed and reprefented to them in figures and types, that great falvation which the Meffiah was to obtain for all people in the fuinefs of time. What amazing ftupidity and ingratitude thus to requite the Lord, v/ho by his benefits excited them to know and confider him ! Let us not think that this conduct was peculiar to God's ancient people. In nothing do we more refembie them, than in their indifference tov^^ard God, their infenilbility of the di- vine goodnefs, and ingratitude for hii; mercies. If v>/e are acquainted with our hearts, and attentive to our coiidud as individuals, we will acknowledge the refeni- blance ; and if tvc confider our character and beha- viour as a people, we mull fee that the charge I have opened may be brought againft us with equal juftice, as againfl thofe to whom it was primarily directed *. 4 Ah fiiiful nation, a people laden with ini- quity, a feed of evil doers, children that are corrupters, they have forfaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Ifrael unto an- ger, they are gone away backward. * Should the.illuftrations here given of tliis pafliige of fcriptCTe appear feeble and inadequate to U\t importance of the fubjefr, the Author, fully fen fible of the jullice of this remark, begs leave to inform the candid Reader, that this is the lirlt chapter of the Bible of which he tried to give an expoiition. Though this part of his commentary might have been aiuch improved, he determined,, for reafons that feemed to him fufScient, to prefent thefe Lectures to the world in nearly the fame drefs in which they were delivered fi-om the pulpit. With this apology he triiils that at leaft fome of his Readers will be fatisficd. Of thofe who may ftill complain, he wifhes that fome perfon of fuperior abilities may be induced to r/rite a better expofition of thefe prophecies. AftCT 33 ,. LECTURES on the Chap. I. After the fublimc introduclion recorded in the foregoing verfes, the prophet begins his difcourfe with an aifedlirg defcription of the deplorable ftate of the Jewifh nation rcfpefting their moral conduct. On this fubjed he enters, in the form of a complaint or lamentation, with a mixture of juit indignation, exprelfed by the word jlh. In this fenfe the prophet Ezekiel ufes this expreffion, where he thus fpeaks, * Ah Lord God, wilt thou make a full end of the ' remnant of Ifrael * r' Ifaiah addrefies them un- der various defcriptions, finfid nation^ devoted to the praftice of iniquity, and addicted to every fpecies of tranfgreflion. Though God had adopted them to be his children, exalted them to heaven in privileges, and commanded them to be holy as he is holy, they committed with greedinefs all manner of iniquity, infomuch that as a people they richly deicrved this charafter. Viewing them in their national capacity as rulers, and thofe that were ruled,, as teachers, and thofe that vv^ere taught, one with another, in refpeft to the worihip of God, the adminiftration of jullice, the practice of righteoufnefs and charity, this was a juft defcription. What fliame and reproach does this charafter reflect on that people, who were in- debted to God for exalting them above others, de^ livering them from the hands of their enemies, and entering them into covenant with himfeif ! How very different their condition from what it would have been, had they obeyed t|?e voice of the Lord, and kept his teftimonies ! Inftead of a fmful nation, they would have bee^ a peculiar treafure unto him above all people, a kingdom of priefls, and a holy nation. The prophet farther characterizes them, as A people laden ivith iniquity. As the corruption and wickednefs which crept in among this people Vv^as very extenfive, and pervaded all raiiks, fo it was ex- ceedingly aggravated. Sin is here reprefented, with * Ezck. xi. 13. great .Ver.4. prophecies of ISAIAH. 39 great propriety, .as a burden which vexes the con- fciences of men, opprelTes their _minds, retards them in the performance of their duty, and by its infup- portable weight is ready to cruili them to the lowell hell. Under this grievous load the whole creation is faid to groan and travail in pain even until now ; and thofe who are fenfible of it complain, that it is by far too heavy for them to bear. Laden with this intolerable weight, they mufl have been in a mofl de- plorable condition, groaning under the mod wretched fervitude, apprehenhve of being vifited by the fevereft calamities. A feed of evil doers, the degenerate oif- fpring of parents who were eminent in tranfgreffion, the fervants of divers lulls and pleafures. They were defcended from thofe who did the works of their fa- ther the devil, and diflinguiined themfelves by their perverfe continuance in evil doing. UnafFecled with the divine goodnefs, unawed by the divine authority, unconcerned about approaching judgments, like their fathers, they walked in the counfels of their evil hearts, gratifying their unfubdued corrupt difpofi- tions. Of the juftice of this character the writings of Mofes and the prophets afford us many lamentable proofs, which I reckon unnecefTary at prefent to ad- duce. Children that are corrupters, degenerated from the faith and practices of their renowned an- ceftors, and fo 'widely different from their pious forefathers, that they could no longer be known for the poflerity of Abraham, liaac, and Jacob. Having become corrupt themfelves, they alfo corrupted others ; the fatal influence of their bad example, like a dan- gerous contagion, extended itfelf far and wide. They were not only fmners before God themfelves, but they were the feducers of others ; they were not only actuated by the god of this world, but they were be- come agents who were employed in his intereft. This charader correfponds to the hiflory, in which we read, * That under the reign of Jotham the ' people 40 LECTURES ON THE Chap. L ' people did yet corruptly *.' In what follows, the prophet flill riles in the defcription of the corrupt ftate of the Jewifli nation. They have forfaken the Lord. They fliamefully ' deferted from their allegiance to the God of their fathers, who had loaded them with innumerable benefits ; they wickedly burft afunder thofe power- ful obligations whereby he had bound them to his fervice ; they went aftray from his. bleffed ways, and ferved the blinded idols of other nations, prefer- ring them to God bleffed for evermore. Thus ' they committed two great evils, forfaking the ' fountain of living waters, and hewing out to ^ themfelves broken cifterns that could hold no wa- ' ter -j-.' In this manner they provoked the Holy One of Ifrael to anger. The charader here mentioned is frequently given to God by the prophets, and parti- cularly by liaiah in this prophecy. Hereby he is dif- tinguifhed from the falle gods of the nations ; the infinite purity of his nature is expreffed, and his in- timate connexion with his people is pointed out. He is perfeclly holy, the great principle and pattern of all true hoUneis among men. He is holy in all his works, in all the difpenfations of his providence, and in all the judgments of his mouth, which bear the impreffion of his untainted purity. He is the Holy One of Ifrael, who fet them apart for himfelf as his peculiar treaiure, who flrictly prohibited every im- purity among them, and teftified his righteous dif- pleafure againfl every fpecies of tranfgrefrion which they committed. He was fanctified among them by that w^orfhip which was performed in the beauty of holi- nefs, and he was honoured by that fanctity of man- ners which is the diilinguilhing badge of his upright fervants. This Holy One they provoked to anger, by blafpheming his name, neglecting his ordinances, breaking his commandments, and following the cor- * 3 Chron. xxvii, 2. f Jer. ii. 13. TUpt Ver. 5. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 41 rupt cuftoms of the nations around them. Thus they in- curred his difpleafure, and rejefted him with contempt.- To conclude this affecting deicription, it is added ihey are gone away bachward. They alienated them- felves from the fervice of that gracious God, who in- vited them to facred intercourfe with him, and gave them the moil falutary counfels. They turned to him the back, and not the face, who called them to glory and virtue, in the enjoyment of whofe favour their highefl happinefs confided. Inflead of making pro- grefs in obedience, and advancing in conformity to the will of God, they entered into crooked paths of their own, and went fail backward, until they arrived at a ftate of lamentable ignorance, idolatry, and wickednefs. Such is the affeding reprefentation the prophet gives of the whole Jewifh nation, which cxaftly correfponds with the hiltory of the times of Ahaz. Under the government of that wicked prince, they grievoufly revolted from God, the fanduary of the Mofl High was negleded, the temple was fpoiled of its ornaments, facrifices were offered to idols, and every fpecies of abominable idolatry v/as praftifed, fo that we read, ' They tranfgreffed fore againfl the ' Lord *.' And is it not too obvious, brethren, to require a proof, that this defcription of the Jewifh na- tion is in fome meafure applicable to us ? Are not we a fmful nation, who have forfaken the Lord, and gone away backward ? Our iniquities give inconteft- able evidence of the juftice of the charader. Deeply affefted with a fenfe of our fins, whereby we have pro- voked to anger the Holy One of Ifrael, let us, with humility of heart, return unto the Lord, that he may remember with us his covenant, and not call us away, nor utterly deftroy us. 5 Why fhould ye be ftrlcken any more ? ye will revolt more and more : the whole head is Tick, and the w^hoie heart faint. * 2 Chron. xxviii. 19. The 42 LECTURES on rn^ Chap.!. The prophet, In the name of God, here expoftu- lates with the finful nation defcribcd in the preceding verfe, concerning their folly and danger. Various methods had been tried without fuccefs, to overcome the obflinacy of this rebelhous, perfidious people. They had not only been treated with the moft tender indulgence, but they had been chaftened feverely with rods, and weakened with fcripes, to bring them to a better temper and practice : but far from being reformed by the means employed for that purpofe, they grew more hardened in their wickednefs, and more obftinate in their tranfgreffions, whereby they expofed themfelves to the moft fevere judgments. To roufe their attention, and alarm their fears, the in- quiry is propofed, Why Jloould ys be Jlricken any more ? Why are you fo ftupid and carelefs, as not to confider the procuring caufes of your calamities, that you may avoid them ? and why do you go on in your trefpaffes, that will expofe you to ruin ? Do you not fee, that the afflidive evils which have befallen you have been the fruits of your tranfgreffions? And if you are fenfible of this as you ought, it betrays the moft extreme folly to perfift in thefe crimes, which render more fevere judgments neceffary to bring you back to God and your duty. Why have you become incorrigible under the difpenfations of divine provi- dence, and worfe by the very means employed to make you better ? It is highly proper and neceftary, that you ferioufly confider what anfwer you can give to fuch a feafonable and interefting inquiry, that you may be fenfible of your wickednefs, perverfity, and wret^liednefs. Tt will revolt more and more. Thefe words defcribe the perverfe difpofition of thofe to whom they were direded. They had already apoftatized from the worfliip and fervice of the Living God, who had chaftened them in various ways, to reduce them to a dutiful fubjeftion to his authority. Their hearts, however, inftead of being foftened by the chaftife- ments Ver. 5- PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 43 merits they received, became more obdurate ; and their corruptions, far from being fubdued, acquired new ftrength and vigour. Their conduct, far from being reformed and improved, rofe to new degrees of impiety and wickednefs ; in which they were fo confirmed, that, though repeatedly ftricken, they re- volted the farther from God, and alienated themfelves the more from his fervice. This Tnews the immi- nent danger to which revolting from God, our rightful Sovereign, moft certainly expofes thofe v/ho, through evil hearts of unbelief, depart from him. In its firil beginnings, which frequently commence with the ne- gleft of fome divine inftitution, or the omjflion of fome commanded duty, of no great apprehended con- fequence, it is viewed as a trivial matter, in which no farther progrefs for a time is intended. But men do not commonly ftop here : their deceitful and defpe- rately v/icked hearts, being withdrawn from God, are quickly attached to the pleafures of fni fuited to their corrupt appetites ; and their affections, engroiT- ed by hurtful objeds, lead them flill farther from him, until they are fo accuflomed to their evil ways, that they remain indifferent under the moft alarming judgments. Progrefs in revolt is dovv-n-hill, and fre- quently proves both eafy and rapid. This was the unhappy condition of the Jewifli nation, as plainly inti- mated in the expreilion before us, 7'e 'will revolt more and ?}iore. Being fet up as a beacon, to warn us of the awful danger of departing from the Living God, keeping them fully in our view, let us beware of fol- lowing the ruinous courfe which they fleered, from which neither the mercies nor judgments of God could detain them. The vjhole head isfick. In this, and the following expreffions, the external calamitous flate of the Jewiih nation is defcribed. The reprefentation is borrowed from the diltrefled condition of one covered with wounds, alHided with putrifying fores, whofe head is pained, whofe heart is faint, whofe members are F ' bruifedj 44 LECTURES on the Chap. 1, brulfed, and whofe diflemper, preying on the inward parts, threatens to be mortal. The figure is inflruc- tive, and ufed by the moil elegant profane writers. The words then muil be explained not in their literal, but in their metaphorical lenie, in order to our un- derftanding them aright. In this view, by the bead may be meant, the king, the princes, arid governors of the people, who were the chief and leading men in the nation. Thefe are, with great propriety, called the head, as they were exalted above others to ho- nour and dignity ; and to them it belonged to direct and confult, for the benefit of the whole body of the people. The whole head is faid to have been fick, no part of it remained found and free from diftempers, but the whole was become feeble and difeafed, in a itate of languor and imbecility, totally indifpofed for rightly performing the part incumbent on it to atl. — And the whole heart faint. The heart literally denotes that part of the human frame which is the fource of life and motion. In the figurative fenfe, in which it is here to be underftood, the high prieft, the priefts, and fanhedrim, may be intended, who were to the Jewilh nation what the heart is to the natural body, giving life and vigour to all its operations, and without whom their church and flate would have been deftitute of beauty and regular motion. The whole heart is faid to have been faint, reduced to a very feeble and lan- guid condition, incapable of performing its proper ianftions for the benefit of the body. We all know, that the connection between the head and the heart is very intimate ; fo that what indifpofes the one af- fe<5ls the other, and will be foon felt through the whole frame, as is plainly affirmed in the next verfe. 6 From the folc of the foot even unto the head, tha'e is no ionndnefs in it ; hut wounds, and bruifes, and putrifying fores : they have not been clofed, neither bound up, neither mol^ liiicd with ointment. The Ver. 6. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 45 The afFecling defcription of the calamitous ftate of the Jewifh nation, begun in the preceding verfe, is here- continued. The whole body of the people, all the members of the community, in a figurative fcnfe, were difeafed, wounded, and bruifed, by the righteous judgments of God, which were inflicted upon them fo univerfally, that neither the higheft orders, nor the lowefi: ranks among them were exempted. Se- veral exprefiions are ufed, to reprefent the various diitrelTmg calamities wherewith they were vifited, the lamentable effe»5ls of their apoftacy from God, and the fad evidences of his juft difpleafure. The very vitals of their conilitution were hurt, by the chaf- tifements they had received. They were dangeroufly bruifed, by their fall from their former ftate of ex- altation and dignity. Sores had appeared on them, Avhich had the mod painful and dangerous afped: ; and, if not cured by a feilful hand, threatened the very deflruclion of the nation. Viewing them as indi- viduals, their judgments were perverted by prejudices, their underltandings w'ere darkened through igno- rance, their hearts were hardened through the deceit- fulnefs of fm, their affections were become earthly and fenfual, nor did any faculty of their minds efcape the infeclion of fm. Thefe inward diilempers difco- vered their baneful influence through their whole con- duct, in the manner we have heard ; in confequence of which, their outward condition afiumed a very alarming appearance, whilll proper care was not taken to get their diflreiTe's cured, and their calamities removed. This, brethren, affords a juft reprefen- fation pf our ipiritual ftate, until the Lord, who healeth all our difeafes, cure our fpiritual maladies, redeem our lives from deftruclion, and crown us with loving kindnefs and tender mercy. Let us therefore apply to him, whofe iliill and ability no diftemper, however inveterate, could ever reproach, that he may give us that relief he is infinitely able to be- ijow. They 46 LECTURES on the Chap.! Tbey have not been clofed^ neither bound up, neither moUijicd li'ith ointment. No effedual remedy had been properly applied. That wounds may be healed, it is necefTary that they be carefully clofed and filled up ; that bruifes may be healed, it is needful that tliey be tenderly bound up ; and in order to putrifying fores being cured, they muft be foftened with proper ointments. As it is in the natural, fo it is in the po- litical body, with regard to which each of thefe me- thods, here referred to, mufl be tried, in expectation of removing the diforders of the flate* The wounds made by difcords and divifions mud be clofed, the bruifes received by falls from former eminence and dignity muft be bound up, and the petrifying fores that have arifen from a difeafed conftitution ought to be treated with much lenity and attention, thatlhe body politic may be reftored to foundnefs. AH thefe falu- tary meafures, we are informed, had been neglected, with refpedl to Judah, in the days of Ahaz, to which period this defcription feems elpccially to refer. This portrait, to which I am unM'illing any longer to fix your attention, prefents to your viev/ a very moving fpedacle. An individual of our fpecies- placed before cur eyes literally in this deplorable con- dition, would doubtlefs affedthe moll infenfible heart in this alfembly, and bring tears from the eyes of not a few. But we have now been furveying a far more diltreffing fcene than this ; a whole nation afHicted with the moft complicated evils, oppreifed with the moft grievous calamities, without fo much as one friendly hand Ilretched out to adminifter relief. Surely the contemplation of fuch an objeft ought t!o exciLe your compaflion, efpecially when you recoiled, that this affeding defcription, in its figurative fenfe, is juftly applicable to our fpiritual condition, until the loving kindnefs of God our Saviour appear, in working our falvation, in healing the difeafes of our fouls, and anointing us v/ith the oil of gladnefs. Y our Ver. 7. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 47 7 Your country is defolate, your cities are burnt with lire : your land ftrangers devour it m your prelence, and // is deiolate as overthrown by ftrangers. The external calamitous condition of the land of Judah is in this verfe farther reprefented. Tom' country is defolate. The Hebrew word rendered defolate is emphatical, and figniiies defoiation ; and fo the ex- prefiion imports, that the country was fo completely laid wade that it was become a perfed defoiation. This general propofition is illuilrated in what follows, which feems intended to fet forth the univerfal deitrudion, that had overfpread the land. 7^our cities arc burnt luith fire. They have not only been depopulated, and fpoiied of their riches and ornaments by your enemies, but they are confumed by the fires kindled by the rage and fury of your invaders, and now lie buried in ruins. Tour land ftrangers devour it in your prefence. Your grounds, which Ihould have fuppiied your families with food, are ravaged by ftrangers, who have come in among you, in your very fight, without regard to your being the witnelTes of their conduct. Your fruitful fields, v*^hich were the beauty and riches of your country, now lie uncultivated and barren ; and your vineyards, which afforded you abundance of wine and oil, are become like an un-- fruitful defert. And it is defolate as overthrown by ftrangers. Your cities and fields every where bear the marks of the unrelenting fury and hoflile power of thofe ftrangers who entered your country, with a view to fpoil and rapine, and were employed in fpread- ing deftructlon wherever they came. 'The Billiop of London renders this claufe, " As if deftroyed by an " inundation," occafioned by a great fall of rain, which, caufing a flood, fpreads a general defoiation through the land. In either view, the expreftion is evidently intended, to ihcw the terrible extenfive ef- fects of the powerful invafion which had entered the land 43 LECTURES on the Chap. I. land of Judah, and made dreadful devaftatlon through the whole country. This deicription of the defolate ruined flate of that once happy land agrees with the time of Ahaz, when Judea was ravaged by the invafion of Ifrael, by Sy- rians from the north, the Edomites from the fouth, ana the Philiilines from the weft. At that- time we are informed, ' That the land was fpoiled, the cities ' were poifefi'ed by their enemies, hundred thoufands ' of the inhabitants were led captive, and one hun- ' dred and twenty thoufand were flain in one day*.' — How awful does the Almighty appear in the execution of his righteous judgment! How dangerous Ts apoftacy from God, which expofes both to temporal and fpi- rituai calamities ; and brings down the dreadful ef- fects of his dilpleafure, not only on our perfons, and the ftate to which we belong, but alfo on the land in which we dwell! On account of the fms of them that dwell therein, the Lord God Omnipotent ' turneth ' rivers into a wildernefs, the water-fprings into dry ' ground, and a fruitful field into barrennefs |.' This affeding confideration ought to teach us, to ftand in awe, and not to fm ; to beware of provok- ing him to anger, who can fave and deftroy to the uttermoft. 8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cot- tage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cu- cumbers, as a befieged city. The very folitary and defolate condition of the chief city of Judea is here illuftrated by three fmiilitudes. — Afid the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vine- yard. Zion was the name of a mountain fituated on the north of Jerufalem, on which part of that beauti- ful city was built, and on which ftood the magnificent temple of the Lord. By a figure in fpeech, frequently * 2 Chron. xxviii. -j- Pfal. cvii. -i^-i^, 34. ufcd Ver. S. prophecies of ISAIAH. 49 ufed In the Hebrew language, the inhabitants of a city or country are called its daughter. Hence we read of the daughter of Edom, of Tyre, Babylon, and here of Zion. This once flouriPning and holy city, the capital of Judea, was now reduced to fuch a low and defpicable condition, that it refembled a little tempo- rary hut made of turf, branches of trees, and the likj materials, in a vineyard, where the fruits were in danger of being fpoiled or ftolen, in order to fhel- ter the keeper from the weather during the time the fruits Vv^ere ripening. This once beautiful city, the joy 01 the whole earth, was become like a lodge in a garde?! of cucumbers ; which were anciently much eileemed, and cultivated by the Egyptians and the Ifraclites. The lodge mtntioned, being built merely for the convenience of the gardener, and not for ornament, had a very mean and iniignificant appearance, and was an object that was generally overlooked and ne- gledted ; and, on thefe accounts, afforded a flriking re- prefentation of Zion, in her folitary deferted ftate. It is farther compared to a befieged city, around which univerfal defolation hath been fpread by the befiegers, that fo the inhabitants may derive no advantage from the neighbourhood. In this diftreifed condition, they are obliged to retire, if poffible, to other places : the city ceafes to be frequented by flrangers, and becomes an object of pity, as well as a feat of danger. By thefe three hmiHtudes, the forlorn flate of Jerufalem, in the days of Ahaz, is reprefented ; all of which feem defign- ed to give atfecling views of its meannefs and iolitude. How exceedingly different muff Zion then have been from what it was in the ,days of David and Solo- mon, when the tribes of the Lord went up to the tef- timony of Ifrael, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord ; when filver and gold at Jerufalem was plenteous as ftones, and cedar-trees as fycamore- trees that are in the vale for abundance ! What an inftruc- tive warning does this charge afford, of the extreme danger of apoflacy from God, and the duties of his worihip ! 50 LECTURES on the Chap. L worfhip ! Zion was the city which God had chofen, wherein he put his name, and its inhabitants were a people near unto him, his redeemed ones, who were blelled above all other nations. They were honoured' with the temple, the worfliip, and oracles of Jehovah; they had among them his preience and his prophets ; and they were dignified with the names of his glory, and his firength. Notwithflanding, when they rebel- led againft the Lord, he infiided upon them the mod deiolating judgments ; and ail their boafted privileges could not fcreen them from dcitructive calamities. ' The righteous God made them eat the fruit of their * own w'.iys, and filled them with their own devices, ' whilft fear and guilt, affiidion and ibrrow, feized * upon them.' Their fms were the caufes of thofe wounds and bruifes which they received, and of thofe putrifying fores wherewith they were diftreff- ed. Being thus inftruded what an evil and bitter thing it is to depart from the Lord our God, let us beware of following their corrupt example, lell we incur fimilar judgments. 9 Except the LORD of hofcs had left unto us a very frnall remnant, we fhould have been as 6odora, and we fliould have been like unto Gomorrah. In thefe words the reafon Is affigned, why the men of Judah were not wholly fwallowed up by divine judgments. Such Vv^as their wretched condition, that, unlefs the Lord God, merciful and gracious, had avert- ed from them defer ved calamities, and prefer ved among them a few upright v.orlhippers, their nation and church had been ruined altogether. There is a beau- tiful propriety in fpeaking of the great God under the magnificent defcription of the Lord of hofls, wiien this fubjed is mentioned, as it fuggefts one important reafon why, the whole nation was not deftroyed. He who mercifully preferred a remnant of them is the Lord Ver. 9. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 51 ijLord of hods, who is unlverfal proprietor, and pof- feffed of unlimited dominion, over the Armies of hea- ven, and the inhabitants of this earth, having abfolute right to difpofe of them as feemeth good in his fight. Befides the fun, moon, and liars, the angels are his hods, whom he employs as the minifters of his divine providence ; whofe influence over human affairs, and to whofe agency, much more is to be afcribed than many are apt to imagine, or willing to allow. They excel in ftrength ; they rejoice in obeying the com- mands of Jehovah, and in celebrating his praifes. He fends them forth to minifter to the heirs of falva- tion ; he charges them with their fafety ; he employs them to comfort them under their diltrefles, to con- vey their departing fouls to heaven, and at laft they ihall convene all his deO. from every quarter. All the creatures on earth, all the kingdoms of this world, and particularly his peculiar people, are his hods. Under this defcription, the pofterity of Abraham are fpoken of, Exod. xii. 41. where we are told, ' That all ' the hofts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt, * that he might conduct them to a goodly heritage of * the hofts of nations *.' He is therefore jullly called, the Lord of hofts, as all thefe, indeed all the creatures, are his hofts, and he is their Lord, who muftereth and difpofeth of them according to his pleafure. Con- cerning this glorious perfon, it is fiiid, Except be had kft unto m a very fmall remnant. Thefe v/ords are cited by the apoitlc Paul |, with fome little varia- tion, when treating of the call of the Gentiles, to fliew, that fome of the Jews, as well as they, fhould be among the faved of the Lord. Thofe whom our prophet calls a remnant, which denotes a few that re- main of a large number, the apoftle fpeaks of, as feed which is referved for being fown after the whole ftock of grain is confumed or fold off. Both expreffions are evidently of the fame import. This fmall remr * Jer. iii. 19. f Rom. Ix. 29, G nam 52 LECTURES ot^ the Chap. I nant was compofed of the efcaped in Ifrael, of thofi|> that were left in Zion, and remained in Jerufalem ; the little flock, which were as fiieep among wolves ; the few, that entered in at the ftrait gate, and walked in the narrow way that leadeth unto life.. This remnant is faid to be left mito us. God was gra- cioufly pleafed to fet them apart for himfelf as his pe- culiar people, whom he called unto holinefs, and happily preferved from the general corruption which pervaded the whole i>ation, efpecially at the time re- ferred to. This refervation, brethren, was not ow- ing to the fuperior goodnefs of this remnant, who were in no refpeft ellentially better than thofe who were not referved, but to the fovereign mercy and love of God, who, according to his good pleafure, feiecued them from among their brethren, to fhine as lights in the world, and to iliew forth his praifes, who called them to virtue and glory. Hence it is called, a remnant according to the election of grace, which excludes boading, flains the pride of all human glory, and opens a door of hope to the meaneft and moil unworthy. This circumflance fets before us an illuitrious proof, that the Lord our God hath not wholly rejefted his people Ifrael, and that he hath mercy and favour (till in referve for them. This dif- tinguiflies them from thofe who were totally over- thrown, as intimated in the followino; words : Wefoould have been as Sodom, wejloould have been likt unto Go?nGrrah. Sodom and Gomorrah were cities built in that rich plain, which, in fcripture, is com- pared to the garden of the Lord for beauty and ferti- lity. The men of Sodom, however, were extremely wicked, and fmners before the Lord exceedingly, as doubtlefs were aifo the inhabitants of Gomorrah. They mofi ungratefully forfook the fervice of the true God, their Creator, Lawgiver, and Benefactor ; they renounced his facred worlhip ; they burft afunder the bonds of humanity ; and, regardlefs even of natural laws, they abandoned themfelvcs to the moft abomi- nable Ver. 9. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 53 "ftable pradtices. On account of their atrocious wic- kednefs, the Lord deftroyed them, and overthrew their cities, by raining fire and brimftone upon thein from heaven, making them an example of his righ- teous difpleafure againft fm, unto thofe who Ihould afterward hve ungodly. Now, had it not been for the holy remnant whom God left among the Jews, they would have been as eminent in tranfgreffion, and advanced to no lefs dreadful heights of impiety than the inhabitants of thefe cities. Had it not been on account of this refidue of men who fought after the Lord, the judgments inflicted on the Jews might have equalled thofe which were fent on the cities of the plain, and have proved as deftructivc, fo that none could have efcaped : but, for the ele<3:'s fake, calami- ties are mitigated, fnortened, and averted, as our Lord himfelf hath inllruded us *. Accordingly, this remnant proved the happy means of flopping the cur- rent of wickednefs, which threatened to have over- fpread the whole land with defolating judgments, whilft they fowed the feeds of tliat goodnefs and righteoufnels which is the liability of a nation ; and, by their fervent prayers, mercies were intermixed with puniihments. This places them in a very important point of view, which merits our particular attention. They may be accounted, as hath often happened in a time of deep corruption and- abound- ing iniquity, the enemies and troublers of a nation ; v/hereas, in fad:, they are the fait of the earth, the light of the world, the flrength and fupport of a people, and therefore they deferve to be highly eiteemed, and kindly entertained. Whilft we are thankful to the Lord of hofts, that fuch a remnant is ftill found among us, let us affiduoufiy endeavour to teftify our cordial refped: for them by every becoming expreffion, deeply concerned that they may be hap- pily increafed and preferved. * Matth. xxiv. 22. 10 ![ Hear 54 LECTURES on the Chap, t lo ^ Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom ; give -ear urito the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. The prophcjt folcinnly demands the attention of thofo whom he addreiied, to what he was about to deliver m the following verfes. The rulers of the Jews he calls, the rulers of Sodom ; intimating, that they re- fembled the governors of that wicked city in luxury and impurity, in piide, oppreflion, and the other abo- minations that they comn^itted, of which the propliet Ezekiel fpeaks in his prophecy *. ' They not only ' walked after their ways, and did after their abomina- ' tions, but, as if that had been a very little thing, ' they were corrupted more than the men of So- ' dom in all their ways,' as that prophet remarks, at the 47th verfe of the chapter above cited. On ac- count of this llriking fimilarity of manners between the governors of Sodom and the rulers of the Jews, the latter have the defignation of the former here given them with much judice and propriety. By this humiliating appellation, thofe who prefided over the Jewiih people are reminded of their deep corruption, and lamentable progrefs in every fpecies of iniquity, whereby they provoked the Almighty, and ruined themfelves. ^As for the bulk of the nation, the prophet addreifes them as the people of Gomorrah, on account of their ftriking refemblance, in wickedr nefs, to the wretched inhabitants of that city. Ac- cording to a figure in fpeech, frequently ufed in fcrip- turej we find perfons and bodies of men defigned by the names of thofe to whom they bear a remarkable iikenefs. An inflance of this fort occurs in the book of Revelation, where we read, * That the dead bodies ' of our Lord's two witnefles fliall lie in the ftreet of ' the great city, which fpiritually is called Sodom and ^ Egypt, where alfo our Lord VN^as crucified f .' The ^' Ezek. xvl. 50. t Rev. xi. 8. apollacy Ver. io. prophecies of ISAIAH. 55 apollacy from God, the impiety, the ingratitude, and enormous crimes committed by the people of Judah, mace their refemblance to the men of Sodom and Go- morrah complete, and expofed them to no lefs a puniih- ment than that inflicted upon thefe cities. Such was their amazing progrefs in lin, from which neither the light of nature, the di<^ates of confcience, the proraifes, the threatenings, and the prefence of God, could re- itrain them. Their metropolis, Jerufaiem, was filled with violence and Itrife ; m.iichief, forrow, and wic^ kednefs were in the midfl thereof ; deceit and guile departed not from her ftreets. Alas ! that, in this refpecl, as a people, we have foolifhly folloM^ed the example of the Jews, by imitating thofe Vv'ho have been notorious tranfgreiTGrs ; and, far from acting up to our character as Chriltians, we have fadly degene- rated from the ilriftnefs of our form,er profemon and practice. The attention of theie rulers and people is demanded to what follows. Hear the word of the Lord ; give ear to the law of eur God. The word of the Lord, and the law of our God, to which attention is required, feem here to be fynonimous expreffions ; in both of which, the meffage delivered in the following part of this pro- phecy is intended. They particularly refer, to the reproof adminiftered to the profefilng people of God, on account of their grofs hypocrify and formality in the duties of divine worfliip ; and the repeated calls given them to ' the exercife of true repentance, as indiipenfably neceffary to avert the juft judgments of Jehovah. Ifaiah was perfectly convinced, that what he was about to deliver was indeed the word of Jehovah, and the law of God, which he had com- municated to him in fuch a manner, that he was fully fatisfied that it juftly deferved thefe defcriptions. In order, therefore, to awaken the moft folemn attention to the truths he had received in commiffion to deliver, he declares, that we are not to hear the word of man, \>\x\ the ^ord of the living God, whom we are bound, by t;6 LECTURES ON THE Chap. I. by the ftrongeft; ties, to reverence and obey. Some learned men have obferved, that there are ten dif- ferent names given to this fupreme Lawgiver in fcrip- ture : three of which den6te his eternal independent exiftence ; three of them are expreflive of his glorious power ; three of them fignify his univerfal govern- ment; and one of them points out his fupreme excel- lence, and high exaltation. The word here tranilated God is in the plural number, in which it frequently occurs in the Old Teftament, and is fuppofed to be derived from one that fignifies 7mgbty or Jh-ong. This reminds us, that the law, to which we are called to give ear, proceeded from the Almighty, who is able to fave and to deflroy, and confequently merits the moft ferious confideration. From what follows, it appears, that the prophet efpecially intended, the law given by Moles to the people of Ifrael rerpecting the worlhip of Jehovah. In this view, the import of the invitation before us will be to this etfeft : Ye rulers, and men of high rank, who may imagine ye are ex- em.pted from concern in this meifage, I call for your attention in the firfl place. And as men are ever prone to confider the word of God as direfted rather to others than themfelves, ye who are the people may think it wholly relates to your rulers, I therefore next call on you to give audience. Hearken then ye, of every con- dition, who pretend to obfcrve the inftitutions and fa- crifices enjoined in the law of the Lord, and I will Ihew you the fum, the fpirit, and defign of that law, which was not intended merely to require you to prefent before the Moll High numerous offerings, to obferve many folemnities, and to make many prayers, with the performance of which, if ye are fatisfied, ye negleft its chief aim. Befides prefiguring future good things, it was promulgated, to dired: you to worihip the Lord our God with pure hearts and clean hands, in the faith of the accomplilhment of his proniifes ; and to lead you to evidence that faith, by a ftritt regard to juilice and charity through the whole of your conduft. Either Ver. II. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 57 Either ye do not know and confider this, or ye wilfully pervert the law of (^od to the worft of pur- pofes. 1 befeech you then, brethren, diligently to take heed to the falutary inflru£tions contained in the fubfequent part of this prophecy. Though they were not primarily addrefled to you, they are written for your learning ; and from them, through the divine bleffing, you may derive much benefit. 1 1 To what purpofe is the multitude of your facrifices unto me ? faith the LORD : I am full of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beafts, and T delight not in the blood of bul- locks, or of lambs, or of he-goats. In anfwer to an objedion that might naturally oc- cur to the juflice of the preceding charge, drawn from the multitude of facrifices prefented to God by his an- cient people, the prophet informs them, that the offer- ings which they brought could not be acceptable to Jehovah. The word tranflated facrifices denotes all thoie vidims, which, having been flain, and laid on the altar, were in part, or altogether, offered unto the Almighty. It is here inquired concerning thefe facrifices. To what purpofe were they multiplied ? In the law of Mofes, various animals, fuch as oxen, rams, goats, and lambs, were appointed to be offered in facrifices, and required to be often repeated on dif- ferent occafions. In obedience to that law, facrifices continued to be prefented to the Lord by the people, to whom this inquiry is propofed, refpeding the end they had in view in their offerings. They were not demanded on account of any intrinfic worth or ex- cellence of which they were poffeffed, or on account of any pleafure or benefit that could accrue to God from them, however numerous and expenfive they might be to the offerers. The rites contained in the ceremonial law were intended, to preferve the pofi:erity of Ifrael from the idolatrous practices of neighbouring nations. 5« LECTURES ON THE Chap. I. nations, to which they were remarkably prone ; to excite in them the expectation of good things which were to come ; and to point out to them in what man- ner the Lord of all would be woriliipped. At the time referred to, that people prefented multitudes of faciifices unto Jehovah, regardlefs of the difpofitions and deiigns with whicn they brought them ; and therefore reproof is adminiftered to them, by the in- quiry here propofed. This queflion, my friends, we ought to confider as direded to ourfelves, refped- ing the facrihces of praife, and of doing good, re- quired of us under the New Teitament ; and it ought to remind us, of the high importance of attending to the defigns we have in view in difcharging the duties of divine v^orfhip. It is by no means iufficient, that they be regularly performed, without confidering the end at which we aim. Not only iliould our adions proceed from good principles, and be good in them- felves, but they mull be done for valuable and im- portant purpofes ; not to gratify our own humour, not to prom.ote our felf-jnterefl, not to comply with cuftom, or to obtain the applaufe of others, but to tedify our fubjeclion to the divine authority, to ac- quire the divine approbation, and to advance our bed interefls. I am full of the hurnt-cfferings of rams^ and the fat of fed beajis, a?id I delight not in the blood of bullocks ^ or of lambs^ or of he-goats. It is true, thefe feveral kinds of offerings were inliituted by the blelfed God himfelf, to typify, in different refpecls, the one per- fect facrifice of the great Mefliah, which was to be offered in the fulnefs of time ; and to reprefent the indifpenfable neceffity of atonement and purification, in order to the enjoyment of the divine favour. Among the various facrifices offered by the children of Ifrael, the burnt-offerings only are here mentioned, which were ordered to be entirely confumed on the altar whereon they were prefented, no part of them being referved, either to the perfon who brought the vitlim, Ve^. II. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 59 victim, or to the prieft who facrificed it, excepthig only the ikin. Though the facrifice of expiation, the peace-offering, and tiie facrifice of thankigiving, are not particularly mentioned, they are doubtlefs in- cluded in the offerings of fat beaffs, which the Lord Jfaith he rejedted and loathed ; which feems to be the import of the expreffion, / ard full. He had not to reprove them for the fewnefs of their facrihces and burnt-offerings, which they brought continually be- fore him, but for their hypocrify and ibrmality in his fcrvice. If you inquire. How the great God could rejetl: thofe facrifices which he himfelf had appointed ? The anfwer is obvious : Their rejection proceeded not from want of divine inflitution, for they originated from his own authority ; and the offerings of the people, under that difpenfation, were prefented in compliance with the command of God, who ftridly enjoined them, and always approved of them when rightly performed. They were abhorred, on account of the formality and hypocrify wherewith they were offered, their being fooliffily preferred to the fpiri- tual obedience due to the moral law, and truffed to for righteoufns^'s by many, who looked upon them as the foundation of their acceptance with God. They were always well-pleafmg to the divine iVlajeffy, when prefented with holv difpofitions of heart, in reference to the great objeAs they were in- tended to reprefent ; but when offered by fmners, who, under the mafk of hypocrify, held faff their iniquities, and difcovered no becoming regard to the ends of their inftitution, he declares, in the words before us, he was full of them. Let us then, in all the exercifes of divine worihip, endeavour to act under the infmence of this intereffing truth, ' The fa- ' crifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, * whereas the prayer of the upright is his delight.' It is the heart of the worffiipper that he principally re- gards ; and all the external homage which does not proceed frern love to God, and a-^acred regard to H his ^j LECTURES ON the Chap. L his authority, is only vain oblation, ^vhich can never afcend before his throne with acceptance. 1 2 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hr.nd to tread my courts ? The hypocritical people to whom God, by the pro- phet, directed this difcourfe, continued to attend the ordinances of divine inftitution, and reguiariy to ap* pear before the Lord in the duties of his worfhip ; und therefore rafnb/ conchided, they merited the fa* vour of God, and were accepted of him. The appear- ances referred to, might be either thofe which were more ordinary and frequent, when they were employed in the dnily and weekly exercifes of divine worlhip, or thofe which were more feMom and folemn, when, three tim.es in the year, all the males appeared be- fore the Lord their God. hi order to admimfter juft reproof for their improper conduct, and the unfuitable manner in which they made thefe appearances, the inquiry before us is propofed, in which the prophet expol'lulates v/ith them concerning their fin and folly. VV/jo haib required this at your hands, &c. The Mod High had exprefsly commanded them to appear be- fore him on many occafions, and particularly fpeci- fied in what manner they ought to approach his fa- Cred prefence. Their carelefs inattention to this laft- mentioned circumftance gave occafion to the challenge contained in this verfe. You who were never cleanfed from your fms, who have not returned to the Lord in the exercife of fincere repentance, and v/hofe hearts are far fr-om him, whillt you profefs much love to him with your mouths, can you poflibly imagine, that the all-pci-fect and moft holy Jehovah would command you to tread his courts, whilfl you only bring thither your bodies, and leave your hearts be- hind you ? Be affured, that he never required you to approach tlie courts of his houfe in fuch an unholy and Ver. 13. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 61 and hypocritical manner, and that he will never ac- cept or approve of Inch diirnnulation. It is your hearts which he chiefly regards, and juftly claims, without which all your fpecious appearances, all your numerous oblations, are not well-pleaung to the Lord. You may be fenfible, that your hearts, far from de- lighting in his fervice, which is honourable and glo- rious, are continually going out after their ccvetouf- nefs, and wandering after earthly objeds. And can you think that the Holy One of Ifrael will accept of fuch worfnippers, who, though they have a male in their jSock, which is his peculiar property, yet offer to il:e Lord a corrupt thing, and only prefent to him the formal homage of a corruptible body, deftitute of a purified heart? Permit me from hence to incul- cate upon you, my hearers, the liigh importance of performing the fervice of God in the manner he re- quires. Being infinitely holy, he hates the ieaft im- purity in his worfliip ; being very jealous, the fmallefi: deviation from duty awakens his awful difpleafure. Moles, for his raflmefs, in not exa£lly executing the divine command, was excluded from the land of C'a- naan ; and many of the Corinthians, on account or the unworthy maqn^r in vvaiich they partook of the Lord's iupper, became weak and hckly. Inilruded of your danger, by fuch alarming indances as thefe, labour to get your hearts brought into an unreferved fubjeclion to the divine authority, and to ferve God in the lively, fpirituai manner he requires, that, along with outward rcfpcft, he may have the inward ho- mage,of renewed hearts. Thus evidence yourfelyes to be the circumcihon, who woril^ip God in the fpi- rit, who have no confidence iii the iielli, and rejoice in Chrifl Jefus. 13 Bring no more vain cbhtions, incenfe is an abomination unto rac, the new-moons and Sabbaths, the calling of afiemblies I cannot away with, i/ is inicjuity, ^ven the fQleiiiu meeting. The 62 LECTURES ON THE Chap.L The hypocritical people to whom our prophet was fent are here informed, that their obI?.tions and folemii feafls were as offenfive to God as their facrifices. The oblations mentioned were probably the offerings of the firil-fruits, and the tithes of wheat and bread, wine, oil,, and fait, with a variety of other things, which were ordered, by divine appointment, to be brought to the tabernacle, and afterward to the temple, that they might be prefented unto God by the priefts. Thefe are called vain and unprofitable, be- ing offered deflitute of regard to the divine authority whereby they were commanded, of that fupreme love to Jehovah with which every ad of obedience ought to be accompanied, and without faith in the great objetls concerning which they were defigned to convey inftrudion. Thefe oblations being feparated from the exercifes of repentance, prayer, and thankf- giving, had in them nothing fpiritual and valuable, that was worthy of God, acceptable to him, or that could be ufeful to the offerer. The Lord therefore required his profeffing people, to bring no more fuch. unprofitable offerings to him. He did not order them to refrain from bringing their oblations to the place appointed, but to bring no more fuch as were unavailaDie for the purpofes intended by them. He would have them punctually to bring thofe offerings that might be advantageous to them, whereas he ex- prefsly forbids them to continue any longer perform- ing what was to them a wearilbme and unmeaning fervice, that could be attended with no good confe- quences. —To iraprefs this the deeper upon their minds, it is added, Incenfe is an abomlnaimi unto me, Incenfe was a rich perfume, prepared of fweet fpices, W'hich was commanded to be put on the fire laid on the altar of gold before the Lord, and to be burnt there- on continually, in order to reprefent the perpetual, acceptable intercefhon of Jefus Chrift. This incenfe, though prepared according to divine diredion, and offered on the altar which was commanded, God de- cla,vcs Ver, 13. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 6;^ dares was an abomination to him. Whiift the men of Judah fooliftily imagined, that the Almighty tvas dehghted with the fragrancy of the fpices of which it was compofed, and entertained apprehenfions of him inconfillent with his infinite majelly and perfect puri- ty, he aiTures them, that incenfe was deteftable to him, and the objed of his juft abhorrence. From whence we learn this important lelTon, That the abufe of things, in themfelves mod valuable, in the worfliip of Ck)d, will render it odious to him, and provoke him to teftify, how hateful thofe fervices are in his fight which are performed under the influence of formality and hypocrify. Every thing in divine worlhip is vain, and offenfive to the Mod High, which is not executed in the fpiritual manner he hath required. This cir- cumftance ought to render us exceedingly cautious in every part of his fervice, moil attentive to the offer- ings we prefent before him, and foHcitous that they may be acceptable in his fight through the inter- ceffion of Jefus Chrift. The neia-?noons and fabbaths, the caU'mg of af- femblies I cannot away ivith, it is iniquity^ even the folemn meeting. The new-moons were the days on which the moon was firft feen after the change, which was to the children of Ifrael the beginning of their months. At thefe feafons they were or- dered to offer unto the Lord an additional burnt- offering, a meat-offering, drink-offerings, and a fm- offering, befide their daily facrifices *. Thefe times were obferved by them with peculiar marks of fanc- tity, and abftinence from ordinary labours, as is plainly intimated in the language of the opprefTors, re- corded by the prophet Amos, ' When will the new- ' moon be gone, that we may fell corn, l^c. |'. The Sabbaths are next m.entioned : by which we may underftand the feventh day of the week, when addi- tional facrifices were appointed to be offered be'fides * See Numb; xxviii. 11. et Jeq. f Amos viii. 5. thofe 64 ' LECTURES on the Chap. L thofe that were daily prefeixted. Thefe Sabbaths were commanded to be kq:>t holy to the Lord, as days of facred reit, and types of that eternal Sabbatii'm which remaineth for the people of God. The Sabbath of years may be aUo coniidered as alluded to in this ex- prellion ; that is, every feventh year, when the land lay uncultivated, the debts of their brethren were dif- charged, and fervants fet at libcrty.-r; — To thefe arc added, the calling of afiembiies ; the folemn convo- cations which were held on the loth day of the feventh month, which they were appointed to obferve as a public faft, on which they were to afflift their fouls for lin, and to do no v/ork. On thefe folemn occa- fions, the priell was to make an atonement for them, to cleanfe them from, all their fms, and to make an atonement for the holy fanduary, for the tabernacle of the congregation, for the altar, for the priefts, and for ail the people of the congregation. This was ii, . deed a folemn meeting, as it is called in the iail claufe of the verfe. What could be inore folemn, than to fee the whole numerous people of Ifrael and Judah convened for the purpofes of affiicling their fouls, and making atonement for their fms before the Lord I Concerning thefe feafons and aifemblies, God faith, / can?iot away with them, it is iniquity. By thefe expreffions, God declares his averfion to the offerings and fcftivals of the men of Judah, and fuggefts the reafon of their oftenfivenefs to him. It is not difficult to perceive their import, which feems to be ihortly to this effed : I cannot endure to fee you bringing obla- tions and incenfe to my altar, in that formal, hypo- critical manner v/hich attends you in everv part .of my fervice. It is highly oifenfive to me, to fee you, who prefefs to be my peculiar people, fpending thq facred feafons I have inftituted among vou in the fri- volous and fmful way you commonly obferve them. Inltead of keeping them holy to the Lord, and enters ing into the fpirit of the exercifes proper for fuch fo- lemn occafion?, your conduct exhibits a fccne of com- plicated ^Ek. 14. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 6^ plicated wickednefs, and bafe hypocrify. You truft to the external form of the duties incumbent upon, you at thefe times, whilft you are deititute of the de- vout difpofitions of heart which are indifpenfably neceflary to the right obfervance of thefe folemni- ties. Aiid is not this a great iniquity then, to im- pofe on yourfelves in the moit important matters, and to deal deceitfully with God, who will not be mock^ ed ? This muft be highly provoking to the iniinite Majefly of heaven and earth, and expofe you to his righteous difpfeafure : put therefore this iniquity f.u- from you, that it may not prove your ruin. 14 Your new-moons, and your appointed feafts my foul hateth : they are a trouble unto me, I am weary to bear tbcm, ' The fame fubjeft is continued In this verfe, which was introduced in the foregoing ones. The new- moons are again mentioned, with the appointed feails : by which may be intended, the feafts of the Lord, the holy convocations which were ordered to be proclaim- ed in their feafons, mentioned in the tv/enty-third chap- ter Of Leviticus. The Lord's paffovcr, which v*'as com- manded to be obferved on the fourteenth day of the hrll month, at even, when the Ifraelites were to eat the HeHi of the lambs they had flain rcafted with fire, with unleavened bread, and bitter herbs. The feaft of the lirll-fruits, obferved at the time they began to rea') their corns, when they were required to take the firft-fruits of the earth unto the place which the Lord did choofe, and to prefent them before him, re- joicing in every good thing v.'hlch the Lord their God had given them. The fcall of tabernacles, appointed to be kept on the fifteenth day of the feventh month, in which they were not to do any fervile work, but to take the branches of tliick trees, and make to them- felves booths, in which they v\'ere to dwell fcven days, and to rejoice before the Lord their God, in com- niemoratioii 66 LECTURES on the CHAPrl. memoration of their having dwelt in booths when the Lord brought them forth from the land of Egypt. Though God had appropriated to himfelf thefe feafons, and devoted them to his fervice, he calls them not his, but theirs ; intimating, that they made them their ov;n, by facrilegioufly alienating from him the honour and obedience which he demanded ; and that they obfer- ved them not to his glory, but in a manner fuited to their own corrupt difpofitions. He therefore plainly declares, that his foul hated them. The expreffion is ftrong and forcible, though not peculiar to our pro- phet ; for God clfewhere ufes much the fame language, * I hate,' faith he, ' I defpife your feaft-days, and I will * not fmell in your folemn affemblies. Though ye ' offer ihe burnt-offerings, and your meat-offerings, I ' will not accept them : neither will I regard the * peace-offerings of your fat beafts *.* Though the Lord of hoils had inftituted thefe facred feafons for the moft important purpofes, yet they were fo grofsly perverted and abufed, that, inllead of being delighted with them, he held in fovereign deteilation the hypo- crlfy and forrnality wherewith the fervices of his pro- feffrng people were attended on thefe occafions intimated in the following expreflions : My foul hatctbj they are a trouble unto me, I am weary to bear them. The bielled God condefcends to fpeak of himfelf in a way fuited to our weak apprehenfions ; and the words which he ufes muil be explained in confiflency with the fpirituality and hoiinefs of the divine nature. The pollerity of Ifrael had difcovered by their condud, that they were weary of the folem- nities which God had appointed them to obferve, and that they reckoned the duties of his worfhip vexatious and troublefome. He therefore lets them know, that their abufe of his inftitutions rendered them a trouble to him, as well as to them, and that he could no longer bear with their grievous provocations. Confider * Amos V. 21 J 22. then, Ver. 1$' PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 67 then, brethren, if you efteem the Sabbaths, the folemn feafons which the Lord our God hath appropriated to himfeif, holvy honourable, and a deHght ; and do you then refrain from finding your own pleafures, thinking your own thoughts, and fpeaking your own words ? Do you take delight in approaching to God in the exercifes of his worfliip, and viewing his fervice as your honour and happinefs ; do you engage in it with alacrity, and with your whole hearts ? Or, Are you lukewarm and negligent in performing the fer- vice of your higheft Lord, and thus render your folemn meetings offenfive to the Moll High, by your formal and carelefs behaviour ? Thefe inquiries natu- rally arife from this fubjed, and jultly demand your ferious attention. 15 And when ye fpread forth your hands, I VvuU hide mine eyes from you : yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear : your hands are full of blood. Similar tellimonies of the divine difpleafure are here denounced againft the hypocritical people of the Jews, on account of their formal prayers, with thefe threatened againft their oblations and feafts in the foregoing verfes. They might be apt to im.agine, that though God was not plcafed with their external wor- fliip, he would not rejeft the more rational homage of their prayers and thankfgivings, whereby they pro- feffed to honour the divine Majefty. To convince them of their prefumptuous millake, they are aflured, that, when performed in an unfuitable manner, they would not be regarded by the Almighty. Jnd •when ye fpread fort/j your bands. Spreading forth the hands is a geflure that, in every age of the world, hath been ufed by men when fupplicating the throne of grace. Mofes told Pharaoh, king of Egypt, that * as foon as he was gone out of the city, he would * fpread abroad his hands unto the Lord j' bv which I ' he en LECTURES ON THE Chap.!. he meant, that he would entreat that the thunder and hail might ceafe *. And when king Solomon, (land- ing bciore the altar of the Lord, in prefence of the congregation of Kracl, at the dedication of the temple, addrelled God in prayer, ' he fpread forth his hands ' toward heaven |.' In reference to this praftice, the exprefiion before us is intended to fignify the ejter- cifes of prayer and thankfgiving, in which it was fre- quently uled, to denote the earnefhiefs and importu- nity of the fupplicaiits. And left it might have been thought, that the frequent repetition of the prayers they prefented to God would render them more acceptable, they are informed, that the multi- tude of their prayers fiiould not avail to this purpofe. Tea, ivbcn yc make 7nany prayers, &c. V/hilft their bodies only were employed in the fervice of God, and their hearts were eltranged from him, fuch bo- dily exercife, however often repeated, profited little* This important lelTon our bleffed Lord inculcates up- on his difciples, in his moft excellent fermon deliver- ed from the Mount, ' But when ye pray, ufe not ' vain repetitions, as the heathen do : for they think ' they fhall be heard for their much fpeaking. Be ' not ye therefore like unto them : for your Father * knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ' all^ him];.' To diiluade them from^ this hypocriti- cal praftice, God here declares / 'will hide in'me eyes from you — I ivill not hear, Thele expreffions, in which the faculties of men are afcribed to God, muft be underftood in their metaphorical fenfe, being de- iigned to give us an idea of the divine procedure re- fpecling the prayers here mentioned. Striptofthe figure with which they are clothed, they plainly inti- mate, that Jehovah would not regard them, as he does the upright, with a pleafant countenance, nor attend to the voice of their fupplications proceeding from feigned lips j but, on the contrary, that he f 1 Kinjs viii. 22. % ^^-li-di. vi. 7, 8. would Ver. 15. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAPT. 69 would turn away from them as odious and fmful, and reject their petitions as unworthy of the fmalleft notice. He would not fo attend to their prayers as to grant their requefts. Their prayers were made with much coldnefs and indiuerence, and proceeded from hearts that regarded iniquity ; and therefore God allures them, he would not hearken to their fuppiication, agreeably to what is written, * He that * turncth away his ear from hearing the law, even his ' prayer fhall be abomination *.' Both the exprefiions contained in this verfe feem to denote nearly the fame thing ; namely, that the prayers of the people, here reproved, were offenfive to God, who delights in the fpiritual homage of renewed hearts. Though they maintained the form, they were not polTeffed of the fpirit of prayer : they were deftitute of faith in the promifes refpecting the great Mediator, and thofe in- tenfe dellres after Ipiritual blelTmgs, without which it is impoflibie to pleafe God. Tour hands are full of blood. Thefe words contain one important reafon of the divine condufl:, dcfcribed in the preceding part of this verfe. To the well- grounded expectation of gracious audience to our prayers, God requires, that we lift up holy hands, without wrath and doubting ; but^ far from this, the hands of this people were full of blood. Thofe who were inverted with power and authority condemned the innoceiit', and Ipared the guilty ; Vv'hilft thofe who were good fuifered hard things, the bad were permit- ted to pafs unpunifhed. The lower claffes of the people were guilty of bloody crimes and capital oir'ences, which defer ved death ; fuch as idolatry, biafphcmy, murder, and adultery : and thefc atrocious tranf- grefiions abounded fo much among them, and were fo frequently comnaitted, as to jvftify the expreiTion before us, wherein it is affirmed, their hands were full of blood. In the emphatical language of the prophet Hofea, ' By fwearing, lying, killing, ileal- X rov. xxviii. 9. in a?> 7C5 LECTURES on tiis Chap. L ' ing, and committing adultery, they broke out, and * blood touched blood * '. In both the hiftorical and prophetical parts of the Old Teiianient, fimilar de- scriptions are given of the character of that people whom the prophet here addrclfed. Such then being their condition, no wonder their prayers were fhut cut from before God, and that he would not hear them when they called upon him. By the in- flrudive variety of figniiicant expreffions ufed by our prophet on this fubjecl, we are laught, that fre- quent, pompous, and coftly fervices, fepaiated from true godlinefs, and holineis of heart and life, far from being acceptable to. the Lord, are an abomi- nation in his fight, and unprofitable to thofe who perform them. We have inculcated upon us this im- portant IciTon, that hypocrify, in the fervice of the Living God, is moft deteli-able to him, who delights in truth in the inward parts ; and that whilft perfons indulge in the practice of iniquity, they cannot ex- pert he will regard their prayers, or other a<5is of worfliip. Let us, my friends, be hereby excited to diligent attention to our fpirits, efpecialiy when em- ployed in the fervice of the Searcher of hearts. Whilft many reft fatisfied with the form of godlinefs, the profeffion of ChrifHanity, and the performance bf the external part of duty, let it be our conftant ftudy to ferve the Lord in fmcerity and truth, under a deep convidion, that he knoweth our hearts, and ponders our paths. 1 6 V Wafh ye, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes, ceafe to do evil. After the warm expoftulatlons contained in the preceding verfes, we might juftly have expefted to hear awful denunciations of terrible judgments againft thofe who were' addided to fuch fmful pradices. In- * Hofea iv. 2. fte?,d Ver. i6. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 71 ilead of thefe, we are agreeably furprifed with the mofi: friendly and fakitary advices, necelTary to be carefully attended to, and faithfully obferved, in or- der to deliverance from deferved calamities, V/aJ]j v^. The people, to whom thefe words were primarily direded, were not only polluted through the corrup- tion of their nature in common with others, in con- fequence of defcending from thofe v;ho had revolted from God, but they had defiled thcmfelves by their multiplied tranfgreuions, and the unholy performance of the duties of divine wonliip. Sin is reprefented in fcripture under many inftrutlive firuilitudes, ferving to ihew its vile abominable nature, its odlournefs in his fight, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniqui- ty, and the impurity of fuch as indulge in it. We thereby contract that filthinefs of the fleili and Ipirit, that univerfal pollution with which our fouls and bodies are tainted, and from which our outward and inward man, our hearts and our hands, need to be cleanfed. All the wafhings and purifications under the law plainly fuppofed this defilement : they repre- fented to men the indifpenfable neceflity of their being cleanfed from fm, and were emblematical of what is here recommended. Though this, and the following expreflion, may be viewed as explaining and enforcing each other, it may not be improper to ccnfider the firfl, as relating to pardon of fin, from the guilt of which we are delivered by the pre- cious blood of Chrifl, and the latter, as refpecling the pollution of fm, from which we are freed by the fpirit of Jefus. Both thefe are equally neceffary to the falvation of men, and infeparably joined together in the promifes and commands of God. From the exprefs declarations contained in fcripture, it ap- pears, that the guilt of fin is removed by the blood of the Son of God, who loved us, and wafhed us from our fms in his own blood, by faith in which we are freely juftified. This blood, and the abfolute ne- cefTity of its application, were typified, under the Old Teflament, 72 LECTURES on the Ckap. I. Teftament, to the people whom our prophet now uddreiTed. When therefore he directs them to wafli, he requires the diligent ufc of the means and inllitu- tions which God had appointed, that thereby they might obtain the remiffion of fm?, and be faved from the puniihment of their tranfgrefiicns ; and cautions them to beware of thofe fins which would add to the guilt already contradled. Make you clean. God, in infinite mercy, hath promifcd, ' I will fprinkle clean water upon you, and ' ye fnall be clean : from all your filthinefs, antl from ' all your idols will I cleanfe you */ This intimates his gracious intentions, his perfect ability, to purify the moit polluted finners, and that this extraordinary work is pecuHar to him, who only can bring a clean out of an unclean thing. Notwithilanding, in perfect confidence with fuch promifes, God faith, by Ifaiah, Make you clean ; intimating, that it is our indifpenfable duty, to concur with him in carrying on this great work, by the diligent improvement of the means he hath appointed for acquiring the purity he hath pro- mifed, which is efiential to our true happinefs, and carefully to avoid every thing that might increafe our impurity. To waili and purify his people is the glorious prerogative of the bleffed God, and Is effec- tuated by his word and Spirit ; and therefore we ob- ferve the fupplicants before his throne, under deep imprefTion of this humbling truth, adopting fuch re- quells as this, ' Wafh me throughly from mine Ini- ' quity, and cleanfe me from my fin |.'— As the purification, here fpcken of, is equally incumbent upon you, brethren, as upon the Jews of old, permit me to exhort you, in the Vv'ords of God, ' WaPxi ye, ' make ye clean. Cleanfe your hands, ye finners, ' purifv your hearts, ye double-minded \.^ To this neceflfary work 1 call you, in order to convince you of your pollution, and your utter inability to wafh * Ezck. xxxvi. 2S. t Pi"al. li. 2. . t JsJ^e-- '^- 8. away Ver.i6. prophecies of ISAIAH. 7.- away your fplritiial defilement, to inculeate upon you the indifpenfable neceffity of being throughly cleanfed from your iniquities, and to excite you to the diligent ufe of all the means inflituted for this purpofe. Had I been illuilrating t-hefe directions whiKl: Judaifm was in force, I would have advifed to the ceremonial waftiings appointed under the law, which (iinftified to the purifying of the lleill, and typi- fied good things which were then future. But now thefe carnal ordinances being abolillied under the gofpel, I call you to ' the fountain opened for fin and ' uncieannefs ;' and you are now invited to repair to it immediately, in the exercifc of faith, humility, and defire, that you may be walhed from your fins, and cleanfed from your pollutions, that your confciences being purified from dead works, you may ierve the Living God. Put azoay the evil of your doings from before mine eyes. The actions referred to, in this advice, feem to be thole mentioned in the preceding verfes. Tlie multitude of facrifices which the men of Judah pre- fented before the Lord, the folemn appearances they made in his divine prefence, the obfervance of their facred affemblies and appointed feafts, together with their many prayers, were no doubt the doings here in- tended. Much fin, particularly of hypocrify and for- mality, attended the performance of th/efe duties ; re- fpefting which, God, by the prophet, had expornu- lated with them, in the foregoing verfes ; and this it is which they are direfled to put away. They did not obferve divine infiitutions out of love to God and his authority, they did not delight in drav^-ing nigh to him with their whole hearts, nor were they animated by a lively faith in the great objecls prefigured by the dilFerent parts of their worfliip. All the evil that at- tended their doings was perfeAly known to him, who fearcheth the heart, and trietli the reins of the chil- dren of men, and before whom all things are naked and open. Not a finful thought, not the leaft difli- ;r4 LECTURES ON THE Chap. i. mulation, not a wrong intention or corrupt principle, fprang up in their hearts, but it came fuU)' under his infpeftion, and proved highly oifenfive to him, who cannot look on fin but with deteftation. That their doings might become acceptable to him, they are di- refted to put away the evil that adhered to their fer- vices, and heartily to renounce all thofe vicious prin- ciples, and wrong views, whereby they had been influenced in the worfliip of the true God. For this purpofe, it was neceffary that their hearts ftould be purified by faith, their miftaken views corrected, their temper redified, and their practices reform- ed. This exhortation is no lefs neceffary to us, than to thofe to whom it was primarily given. Ye may be fenfible, that much fni cleaves to all our fer- vices, which ought not only to be acknowledged with forrow, but renounced as hurtful and danger- ous. ' If then iniquity be in your hand, put it far ' away, and let not Vv'ickednefs dwell in your taber- ' nacles. For then flialt thou lift up thy face without ' fpot, yea, thou flialt be (ledfaft, and fhalt not fear. ** Ceafe to do evil. Similar, Ihort, comprehenfive direftions are often repeated, both in the Old and New Teftament. We are exhorted, ' to depart from ' evil, and do goodf;' we are required, ' to abhor *■ that wliich is evil, and to cleave to that which is ' good |.' Though evil fometimes denotes, in fcrip- ture, all manner of fm and wickednefs, it is to be un- derltood at other times in a more reftricted fenfe, for the wrongs and injuries done by ore perfon to an- other. In this fenfe, our divine Mafter requires us not to refill evil j|. This lad feemc evidently to be the import of the word in the expreffion before us, where the profefTmg people of God are iuppofed to have been addided to the pradice of evil, and are diffuaded from perfiding in thofe evils they committed againlt * Job. xi. 14., 15. f Pfal. xxMiv. 14. + Rom. xii. 9. jl Matth. V. 39. their VfiR. i6. PROPHFXIES OF ISAUH. 75 their brethren. " Human happinefs," as an emi- nent writ-er oblerves, " is a tender plant, which every " rude breath is fufficient to blaft." The precept before lis is intended to fet a fence about it, to pre- ferve it from injuries, to prevent the fliocking fpeclaclc of human mifery, and to inculcate the neceliity of re- lieving it. Remedies, though always to be ufed when ne-cefl'ary, are often troublefome and paijifui when applied, and uncertain with refp^<3: to the effeds they may produce. True wifdom, therefore, dire(5ts to ufe every precaution that may render them need- iefs ; and this feems to be the import of the duty here required. In pofitive precepts there is fometimes room for the plea of ignorance or doubt ; but no good excufe can be given for the negiect of what ii contained in this fcort direttion. When men are ex- horted to acts of beneficence, they may plead incon- venience or inability ; but certainly no one can jultly plead exemption from refraining to do wrong ; io that obedience to this rule is confelfedly incumbent upon all. This circumftance ought to remind you, who now hear me, of your intimate concern in this dire&ion, which it is your indifpenfable duty to obey. Think not to excufe yourfelves, in the words of the prophet, ' Can the Ethiopian change his ikin, ' or the leopard his fpots ? then may ye alfo do ' good, vt'ho are accuilomed to do evil *.* The im- portant change which, of yourfelves, you are unable to eflecluate, the Spirit of God, which you are en- couraged to alk, can eafily accomplifii ; and what God hath declared to be your duty, we are bound to in- culcate, and you to obey, not the lefs becaufe you have foolilhly indulged in an oppofite conduft, and thereby hurt your capacity of doing good, Ceafe then from injuring your neighbours by fraud and op- prefllon, beware of hurting and dhireirmg them, ot dilJeipecliug your fuperiors, of contemning your in- * Je.-- xiii, 23. • K feriors^ 76 LECTURES on the Chap. L feriors, or behaving with nidenefs toward your e- quals. ' With^hold not good from him to whona it ' is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to ' doit*.' 17 Learn to do well, feek judgment, relieve the oppreffed, j'-.^Jge the fatherlefs, plead lor the widow. More fakitary advices are given in this verfc by the wonderful Counfcllor.-. Learn to do well, or to do good, as the Hebrew word alfo fignifies. Here it may denote, the pra6:ice of that which is honeft, virtuous, and juft, in oppofition to the evil cautioned againll in the preceding verfe. This feems to be its obvious meaning in the forecited pfalm f. Doing well comprehends the praftice of every good work, inclu- ded in our duty to God, in the exercifes of goodnefs, righteoufnefs, and truth toward others, and in tem- perance and fobriety relpe£ting ourfelves. That thefe things be well done, or, in other words, that men do good, their adions mult proceed from good prin- ciples, the renewed difpoiitions of a good and honefi. heart. Education and cudom may habituate men to the form of godlinefs, and good nature may prompt them to a kind behaviour toward others, by which they may acquire much efleem from thofe who are unacquainted with the principles from whence their actions proceeded. AVhereas were they known, and properly examined, they would be found extremely defeclive, and far from deferving to be called good.— r Their conduct mult be directed to worthy and va^ luable purpofes. A love of decency, a regard to re- putation, a defire of promoting worldly interells, may be fubitituted in room of love to God, reverence for his authority, the love of righteoufnefs, and gratitude for divine goodnefs. Thefe difpofitions may induce * Prov, iii. 27, f Pial. xxxiv. 14. jnen Ver. i^ prophecies of ISAIAH. '^^ men to do feme things good in themfelves, though their adions remain deflitute of thofe moral qualities of which they have only the appearance. But- in well-doing, the great ends to be kept invariably in view, are, advancing the glory of God, the promo- ting of our own falvation and that of others, the acquiring a growing refemblance'to our great Lord, the obtaining the divine approbation, and being pre- pared for the enjoyment of eternal glory. Theie dif- tinguiih the fubftance from the (hadow, the fterling coin from that which is counterfeited.- Nor is this all, in order to doing v/eil, our anions muil be re- gulated by the ftandard of the word of God. The caprice or laws of men, prevalent example, and fond inclination, afe the rules obferved in evil-doing, and chietly attended to by thofe who wifti to appear before men to do good, and who maintain a kind of fuper- ftitious regard for the external parts of godlinefs. But in doing well, the only rule and meafure of all our actions, is the perfect law of liberty, which clear- ly points .out what is necelTary to be done, in what manner it ought to be executed, and reprefents the principles, the motives, and ends, agreeably to which every thing truly 'good muft be performed. , This divine art God invites his ancient people to learn. This intimates, that, though they were wife to do evil, yet they were mere children and novices in the pratcice of that which is good ; and, having never been exerclfed in well-doing, they needed to be taught the firil principles, and Inftructed in the very rudiments of this noble fcience. They are di- re^^ted immediately to fet about this important work, and carefully to improve every mean that might con- duce to promote their acquaintance with what is truly good, and give them a facility in well-doing. It was necelTary for this purpofe they ihould receive the inftruftions of divine wifdom, and experience what it is to be taught of him who teacheth to profit, who gives underftanding to the fimplcj to the young man 5-5 LECTURES ON the Chap.I, man knowledge and difcretion. It was needful, that^ in humble: dependence on his blciling, they fhould diligently attend to the inflruftions of thofe he en>. ployed as fubordinate teachers, not out of neceiTity on his part, but to accommodalle himfelf to the weaknefs of their capacities who were to be taught. Whilfl under his tuition, tlieir proficiency in learning ihcruld be ellimated, not by their progyefs in Ipeculative knowledge, but in holy obedience, in obeying froiiii the heart the form of dottrine delivered unto them. This exercife, my brethren, is as neeefl'ary for you as for the Jews in the days of liaiah ; andj therefore, I entreat you will employ yourfelves in learning the important lefl'on of well-doing* For this end, plead with God that he may become your teacher, a:nd ftibmit to all his inftructions, otherwife yoiir natural ignorance will never be removed, your perverfe wills can never be fubdued, nor your corrupt prejudices taken away. The teachitig of men, after all they have faid, can never purify an^ reform the heart ; and therefore labour to get well acquainted with the divine precepts, and to experience their power enlightening your minds, rmpreffing your hearts, and leading you on to well-doing. And having learned this divine art, endeavour, by patient €ontinyance in the practice of it, to feek for glory, honour, and immortality. Seek jiidgmcTTt. In this, and the following expref- fions, contained in this veyfe, the prophet direds to ?he pradice of feveral branches of well-doing. Judg- ment is ufed in various fcnfes in fcripture, which I ihcill not fl:ay at prefent to mention. It feems to dc-- note here, afting agreeably to the rules given in the pcrfed law of equity, in which the Lord our God hath fliewn what is jufl and good, and what he re- quires of us* It confiils in thai proper and eqiiitable conduct which ftands in oppofitioii to rigour, fraud, and cruelty ; which is regulated by a itrict regard to integrity and rigliteoufncfsj and tempers every de- mand Ver. 17. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 79 mand made upon others with mercy and model-ation* It is to think upon and praclife vvhatfoever things are t'je, whatfoever things are honefl, jull, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiie-worthy. It is to aft according to the golden rule of our bleffed Sa-^ viour, ' Doing to men whatfoever we would that * they (liould do to us/ This is indeed an object highly worthy of being fought after. The expreflion naturally fuppofes, that judgment had been in a great meafure loft, as was the cafe among the Jews at the time this liilutary advice was given them. It imports, that they ought to have entertained a high efteem of the exercifes >of juflice 5 for no perfon will earneftly feek after what he reckons is trifling and infignificant. It alfo includes, diligent endeavours to acquire that judgment in the way which God hath marked out^ and a vigorous purfuit after this truly defirable objed, which fliould be fought for as filver, and fearched for as hid trea- fures. I'his is what I would have you to apply your hearts to, that thereby you may be allimulated into a bleiled refemblance to God, who delights in exercifing loving-kindnefs, judgment, and tender mercy in the earth. This will render you amiable in the eyes of thofe who are good : it will render you ornaments to fociety, and ufefel in the world : it will make way for molt agreeable communion with the God of judgment : it will aiford you happy expe- rience of true confolation ; and prove well-p!eafing in his light, who loveth them that follow after righ- teoufnefs. Relieve the opprc/fed. Opprefiion is the difnial effed of employing power and influence to cruel and unjuft purpofes. The poor and the needy, the widow, the fatherlefs, and the ftranger, are commonly the per- fons molt expofed to this iron-rod ; whilll the great, the rich, and the powerful, through theif pride and vanity, are commonly the inilrumcuts of inflicting it. It is indeed a fore evil, that thofe whom divine pro- vidence So LECTURES ON the Chap.!. vidence hath exalted to the mod eminent ftation, to Vhom God hath given riches, honour, and power, that they may prote<3: and do good to thofe that ai'«i deftitute, Ihould notwithilanding harais, vex, and injure them. This is ' as if the rod iliould fhake iticlf * againfl him that Hfts it up, or as if the ftafF Ihould * lift up itfelf as if it were not wood *.' This is a mofl odious iniquity in the fight of the Lord God merci- ful and gracious, and a Ifrange perverfion of the pur- pofes of his kind providence. This is a grievous burden to thofe who are obliged to fuftain it, and at- tended with the worfi of confequences, as Solomon obferved ; ' Opprefiion maketh a wife man mad -}-.* It is the higheft injuftice, and the grolTell impiety, an atrocious fin which expofes its abettors to the awful judgments of Almighty God. Such as are op-^ prefled the people of God are direfted to relievci This imports, that they ought to employ their power and influence to refcue the injured from under the ca* lamities they feel — that they labour to adminifter fea- fonable fupport to them under the hard treatment they fuftain — and that they exert themfelves, by every lawful expedient, to prevent their oppreiTors from farther diitreffing them.; You cannot excufe yourfelves from taking part in this pleafant employ* ment, when you confider, with the wifeil of men, the oppreffions done under the fun. If you attend to your intimate connexion with thofe who fuffer wrong, and how deeply the bleffed God hath interefted himfelf in their behalf — when you behold their tears of forrow, furely you cannot refufe to lend them any fmall relief that is in your power to afford. yiidge the fatherlcfs. Stridly fpeaking, the father- lefs are thofe who have been bereaved of their pa- rents, whom God hath conftituted the guardians and guides of their children. In fcripture the character is not confined to fuch, but frequently includes thofe * Ifaiah X. 15. f Ecdcl. vli. 7. who Ver. 17. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 8i who are in forlorn circumftances, deftitute of friends to affift ;ind relieve them. In this extenfive fenfe God, is faid to be the helper of the fatheriefs *, The cha- racter here comprehends, not only thofe who have been deprived of their parents, but fuch alfo as are in a helplefs ftate, needful of the divine interpofition in their favour. Orphans often fall a prey to the in- juftice and cruelty of bad men, notwithilanding the opprefiion and robbery of the fatherlefs are accounted by Jehovah the molt aggravated crimes, which he hath threatened to punifh by the mofl awful judg- ments |. On perlbns of this defcription, he hath fet many marks of his friendly attention and regard. He hath implanted in mankind a folicitous concern for the welfare of their own children, which is eafily transferred to the young ones of others. He hath en- forced this natural propenfity, by inculcating the care of orphans as their duty, by promifes of mercy to the obedient, and declarations of his awful difpleafure againft the rebellious : and, in the courfe of his adorable providence, he makes necelTary provifion for them, and difpofes many to pity and befriend them. In the words before us, he calls upon his profelling people, and their rulers, to judge the fatherlefs. Viewing the words as directed to thofe in power, they import, that they ought to endeavour rightly to underlland, and impartially to determine, the cy of God for pardon of fm, to renounce their per- verfe obftinacy, and to be governed as his loyal fubi- jefts by his righteous laws ; then it fliould be well with them, and their children, and all the promifes made to obedience fliould be their portion. Thefe, Chriftians, are eifential ingredients in the character of all the people of God ; and you will do well fe- rioufly to confider, if they are delcriptive of your tem- per and pradice. Are you heartily willing to accept of the generous offers made you, in the word of God, of the moft valuable bleflings, from a deep convidion of their tranfcendent excellence, and fuitablenefs to your condition ? Are you obedient to your rightful Lord, viewing his fervice as your indifpenfable duty, your trueft wifdom, and higheft intereft ; and do you ftudy, in dependence on divine aid, to yield him that cheerful, unlimited obedience he gracioufly demands, and which is moft juftly his due ? That you anfwer thefe fimple, interefting inquiries in the affirmative, is indifpenfably neceffary to your enjoying the blei- fmgs contained in the following words : Te J}mll eat the good of the land. The land primarily intended in thefe words was the land of Canaan, the glory of all lands, which flowed with milk and honey, and abounded with corn and cattle, wine and oil, and the precious things of the earth, put forth by the fun and moon. This land the Almighty God pro- mifed for a poffefllon to the progenitors of this people, as an inftance of his pecuHar regard, and a type of a heavenly and better country, which he would beftow on the fpiritual pofterity of the father of the faithful. The Ver. 19. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 89 The good of that land comprehended all the good things which the children of Ifrael therein enjoyed, abundance of all the comforts of this life, multitudes of flocks, large increafe in things necefl'ary to tempo- ral profperity, deliverance from difeafes, and the other evils incident to the nations around them, and the peaceable poifefTion of the facred inftitutions of di- vine worlhip wherewith they were favoured. To eat this good, is to enjoy it, to feaft upon it, fo as to be thereby agreeably fupported and fatisfied. It is not to poifefs the riches of the land as fome do, who cannot enjoy them, and find little fatisfadion from them ; or as others, who have but fmall and few polfef- fions, and therefore cannot be faid to have the riches of the land. The expreilion imports, that they fhould have large and valuable poifeffions, which they Ihould liberally ufe; that, under the care of divine providence, opportunity fliould be aftbrded them of living on the fruits of the land, from which they fliould reap the mod pleafmg fatisfaclion. Thefe good things were in- tended to reprefent heavenly and better things, to which they were direded to look forward as their certain portion, did the character of willing and obe- dient belong to them in the proper fenfe of the words. Then fnould they be exalted to inherit the land of up- rightnefs, and be fatisfied abundantly with the fatnefs of God's houfe, and the rivers of his pleafures, which are before his face, and at his right hand for ever- more. Men and brethren, what a powerful motive does this confideration fugged, to enforce your com- pliance with the counfel of God, and your obedience to his righteous authority ! If you cordially comply with the advices of the wonderful Counfellor, you fhall eat the good of the land, you fhall receive every temporal comfort which infinite wifdom fees proper for you ; with thefe you fliall have his blefTmg, that maketh rich, and addeth no forrow with it, whilfl they fhall prove earnefls and pledges of eternal blef- fmgs. You fhall enjoy the benefit of divine inftitu- tions g6 LECTURES ON the Chap. I. tions and difpenfations, both profpcrous and afilic- tive ; and with thcfe you fhall be favoured with re- newed communications of pardon and hfe, of righ- teoufnefs and grace. Death itfelf fnall operate for your advantage, by introducing you into that land in which you fhall dwell for ever, and enjoy thofe things which eye hath not feen, ear hath not heard, neither heart conceived. May you be fb happy as feel the force of this argument, which is admirably calculated to excite you to obedience to God. 20 But if ye refufe and rebel, ye Oiall be de-^ A^OLired with the fword : for the mouth of the LORD hath Ipoken //. The extreme danger of rejecling the counfel of God is here reprefented. To refufe, in the fenfe here meant, is to rejed: with contempt what we will not grant to accept oj^ or fubmit to. The things fup- pofed, in this verfe, to be thus refufed, are, the wholefome admonitions contained in the i6th and following verfes, which ought to have been grateful- ly received, and faithfully obeyed by God's ancient people, being moft fuitable to their circumitances, and conducive to their moft important intercfts. To reject thefe muft have been highly oftenlive to that God, who condefcended, after their manifold provo- cations, to point out the way of fafety ; and moft in-, jurious to themfcives, v/ho, by this condud, became cxpofed to more awful judgments. By acting ia this manner, they rebelled againft God, and declared they would not fubject themfelves to the authority of their rightful Sovereign, and belt Friend. Their re- f ufal is here juftly interpreted as rebellion, which con- futs in fubje£ts with-holding obedience to the laws enafted for their benefit, and taking up arms to over- turn the kingdom or ftate. Thus the profefling people of the Moft High, rejecting his laws, and walking after the imagination of their own hearts, Vv'cre guilty of Ver.20. prophecies of ISAIAH. 91 of rebellion againfl their higheft Lord. What obfti- nate wickednefs is contained in this character ! Is it not jult and realonable that they ftiould have yielded fubjec- tion and obedience to him who created them ; who continually preferved them ; who redeemed them from the mofl deplorable bondage, and required them to do nothing but what is holy, ju-ll, and good, and tend- ing to advance their trueil interefts ; who promifes the moft valuable bieffings to the willing and obedient, and threatens the moil dreadlul judgments againft the rebellious. If it betrays the moil fullen contempt in a child, to refuie to obey the lawful commands of his father ; if it difcovers the moft perverfe difpofition in a people, to reject the mild and equitable authority of their prince ; what language can expreis the guilt contrafted by refuiing to obey the wholefome admo- nitions of the Lord our God ? Beware then of re- fufing to hearken to him who now fpeaks to you froni heaven ; ' For if they efcaped not, who refufed him * that fpake on earth, much more Ihall not we efcape, * if we turn away from him that fpeaketh from ' heaven*. Te Jhall be devoured with the fword. The fword, you all know, is a Iharp weapon ufed in war, whereby the blood of multitudes hath been flied to the ground ; and therefore when war is threatened in fcripture, it is fometimes called the fword. At other times it de- notes, all thofe calamities wherewith the nations are vifited on account of their fms, whereby mankind are afflicted and deilroyed. In this extenfive {cxilq the word feems to be ui'ed by Job, where he thus fpeaks : * Be ye afraid of the iword, for wrath bringcth the * puniiliment of the fword f;* i. e. all manner of judgments. In the words before us it may be under- flood in either fenfe, as denoting the defolations of war, or all thofe calamities whereby God puniflies men iu this world for their fins. The Hebrew "word, * Heb. )jii. 25-. t Job. xix. 29. M \t'hich 93 LECTURES ON THE Chap. I. ■which fignifies a'fword, is derived from one fignify- ing to dry up, U lay ivafte, or deftroy ; and with great propriety, as that weapon is employed in con- fuming and fpr^ading defolation among mankind : hence it is laid to eat flefn, to be filled with blood, to reach to the foul, and to devour from one end of the land to another, fo that no flelh hath peace *. Here it is foretold concerning thofe who refufe and rebel. Ye fhall be devoured by the fvvord. In icripture we read of the hand, the face, and the mouth of the fword. The firft of thcfe expreflions may be of the fame import with the phrafe often ufed among us, The fword in hand, drawn out of the fcabbard, and ready to ftrike, denoting prefent imminent danger. The fecond feems to fignify its vifible approach, and rapid progrefs toward the deftruftion of mankind. To the lall there feems to be a manifeft reference in the vords before us ; which plainly intimates, that the fword, in a figurative fenfe, hath a mouth, whereby it devours the human race, and confumes the fruits of the earth by which men are fuppor ted. This is the awful judgment here threatened as the juft punifti* ment of difobedience to God, and affords a flriking eontrafl to what was faid in the preceding verfe. There it was declared, If ye be willing and obedient, ye fhall eat the good of the land ; here it is foretold. That if ye refufe and rebel, ye fhall be food for the fword. This procedure clearly fhews, that the ways of God toward the righteous and wicked are perfectly jufl and right, and that he reqompenfes men accord-, ing to their works. — > — Beware then of being conten- tious, and difobedient to the truth, lelf you bring on others, as well as yourfelves, fwift deftrudion in this world, tribulation and wrath, indignation and anguifh, in that which is to come. For the mouth of the Lord bath fpokcn it. The men of Judah might be apt to confider what U'aiah had de- * Jer. xii, 1 2. Uvered Ver. 20. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 93 livered as the word of a feeble man like "themfelves, who could do but little, whatever he pfoinifed or threatened ; and they might rafhly conclude, that little regard was to be paid either to him or his prophecy. Far from believing the word of the Lord which he fpake, they ufed this haughty language, * Let him make fpeed, and haflen his work, that we * may fee it *.* They vainly imagined, that either his words would not come to pafs, or that the fulfil- ment of them would be delayed for a confiderable fpace of time. But in this they fooliftily deceived themfelves ; and found, in their fad experience, that when they looked for peace no good came ; for a time of health, behold trouble. To prevent them from indulging delufive hopes of fafety, affurance is here given, that the above are the declarations of eternal truth, the faithful fayings of God, who is truth, and for whom it is impoffible to lie. He who gave exiftence to creation, who is all-fufficient, and unchangeably faithful, will moll certainly accomplifli all his promifes and threatenings. ' The word that ' goeth out of his mouth fliall not return to him * void ; but it fhall execute that which he pleafes, * and (hall profper in the thing whereunto he hath * fent it f . Heaven and earth may pals away, but one * title of what he hath fpoken ihall not fail of receiv- ' ing its full completion.* The declaration before us h evidently intended to give firmnefs and certainty to all the foregoing predidions, that they may produce their proper effefl: upon all to whom they belong. How jufl: and av/ful the threatenings here denounced I How gracious and comfortable, beyond expreffion, the affurances given ! Let us then learn wifdom from Judah's folly ; and, being aifured that the mouth of the Lord hath fpoken what is contained in this pro- phecy, let us reverence, believe, and obey him, lb fliall we be eftabliihed. * liaiah v. 19. f Ifaiah Iv. II. 2\% How 94 LECTURES on the Chap. L 21 ^ How is the faithful city become an harlot ! it was full of judgment, righteoufnefs lodged in it ; but now murderers. . in the form of complaint, the prophet here ex- claims concerning the lamentable change which had happened in the condition of thofe to whom he was fent, and bewails their corrupt, degenerate (late. By the faithful city, Jerufalem was doubtleis primarily intended, the city which God had chofen, delcribed as the joy of the whole earth, the perfection of beau- ty, the city of the Lord of hoils, the holy city, in which he put his name, and which he honoured with the fymbols of his divine prefence. — • — Here it is call- ed the faithful city, a character it once juiUy deferved, whilft its inhabitants faithfully adhered to Jehovah as their God, acknowledging no other God befide him, performing with fidelity the facred homage and obe- dience he required, and diligently fulfilling the folemn engagements they lay under to his fervice. This was the honourable charader of Jerufalem in the days of David and Solomon, and fome other good kings, under whofe government the men of Judah difcovered a firm attachment to the worfhip of the true God, and the obedience of his precepts. In fuch feafon^ they {hewed much fidelity toward God, and the con- cerns of his glory : they were more than ordinarily- faithful in promoting the interefts of the nation, and in performing their engagements to one another ; and thus they arrived at the charader of the faithful city. Then, in the words of the prophet Hofea, ' Judah * ruled with God, and was faithful with the moll ' holy *.' It was full ef judgment. Moil equitable and juil decifions were given by thofe who were veiled with power and authority, when feated upon the thrones of judgment, and every fpecies of fraud and injuftice was detetled and punilhed. The pradice ot * Hofea xi. i2. ' jufticc Ver. 21. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAKt. 95 juftice and equity was followed by all ranks of people, who, in general, dilcovered a becoming regard "to whatfoever things are jiift and honeft. Of this judg- ment it is faid, the faithful city was full : it was eafily and plentifully dillributed among all ranks by thofe in power, and univerfally refpected in the conduQ: of men in every condition of life, from the higheft to the lowelt. Righteoitfncfs lodged in it. By righ- teoufnefs, as diftinguiQied from judgment, mentioned in the preceding words, may be meant integrity and uprightnefs of difpofition and condutl:. In this fenfe Job feems to underftand it, where he fays, ^ Till I die, ' I will not remove mine integrity from me. My * righteoufnefs 1 hold fait, and will not let it go : my ' heart fliall not reproach me fo long as I live *.* Ac- cording to this mterpretation the expreflion will de- note, that the men of Jerufalem were fmcere and ho- nell in their tranfadlions with one another, in which they difcovered a love for that which is right, and a becoming deteftation againft every fpecies of injuftice. This righteoufnefs is faid to have lodged there. The word fignifies to refide^ or take up a night's lodging. This defirable gueft, whofe prefence exalteth a na- tion, dwelt in the faithful city as in its proper habita- tion, where it was highly refpeded, and kindly enter- tained. This fidelity, judgment, and righteoufnefs, raifed Jerufalem to a Hate of the moil eminent profpe- rity and glory, which was happily enjoyed by its in- habitants during their continuance in thefe laudable practices. This confideration ought to render us emulous, in our humble fphere, to imitate, in things truly praife-worthy, that city, v/hich was once the ad- miration of the world, and a figure of the Jerufalem which Cometh down from above, and is the mother of us ail. But, alas ! The faithful city is become an harlot, he. How af- fecting the contraft ! Hov/ great the degeneracy, here * Job xxyii. 5, C. ftatfid $6 LECTURES ON THE Chap.!. ftated in the form of a queftion, to render it the more ftriking, and to excite the greater regret on account -of the change defcribed ! Inftead of lidelity to God, and the exercifes of juftice and righteoufnefs toward man, the inhabitants of Judea, particularly of Jerufa- lem, had wickedly alienated themfelves from the Moil High, and attached themfelves to other gods, and their fervice. They had forfaken the Living God^ renounced fubjection to his authority, broken his co- venant, and joined themfelves to the idols of the na- tions, whom they fliamefully preferred to the God of Ifrael. Thus did they endeavour to reproach him and his ordinances, and teflified their infidelity in the fer- vice of that God who had conferred upon them the mofl important privileges.' ■ ■ But new ?nurderers. This is added, as farther defcriptive of that difmal change of manners which had taken place at Jerufa- lem. Of all characters the one here mentioned is the mofl wicked and odious. The corrupt principles of malice and envy, hatred and covetoufnefs, from which murder proceeds, actuated the inhabitants of that city, and prompted them to commit the mofl enormous crimes. At fuch a pitch of wickednefs had they ar- rived, that they offered violence to their brethren, poured contempt on the divine authority, deprived thofe whom they ought to have loved as themfelves of their moft valuable treafure ; they defiled the land, and ranked themfelves among the enemies of fociety, whilfl they forfeited their own lives, and ruined their own fouls. There were no doubt among them fome hidden ones, who kept themfelves from the idolatrous and murderous pradices which prevailed, and mourn- ed, in fecret places, for the abominations done in the midfl of them : but thefe were comparatively few, and could not flem the torrent of impiety and wic- kednefs, which threatened with deftruclion the whole nation. We are hereby inllruded in this interefl- ing truth, that the mofl glorious and renowned church oi God on earth may become fo corrupt in principles and Ver. 22, PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 97 and praftice as to be the reverfe of what they once were. May this alarming confideration produce its proper effed upon us, by engaging us to beware of the tirit appearances of apoflacy from God, to re- member whence we have fallen, to repent, and do our firit works, left our candleftick be removed out of its place. 22 Thy filver is become drofs, thy wine mixed with water. ' In thefe words the remarkable change in the Je^- ifli nation, and particularly in the city of Jerufalem, from its former purity and integrity, to its prelent degenerate ftate, is exprefl'ed by fimple, but inftruc- tive metaphors. They plainly intimate, in their lite- ral fenfe, that, by wicked, fraudulent practices which had become prevalent, their money was greatly adul- terated, and their wine corrupted : their mod valuable articles of commerce were much fpoiled. But it ap» pears from the verfe immediately follovv'ing, where the fubjed: here introduced is continued, and the cor- ruption of their princes is particularly mentioned, that the words are to be confidered chieliy in their figurative fenfe. In this view, by the filver and the wine we may underftand, the princes, the judges, the pricfts, and the inftruclors of the people, with the righteous judgments they executed, and the pure doftrines which they taught. Thefe are the riches, the ornaments, and the moft valuable parts of the community, who beautify and adorn it by the purity and integrity of their lives, and enrich it by the juf- tice of their decifions, and the excellency of their doctrines. Like the beft wine, they enliven the fpi- rits, and rejoice the hearts of tly^fe who feel their be- nign influence. Now, fuch was the corrupt ftate of the men of Judah and Jerufalem, that their fther was become drofs , and their ivine ?nixed with water. Profs u that heterogeneous matter which is mixed with g% :. LECTURES ON :the'. Chap. I. with metals, and is feparated from them by means of the fircj in which they are purified, to increafe their value and ufefulneis. If has a very deceitfnl appear- ance, and feems exceedingly like the metal with which it is incorporated. In this refped it afforded a Itrik- ing image of the Jewifh nation, who, though they profeffed to be the people of God, ' every one was a ' hypocrite, and an evil-doer, and every mouth fpake *. folly *,* Drofs, in fome meafure, obfcures'the iuftre of the metal with which it is mixed, and fo hinders its beauty from being feen. In like manner, the wic- ked and hypocritical of the houfe of Judah, blending themfelves with the righteous and faithful of the na- tion, fullied their beauty, and prevented their worth from being properly feen or acknowledged. As drofs is ufelefs, and fit for nothing but to be call away, and does not improve by being thrown into the fire, fo the children of Judah were become unprofitable to God and themfelves ; and though he had repeatedly thrown them into the furnace of affliction, they were not thereby made better. Hence faith the Lord, by -the prophet Jeremiah, ' In vain have I fmitten their ' children, they received no correction |.'- Tbey were .mixed ivitb ivater. This figurative exprefTion feems to be of the fame import with the former, and therefore it is unncccffary to illuflrate it at large. 'It plainly intimates, that thofe among them who were moff excellent and valuable, communicating vigour and ftabllity to the nation, were now greatly corrupt- ed, and mixed with thofe of very different qualities, who were remarkable for their feeblenefs and inflabi^ lity. Befides, the worflilp of the true God was coj-- rupted by idolatry, the holy law of Jehovah was per- verted by falfe expofitions and human traditions, the exercife of juflice was exchanged for bribery and op- preflion, whilll fobriety and purity of manners were debaf^d by lewd and unclean pradices. In few words, * Ifaiah ix. 17. ■\ Jcr. ii, 30. Jerufalem Ver.23- t>Ror^HECtES of ISAIAH. 9^ Jeruililem had loft her former excellence, and dege* iierated from the har-py ftate to which fiie had been advanced ; her inhabitants acted the part of a de- bauched, perfidious woman ; and, 'far from being aihamed of their fmful pradiees, they had arrived at the hi >; heft pitch of wickednefs, juftifying the crimes they committed. Accordingly, we obferve tjie pro- phets of the Mod High frequently admonilhing them, that they Avere covetous, treacherous, liars, flander- ers, and deceivers ; and, on thefe accounts, denoun- cing the moll awful judgments againft them. Not- withftim.ding, they would not hearken, or believe them : they flattered themfelves that they were pure and exceiientj as fdver and wine ; whereas, upon trial, they were found to be drofs, and mixed with water. This warns us of the danger of defedion from God, by w^hich we lofe every thing truly ex- cellent and valuable, and become worthlefs and un- profitable to ourfelves and others. It cautions us alfo againft trufting to external privileges, and from thence forming an eftimate of our charader, which, in fad, may be very different from "what we prefump- tuoufly imagine. It reminds us, that the omnifcient God perfedly obferves every mixture in our charac- ter, and every adulteration in his v/orfliip and fervice ; which ought to engage us to ftudy integrity and fimplicity of character and condud. 23 Thy princes are rebellious, and compa- nions of thieves : every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fa- theriefs, neither doth the caufe of the -widow come unto them. In purfuing the fubject treated in the two prece- ding verfes, the corruption, covetoufnefs, and injuftice of great men are here defcribed in ftrong terms.- The princes intended, were doubtlefs the nobles and judges of the land, the chief prieds of the people, I^ together lao LECTURES on the Chap. I. , together with the principal men of the tribes and fa- milies. Thefe, it is affirmed, were rebellious ; they had revolted from fubjedion to God ; they had acted in hoilility againft their rightful .Sovereign, and fhame- fuUy apoflatized from the worfliip of the true God, jerving idols, and following their own wicked inven- tions ; and, therefore, they judly deferred this cha- racter. Deplorable indeed was the condition of that people, whofe great men, inftead of fetting examples of firm attachment to the fervice of God, and a zea- lous concern for his glory, ftood at the head of that groundlefs rebellion with which they are charged. — j4nd co?npanio7is of thieves. They were not only bad themfelves, but they frequented the worfl of co;npa- ny. Fraudulent practices were not only committed and countenanced by the princes of Judah, but fo abandoned Vv^ere they to all fenfe of propriety of con- duct, and a becoming regard for equity, and the ho- nour of their exalted ftation, that they affociated with perfons of the worft character, and who were addict- ed to the mod criminal purfuits. Thieves, the pelts of fociety, the contemners of the law of Jehovah, and the deftroyers of their own fouls, whofe company ought carefully to be fhunned by every good man, efpecially by thofe of high rank ; thefe were the com- panions of the princes of Judah. In confequence of this profligacy of manners in the leaders of that people, difhonefty and fraud became fo prevalent among them, that, in the words of the prophet Jere- miah, ' From the leaft even to the greateft of them, * every one is given to covetoufnefs *.' It is add- ed, Every 07ie lovetb gifts ^ mid follow eth after rewards. The gifts referred to, were not prefents generoufly of- fered by one perfon to another, purely as proofs of real refped and heart-kindnefs, or as grateful ac- knowledgments of favours received. Such gifts are worthy of efteem, and may lawfully be defired, as * Jcr. vl. 13, agreeable Ver.23. prophecies of ISAIAH. loi a-greeable fruits of that mufual love which is the 'ful« fining of the law, and which caufeth many thankf- givings unto God. The rewards fpoken of, were bribes given to thefe called princes, by thofe who had caufes depending before them, in order to procure favourable decifions, or to make powerful interelt in their behalf. This corrupt practice was (Iriftly pro- hibited in the law of God delivered to this people, as it tended to blind the eyes, and pervert the judgment, fo as to hinder a clear difcernment between right and wrong. Notwithftanding, their princes had arrived at fuch an enormous pitch of wickednefs that they were generally fond of gifts. — — Nor was this alf; they went farther ; they followed after rewards, greedily looking to receive forae recompence from thofe whom they had ferved by their influence, and the fentences they had pronounced, whereby their intereil was advanced and fecured. Thefe recompences of iniquity they keenly fought after, and endeavoured by every m.ean to procure. They judge not the fatberkfs, neither doth the caufe of the widow come unto them. Orphans bereaved of their parents, and widows deprived of their huf- bands who are their counfellors and guardians, being in a helplefs condition, it is incumbent, in a fpecial manner, on thofe who are invefted with the office of judges, to imitate the charader of the blelfed God, v/ho is a father of the fatherlefs, and, the judge of the widow. The will of the fupreme Judge, on this fubje£t, is plain and explicit ; ' Ye fliall not afflict any vndow, or fatherlefs child*.* jSIore is evidently intended in thefe words than ex- preffed : ye muft not only refrain from injuring them, ' but it is required, that ye protect them, plead their caufe, and do them good. Far from obeying this plai^i precept, often inculcated in the law of God, the princes fpoken of, declined judging the caufes of the fatherlefs, and did not permit the matters wherein * Exod. Jjxii. 22, widows K>a LECTURES on the Chap. I, widows were concerned to come unto them. In con- fequence of which, the mod indigent part of the na^ tion, whom they were exalted to fupport and protect, were either excluded from juftice altogether, or the decifion of their caufes was fhamefully delayed, to make room for thofe from whom gifts and rewards might be expeded. Execrable pracllices! Miferable people ! Their princes, who ought to have been ex-^ emplary in their condutt, for imfliaken fidelity to t"he God of their fathers, and dutiful fubjeftion to his laws, had become difobedient and rebellious againfl the divine authority, "^i hey, whofe bufineis it v/as to have punilhed thieves, and every fpecies of fraud, had become oppreffors of the poor, and were intim.ately connefted with the diuioneli: and thievifli part of the nation. They, who ought to have eftabHlhed the land, by an impartial diifribution of juilice among the people over whom they prefided, loved gifts, and fought after rewards, whereby they expofed the na- tion to deftruclion. The caufes of the orphans and widows, M'hich merited a candid difcuffion, and fpeedy determination, v/ere delayed or neglected; whilfi: thofe Avho h^d more money, and greater intereft, procured a favourable hearing and judgment. Such was the corrupt ftate of Jerufalem in the days of Ahaz, king of Judah ; the account of whii^h divine wifdoni bath tranfmitted to us, on whom the ends of the world are corne, that we may learn to avoid thofe •aggravated fms which expofed them to the awful judgments of God. May we be fo happy as derive this ufeful practical inftruftion from this fubjecl: ; and, keeping their folly and danger fully in our view, let us, in our different ftatione, fleer an oppofite courfe to that which proved their ruin. 24 Therefore faith the Lord, the Lord of hofts, the mighty One of Ifrael, Ah, I will eafe me of mine adverfaries, and avenge me of mine enemies. This Ver.24. prophecies of ISAIAH. 103 This verfe contains a fublime defcription of the Mod High, who threatens to execute vengeance on thofewho had perverted judgment. Therefore faith the Lord, the glorious inclependeni: Jehovah, the Crea- tor and Proprietor of the whole e2.rth. ; the Lord of lords, of all thofe who are dignilied among men with this character ; the Lord of hofts, who is poiTefTed of univerfal dominion over heaven and earth, over an- gels and men, to whom all nature is fubjeO:, who hath fovereign authority to difpofe of all perions ac- cording to his pleaiure, and to order all events ac- cording to the couniel of his own will. He who hath all the hofts of heaven and earth under his com- mand, can never want inflruments to execute his de- figns, nor ability to inflict the threatenings he de- nounces ; which, when prefaced in the m.anner before us, mull appear exceedingly awful. If where the word of a king is there is power, what majefly and authority attends the declarations of the King of kings ! It is added. The mighty One of Ifrael. This character is repeatedly afcribed to the Moft High God in fcripture. The patriarch Jacob, in the blelhng he pronounced upon his fon Jofeph, hath thefe remark- able words ; ' His bow abode in Itrength, and the * arms of his hands were made flrong, by the hands * of the mighty God of Jacob *,' who was furnamed Ifrael. David fupplicates, that the Lord would re- member how he vowed unto the mighty God of Ja-- cob -j-. He is indeed the mighty One, who made and upholdeth all things by the word of his power, who can eafily vanquifh all the enemies of his people, pro^ ted: them from all evil in the paths of obedience, and who will take vengeance on their evil inven- tions, and afts of rebellion againil him. And he is the mighty One of Ifrael, being the God of that emi- nent patriarch, and his numerous pollerity, called by the name of their father, in whofe behalf he glorioufiy * Gen. nX^x. 24. t PfaL cxxxii. 2. exertccj 104 LECTURES on the Chap. I. -exerted his almighty power, as a prelude of the great things he woald do in after-ages for his true ifrael. l^heie charaders feem to be here mentioned, to ftrike terror into his adverfaries, and to fill them with dread of his righteous vengeance, who is almighty, not only to proted his upright fervants, but to puniih obflinate tranfgreflbrs. Ah J I will eafe me of mine adverfaries^ and avenge vie of mine enemies. This awful declaration begins, you fee, with the word Ah ; which may be confidered as fignificant of grief and compaffion, arifing from the view of what is threatened; and as exprellive of tri- umph, in the profped of rendering juft recompence to his enemies, and obtaining certain vldory over thofe adverfaries who are here defcribed. Both phrafes before us feem to be of the fame import, the one ferving to illuflrate and explain the other. By the adverfaries of God, on whom he declares he will avenge himfelf, primarily intended, were the hypo- critical and rebellious among the Jews, v/ho pretend- ed to be his peculiar people, and yet refufed to obey his comm.ands, and oppofed his interefts both in their words and actions. All the powers of their minds, and all their principles of adion were corrupted ; their wills and affections ran counter to the good pleafure of Jehovah ; they choofed the abominations he had forbidden, and fhewed a flrong difaffeftion to his government : hence they are faid to have walked contrary to him. The proofs of this character are nu- merous, and very clear, in the mean and difhonourable opinion they entertained of the perfe£lions and glory of his divine nature ; in their fixed averfion to his fer- vice, which they wickedly forfook, that they might ferve other gods ; and their many departures from him, whilfl they profelTed to be a people near unto him. It is unneceiTary to produce evidences of a fad, clear as the fun in the firmament, and recorded by eternal truth. What, then, are we better than they ?^ No, in nc* wife j we, as well as they, are all under Ver.24. prophecies of ISAIAH. 105 under fin, enemies to God in our minds, and by wicked works. Have not we often efteemed the va- nities of this world, yea, and fmful pleafures, more than the Living God ? Have not we preferred many other objefts to him ? Have not we frequently caft his laws behind our backs, and rejected the offers of his glorious grace. It is true, that, through the kind reftraints of providence and grace, by means of afflic- tion, the fear of difgrace or punifhment, ■■ or a regard to our own intereft, we may have been happily pre- ferved from thofe grofs enormities whereby ibme have demonftrated themfelves the enemies of God ; but this will not exempt us from coming under this de- fcription. Nor will the feeming refpecl we pay to God, in confequence of good education, the reftraints of fear, or profpefts of advantage, or the favourable opinion we have of ourfelves, prove that this cha- rafter does not belong to us. Concerning fuch God faith. He will eafe and a- venge himfelf. The firft of thefe expreffions imports, that the enemies of God are a burden to him. Though he upholds all things by the word of his power, ' he is wearied by mens iniquities, and preifed ' with their fms as a cart is prefied with (heaves.' Va^ rious are the ways in which God eafes himfelf of his adverfaries. Sometimes, in a day of his power, he flays the enmity of their hearts ; he difpofes them to throw down the weapons of their rebellion, recon- ciles them to himfelf by the blood of his Son, and renders them his dutiful fubjeds. But this is not what is here intended, as is evident from the follow- ing claufe of the verfe, where this expreffion is ex- plained, by his avenging himfelf on his enemies. He will do himfelf juftice, by punifliing them according to their defert, and vindicating his own rights. Thus will he refcue his name froin the foul afperfioiis whereby it hath been injured ; he will relieve his pa- tience of the infupportable load it hath long fuftain- ed, and deliver the earth from that oppreffive burden^ under io6 lLE^<^TtJRES on the dHAP.t. under which it hath groaned. This vengeance he, in fome meafure, inflids in this world, by deferved judg- inents on thofe who have ailed in hotHIity againil him, though he often referves the execution of it on individuals until the day of final recompence, when he will take vengeance on all who have not obeyed his gofpel. Thus he avenged himfelf on the rebel- lious Jews, by the fword of the Chaldeans, by fa* mine, and other dreadful calamities, on account o£ the abominations they committed : and, by this pro- cedure, God declares he would be eafed, or quieted. This expreffion, ufed in accommodation to our weak- nefs, muil .be explained in confiftency with the per- fetSlion of the divine nature. When men are highly difpleafed with thofe who have offended them, they refi not until their injured honour hath been repair* €d, and then they are at eafe. In allufion to this practice, with which we are acquainted, the bleffed judgment of God ; and it is purchafed, by inflicting tbofe awful punifliments to which the converts of Zion had expofed themfelves by their tranfgrelTions, on Jefus Chrift, the blefied Author of this redemption, who came to give his life a ranfom for many. This admirable work is much infifted on, both in the pro- phetic and apoftolic writings ; where we are taught, ' That he made his foul an offering for fm * ;' and ' that he became an offering for fm, that we might ' be made the righteouinefs of God in him j-.' It is added, that the redemption of Zion fhall be with righteoufnefs, with the richefl difphys of the confum- mate righteoufnefs of Jehovah ; for the declaration of which, ' God fet forth his own Son to be a propitia- " tion, that he might be juft, and the jultitier of him ' who believeth in Jefus,' as it is written, Rom. iii. 25, 26. Redemption is the blefied fruit of the ever- ialting righteoufnefs of Jefus Chrifl, which he brought in by his obedience even unto death : hence it is faid, ' To be obtained through the righteoufnefs of ' our God and Saviour, Jeius Chriit |.* And it i;: enjoyed by the citizens of Zion, in the exercifes of righteoufnefs, in which they yield to God the obc dience of faith, and that unlimited fubje£lion to his authority which he requires. I'his is truly an * Ifaiah liii, 10. f 2 Cor. v, 2i. % 2 Pet. 1. i^ intereft^ rtS LECTURES on the Chap. I. intereflin^ fiibje£l, which I wifh you would ftudy much, and endeavour to acquire an experimental ac- quaintance Tidth. It is a fubjecl which, if you in- deed rehfli, you will find to be exceedingly agreeable and ufeful ; which may be always contemplated with new plealure and profit, and which, after your utmolt efforts, cannot be exhaufted. And if you are the redeemed of the Lord, keep ever in view the great defign of your redemption, that j^e may be unto God a peculiar people, zealous of good works, and live under the habitual impreffion of the manifold obliga- tions you are brought under, by this character, to ferve and glorify God. 28 H And the deflrudion of the tranfgreflbrs and of the finners Jhall be together, and they that forfake the Lord fhall be confumed. "We are now arrived at the laft part of this elegant, prophetical difcourfe, which defcribes the punifhment to be infiifted on the adverfaries of God, who con- temn the redemption of Zion. Of thefe, three claffes are mentioned, whofe charavlers leem to be in fome meafure dillind, becaufe the prophet foretels that their deftrudion fhall be together.— — The tranf- greflbrs are thofe who, having perverfely renounced their dutiful fubjeclion to the divine authority, and wickedly forfaken the inftituted worfhip and ordi- nances of Jehovah, followed thofe luperftitious and idolatrous pradices, whereby they provoked to anger the Holy One of L'rael. The fmners are iuch as, having gone aflray from the paths of righteoufnefs, have entered into the ways of impiety and wicked- nefs ; who, regardlefs of advancing the glory of God, aim no higher than to promote their worldly honour, intereft, or pleafure. By them that forfiike the Lord, may be intended, thofe who, having apoflatized from their former profefTion of fidehty in the fervice of the Living God, in the duties of his worfliip, and the obedience V£R.2ff. PROPHECIES OF' ISAIAH. ri^ obedience of his commands, embraced the moft dan- gerous errors, and were addided to the moll abomi- nable practices. Thefe characters, Xx'hich I Hay not far- ther to iiluiirate at prefent, though fomewhat different, are evidently very fimilar ; and the fame dellrudion fhall be the certain portion of them all. Attend then to the defcription you have now heard, and dili- gently compare your charafter and eondud with it, that fo you may be alTilted in feftimating your fpiritual condition, with which it is of great importance that you be intimately acquainted, in order to your im^ provement by the gofpel, and its facred inftitutions. And the dcJlruBion of thefe Jhall be together^ and they flmll he confiimed. The Hebrew word tranflated de- Jirudion, is derived from one that fignifies, to break in pieces things that are hard. In a metaphorical fenfe, it is applied to denote contrition of heart, whereby it is broken in pieces, and its natural pride and ob- duracy is fubdued. It is alfo ufed to fignify, any calamity, ruin, or deltruftion, which reverfe the cond'tion of thofe on whom they feize. Of thefe there are two forts ; thofe that are inflicted on men in this world, fuch as the fword, famine, and peftilence, which bring on temporal deftrudion ; and thofe which are called fpiritual judgments, as they refped the fouls of men, and are inflicted partly in this, and chiefly in the future world. Both thefe may be in- cluded in the prediction before us ; for the expreffion contained in the latter part of the verfe alfures us, that perfons of the above defcription fhall be confumed together. Whilll the Governor among the nations corrects his own people in meafure for their fms, to make thenl fenfible, that it is an evil and bitter thing to depart from him, he fends awful deflrudion on tranfgreffors and fmners, and thofe who forfake him. Whilll the former adopt the fpirited language of the apoftle Paul, * We are troubled on every fide, yet * not diftrefled ; we are perplexed, but not in defpair ; * perf^cuted. but not forfaken ; call down, but not ' deflroy« I2a . LECTURES ON THE Chap. I. ' deftiroyed * :* the latter, with defpondency, com- plain, We are not only troubled, but diltreiied ; not only perplexed, but in del'pair ; not only periecuted, but forfaken; not only cad down, but deftroyed. This is the portion of them that forfake the Lord : and it is their juft punifhment, perfectly confident with the moil unbiafied equity ; which requires, that ihcy be recompenfed according to their ways, and that they eat the fruit of their own doings. This, brethren, is an interefting truth, which ought to pe- netrate to the bottom of your hearts. Are any of you fenfible that you are tranfgreffors, and that you have forfaken the Lord, and afraid left he fend upon you that horrible tempeft whereby you fliall be deftroyed ? I befeech you to flee without delay, and hide you from the ftorm : not under ilielter of the creature, which cannot proteQ: you ; but under his fhadow, ' Who is a ' hiding-place from the wind, a covert from the tem- ' peft, as rivers of water in a dry place, and as the ' ihadow of a great rock in a weary land.' Then ' in ' famine, he (hall redeem thee from death ; and in * war, from the power of the fword. Thou (halt be * hid from the fcourge of the tongue : neither flialt ' thou be afraid of deftruclion v/hen it cometh |,' 29 For they iliall be afhamed of the oaks which ye have delired, and ye fhall be con-^ founded for the gardens that ye have chofen. The ignominy and difgrace wherewith the threatenr ed punilhment fliould be accompanied, is here pointed out. There is a remarkable change of perlbns in the verfe before us, v.^hich requires to be attended to, in order to our underftanding the prediction it con- tains. The perfons primarily fpoken of, and referred to in the word thej^ are the tranfgreffors, fmners, and fuch as forfake the Lord, mentioned in the foregoing * 2 Cor. iv. 8, 9. t Job. V. 20, 21. v«?rfe» VEk.29. PROPHECIES OF ISAlAH. Hi verfe. Thefe, in whatever country or generation they may live, Ihall certainly Ihare in the ihame and confufion which is the portion of thole to whom thd prophet immediately addrelfcd himfelf. The oaks which ye have defired, the gardens that ye have chofen, are the objeds which fhould occafion the fhame and confufion which are here threatened. It is obvious from many paifages of fcripture, I (lay not at prefent to recite, that groves or gardens were often planted, and frequented by thofe who forfook the Lord, and were addicted to idolatrous practices, Thefe groves were compofed of trees of various kinds, which cannot now be determined with cer- tainty ; and among thefe was the oak, which afforded an agreeable fliade from the heat, and a delirable concealment from public view. In thefe gardens, temples and altars were erefted to the gods who were worfhipped ; various rites were performed, and fa- crifices were offered, to idols, by their votaries. This abominable fuperllition and idolatry conflituted a principal part of what was called the reHgion of the nations, whom the Lord expelled from the land of Canaan, to make room for his people Ifrael, M^ho were commanded to deilroy their groves, and other monuments of their faife worlhip : ' Ye fliall utterly ' dcllroy all the places wherein the nations which ye * Ihall poffefs ferved their gods, upon the high moun- ' tains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree, * And you llrall overthrow their altars, and break ' their pillars, and burn their groves with fire *,' ^c. Notwithffanding this charge, the men of Ifrael and Judah were much addided to idolatry, as we learn from the teflimony of the prophets, who were em- ployed in reproving them for their fins ; of which you will fee a memorable inflance, Hofea iv. 12, 13. Prompted by curiofity, excited by this furprifmg fad:, let us inquire into the reafons why that people * Deut. ::i:, 2, 3. were ttit LECTURES ON the Chap, t were fo fond of thefe forbidden pradices. Among others, we m^iy luppofe their perverfe difpolltions would operate powerfully, which ever inclined them to do what was forbidden : their defire to imitate the example of their great progenitor, Abraham, who planted a grove, when he called upon the name of God * (though this practice was afterward ftridly forbidden f ) : and the foolifli imagination, that luch retired, folemn places as they enjoyed under the ihade of thick trees, and in gardens, infpired them with reverence and aw^e, might contribute to make thera fond of fuch retirements; which afforded them oppor- tunity of committing the moll deteflable impurities, und the mod odious fuperftition. It is true, in- deed, that we read of fome great and good men who facrificed under an oak, and upon a high place ; as Gideon, Samuel, and others. Certain it is, that they either did that which was unlawful, or for which they had fome particular difpenfation from God himielf. Concerning thefe oaks and gardens it is foretold. They Jhall be afbained, and ye fnall be confounded, Thefe tvi^o expreifions are of fnnilar import, and feem to denote nearly the fame thing. The word tranflated aj}mmed^ fignifies to bh/Jlj or redden^ to be- come pale^ when the colour changes, and the frame is difordered: and that which is rendered confounded, fignifies io dig, in order to hide any thing ; as the flothful fervant did, that he might hide his lord's money. Hence it is ui'ed to denote a perfon's being confounded; becaule, in that condition, he would fondly hide himfelf, if in his pow^r. Shame and confufion arife from a fenfe of having afted contrary to duty and intereft, or from being difappointed of what we expeded to enjoy. In the penitential* con- feffions of the faints, recorded in fcripture, they often acknowledge, that they were aihamed and confound- ed on account of their fms. But this is not what is * Gen, xxi. 53. t Dc'ut. xii. 13, 14. intended Ver.36. prophecies of ISAIAH. 123 intended in the preditlion before Us. The perfons defcribed in the foregoing verfe, fhould feel the moft cutting remorfe, and painful difgrace, at the time de- ft rudion fuized upon them, on account of the foolifll and wicked part they had afted. Their fms being brought to remembrance, by impending judgments, they Ihall be alhamed at their paft conduct, and con- founded at the profped of being recompenfed accord- ing to their deeds. Then they ihall be filled with fhame, in the recollection of the oaks and gardens in which they once delighted, wherein they worfhip- ped the idols in which they trufled for deliver- ance, and covered with confufion when all their hopes from them fliall be difappointed. This prophecy was awfully verified, in the conflerna- tion and difgrace which attended the dellruftion of the wicked among the Jews, v/hen their nation and city was overthrown by the Romans ; and it {hall be farther accomplifhcd, in the day of the perdition of ungodly men, when they fhall implore the mountains and rocks to fall on them, and hide them. Beware then, brethren, of forfaking the Lord your God, and thereby expofing yourfelves to that everlading ihame and contempt, which fhall be the certain portion of all who continue to go aftray from him. If you are found at lall among the un- happy number of finners and tranfgreffors, all your claims ihall be rejeded, all your hopes fhall be dalhed to the ground : you Ihall be commanded to depart from him on whom all your expedations ought to be founded, and be for ever excluded from the Ibciety of the juft. This mnft be an infupportable difgrace, which, I pray you, take care in time to prevent. 30 For ye fliall be as an oak whofe leaf fliil- eth, and as a garden that hath no water. By a double comparifon, naturally fuggefled by r/!vat was fuid in the preceding vcrfc, the deplorable O condition ii4 LECTURES on the Chap.L condition of tranfgreflors Is reprefented. Both good and bad men are, with great propriety, com- pared, in fcriptiire, to trees of various kinds, in their different conditions. In the iirii; Pfalm, ' He that de- -' hghtcth In the law of the Lord, and meditateth * therein day and night, is compared to a tree planted * by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit ' in his feafon.' The flate of tranfgreiToTs is alfo exhi- bited by this inflrudive hmihtude, Jer. xvii. 5, 6. -where it is foretold, ' That he that trufteth in man, and ' maketh flefh his arm, whofe heart departeth from * the Lord, fhall be Hke the heath (of a naked tree) * in the defert, and llrall not lee when good cometh.' And in the words before us, fmners, who forfake the Lord, are hkened to an oak whofe leaf faileth. They relemble an oak that hath grown to a vaft fize and height, that promlfes ftability and duration, which yet quickly decays, lofes every fymptom of life, and every ornament of beauty, and then dies to the very root. In like manner, tranfgreifors among the pro- felfing people of God, deftitute of fpiritual beauty, the leaves of profeffion, and the fruits of righteouf- nefs, and incapable of affording prote'tlion and confo- fation to others, through fm reigning In them, decay and perilli in that death which is Its wages.— Ano- ther hmihtude Is here ufed, the more fully to defcribe their condition : And as a garden that hath no water. In order to your underftanding this expreffion, you muff know, that, in hot Eaftern countries, a conftant fupply of water is abfolutely neceffary to the fruitful- nefs and btfauty of their gardens, without which every thing would foon languifh and decay. Great care, therefore, mud be taken to provide them with fuitable fupplles of water, either from fome neighbouring fountain or river, by directing a few dreams to run among the trees and plants ; or by having a large refervoir filled, in proper feafon, with a fu-fficrent quantity of rain water. Accordingly, to complete the beauty of the garden of God, wherein our hrll pa- rento Ver.31. prophecies of IS UAH. 125 rents were placed, we are told, a river went out of Kden to water it. We are informed, by modern tra- vellers, of the delightful gardens of the Eaft, which are pleafantly watered, ever verdant, and fruitful. In oppofition to this beauty and fertility, it is foretold, that the peifons fpoken of ihail be as a garden that hath no water. Though refiding within the limits of the church, which the Moil High hath appropriated to hiniLdf, as the garden wherein he dclighteth, this privilege fhall not avail them. If they participate not of the benign influence of his word^ and the reviving communications which flow from the fountain of all grace, and remain defl:itute of the fruits of the Spirit, they fliall wither, languifli, and die. — —This part of the prophecy, with that contained in the former verfe, was fulfilled at the deftruclion of the Jewifh nation, which once refembled in firmnefs and gran- deur the (lately oak. But like that tree when ita leaf faileth, and like that garden which hath no water, its appearance was quickly reverfed : the wicked inhabitants of Judea were deprived of the go- fpel, the gifts of the Spirit, and the communications of divine grace, which were turned into a new chan- nel ; fo that this prediction was amply verified. Hereby we are inftru£ted in the uncertain profperous condition of the wicked, however agreeable and pro- mifmg may be their prefent appearance. Though they may feem to be rooted and eilabliflied like an oak, when the divine difpleafure goeth forth againfl them, they fhall fuddenly decay ; though pleafant to human view, as a garden, they fhall fpeedily be confumed. Let us then diligently take heed, lefl, by following their practices, we expofe ourfclves to their punifliment. 3 1 And the flrong fhall be as tow, and the maker of it as a fpark, and they fliall both burn together, and none fhall quench ihcm. The vafl extent and long continuance of the above- Oientioned judgments i? here foretold, with the utter inability J26^ LECTURES on the Chav. I. inability of thofe againft whom they are denounced to deliver themfelves. By the ftrong we muft here underftand, not thofe who are llrong in the Lord, and the pov/cr of his might, who are furnifhed with flrength in the inward man for every good work ; but fuch as iU'e rich, Hud great, and powerful in this world ; who are pofleffed of health of body, vigour of mind, and that llrength which arifes from worldly opulence ; who, at the fame time, are (lout-hearted, and far from righteoufnefs, and, to human view, feeni to rcfemble the ilurdy oak. Thefe are the men who commonly glor}- in their might, in their bodily flrength, in their mental abilities, in the extenlive power to which they are elevated by their riches and eminent flation ; nay, even in their floutnefs of heart, whereby they withftand the influence of the word of God, and refift the Holy Ghoft. Such, I apprehend, are the outlines of the character and condition of the perfons here intended by the ftrong. Though, of all others, they lead exped to be confumed, it is fore-r told, they fhall be as tow. However mighty and ex- alted fuch may be in this world, yet, Hke the tow which you feparate from your flax, they are really the lead valuable part of mankind : they are light and Vain, ready to be driven away by every florm of di- vine judgment ; and liable, every moment, to be confumed by the wrath of the Almighty, when it be-, gins to burn. This is a very fnnple and humiliating comparifon, with which you are well acquainted ; and which, of confequence, requires little illuftration. WhiKl it points out the imminent danger of their condition, it founds an alarm in the ears of all who con^e under this defcription, which ought to roufe them to an anxious concern about their falvation. And the maker af i't cu. a fpark ; or rather, as. it i» i}i the margent of fome of yoiir Bibles, And his ivork ijx a fpark. Good men are the light of the world, whole good Morks fo fliine before men, that they are thereby induced to glorify their Father, who is in heaven j Ver.31. prophecies of ISAIAH. J27 heaven ; but the work of thofe here fpoken of, is compared to a fpark, the fmalleft part -of lire, which being thrown out from it, is immediately extin,- guidied. This intimates, in a very ftriking manner, the trifling infignificance and fhort continuance of their work, though, it may be, they thereby intended to magnify themfelves, and greatly boafled of it to others. Hovv-ever much it may be efteemed by them- felves, when compared to the cheering light diffufed by the fervants of God, which illuminates the world, and refrellies its inhabitants, it is only a dying, mif- chievous fpark. I fuppofe the exprelTion is chiefly deligned to reprefent the danger arifing from their work, to thofe who are llrong, in the fenfe explained, which, like a fpark falling on tow, fhall kindle thofe flames of divine wrath, whereby they and their works fhall both be confumed : for it is added They Jhall both burn together. This prediction is fnnilar to that awful threatening, where God thus fpeaks, by the prophet Ezekiel, ' I will pour out mine indigna- ' tion upon thee, I will blow againft thee in the fire ' of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of * brutilh men, and Ikilful to deftroy. Thou fhalt * be for fev/el to the fire *,' '<3'c. To burn, you know, is literally to confume by fire ; and, in a metaphorical fenfe, it denotes painful and ter- rible dellrudion. Here it comprehends all thofe aw- ful calamities which God would inflict, by the fury of the Romans, and other inftruments, on the pro- fane and hypocritical among his people, whereby they and their works fhould be wholly confumed. And that no circumftance might be wanting that could increafe the awfulnefs of this judgment, it is decla- red No7ie Jhall quench them. Divine judgments fhould rage with fuch unabating fury, that thofe upon whom they were fent fiiould not be able to refift thejii, or to deliver themfelves from thofe dread* * Ezek. xjti. 31, 32, ful 1 2g LECTURES, &c. Chap. L ful calamities whereby they fhould be totally over- thrown. This preelitlion was accomplifl'.ed in the deftruction of the nation, city, and temple of tht^ Jews, related by Jofephus their hillorian : the ftrong, the rich, and the great men, among that people, were quickly confumed by thofe remarkable punifh- ments, which all their efforts could not flop in their progrefs. In this awful prophecy, and the corre- fponding direful events, we behold the difmal confe- quences of tranfgrefiion, and the juft retribution of forfaking the Lord. Such terrible calamities were never inflicted upon any city as upon Jerufalem ; fuch vials of wrath were never poured out on any people as upon the Jews, as God himfelf declares, Ezek. v. 8, 9. Why all this feverity ? Becaufe they abufed more dif- tinguifhing privileges than any other people. And why is this fubjeft fo frequently mentioned in fcrip- ture, but for our admonition, on whom the ends of the world are come ? Let us hearken to the admoni- tion, and learn the inftrudion it is intended to con- vey ; and thus our labour, in confidering this pro- phecy, fhall not be in vain in the Lord. PRELIML C t29 3 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. THE fecond part of this prophetical difcourfe, on which we now enter, is contained in the fecond, third, and fourth chapters. It was probably delivered^ by our prophet, in the davs of Jotham, or Uzziah : to which period of time feveral things mentioned in this prophecy are applicable ; particularly, the plenty of filver and gold, fpoken of at the 7th verfe of this chapter, and the extravagant articles of drefs, defcribed in the latter part of the third chapter. It was primarily defigned to recall the Jews, to whom it was addreffed, from their idolatry and fuperftition, their pride, felf- confidence, and other iniquities, to the fear and worfliip of the Living God, to the ftudy and obedience of his augull laws. With this view, Ifaiah begins by con- templating that approaching, happy period, in which a renowned feat of learning fhould be ere£ted on I^Tount Zion, over which God himfelf \tould prefide, as the great Inftruftor, to which all nations fhould convene, to be taught thcway of falvation, verfe i. — 5, From the 6th verfe to the end of this chapter, he repre- fents thofe awful calamities, and terrible judgments, which God v/ould certainly infii£l upon the unbeliev- ing, proud, and felf-confident among them, on account of their contempt of his authority, and the good coun- fel he had given them, that thereby he mJght lead them to repentance. CHAP. n. T HE word that Ifaiah the fon of Aitioz fa\\% concerning Judah and Jerul'alem. This is the infcription of the prophecy contained in this, and the two following chapters. The remark- able form of fpeech here uft-d, is often adopted by the prophets. i^d LECTtTRES on the Chap, tl prophets, when they mention the revelations where- with they were favoured. The prophecy of Amos thus begins ; ' The words of Amos, who was among * the herdmen of Tekoa, which he faw concerning * Ifrael.' In Uke manner, MIcah introduces his pro- phecy ; ' The word of the Lord that came to Micah ' the Moraflhite, in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and ' Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he faw concern- * ing Samaria and Jeruialem.* Our prophet likewife ufes a fimihar exprefTion*, where he fpeaks of the burden of Babylon, which he faw. Though, pro- perly fpeaking, a word is not an object of fight, it is to be obferved, that what Ifaiah here declares he had revealed to him from God, was communicated by a "vifion, in which he was favoured with a vifible repre- fentation of what he relates. This remark, I appre- hend, fully juftifies the form of fpeech under confi- deration ; which feems defigned to intimate, that th© prophet received the cleareft and mod fatisfying revcr lation of what is here recorded. This prophecy relates to the fame perfons with the former, namt^ly Judah and Jcrufalem, by whom, as I obferved from Chap. i. i. we muil underftand the people of God, inhabiting thofe places to whom this meffage was primarily delivered ; who afforded an inflrudtive type of his peculiar people under the New Teftament, who are intimately concerned in this fubjeft, recorded for their admonition. In ihis view, we are deeply interefled in the predictions before us ; and, therefore, we ought diligently to attend to the important truths wc now proceed to confidcr. 2 And it fliall come to pafs in the laft days, ibdf the mountain of the Lords houfe fhall be eiiablifhcd in the top of the mountains, and fhall be exalted, above the hilis, and all nations {hail flow unto it. * Kalah xiii. i. In Ver. 2. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 131 '. In thefe words a moft remarkable event, and the time of its accomplifhment, is foretold. The time fixed for the accomplilhment of this prophecy, is the lad days, an expreflion which frequently occurs in the Old Tefhament. Though fome commentators fuppofe the times of the gofpel arc; intended by this phrale, I do not recolle<3: any paflage offcripture in which it is ufed to denote the whole period of that difpenfation ; nor is it thus underftood by the Jews, to whom the oracles of God were committed, (o far as I know. The feafon here referred to, is the con- cluding period of the Jewifh church and flate, prior to their abolition ; and in this ienfe the words of the patriarch Jacob are to be explained*, where he in- forms his fons, what fhould befall them in the lalt days, in which the great Melllah was to come, before the fceptre departed from Judah. To this time, I fuppofe, Balaam looked forward, when he fpake of the end of the days. ' In thefe lafl days (as the writer ' of the Epiftle to the Hebrews remarks), God hath * fpoken unto us by his iSon, whom he hath appointed ' heir of all things ;' and as the prophet Joel foretold, ' He poured out his Spirit upon all fiellif,* Ijc. With great propriety is this defcription given to the lad feries of God's difpenfations toward his church on earth, the laft courle of his providence toward this world, and the concluding fcene in which the great work of man's redemption was accomplilhed. Then, faith the prophet, fhali come to pafs that which is written. The niQuntain of the hordes houfe jhall he ejlablijljcd in the top of the mountains. Were thefe words to be. literally explained, they would contain what would feem more like a fable of the poets, than a divine pre- diction, highly interefling to the church of God, and recorded for its benefit. They would affirm, that the mountain, on which the temple, or the Lord's houfe, was anciently built, called Zion, on which alfo flood •^ Gen. xlix. I. f Joel ii. 28. d ft-q. R the 132 LECTURES on the Chap. IL the city Jcfufalem, was to be fo prepured and eftabliflied as to be exalted far above all other mountains, fuch as Sinai and Tabor, Carniel and Hermon ; or rather, that it fhould be removed from off its balls, find be fixed on the tops of the hills. Every one fees the im- propriety of fuch an explanation of the words, affured, that literally Mount Zion fliall never be removed. No doubt the fplendid edifice which adorned its fum- mit, and the deep valley which lay at the bottom, made it appear immenfely -high ; and as the Jews reckoned the land of Canaan was the highefl part of the earth, and this mountain the highefl ground of Canaan, they might confider it as exalted above the hills, and efta- bliflied as on the tops of the mountains. But this is not the import of the prophecy, which mufl be ex- plained in its figurative and fpiritual fenfe. By the mountain of the Lord's houfe, we under* ftand the church of Jefus Chrift, the holy hill of Zion, over which God hath anointed him King, of which that mountain was an eminent type. The folid rocks, of which It wa?> compofed, afforded an inftruc- rive emblena of the (lability and duration of the church of God, againO; which the gates of hell Ihall never prevail : its elevation above the neighbouring grounds, reprefented the dignity and influence of the church of Chrift in its profperous condition : being feen at a great diflance, and enjoying the richefl profpe£ts, fignified that the church is a city let on a hill, from whence the difciples of Chrift are favoured with the mofl tranfporting views. In the church of the New Tellar merit, as anciently in the mountain of the Lord's houfe, the Living God takes up his peculiar refi- dence, fo as to dwell in the midlt of it ; his prefence is enjoyed, his glory is feen, and therein he is ho- noured and ferved according to his own appointment. In this fenfe we under (land.the mountain of the Lord's houfe, which is here foretold. Shall be e/lablifJoed in the tops of the inoimtainsy and Jlidt be CKaltcd above the hills. Both expreffions fecm defigned Ver. 2. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 133 defigned to intimate, that the church of God fhould be exalted to diftinguifned dignity ; and, on account of the peculiar privileges wherewith it fhould be in- verted, fhould far excel all that are called hills and mountains ; and therefore its praifes fhould be cele- brated, and its fame fpread abroad through the earth. The Son of God was to elevate his church to the higheft honour, by appearing in the Lord's houfe, and there delivering the glorious truths of the goipei ; whereby he was to afford a much clearer revelation of the divine glory, and to inftitute a far more perfect worfliip, than ever had been ordained from any other moun- tain, not excepting Sinai itfelf. He was to give the mofi wonderful demonftrations of the divine prefence among men, the fame whereof fhould fpread through the v/hole world ; fo that the nations fliould be hap- pily difpofed to renounce their vain fuperflitions, to deteft their falfe religions, and to fubmit to his doc- trine and authority. We behold this predidion verified, when the Son of God, entering Jerufaleni and the temple, laid the foundations of his king- dom, taught the ways of God in truth, and quaUfied his apoftles for the faithful performance of his fervice, by his divine inftruftions and Holy Spirit. Then the mountain of the Lord's houfe was honoured with aiionilhing difplays of the gracious prefence of God, which were every where publilhed abroad. The blefl'ed conieqiiences were, that the fublime doctrines, inculcated by Jefus Chrifl and his apoftlps, founded on eternal truth, which no human or infernal power ihall ever be able to fubvert, deflroyed the falfe reli- gions profeffed in the world ; fo that Mount Zion be- came far more iiiuilrious and famous than any other mountain in the earth. And all nations Jhall flow ujito it. The vafl con- courfe of people, which fhould refort to Zion, are here dcfcribed in language which hath an obvious reference to the watei-s of a river flowing on in their couifc toward the fea. The expreflion intimates, that aU 134 LECTURES on the Chap. II. all nations fliould fpeedily, and in continued fuccef- fion, repair to the church of Jefus Chrift ; whilft one fliould have powerful influence on another, all (bould prefs forward, with progreflive force and rapidity, until they were received into its bofom. True, in- deed, it is not more contrary to the courfe of nature, for water to run upward, and fiow unto the tops of the mountains, than it is for men, alienated from the life of God, to refrain from walking in the vanity of their minds, and to haye recourfe to Jefus Chrift, that they may participate of the bleffings of his church. It ought therefore to be remembered, that the foun- tain from whence thefe mighty ftreams take their rife, which Ihall convey all nations to the great Redeemer, is in the higheft heavens ; and as waters rife as high as the fpring from which they flow, the multitudes of people, here intended, fhall be conducted not only to the houfe of the Lord, eftablifhed on the tops of the mountains, but to that not made with hands, eter- nal in the heavens. How aftonifliing this event, that all nations, even thofe who had hitherto walked in their own ways, Hiould refort, in great numbers, to Mount Zicn, that they may join themfelves to the church of God, in which are inculcated the difficult lellbns of felf-denial, the ftudy of humility and inward purity, that are oppofite and troublefome to human nature in its degenerate ftate ! To excite in the people of God the lively expectation of this unlikely fuccefs of things, it was repeatedly foretold, by the prophets Jeremiah and Zechariah *, That Gentiles, a« w^ll as Jews, fliould repair to the church under the New Teltament. Such, accordingly, was the powerful agency of the Holy Spirit that attended the doctrine of Jefus Chrift preached at Jerufalem, that devout men, of every nation under heaven, came and dwelt in that highly favoured city, as we read in the fecond chapter and 5th verfe of the Ads of the Apoftles. * Jer. iii. 17. Zech. ii. 10. n. Becaufc Ver. 3. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. ^13,5 -Becaufe of God*s temple at Jerufalem, as the pro-' ^phet David predicted, ' Kings ftail bring prefents * unto him*.' This prophecy was remarkably ful- filled, in the numerous converts from among the Gentiles, who were gathered , into the apoftolic church ; though, it is hoped, it (hall receive a Hill farther completion in the lalt days of the gofpel- difpenfation.- Improve this animating confidera- tion, for ilrengthening and confirming your faith, in the accomplilhni^nt of this, and fimilar predictions, notwith (landing every intervening diiiiculty ; and for .encouraging your earnelf prayers to God, for the per- formance of the glorious things which yet remain to be fuliilled. However unlikely the foretold event may feem, the faithfulnefs of Jehovah hath never failed; he hath remembered his mercy from genera- tion to generation, and his truth endureth for ever. 3 And many people (hall go and fay, Come ye, and let Us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the houfe.of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths ; for out of Zion Ihall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jeru- falem. » In thefe words, wherein the nations are repre- fented as inciting one another to repair to the houfe of the Lord, the fubjett introduced in the fore- going verfe is amplified and illuftrated. The He- brew word, which is here rendered many^ fignifies aMo powerful ; fo that many powerful people are the fubjects of this prediftion, whofe numbers and in- fluence Ihall be very great. From this expreflion, however, we muft not fuppofe, that it is neceifary, to the accompliihment of this prophecy, that whole nations, without exception, fhouid adopt the follow- * Pfal. h:viU. 29. ijS LECTURES ON THE ■ Chap. if. ing language. It is fufficlent for this purpofe, that large numbers of them flir up one another to join in the worfhip of God, and the obedience of his com- mands, though the great part among them continue in fuperftition and idolatry. This remark, I apprehend, is founded in faft, and deferves attention, when wc are employed in confidering fuch events as that here foretold. Whilll, therefore, many of the eleft of God, difperfed among different nations, as the ac- Complifhment of this prophecy, fhould invite one another to go up to the houfe of the Lord, the reft of them may be perfifting in criminal idolatry, foohlh fuperftitions, and walking in the vanity of their minds. Concerning thefe many people, thus un- derftood, it is foretold, that they ihall go and fay, Co?ne ye^ let us go up to the inountain of the Lord, ia the houfe of the God of Jacob. They thus encourage one another, as perfons commonly do v/ho are exceed- ingly fond of the enterprife in which they are enga» ging, and folicitous that others may join them in what they exped to enjoy the greateft fatisfaftion. The form of expreilion here ufed, is modelled upon an opinion which anciently prevailed among the Jews, which I mentioned when treating of the preceding verfe, that the land of Judea, and efpecially the city Jerufalem, were higher in regard of fituation thaik the countries wherewith they were furrounded : henc<% we read in the New Teilament, of going down from Judea, and going up to Jerufalem ; which was a figure of the Jerufalem that is above. The mountain of the Lord, and the houfe of the God of Jacob, muft be explained here, as we have already obferved from i)\t 2d verfe, in a figurative fenfe; denoting the church of the Living God, under the prefent difpen* fation of his grace, on which he commands his blef- fmg, even life for evermore. The expreilion before us, in it- fpiritual fignification, is inftrudive and ani- mating, and merits the clofeil attention. It fuppofes, that the perfons introduced fpeaking, anu thofe com- plying Ver. 3. PROPHJECIES OF ISAIAH. 137 plying with their invitation, were to rife from a lower to a higher condition, which, you know, is commonly attended with much difficulty, and re- quires the mofl vigorous exertion. Though, at firlt view, the work, to which men are here encouraged, might appear unpleafant and difficult, yet the happy confequences arifmg from its performance, would abundantly compenlate all their labour and trouble. Many have been the people who (as here foretold) have animated one another in their afcent to the houfe pf the Lord. This doubtlefs would be the pleafant employment of the devout men, of every nation under heaven, who reforted to Jerufalem after the afcenfioii of Jefus Chrift, when this prediction was remarkably verified. ^This day, brethren, let this fcripture be farther fulfilled in our ears. Come ye, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the houfe of the God of Jacob. I do not invite you to go up to the hteral mount Zion, whither the tribes of God re* forted of old, to give thanks to the name of the Lord ; nor do I afK you to go up to the temple built on that mountain, called the houfe of God, v/hich was long ago buried in ruins : I invite you to rife above this earth, in aftedion and purfuit, that, in the way of obedience to the commands of Jefus Chrift, you may afcend to the fpiritual Zion, the perfedion of beauty, the houfe of God, in which he delights for ever to refide. Let not the labours and difficulties that may attend this journey difcourage you : look to Jefus Chrift, left at any time you be weary and faint in your minds ; and ceafe not, until, having gone from ftrength to ftrength, you arrive before God, perfeft in Zion. — — To this the moft ample encou- ragement is fubjoined : And he will teach us of his ways. The perfon here fpoken of, is no other than the blefled God himfelf, the great Inftrudor of his church. Who teacheth like him ? The benefit promifed is of the higheft im- pprtanqe. It relates not to literal or grammiitical in,- ftrudion, %8 LECTURES ON THE Chap. IE ftru<^ion, whereby p'erfons learn to read the words bel'cre them, and to acquire the form of knowledge, though this alio cometh from the Lord of hofis ; but to that fpiritual inftrutlion which is conveyed by the illumination of the underlbnding, and demon llratioil of the Spirit, which makes known the things freely given us of God, and the myiferics of the kingdom of heaven. By the former of tliefe, a child is taught to read ; by the latter, a man acquires a good' under'-* Handing, which enables him to know the meaning of what he reads, or .hears, refpeclinig divine fubjefts. By the one, a fpeculative acquaintance with lacred truths is acquired ; by the other, the law of God is put into the' heart, and fo written on the inward parts as to t>e tranfcribed into the Hfe. I'he word of God (hews us what is good, and Vi'hat tlte Lord Requires of us ; and the Spirit of God effectually dif- poles the heart to attend to his inftruftions, to profit by them, fo as to reduce them to practice ; and both the word, and Spirit of God, being necefiary to bring men to walk in the paths of the Lord, we fuppofe, both are included in the words before us. By the ways of God, may be meant his purpofes and counfels, fo far as are proper and necelfary for his fervants to be acquainted with, in order to pro- mote their happinefs and falvation ; his providential difpenfations, fo far as is confident with their duty and intereil to know them, that they may underfland the lovlng-kindnefs of the Lord; the miniftration of his Spirit, and the way of falvation, by which the manifold wifdom of Jehovah is admirably dif- played. Thefe are, with great propriety, called the ways of God, as he points them out to us in his word, and as they are intended to conduct to the en- joyment of him in the land of everlafting uprightnefs. Some degree of acquaintance with thefe things is in- difpenfably requifite to mens walking in the ways of God's precepts ; and, therefore, let us entreat, that he may grant us the wifdom. of the prudent, that we niav Ver.3. prophecies of ISAIAH. 139 may underftand his way, and walk therein with in- creafmg delight. And let it be our great defign, in at- tending his ordinances, that we may learn his truths; that we may hear all things commanded us in his law and gofpel, refpecting faith and practice, that, through the Itrength of the Moll High, we may keep his pre- cepts with our whole hearts. A7id it't" will ivalk in his paths. This is the pro- mifed, happy effeft of being inftru61;ed in the ways of God. By the paths of the Lord, we underfland the divine doctrines, and holy precepts of the gof- pel, by which God hath marked the way wherein we ought to go, to the everlaitiug enjoyment of his prefence and glory. Thefe paths ferve to conduct to the kingdom of God all thofe who are fo wife as walk in them. They aftbrd direftion in every condition through which they pafs, whether profperous or ad- verfe ; in every ftage of life, whether youth or old age ; in every relation in which they ftand conneded ; and in every ilation, whether more humble or elevated, that they occupy. They clearly point out the truths neceflary to be believed with the heart, and confefled with the mouth; and the duties requifite to be perform- ed, to demonflrate the fincerity of faith, to adorn the profellion of the gofpel, and difplay the power of godli- nefs. -The refolution before us plainly impHes, a free choice of the precepts of the gofpel, in prefer-, ence to all other ways, and in oppofition to every kind of compulfion whatfoever. It includes, a fixed purpofe of heart, a firm determination, to cleave un-r to the Lord, notwithftanding every difficulty and dif- couragement that may lie in the way. And as walk-, ing is an uniform, progrellive motion, it comprehends a conftant, perfevering progrefs in the good ways of the Lord, wherein they are inilruded. Thofe who are taught of God, by his word, providence, and Spirit, here exprefs their fincere purpofe, through di- vine aid, to make advances in the paths of obedience and fubmifiion, to whatfoever the Molt High may be 8 pleaf^d 140 LECTURES on the Chap. IT. pleafed to require and appoint. After what I have already remarked, relpecling the fulfihnent of this prophecy, I only add, tliat the words now explained received their accomplifhment, when multitudes from among many great and celebrated nations, Greeks, Egyptians, and Italians, leaving their native country, reported to the church of Jefus Chrifl in Mount Zion, where they were inllrucU^d in its doctrine, worfliip, and difcipline, and joined in the faith and obediencb of the gofpel. For Old of Zion Jhall go forth the law, and the zvord of the Lord from Jcrifalcm. Thefe words aflign the reafon why great numbers of people Ihould encourage one another to repair to Mount Zion. I'he law, and word of the Lord, feem both intended to fignify, the dodrines and precepts of the gofpel, publifned by Jefus Chrift and his apoiUes. With great propriety are they called a lav/, as they bear the impreilion of the divine authority by which they were delivered, and reveal the will of the one great Lawgiver to all thofe to whom they are publiihed. With the belief and fubjeclion theyjuftly demand, are connected glory, honour, and immortality, whilll the negled and contempt of them expofes to tribulation and wrath. And they are pro-.' perly called the law, by way of em.inence, as far ex- celling all other laws. They are emphatically deno- minated the law of faith, the royal law, the perfect law of liberty. With no lefs juflice are they faid to be the word of the Lord, as they proceeded from the great Meffiah, who is Lord of all, the bleifed Meflenger, fent by the Living God to make kno\vu his will unto men. Accordingly, in the New Tefta- ment, they are defcribed as the word of God's grace, the word of righteoufnefs, the word of truth, the word of life, the word that is able to make wife unto falvation, through faith Avhich is in Chrhl Jefus. This law, and word of the Lord, is foretold to go forth out of Zion and Jeruialem. The expreflion feems to al- lude to the cuftom of princes, whofe edicts and laws are iiiued- Ver.4. PilOPHECIES of ISAIAH. 141 iffued from the cities and palaces in which they refide, and being damped with royal authority, they demand reverence and obedience. From the renowned place;; here mentioned, the fublime doctrine of the gofpel was announced, according to this ptedidion. From thence Jefus Chrift and his apodles, and afterward many others, went forth every where through the whole world, preaching the gofpel with admirable fimplicity and fucccfs ; infomuch that, as the evan- gelift Luke affirms, repentance and remiifion of fms were preached to all nations, beginning at Jerufalem. The prophet Micah repeated this prophecy with little variation *. You may compare together both predic- tions at your leifure. Let us, my friends, attend to this law, and hearken to this word of Jehovah, fo- Hcitous that from the heart we may believe and obey it ; remembering, that ' he who defpifed Mofes law, ' died without mercy, under two or three witneffes : ' of how much forer punifhment, fuppofe ye, fhall he ' be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the ' Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the cove- ' nant, wherewith he was fanctified, an unholy thing, ' and hath done defpite unto the Spirit of grace |?* 4 And he fhall judge among the nations, and fhall rebuke many people : and they fhall beat their Iwords into plow-il:iares, and their fpears into pruning- hooks : nation fliall not lift up fword againfl nation, neither ihall they leara war any more. The happy confequences -of the preaching of the gofpel are, in this verfe, beautifully defcribed. The perfon fpoken of can be no other than the Lord, whole vv-ord went forth from Jerufalem, and who, in thefe laft day?, pabliihed in perfon the gl.id tidings of falvatlon. He is the Governor * yjcT.h I 1—4. + Htb. X. 28, ;9. 142 LECTURES on the Chap. IL among the nations, for the kingdom is the Lord's- It belongs to kings, who are the judges of their people, to give hiws to their fubjects, to take care of their interefls, to defend them from their enemies, to hear their petitions, to determine their differences, to go forth before them to war, and to diflribute among them rewards and punifliments. All thefe kind offices Jefus Chrilt the Lord performs, by his fer- vants, his word, and Spirit, in his church and king- dom, conitituted of the nations of them that are faved. He gives laws to his people: he adjuils all their con- cerns : he proteds them from their powerful enemies : he attends to all their requells : he enriches them with every needful bleffing : he decides their controverfies : he goes before them to viftory, as their leader : he difpenfes among them thofe divine confolations, and neceifary chaftifements, which their various circum- ftances require : he inverts his numerous fubjects with the moft glorious privileges ; and admits them to the enjoyment of thofe facred prerogatives, which render them fafe and comfortable ; though, for wife reafons, he defers their advancement to defired hap- pinefs, until their entrance into life, and the commence- ment of another oeconomy. All power in heaven and earth being committed into his hands, as the great Judge of the world, he will at laft determine the everlaiiing Hate of ail men, who fhall receive from him their final fentence. Let us then, brethren, fub- jeft ourfelves, without referve, to our rightful Judge, Lawgiver, and King, and yield him that unlimited fubmiflion which he jufUy demands, affured, that he will deal with us as with his lervant David, whom ' he ' rewarded according to his righteoufnefs, and recom- ' .penfed according to the cleannefs of his hands *.* And Jfjali rebuke many people ; by the fliarp reproofs contained in his word, by various afllitfive difpenfa- tions of his providence, by fpeaking to them in his * Pfal. xvlii. 20. wrath Ver.4. PROrHECIES of ISAIAH. 143 wrath, and vexing them in his hot difpleafure, on ac-* count of their unreafonable oppofition to himfelf, his government, and church. Such rebuke the Lord, whofe word went forth out of Jerufalem, hath often difpenfed in the courfe of his righteous adminiflra- tion ; and moll remarkably, in that awful period in which he overthrew the city and temple of jerufalem, rejected his highly favoured people, and dehvered them into the hands of their enemies. ^It may not be improper to remark, that the word tranflated rc^ buke^ fignifies alfo to reprove or convince. In this fenfe the fame mighty Lord verifies this prediction, by con- vincing multitudes of their dangerous errors, their manifold wanderings, their grofs infidelity, and innu- merable tranfgreflions, and confequently of their ab- folute need of deliverance from the wrath to come. He then fuccefsfuUy invites them to the participation of the mod glorious privileges, and powerfully con- drains them to love and obey the truth. This con- vidion is produced not by external force or violence, but is purely the efted of divine truth, accompanied with power, and the demonllration of the Spirit, whofe office is to convince of fm, righteoufnefs, and judgment. Whillt then we endeavour, by mani- feftation of the truth, to commend ourfelvcs to every man's confcience, lay your minds open to receive that conviftion of your fin, and your duty, which we aim to reach to your hearts, in order to promote your befl interefts. And they Jhall beat their fivords into plotv-JJjarcs^ and their /pears into pruning-hooks : nation fball not lift up fword againft nation^ neither flmll they learji war any more. The happy confequences of the benign influ- ence of the gofpel of Chrill, are here defcribed in beau- tiful, figurative language, which, I apprehend, it is unnecelfary minutely to explain. The meaning of the various exprellions feems to be fimply this : The nations who embrace the doctrine of Jefus Chrift^ laying afide their fornier hatred, animofities, and dilferenccs. t44 LECTURES on the Chap. 11 differences, and the hoitile weapons whereby thefe were fupported, (hall cultivate among themfelves friendfhip, hofpitality, and brotherly kindnefs, with all the bleffed arts of peace, until, united in the bonds of love, they become one great body, one happy fociety. The Jew and the Greek, the Barba- rian and the Scythian, the Egyptian and the AfP^Tian, having become the difciples of Chrifl, fhall be di- verted of the fecret grudges they entertained againifc one another; and, joined together in fincere aifection, fliall unite in celebrating the grace of God, and per- forming the duties of mutual love. Convinced that the kingdom of Mefiiah, which confirteth in righteoufnefs and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghoft, is not ad- vanced by the fludy of war, but by the cultivation of peace, they (liall maintain among themfelves the mort: agreeable harmony, and vanquift their adverfa- ries by an invincible patience. Inllrudted by their divine Mafter, the Prince of peace, renewed by his fpirit of love, and holding the fame faith, fo far as they are known to each other, they fhall live together in peace; and far from fomenting differences, or exciting others to take up arms againft their perfecu* tors, they fnall follow peace with all men, pofleffing the amiable character of blefl'ed peace-makers. In this manner Chriltians aft, according to the Spirit of Jefus Chrift, Vvho dwelleth in them : they pr^aclile his fa- lutary direction, of having peace among themfelves : they preferve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace ; euid dcmonftrate to the world, that they are taught of God to love one another. This prediction, which defcribes the peaceable dif- pofition of the fubjedts of Mefliah's kingdom, muft be explained, like many others, with fome reftric- tions ; for the prophets, who often fpeak hyperboli- cally, as if they meant to be underllood without limi- tation, mufl not, however, be fo flriclly interpreted, as to lead men to expeO: events that God doth not mean fhall a61:ually happen. It relates foleiy to tlife irenuiue Ver.5. PR0P?IECIES of ISAIAH. ^45 genuine difciples of Chrift, who are the real fubjeds of his kingdom ; and not to princes, and their fub- jeds, profefTing Chriflianity, who often make war on one another, and on all who invade their rights and privileges. It does not exclude thofe difputes and controverfies which may arife among Chriitians on religious matters ; but fimply reprefents the humble, meek, and peaceable difpolitions with which they ihould be animated in their conduct toward one an- other. They fhall not ilir up llrife, nor difturb, nor hurt one another ; but, by the exercifes of jultice, kindnefs, and beneficence, each fhall aim. to advance the happinefs of all. This prophecy was accom- pliihed, in fome meafure, in the firft ages of Chri- flianity, when the followers of the Lamb were of one heart and one loul : it has been farther fulfilled in after-times, when the power of the gofpel has been experienced ; and it fhall receive its full completion in future happy days, when the doftrine of Jefus Chrift, attended with the Holy Spirit, fliall difplay its efficacy and glory in the hearts and lives of Chri. llians. In the mean time, let us remember the great defign of God in our vocation, who hath called us unto peace. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things where- with one may edify another *. 5 O houfe of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord. The prophet, by thus addreffmg his countrymen, endeavours to roufe them from their indolence, to re- call them from their ignorance and errors, and to ex- cite them to activity in the good ways of the Lord, By the houfe of Jacob might be intended the men of Judah, in diftindion from the houfe of Ifrael ; or we may fuppofe it comprehended the whole poflerity of * Rom, XIV. iCf, IfraeL 145 " LECTURES on the Chap. II. Ifrael, to whom Ifaiah delivered this prophecy. 1 his defignation might remind them, that as their great pro- genitor had the name of Jacob given him, becaufe he dealt deceitfully, and fupplanted his brother, in like manner they had dealt deceitfully in the worfhip and fervice of God. The prophet incites them to join with him in the important bufinefs which he propofes ; Come ye, let us walk in the light of the Lord. In this manner the children of Ifrael, and the children of Judah, are reprefented, animating one another * to fetk the ' Lord their God ; Come,* faid they, ' let us join our- * felves to the Lord, in a perpetual covenant that fhall ' not be forgotten *.' The upright fervants of the Moll High always wilh to travel the road to Zion in com- pany. True godlinefs never contrails, but always enlarges the heart, with a generous concern for the glory of God, and the beft intercfls of men. Let vs %L'alk in the light of the Lord. Light being the mofl excellent of all vifible things, it is ufed in fcripture to exprefs perfection in general, or fome particular excellence. As it is the medium by which we contemplate and become acquainted with the creatures, it is a proper emblem of wifdom and know- ledge. In this fenfe it mufl be underflood, where Belfhazzar informed the prophet Daniel, that ' I have ' heard of thee, that the fpirit of the gods is in thee, ' and light and underllanding, and excellent wifdom * is found in thee -[-.' As it is the means of enabling us to regulate our conduct, and to direct our actions aright, it is ufed to denote holinefs and purity ; and, in this view, thofe ' who are light in the Lord, are * invited to walk as children of Tight j.' As it gives pleafure and joy to behold the light, it is thence em- ployed to fignify the moft defirable felicity and blef- fednefs. Thus it is affirmed, that if any fay, ' I have * fmned, and perverted that which is right, and it * profiteth me not ; he will deliver his foul from * Jer. 1. 4, 5. f P^n. v. 14. \ Epli. v. 8. ' going Ver. 5. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 147 * going down to the pit, and his life fhall fee the * light *.' The word of God, which communicates the moll important knowledge, affords ufeful direction in every circumftance, and conveys fubftantial confo- lation to the heart under every trouble, may be call- ed, with great propriety, the light of the Lord, Under this defcription the royal pfalmiil fpeaks of it, * Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto ' my path |.* It is the light of the Lord, as it pro- ceeds from the Father of lights : it reveals his name ; it difcovers his bleffed will, .and points out the way which conduds to his kingdom and glory. The word of God then may be confidered as the light of the Lord here intended, in which the prophet en- courages others to walk with him. Walking, you know, is the regular progreflive motion which is made in moving from one place to another ; and is often ufed in fc;-ipture, in a ' figurative fenfe, to ex- prefs the whole courfe of mens conduct, and their progrefs in that courfe. To walk in darknefs, is to. live in ignorance, fm, and mifery ; and to walk in the light, is to pradlife truth, holinefs, and righteouf- nefs. The import of the friendly invitation before us, feems to be fhortly this : O houfe of Jacob, come, let us ftudy a growing acquaintance with the word of God, felicitous to poffefs the knowledge it imparts, to enjoy the direction it affords, and the confolation it never fails to adminifler, when accompanied with the pov.'erful bleffing of its divine Author. After this inftructive example, let us animate each other to 'the practice of duty, exhorting one another ; and fo much the more, as ye fee the awful day approaching, which will referable that foretold in the following part of this chapter. From mutual love and com- paffion, in obedience to the will of God, let us en- courage each other to make progrefs ia.the good ways of the Lord, by thofe interefting confiderations * Job xxxiii. 27, 28. t ?^^1« c::ix. 105". T fuggeffed. 148 LECTURES on the Chap.IL fuggefted ill fcripture, which are admirably adapted through the divine bleiling> to promote this valuable purpole. 6 H Therefore thou baft forfaken thy people the houfe of Jacob, becaufe they be repleniihcd from the eaft, and are foothfayers like the Phi- liftines, and they pleafe themfeives in the chil- dren of Grangers. The prophet here enters on a new fubjefl, in which ' he gives an aifefting defcription of the (late of the Jewifh nation at the time this prophecy was delivered. He addreiTes himfeif to God in the form of complaint, bewailing the lamentable condition of thofe whom he had forfaken, and pointing out the caufes which had contributed to reduce them to fuch calamitous cir- cumftances. Among thefe, were, their introduO:ion of foreign cufloms, their pride, their love of worldiy grandeur, their idolatry, and worfliip ai flrange gods, mentioned in this, and the three following verfes. The houfe of Jacob is here honoured with the character of the people of God. It juftly belonged to them, not only as he created and formed them in- to a people, and governed them in right of his uni-. verfal dominion ; but they were his in a fpecial man-: ner, in confequence of his choofmg them for his pecu- har people, his redeeming them with a ftrong hand and itretched-out arm, his entering into covenant with them ; fo that they became his property, were called by his name, and profefledly devoted to his. fervice. — — Notvvithftanding this intimate connection^ God had forfaken them. He took off the reftraining influence of his providence, whereby he prevented their enemies from executing their deltruftion : he removed the hedge of his kind protection, by which they enjoyed the moil agreeable fafety. He with-held from them his gracious direction, which had attended them in all their fortunes : they faw not their figns ; there Ver. 6. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 149 there was no more any prophet, neither was there among them any that knew how long. The Mod High hid counfel from them, fo that they groped at no<;n-day. He withdrew from them his divine favour, which had long compafled them as a Ihield : he denied them his gracious prefence, and Holy Spirit, which was the beauty and glory of their affemblies, having in referve for them the mod awful temporal calami- ties. This defertion is fpoken of as having already taken place, which, in the Hebrew ftyle, denotes, that it Hiould certainly foon happen, and therefore might be confidered as already having taken efte£t. — Hath God then call away his people ? God forbid ! God hath' not caft away his people whom he fore- knew. When offended with their multiplied and ag- gravated tranfgrelTions, he feverely chaftifes, and grievoufly afflids them, fo that he may feem to for- fake them ; but, according to his own aflurance, he will not altogether caft them out of his fight, nor finally rejeiSt them : ' The Lord will not caft off his * people, neither will he forfake his inheritance *.' Becaufe they be replenijhed from the eajl^ and are footbfayers like the Pljilijiines, and they plcafe themfelves in the children of Jlrangers, This fentence, as Dr- Lowth obferves, is manifeftly imperfe6l; : he thinks the true reading is, " They are filled with divination " from the eMft." The Gentile nations, prompted by a curiofitv natural to mankind, were extremely fond of acquiring the knowledge of fecret and future events. For this purpofe they had among them per- fons who were called diviners, magicians, forcerers, all of whom, it feems, had the name of foothfayers. Thefe pretended to difcover things fecret, and to foretel things future, by contemplating the heavens, by looking at the planets, by obferving the flight of birds, by examining the entrails ofbeafts, by confult- ing with familiar fpirits, and various other cercmo- * Plal. xciv. J4. < nies. 150 LECTllRES ON THE CnAP.Ii. iiles. The nations which dwelt to the eaflward of Canaan, and efpecially the Philiftines, were remark- ably addicted to this hurtful fcience. Hence we read, ' That when the ark of the Lord was in the country ' of the Vhiliilines, they called for the priefts and ' diviners, faying. What lliall we do to the ark of ' the Lord ? tell us wherewith we fliall fend it to his ' place *.* The curious arts ufed by thefe claffes of men, were flridly prohibited by the law of God, un- der the fevereft penalties ; and that the Ifraelites might have no excufe for complying with this de- teftable fup-orftition, God aflured them of the conti- nuance of the fpirit of prophecy among them. Not- withftanding, fo very corrupt had that people become, that they had adopted the wicked pradices, and for- bidden cufloms of the Lleathen nations around them, iind particularly the necromancy and magic pradifed by the Philillines ; and at the time this prophecy was delivered (probably in the reign of Uzziah), they were greatly addifted to foothfaying. Befides, they -abounded with the children of Grangers, with whom they wTre highly pleafed. They had joined them- felves in marriage to llrangers, from whom there urofe among them a fpurious breed of children, who could not properly be called the flock of Ifrael. This was another forbidden pradice which was now fre- quent among them, intimately conneded with the former, on account of both which God had forfaken them. Have not we, my brethren, like Judah of old, introduced among us not only thofe evil man- ners which are peculiar to us as a people ? but have not we alio imported from foreign countries the mofl fcandalous vices, which may juftly provoke God to for- fakc us, as he forfook the Jewifh nation ? Let us then hear, and fear, and do no more prefumptuoufly. Let us earneftly deprecate that wrath to which we have expofed ourfelves by our tranfgreffions, and abandon * I Sam. vi. thofe Ver.7. prophecies of ISAIAH. iti thofe corrupt praftices whereby we have provoked the Lord to anger. 7 Their land alfo is full of filver and gold, neither is there ^//y end of their trealures : their land is alfo full of horfes, neither is there any end of their chariots. Avarice, truft in riches, in human grandeur, and power, are mentioned as farther reaibns why God had forfaken the men of Judah. Thefe things were done in dired oppofition to the command of God, who ordered, That the king, fet over Ifiael, ' iliali ' not multiply horfes to himfeif — neither fhail he * greatly multiply to himfeif filver and gold *.' King Solomon was the firfl who notorioufly tranfgreffed in thefe particulars : for v/e are told, That he made filver and gold at Jerufalem as plenteous as (tones ; that he had fourteen hundred chariots, and tv/elve thoufand borfemen : and Uzziah feems,in thefe inftance3,to have followed his bad example. His mighty men of valour had under their command an army of three hundred and feven thoufand five hundred, that made war with mighty power j-j and among thefe, it is probable, were a great number of horfes and chariots. The fms here charged againft the Jews, confiiled not merely in their poifelnng large quantities of gold and filver, and great numbers of horfes and chariots, though even thefe were contrary to the law of God ; but chiefly in this, that they purfued thefe things with the greatell keennefs and avidity ; that they ufed them to gratify their pride and vanity, and confided in them as their defence and glory. Though the God of their fathers had gra- cioufly promifed, that if they cleaved unto him, and ferved him, he would prove their protector and por- tion, they wickedly departed from him, as if he had been infufficient for their felicity : they enlarged their * Deut. xvii. 16,-17. I 2 Cm-on. xsvi. 13. covetGU? t^^ LECTURES ON THE Chap. 11 covetous defires as hell ; and of their ambition, to increafe their treafures, there was no bounds. Not only their kings and princes, but thofe alfo who occupied inferior ftations, committed thefe crimes to fuch an enormous degree, that, to uie the words before us^ there was no end of them. ' Lay * not up then for yourfelves treafures upon earth, * where moth and ruft doth corrupt, and where * thieves break through and (teal. But lay up for * yourfelves treafures in heaven, where neither moth * nor ruft doth corrupt, and v/here thieves do not * break through nor fteal. For v/here your treafure * is, there will your heart be alfo *.' And whiift we hear that in the land of Judah horfes and chariots were fo multiplied, and relied upon, that God was thereby provoked to forfake his people, let us beware of their fm and folly, remember the name of the Lord our God, and Hand upright. § Their land alfo is full of idols : they wor«- fhip the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made. This verfe defcrlbes another aggravated tranfgref- fion, on account of which God forfook the men of Judah. The detelliable crime here complained of, is idolatry, which properly confdls in giving that ho* nour and worihip to the creature, which is due to God alone. Than this no practice can be more un- reafonable and abomxinable. What can be more ab- furd than that men, who are the workmanlhip of God, ihould foolifhly imagine, that they can make a god ? that creatures endued with fenfe and reafon, fhould ex- pect allillance from that which can neither hear, nor fee, nor Ipeak, nor aft, and which they can deflroy at their pleafure? What more inconfident than for people prcfeiTmg to believe in the true God, to fall down, and * Matth. vl. 19, 20, 21. wovfliip Ver.9. prophecies of ISAIAH. 153 worfhip the work of their own hands ? Though It does not appear from facred hiilory, that idolatry was pub- licly encouraged or countenanced in Judah in the reign of Uzziah, when we luppofe the prophetical difcourfe before us was delivered, we are informed, ' That the ' high places were not removed: the people facrificed, ' and burnt incenfe ilill on the high places *.' The idols then, of which the land was full, feem to have been houfehoid-gods, or tutelar deities, fuch as Rachel carried with her when Ihe left. her father's family, and fuch as the man Micah had in his houfe, which were not reckoned inconfiflent with the worfhip of the one living and true God. Thefe were formed after dif- ferent fmiilitudes, of wood, or ftone, or metal ; and being overlaid with filver and gold, and placed in their houfes, v/ere confidered as the arbiters of their fortune, and the authors of their profperity ; and, therefore, thofe honours were paid to them which be- long to God only. Againfl this aggravated fm the Moil High hath teflified the greateil difpleafure, in the declarations of his word, and the difpenfations of his providence. On this account, Jeroboam, and his houfe, were cut off; Ahab, and his family, were ex- tirpated ; and Judah was forfaken of his God. Let us then keep ourfelves from idols ; remembering, that every creature that is loved and ferved more than the Creator, occupies the room he ought always to polTefs, and expofes to his juft difpleafure. 9 And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himfelf : therefore forgive them not. With fome interpreters, we may confider what is here faid as conneded with the preceding verfes, and farther defcriptive of the fm of Judah ; or, with Others, as introdudory to the awful judgments de- ■* 2 Kings XV. 4. nounced 154 LECTURES ON THE Chap. II. nounced in the following verfes. In the firft fenfe, the words reprefcnt the prevailing idolatry which had infmuated itielf among all ranks of the Ifraelitifh people, high and low, great and fmall. The mean man, who was in low circumllances, and occupied an inferior ftation, though he Ihould have reckoned himfelf by far too great to bow down to a dead idol, ihamefully degraded the dignity of his nature, and grievoully offended his Maker, by proftrating himfelf before the works of his own hands. The great man alfo, who was exalted to diflinguifhed rank, and en- joyed the nioft elevated ftation, difcovered the mean- nefs of his ipirit, and the depravity of his heart, by falling down before the image which his own fingers had framed, or which he had ordered others to make for him. In this view, we behold with aftoniihment, men, originally made after the fmiilitude of God, though ftrittly prohibited, under the fevereil penal- ties, to bow down to any idol, preferring the creature to the great Creator, who hath connected the m^oft precious bleffings with his fervice. According to the latter interpretation, the words defcribe the terrible judgment which Almighty God was about to inflidt en Judah, on account of their divination, avarice, and idolatry. In this fenfe, the fimilar expreffions, iifed Chap. v. 15. muft be underftood, where this prediction is repeated ; ' And the mean man ihall be *• brought down, and the mighty man flrall be hum^ ' bled, and the eyes of the lofty ihall be humbled.* In proof that this is the true meaning of the prophet, it may not be improper to obferve, that the Hebrew word tranflated biwihlc, is not ufed to fignify fuch a bowing of the body as is m.ade in worfnipping idols, but denotes fuch a humiliation as arifes from the un- avoidable influence of external caufes. Taking the words in this fenfe, they contain a general propofi- tion, in which God threatens the idolatrous people of Judah with his dreadful vengeance, until they xvere greatly deprefliid by various calamities. From, ; ' ' either Ver.9. prophecies of ISAIAH. 155 either fenfe of the expreffion, we learn this important leflbn, That when corruption becomes general, and pervades all ranks, awful judgments fhall be of equal extent with the fms which procured them. Therefore forgi've them not. I cannot think that our prophet is here imprecating divine vengeance on his countrymen, to whom he was fent with the mef- Hige before us, which might have induced them to conclude, that he poffeded an uncharitable, vindic- tive fpirit. All that is meant, I fuppofe, is a folemn ratification of the jufl judgments of the Almighty, denounced againft his impenitent, profefling people, like what is afcribed to bleifed fpirits in heaven, who are introduced, ' Saying, Vv^e give thee thanks, O ' Lord God Almighty, which art, and wall, and art ' to come ; becaufe thou hail taken to thee thy great ' power, and hail reigned. And the nations were ' angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the * dead that they fliould be judged, and that thou ' {houldfi: give reward unto thy fervants the prophets, ' and to the faints, and them that fear thy name, * fmall and great, and fhouidil dcftroy them which * deilroy the earth*.' Or we may get rid of the difficulty in the. expreilion, by changing the impe- rative for the future tenfe, which the Hebrew lan- guage juilly admits ; and read, inilead of forgive them 7iot, Therefore thou (6 Lord) wilt not for- give them. This paifage hath no more difficulty in it than the other predictions of divine vengeance in the facred writings, intended to warn and alarm fin- ners, to lead them to repentance, and induce them to flee from the wrath to come. The import then of this fliort addrefs to God will be, Becaufe tlie men of Judah have grievoufly tranfgreifed againil thee, and obilinately perlifLcd in their fms, thou wilt not par- don their iniquities, nor remit the punlilmient which they have richly deferved ; but wilt give them to ex- * Rev. xi. 17, 18. U perience- 156 LECTURES ON the Chap.IL perience what an evil thing, and bitter, it is, that they have forfaken the Lord their God. As Mr. Henry juflly oblerves, Tliis prediftion refers not to particular perfons, many of whom repented, and were pardoned, but to the body of the nation, againfl whom an irreverfible doom was paHed. Let us then care-? fully fhun thofe aggravated fins, which certainly exr pofe to the awful judgments of heaven, and provoke God to execute that dreadful vengeance, which even his great mercy will not avert. I Q ^ Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the duft, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majefty. In this verfe the prophet gives good counfel to thofe who were guilty of the lins he had mentioned. As the people, to whom this advice was dehvered, could not have complied with it in its ftriftell fenfe, it is neceilary to underftand it not in the literal, but in the figurative and fpiritual fignification ; which re- quires to be carefully inveiligated, that we may dif- cern its true meaning. There feems to be an obvious reference to two memorable traniactions, the one re- corded in the hiftory of Mofes, and the other in that of Elijah, when the Lord God was about to afford thefe eminent men awlhl difplavs of his divine glory, and terrible majefty. ' Behold (laid the Lord to his * fervant Mofes), there is a place by me, and thou ' fhalt iland upon a rock. And it Ihall come to pafs, ' while my glory palfeth by, that I will put thee in a * clift of the rock ; and will cover thee with my hand ' while I pafs by^*.' That part of the hiftory of Elijah to which I refer, you will find in i Kings xix. 1 1 , and following verfes. In allufion to thefe great events, Ifaiah direfts his countrymen to enter into the rock, and to hide them in the duft. The rock in Horeb, * Exod. xxxiii. 21) 22. Ver. 10. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 157 on which Mofes flood, and from which he brought water for the Ifraelites, we are afilired, by an infpired writer, was a remarkable type of Jefus Chrid. Like the rock, he was without external form or comeU- nefs ; of diilinguifhed eminence, being higher than the kings of the earth, a^nd the angels in heaven ; of immoveable (lability, for the fupport of his people ; and affording the moil agreeable fhelter and fafety from the wrath and judgments of God. ThivS is the fpiritual rock into which our prophet invites the houfe of Jacob to enter, and to have immediate recourfe, that therein they might find refuge from approaching calamities, and a fhelter from the tempefl of divine wrath. Nor c«n we fuppofe this fenfe of the direc- tion before us could appear furprifmg or (Irange, to a people who were taught frequently to celebrate the praifes of Jehovah in the following language : ' The ' Lord is my rock, and my fortrefs, and my deliverer: ' my God, my llrength, in whom I will trufl, my ' buckler, and the horn of my falvation, and my high * tower*.* Hide thee in the dujl, Dufl, you know, in the proper fenfe of the word, is light, fmall, crumbled earth. In times of deep humiliation, to fignify their* penitence and forrow, the Jews were accuflomed to fprinkle it upon their heads, or to lie down in the duffc itfelf, of which many inftances occur in fcripture. When Ifrael turned their backs before their enemies, Jo{hua,and the elders of Ifrael, put dud on their heads |. After upright Job had heard and feen much of the glory of God, he repented in dufl and afhes { : he either threw himfelf down in the dufl, or caft the dull and allies upon his head, which was confidered as a proper expreffion of deep and folemn repentance. Various were the fymbols anciently ufed by the peni- tents, who mourned for their fms : they laid afide the ornaments of drefs ; they put on fackcloth ; they ^ * Pfal. xviii. 2. t Jodi. vii, 6. \ Job xlii. 6. rent 158 LECTURES ON THE Chap. il. rent their garments ; they bowed down the head Hke a bulrufli ; they fmote upon the thigh, and upon the breaft ; they fat or hid themfelves in the dufl. When God, therefore, calls his people to hide themfelves in the duft, he invites them to the exercife of true repent- ance, of which this humihapng pofture exhibited a proper emblem; and in this manner they were to dif- cover the reality and pungency of their forrow for fin, and their fear of God's righteous judgments. Per- Ibns hide themfelves, when they are afraid to appear openly on account of their mifconduct, or when they are anxious to enjoy fafety from threatened dangers. The advice then, under confideration, ferved to re- mind the people of Judah. of their fin and danger, and the abfolute necellity of thorough repentance, ac- companied with fuitable proofs of its truth and power, would they efcape the divine vengeance. — — Thefe are, indeed, the beil advices that can polTibly be given to fmners, of every defcription ; nothing being more necelTary tc« our fafety and happinefs, than fleeing to Jefus Chrlil, the rock of defence, and co- vert from the llorm ; and no exercife more becoming, than proftrating ourfelves before God, in deep humi- liation and felf-abafement, on account of all our abo- minatimis. To the immediate, faithful performance of thefPimportant duties you are now earneflly in- vited, by him who calls the things that are not as though they were : ' Come unto me, all ye that la- * hour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you ' reft *.* ' In returning, and reft, fhall ye be faved.* For fear of the Lord^ and the glory of his majejly. What is here fuggefted, is intended to enforce the practice of the preceding advices. * Behold, God is ' great, and we know him not. — With God is ter- ' rible majefty. The Almighty we cannot find him ' out: he is excelltnt in power, and in judgment, ' and in plenty of jullice. — Men do therefore fear be- * Matth. :ii. 28. ' fore Ver. 10. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 159 * fore him *.* Such was the fublime language of Elihu, v/hen fpeaking of the eternal God. The Lord, and the glory of his majefly, are the proper obje6ts of dread and reverence. The word tranflated majcjiy, is derived from one that fignifies to acbiozv- ledge or celebrate : hence it is ufed to exprefs majeftyj greatnefs, or excellency, which require to be fuitably acknowledged. The majefty of God comprehends ail that is worthy to be honoured, extolled, and praifed, by angels and men. Majefly originally belongs to God, and all the greatnefs of earthly potentates and princes are only ftreams flowing from that fountain. The glory of divine majeily conlilfs in its high pre- eminence, and diflinguifhed excellence, which infi- nitely furpaiies every other grandeur, and is confpi- cuous in all the perfections of God. There is a glo- rious majefty in the wifdom, power, and juftice of Jehovah ; yea, in his goodnei's, love, and faithful- nefs : indeed, his word, his works, and particularly his judgments, are truly majeftic and awful ; for he is terrilDle in his doings to the children of men, and terrible even to the kings of the earth. This glo- rious majefty of Jehovah, which is moft dreadful and tremendous, all men, and efpecially notorious fm- ners, ought to fear. The fear of the Lord here meant, is that holy, reverential awe of the Mofc High, which ought at all times to polTefs our minds, and regulate our conduct, in every circumftance, under the various diipenfations of providence. Of this a ftriking inftance is exhibited, in the man ac- cording to God's own heart, who acknowledges, ' My flelh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid ' of thy judgments |.* This becoming difpofition, exercifed under awful difplays of divine glory, in the execution of righteous judgments, excites to folicltude for fafety from deferved calamities, and difpofes care- fully to avoid whatever is offenfive to God, and ex- * See Jub xxxvl. xxxvii, f Pfal. cxix. 1 20. pofes x5o LECTURES on the Chap. II. pofes to his dread difpleafure. Senfible we are guilty creatures, juflly meriting punifhment, it awakens hu- mility and gratitudej it renders importunate in prayer, and makes cautious and circumfpeft in conduft. Con- vinced that, if we retain our pride, indulge in cove- toufnefs, luxury, profanity, and other iniquities, our judgments (hall be increafed, and our calamities multipliedj let us learn to fear the gloricSus majeity of God, to (land in awe, and not to fm* 1 1 The lofty looks of man fhall be humbled^ and the haughtinefs of men fhall be bowed down, and the Lord alone fhall be exalted in that day. The prophet here foretels the certain effefts of the dreadful judgments which God would alTuredly in- flift upon proud, incorrigible fmners, of every de- scription. Thefe he again repeats, at the 1 7th verfe, in almoil the fame words ; fo that when we have ex- plained the verfe before us, we fiiall have alfo illuf* trated the other. Pride and haughtinefs commonly expreffeth itfelf by lofty looks, and feldom fails to difcover its influence in the countenance. It confift- eth in entertaining a high opinion of our real or fup- pofed excellencies, in fettiug up ourfelves in oppofi- tion to the authority of God, in flighting his meixics by ingratitude, in fubmitting to his difpenfations with reluctance, in defpifmg others, whilit we transfer to ourfelves the honour of all we enjoy, and make our own pleafure and profit the chief objefts of purfuit. It is difcovered by affecling a pretended fuperiority above others at their expence, inftead of efleeming them better than ourfelves, and allowing them to pralfe us, and not our own mouths : it renders us partial in our own favours ; and difpofes to vain boalling, vain glory, ambition, and fclf-conceit. In- deed pride is fuch a radical, comprehenfive evil, that •it will hardly fubmit to the Umits of a definition. Alhamed Ver. II. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. i6i Afhamed of Itfelf, on fome pretence or other, it al- ways ailumes the malk of humiUty. If it blow the trumpet, it is that the poor may be reUeved ; if it put on gay attire, it is only for the fake of fafhion ; if it cenfure others, the lubjeft is introduced by com- m"endations ; if it aim at higher ftation, it is under pretence that God, or men, may be ferved ; and when it ertters fociaty, it aifumes a fuperciUous beha- viour, and difcovers an eager anxiety to obtain ap- plaufe, whilft it often artfully returns the commenda- tions received, that they may be got with the greater advantage when they rebound. Thus, under the vaii of humility, pride endeavours to impofe upon God, and to deceive menj and therefore it is declared^ that it Shall be humbled, and bowed down. How fliort- lived, how unreafonable, how mifchievous a thing is pride ! Deftitute of all foundation, it aims to fupport itfelf upon nothing. High birth, large, eftate, im- menfe riches, extenfive knowledge, the moft diftin- guifhed gifts, and elevated ftation, cannot vindicate its high pretenfions, or gratify its vaft demands ; and therefore it is maintained by an imaginary greatnefs and importance. Nor is it lefs mifchievous than unrea- fonable. It hath proved the ruin of mankind; it hath divided the church ; it hath feparated intimate friends ; it hath bred contention in fuperiors ; it hath fown difcord among brethren, and excited the con- tempt of inferiors. Now, as Solomon long ago ob- ferved, ' A man's pride Ihall bring him low *.* God fcattereth the proud in the imagination of their heart : they dream of an imaginary greatnefs, the aggran-, dizement of their families, the increafe of their for- tunes, the extent of their reputation, and the glory of their achievements. Walking in this vain fhew, he, to whom a proud heart, and even a high look, are an 5tbomination, ' beholds every one that is proud, and * Prov. xxlx. 23. 'abates i62 LECTURES on the Chap. IT. * abafes him : he looks upon every one that is lofty, " and brings him low.' He refifteth the proud. The word denotes, he fets himfelf as in battle-array againfl them, and fends forth his wrath among them : he treads down the wicked in their place ; he hides them in the dull together ; and, thus executing the judg- ment here foretold, he declares himfelf to be the Al- mighty God, to whom vengeance-belongeth. Be- ware then of pride and haughtinefs, which commonly go before a fall, and expofe to moll awful judgments, many inflruftive inftances of which are recorded in fcripture. When the heart of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, was lifted up, he was depofed from his kingdom : when Pharaoh, king of Egypt, was hard- ened in pride, it proved his deftrudticn, and that of his mighty hofli: when Herod, the king, was elated by vain applaufe, he was cut off by a fliocking calamity : the king of Tyre, whole heart was lifted up, was cafl to the ground ; and on account of the pride and lofty looks of the men of Judah, they were brought low. Let us then hear, and fear, and do no more pre- fumptuoufly. And the Lord alone Jhall he exalted in that day. The word tranflated exalt^ fignifies to elevate to an inacceffible height, and fo to eilabliih in an exalted ftate, as that no power whatever can moleft or bring low. It is therefore, with peculiar propriety, applied to exprefs the high exaltation of Jehovah. The glo- rious difplays which are given of the perfe»!;lions of God, in abafmg the proud, fl^all make them know, that, wherein they deal proudly, Jehovah is l^r above them ; and fhall excite men, of every defcription, highly to extol the name, the glory, and the works of the Almighty. Indeed, there is not any work of God which tends more to his honour and exaltation, than humbling the proud, and exalting the lowly; and in this he feems to take peculiar pleafure. Hence our blefled Saviour's maxim, ' Whofoever exalteth * himlelf, iliall be abafed ; and he that humbleth * himfelf, V£R. 12. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 165 ' himfelf, fliall be exalted *.' Accordingly it is fore- told, that when God doth this, people Ihall magnify and extol him, by entertaining elevated apprehenfions of his infinite majefty, and exercifing fuitable affec- tions toward him, fearing him who pours contempt upon princes, trufting in him in whom is everlafting ftrength, and loving him in whofe favour there is life. They fliall alfo exalt the Lord, by celebrating the praifes of his divine excellencies with gratitude and joy, and by fuch a conducl as may give the moft fenfible and lively reprefentation of God ; beginning, carrying on, and ending all their bufmelTes in him ; making his love the principle, his law the rule, and his gloi^y the end of all their actions. The feafon marked out for the accomplifhment of this event, is that a^^^j, wherein Jehovah, by terrible judg- ments, fhall bring down the pride of haughty men, and every high thing that exalteth itfelf agalnfl the knowledge of God. ' Be thou exalted, O God, ' above the heavens : and thy glory above all the ' earth ; that thy beloved may be delivered : fave ' with thy right hand, and^ anfwer me |. 1 2 For the day of the Lord of hofts Jhall he upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every 07ie that is lifted up, and he fhall be brought low^. In this, and the four following verfes, the awful judgments threatened in the preceding verfe, are more clearly explained, with refpeft to the objects on whom they were to be infli£led. The day of the Lord of hoils denotes, that folemn feafon wherein he would appear in terrible majefty, efi'eclually humbhng the pride of haughty linners. The time fixed for this purpofe is called a day, becaufe God was then to be glorioufly exalted, his power and righteoufnefs confpi- ^ Luke siv. ir. f Pfal. cviii. 5, 6. X cuouflv i64 LECTURES on the Chap. IL cuoufly difplayed, his juftice in infliding predifted calamities acknowledged, which was to be followed by the difmal darknefs of night. Such a feafon is em- phatically defcribed in fcripture, as the day of the Lord's anger*, a day of calamity and vifitation f , and the day of the Lord's vengeance];. To render the defcription more terrible, it is faid to be the day of the Lord of hofts. All the creatures in the uni- verfe are the hofts or armies of Jehovah : angels, who excel in flrength ; the fun, the moon, and the ftars ; the thunder, and the lightning ; the wind, the hail, and the rain ; the dorm, and the tempeft ; the mod infignificant infeds, fuch as the flies, and the cater- pillars ; yea, the fand of the fea, and the dull of the earth. Thefe are the mighty hofts of God : they are fubject to his command : they exactly obey his or- ders, and execute his pleafure. Earthly princes have their armies, to protect their perfons, to defend their fubjecls, to fecure their dominions ; they have to afiiil their allies, and to eftablifti their authority ; fo that all their power is derived from others. Whereas the Lord of hofts is perfectly independent of all his armies, who derive all their power from him ; and though he is pleafed to employ them to effectuate his purpofes, he is their ftrength, and their defence. How dreadful then, beyond defcription, muft be the day of the Lord of hofts, whofe armies, and inftru- ments of deftruction, are as numerous as the angels of God, the ftars of heaven, the men in the world, the beafls of the field, the fowls of the air, and the fand of the fea ! This is the day here foretold, which Shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up, and he fhall he brought lo-uj. It is not faid, that the day of the Lord fliall be >upon the mean, the poor, and the weak, but upon every one that is lifted up, from whatever caufe his elevation may proceed. Is it perfonal ftrength, vi- * Lam. il. 22. j- Jcr. xlvi. 21. X J^^- ^^'''^' ^°' Ver. 12. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 165 gour, and firmnefs of conftltution, with which he is elated ? Though he be among the fons of the mighty, (Irong as the children of Anak, the weaknefs of God is ftronger than men ; before the Almighty, he is only as a grafshopper, and is eafily cruihed as the moth. Is it courage and fortitude, which hath ren- dered him valiant, and made his heart as the heart of a Hon ? He who faith to them that are of a fearful heart, be ftrong, can quickly deprive him of his cou- rage, and render him timorous and faint-hearted, fo as to tremble at the fnaking of a leaf. Is it riches and wealth, which are reckoned a ftrong tower, a de- fence, and the fmews of flrength ? The day of the Lord fhall blow upon them, and they lliall pafs away as the flower of the field, or an eagle flying toward heaven. Is it honour and renown, that hath lift him up to the pinnacle of earthly glory ? God, who over- throvveth the mighty, (hall bring down all that dig- nity, on account of which he highly valued himfeif, and reduce him to the mofl humiliating condition. — Hiflory, facred and profane, confirms the truth of this prediftion, which hath been verified in number- lefs inftances. Zedekiah, king of Judah, deprived of his royal dignity, of his fons, who were llain be- fore his eyes, and then of his eye-fight, was bound in fetters of brafs, and carried to Babylon. Bajazet, the emperor of Turkey, was bound w'ith fetters of gold, by the victorious Tamerlane, and carried along with him in his march through Afia, in an iron cage, as an object of ridicule. Henry V. emperor of Ger- many, was reduced to fuch poverty, that he went to the great church which he himfeif had built at Spires, begging the place of a chorifter, to keep him from ftarving. AVhen the day of the Lord thus brings down the great and the lofty, let not mean men, v/ho are proud and haughty, imagine they (hall efcape ; but remember, that he who humbleth the princes of the earth, will not fufier the people to pafs unpunifli- ed. ' Let us then praife, and honour, and extol ' the i66 LECTURES on the Chap. II. ' the King of heaven, all whofe works are truth, and ' his ways judgment, and thofe that walk in pride he ' is able to abal'e */ 1 3 And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bafhan. In this, and the three following verfes, we have a ftriking inftance of that peculiar w^ay of writing, fre- quently uffcd by the prophets, in which they exhibit things divine, fpiritual, and moral, by images taken from things natural, artificial, and hiflorical. Cedar- trees are remarkable for their great height, the almofl incorruptibility and agreeable flavour of their timber : on thefe, and other accounts, they are called in fcrip- ture, goodly cedars, and cedars of God. Lebanon was a mountain in Canaan, famous for its beau- ty, height, and fruitfulnefs ; and had its name pro- bably from its white appearance, occafioned by the white frankincenfe which it produced, and the fnow which continued to lie long on its fummit. By the cedars of Lebanon, in the allegorical language of prophecy, are meant the kings and princes of Judah f, who were elevated to great dignity, who feemed to be eflabliHied in perpetual authority, and afforded an agreeable fnade of proteclion to their fubje6ls.- The oak-tree, you know, is efteemed on account of the flrength,' the firmnefs, and durablenefs of its wood, and the extenfive fpread of its branches. Balhan was a very fruitful country, fituated beyond Jordan, of which Og, the giant, was once the king ; and afterward it became part of the inheritance of the half tribe of ManaiTeh. It was remarkable for the fertility of its foil, the excellence of its cattle, the flatelinefs of its trees, and the gigantic ftature of its inhabitants. The oaks of Bafhan then, in a metapho- * Dan. iv. 37. f See 2 Chrc::. xxv. 18. ric'4 Ver.I4,i5- prophecies of ISAIAH. 167 rical fenfe, denote the great and mighty kings, and princes of the higheil rank, who were efteemed on account of their power "and influence. 14 And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up. The land of Canaan, poiTeffed by the people to whom Ifaiah delivered this prophecy, abounded with moun- tains and hills, which are repeatedly mentioned in the Bible ; fuch as Hermon, Gilead, Tabor, and o- thers. By the mountains and hills here intended, we may underftand their inhabitants who poflefled the higher and more inaccellible parts of the country, on W'hom divine judgments were to be executed for their fms, in the approaching awful day of the Lord, as well as on thofe who inhabited the lower grounds, which were more eafily approached. Or rather, by the high mountains and lofty hills, are intended king- doms, repubhcs, flates, and cities, which, like moun- tains, feem to be immoveably eitablilhed, and elevated above oihsrs in the enjoyment of the moll important advantages. The words, in their figurative fenfe, feem capable of either of thefe meanings ; in both which they are ufed in other paffages of icripture. 15 And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wail. There were a confiderable number of towers in the land of Ifrael and Judah. Some of them were built for the benefit of fhepherds, when looking after their flocks, and for watchmen, who were employed in keeping vineyards, that they might lodge there, -and from thence have an opporr unity of obferving the approach of danger. Thefe lafl are called the towers of the watchmen *, There were alfo high towers, in- * 2 Kine^s xvii. 9, tended i68 LECTURES ON the Chap. If. tended as a kind of citadels or fortrefles, commonly built on high grounds, for places of iafety and defence in time of war and invafion. Of this fort was the tower of Penuel, and others ; and, in allufion to the comfortable retreat enjoyed in thefe, the royal poet thus fpeaks with triumph, ' God is my high tower *.' The fenced walls, next mentioned, were the walls built for defence around houfes, cities, or fortrefles, to fecure them from the inroads of enemies, and the > attacks of fraud and violence. Thefe fhould prove utterly infufficient to afford (lielter in the dreadful day of the Lord, when dillrefs and calamity was to be univerfal. In the metaphorical fenfe of the expref- fions, we may underftand them as fignifying wife counfellors, able flatefmen, and military oilkers, who are the guardians and protedors of their country. 1 6 And upon all the fliips of Tarfliifh, and upon all the pleafant pidtures. Various are the opinions of interpreters refpe£ling Tarfhifli, the recital of which might rather perplex than edify you ; and therefore I fliall not ftay to men- tion them, and the arguments whereby they are fup- ported. Some learned writers have agreed, that Tarfhiili is Tarteflus, a city of Spain, fituated at the mouth of the river Betis. This place was once a mod celebrated mart, or trading city, frequented anciently by thePhenicians,who conveyed from thence filver and gold, with which it then abounded. It proved one prin- cipal fource of wealth to judea, and the neighbouring kingdoms. As the inhabitants enjoyed a very exten- five and lucrative trade, they mull have had at fea many large vedels, employed in carrying various ar- ticles of commerce. In the allegorical language of prophecy, works of art and invention may here be intended j or rather, the merchants enriched by com- * Pfal. xviil. 2. merce. Ver. i6. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 169 merce, and abounding with the luxuries of life. — — And upon all pie af ant pictures. When the Lord fpake unto Mofes in the plains of Moab, he commanded him to fpeak thus unto the children of Ifrael ; ' Ye ' fhall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from ' before you, and deflroy all their pidures, and de- * ftroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down ' all their high places*.' Notwithllanding this order from Heaven, they made themfelves pleafant pictures, and images of various kinds, all of which were to {hare in the deftrudion of the day of the Lord. In their figurative fenfe, they may denote the beauties and elegancies which refined delicacy, and the culti- vation of the different arts, had introduced ; or ra- ther, thofe who were mod admired as perfons of tafte and difcernment. The prophet, having fliewn, by an inftructive variety of figurative exprefTions, that the judgments of God were to be very widelv extended, even to all the proud and haughty, thougll they might appear in their own view, and in that of their admirers, goodly as the cedars in Lebanon, ftrong as the oaks of Bafhan, immoveable as the mountains, impregnable as high towers, encompafled with walls of defence, rich as the merchant drips, and beautiful as the fined pictures, proceeds to declare what fliould be the effects of the day of the Lord. — This fubjecl inflrufts us, that neither dignity of fla- tion, eminence of place, human policy or power, can afford faiety from divine judgments. Neither Itrength nor courage, horfe nor bow, forts nor trea- fures, can exempt men from feeling the effeds of God's deferved difpleafure. Though they hide them- felves in Carmel, or in the bottom of the lea ; though they dig down to hell, or climb up to heaven ; though even their enemies (hew them favour •, the Almighty will find them out, and punifh them for their tranf- greflions. ' Be wife now therefore, O ye kings : * Numb, xsxiii. 52. 'be 176 LECTURES ON THE Chap. It. * be inflriicled, ye judges of the earth. Serve the * Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kifs * the Son, left he be angry, and ye perifh from the * way, when his wrath is kindled but a little : blef* * fed are all they that put their truft in him *.* 17 And the loftinefs of man fhall be bowed down, and the haughtinefs of men fhall be made low : and the Lord alone fhali be exalted in that day. By the repetition of what was aflerted in tlie nth verfe, the infallible certainty of divine judgments, and their extenfive influence, is inculcated as a fubjetl de- manding moft. ferious attention. The day of the Lord, to which thefe prediftions feem to refer, and in which, we fuppofe, they received their accomplilh- ment, was the remarkable feafon wherein God exe- cuted terrible judgments by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, on the Jews, and neighbouring nations ; which appears, from the prophetical writings, to have been a time in which the mofl grievous calamities were felt. According to the word of the Lord God of Ifrael, by the prophet Jeremiah, ' He took away ' the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladnefs, the * voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, ' the found of the mililones, and the light of the ' candle. And the whole land became a defolation, ' and an aflonifhment |.' Thus faid the Lord God, by the prophet Ezekiel, '^ Howl ye, wo worth the ' day. For the day is near, even the day of the ' Lord is near, a cloudy day, it fli.all be the time of * the heathen |.* And Zephaniah, fpeaking of the fevere judgments w^hich were to be inflicted at the period referred to, gives the following afle(51ing de- icription : ' The great day of the Lord is near, it is * near, and hafl:eth greatly, even the voice of the * PfdI. ii. 10, II. f Jer. XXV. 10, II. :|: Ezek. xxx. 2, 3. ♦ dav V£R.i8. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 171 * day .of the Lord : the mighty man fhall cry there bit- * terly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble ' and diflrefs, a day of wailenefs and defolation, a * day of darknefs and gloominefs, a day of clouds and ' thick darknefs *.' Then were remarkably fulfil- led the feveral predictions we have been confidering : the princes of the houfe of David, and many other kings, kingdoms, and Hates, were greatly diflrefied ; fortified cities and tow^ns were difmantled ; counfel- lors, military oflicers, were gi'eatly humbled ; and the Jews loft the independence of their government. 1 8 And the idols he ihali utterly aboliih. In the day of vengeance, God would totally extir- pate the gods, who had not made the heaven and the earth. The Jews were to be fully convinced of the folly and wickednefs of that idolatry, to which, through many ages, they had been fhamefully ad- dicted, notwithftanding the reproofs they had fre- quently received : in confequence of which, they fhould treat their idols with the utmoft contempt, ex- terminate them from their land, and return to the worfhip and fervice of the God of Abraham. ^This prediction was remarkably verified at their return from captivity at Babylon, when they effectually re-, nounced the fervice of ftrange gods, and were com- pletely cured of their idolatrous pra6tices. Though fome of them might afterward fall into idolatry, yet the nation, as a nation, never returned to it any more. Senfible that,' by eftrangement from God, we (hall prove the inflruments of our own mifery, and bring on ourfejves certain deftruftion, let us flee from idolatry^ and keep ourfelves from idols. Con- vinced that our true happinefs confifts in the favour of God, in communion with him, and the enjoyment of his approbation, let us throw down thofe idols we * Zcph. i. 14. 15. y may J72 LECTURES on thb Chav. IL may have fet up in our hearts ; faying, with a noble indignation, as Ephraim of old, * What have I any ' more to do with idols * ?* 19 And they fhall go Into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majefty, when he arifeth to iliake terribly the earth. This verfe defcribes the terror and confternation with which the houfe of Jacob (hould be feizcd, when they beheld the majefty of God difplayed in the execu- tion of the dreadful judgments already mentioned. — The prophet had direfted them to the only proper expedient for obtaining fafety from approaching dan- ger ; namely, to enter into the rock, and hide them in the duft. Forefeeing they would rejeft his counfel, he informs them of the mean (hifts they fliould take, when, through flaviih fear, they would feek for re- fuge where it was not to be found. The land of Judea abounded with mountains and rocks, which the inhabitants improved as places of defence in time of war and danger, by cutting holes, and making ca- verns, into which they might retire from their ene- mies, Hence we read in the book of Judges, ' That ' becaufe of the Midianites (into whofe hands the ' Lord delivered them for feven years), the children ' of Ifrael made them the dens which are in the ' mountains, and caves, and flrong holds f .' And in the hiftory of David's perfecution, under the go- vernment of Saul, we are informed. That in the wildernefs of Engedi there was a cave fo large, that David, and fix hundred men, hid themfeives in the fides of it, whilft Saul entered its mouth without per- ceiving them I. To thele they had recourfe in times of danger, as we fee, i Sam. xiii. 6. * When the men ' of Ifrael faw that they were in a ftrait (for the people * Hofea xiv. 8. f Judges xvi. 2. J i Sam. xxiv. ' wers Ver. 19. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 173 * were diftrefled), then the people did hide them- * felves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in * high places, and in pits/ From all which we learn, that to go into the holes of the rocks, and the caves of the earth, were the effects of confternation and dread, arifmg from the view of impending danger, with which the wicked, hypocritical, and profane Ihould be feized, on beholding the bright difplays of divine majefty and confummate righteoufnefs, in the punifliment of tranfgrelTors. Then (liould they feek for fafety in the moit abjefl: manner, by the fame in- glorious methods they had tried in times of former public calamity. Such were the unfuccefsful expe- dients to which finners were to refort, in the feafon of approaching calamity. Wbai God ai'ifeth to JJyake terribly the earth. God who hath made the earth by his power, and efta- blilhed the world by his wifdom, when he executes awful judgments upon impenitent tranfgreflbrs, fome- times adually (hakes the earth, and caufes it to tremble; of which fome remarkable inflances are recorded in fcripture. Whatever natural caufes are afligned for this wonderful phenomenon, it certainly affords a flu- pendous difplay of almighty power. The words be- fore us, I apprehend, muft be underflood in a figura- tive fenfe, which feems to be moll fuitable to the connexion in which they iland. By the earth then is meant, empires, kingdoms, and itates, formed by its inhabitants for eftablilhing order and government, and promoting their common interefls. And the fliaking of thefe intimates, that, at the period referred to, the nations of the v/orld fliould be violently agi- tated, and terrible commotions excited, by the threat- ened judgments of Heaven. A fimilar prediction is delivered by our prophet, when foretelling the de- ilruftion of Babylon by the Medes, which mud in like manner be interpreted ; ' Therefore I will ihake ' the heavens, and the earth fhall remove out of her * place in the wrath of the Lord of holts, and in the ' day 174 LECTURES ON THE Chap. IL * day of his fierce anger*.* As here foretold, it aftualiy came to pafs in. the Jewifh nation, and neigh- bouring kingdoms, when God, by means of Ne- buchadnezzar, king of Babylon, made the earth as it were to quake. Such events may juftly alarm the wicked, and fill them with conlternation and dread ; whilfl the hearts of the righteous, truding in the Lord, are eftabliflied in the bielTed profpe^ of that kingdom which cannot be fhaken. 20 In that day a man fhall caft his idols of filver, and his idols of gold, which they made, each one for himfelf to worfliip, to the moles, and to the bats. Thefe words farther defcribe the terror that was to fill the minds of idolaters, at the time when God would avenge his injured majefty. At that period it Ihould frequently happen, that a man addifted to idola- try, fenfible of his folly and danger, would throw away the idols he had honoured, and in which he had trufled, with every fymptom of contempt and abhor- rence. Like a perfon once deprived of reafon, but happily reftored to the right ufe of it, who cafts away the trifles with which he was formerly amufed, he re- jetls with fcorn and deteftation thofe dead idols, which he reckons his difgrace, no lefs than his crime, that he had fooliflily regarded. With determined purpofe that he will never have any farther connec- tion v/ith them, however valuable the materials of which they were compofed, he cafts them to the moles, and to the bats : he throv.'s them into obfcure and dark places, fuch as are frequented by thefe crea- tures. Afliamed of the confidence he placed in them, and the worfliip he offered them, and convinced of their utter infufficiency to afford him the leaft fecurity from evil, or to contribute to his fafety and happinefs, * Ifiiiah xlii. i ^. he Ver.21,22. prophecies of ISAIAH. 175 he fliall treat them as the mofl: bafe and contemptible objeds, unworthy of being again brought to view. — This, my brethren, reprefents to us what ought to be our condud:. Something befide God hath polTeffed that place in our hearts which ought to have been re- ferved for the living and true God ; and that object, by whatfoever name it is diftinguilhed, is properly aii idol. Let us then rejed with difdain all thoi'e idols which have ufurped the throne of our hearts ; and earneftly pray, that the God of the fpirits of all flefti may effeftualiy difpofe and enable us to fay, with Ephraim of old, * What have I to do any more with ' idols ?' and to return with dutiful affection to the fervice and obedience of our Lii^heil Lord. 2 1 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majefty, when he arifeth to fhake terribly the earth. What was faid in illuftration of the 19th, may ferve to explain this verfe, the expreffions being nearly the fame. I only remark, on the repetition of the words, what Jofeph faid concerning Pharaoh's dream being doubled, ' It is becaufe the thing is eflabliflied * by God, and God will faortly bring it to pais*.* 22 Ceafe ye from man whofe breath /.r in hi!> noftrils : for wherein is he to be accounted of ? This very momentous admonition concludes this part of the prophetical difcourfe, and ferves as an in"^ troduftion to that which folloueth. The infcrenci* is juft, and the advice is peculiarly feafonable. Since the pride of man Ihall be humbled, and thofe of the mofl: elevated rank brought low, this confideratioii ought to call us off from depending ou fuch a irail. uncerUun 176 LECTURES on the Chap. IL uncertain creature. You may be furprifed when I tell you, that fome Chriflian interpreters are of opi- nion, that the Man Chrifl Jefus is here intended ; and that the Jews, to whom our prophet was fent, are adnioniihed to beware of injuring and abufmg him, when he fhould appear in the fafhion of a man, and the form of a fervant. Though I highly refpeft the names and abilities of thefe writers, I cannot agree with them in explaining this verfe, as I perceive nothing f^id in it peculiar to the charafter of the Melliah. Man is the objefl: from which we are direfted to ceafe. What is man ? The fcripture, by various humbling comparifons, reprefents, in a moft aft"e6cing manner, the feeblenefs of our nature, and the meannefs of our condition. To this inquiry God himfelf replies, ' Dull thou art, and to dull (halt ' thou return.' Our prophet anfwers, ' All flefti is * grafs, and all the goodlinefs thereof is as the flower * of the field. The grafs withereth, the flower fadeth 5 ' becaufe the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it : * furely the people is grafs *.* And the other infpired writers unite in giving fimilar defcriptions of the frail- ty of man, whom they pronounce to be ' altogether '' lighter than vanity -}-', which hath no real exiftence : whom they liken to a fiiadow +, which quickly difap- pears ; and to a worm 1|, for meannefs of original, and Hablenefs to danger : yea, whole nations are counted before God as lefs than nothing, and vanity. Though the human body is the moft curious workmanfliip, beautifully proportioned, and firmly connected ; and the human mind, poffeffed of aftonilhing powers, is capable of being enriched with extenfive knowledge, and amiable diipofitions ; yet all thefe may be fudden- ly impaired or dellroyed. From man, therefore, we are direclcd to ceafe. The word fignifies, to give over, to defifi^ or ahjlain from. The exprefTion is in- * Ifai'ah x1. 6, 7. t Pf^l- Ixil. 9. % Job xiv. 2. '1 Job XXY. 6. complete ; VkR.22. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 177 complete ; and, to render the fenfe full, requires feme word to be fupplied. From the conne£lion and defign of the diredion, we fuppofe its meaning to be fully expreifed thus : Ceafe from depending upon, or truiling in man. Solomon delivers an excellent ad- vice in his book of Proverbs, in the fame manner as here : ' Ceafe from thine own wifdom * ;' /. c. abftaht from truiling and depending upon it. In the fame fenfe of the word, we are required to refrain from trufting in man, however great, wife, or powerful ]he may be ; and to defift from overvaluing ourfelve^ on account of our connedlion with fuch men, or the intereit we may have in their friendfhip. This dan- gerous practice, into which we are naturally apt to run, we are repeatedly cautioned againft in the word of God ; particularly by the royal pfalmiil : ' Put not * your truft in princes, nor in the fon of man, in * whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, ' he returneth to his earth. In that very day his ' thoughts perifhf.* Great men, you obferve, are there efpecially mentioned, becaufe we are moil ready to idolize them. Let us beware then of negled- ing this necelfary counfel, and expofmg ouriielves to the awful curfe which God hath denounced againll thofe who truft in man, and make fiefh their arm, whofe heart departeth from the Lord. ' He fhall be * like the heath in the defert, and fhall not fee when ' good Cometh, but fliall inhabit the parched places ' in the wildernefs, a fait land and not inhabited J.' Two motives are fuggefled in the following words, to enforce compliance with this friendly admonition. Whofe breath is in his nojlrils. The life of man, re- fulting from the union of foul and body, is preferved by means of refpiration or breathing. The breath, you know, is continually going out and coining in at the noflrils, fituated at the extremity of the face ; and at ^hefe doors, as we may call them, it is ever going * Prov. xxiii. 4. f Pf^l. cxlvi. 5, % \ Jer. xvii. 6. ami 178 LECTURES ON THE Chap. IL and returning like one ready to depart, whilft we are uncertain but every breath may be the lalt. This reprefents man to be altogether an improper objeft of truft and confidence. Befides, he is a mean and inconfiderable creature ; for wherein is he to be ac- counted of. Originally he was indeed of no fmall account, when made after the image of God, a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and ho- nour, and inverted with dominion over inferior crea- tion. But by his apoilacy from God, he is now become like the beafls that perifh, expofed to death, in the moft extenfive and awful fenle of the word. And notwithftanding the Almighty is gracioully pleafed, by his Son and Spirit, to repair the ruins of the apoitacy, with refpe£t to multitudes, yet, viewing man in his bed efiiate, we afk, Wherein is he to be accounted of? Formed of the dud of the earth, enfeebled by his revolt from God, depraved by bad principles and habits, fubjetted to continual changes, and of himfelf infufficient for performing what is truly good, he cannot pofiibly be a proper objedt of truft and confidence. How mean our original ! How frail our condition ! How fmful our coiidud: ! Every thing in us, and belonging to us, is fuited to abafe : in us dwelleth no good thing: mifery is in ail our ways: vanity is infcribed on all our enjoyments; whilft we are continually varying, and ever fubjed to ditTolutlon. Aware then of man's infignificance, and utter infuf- ficiency to prove a flay and fupport, let us refrain from placing our dependence upon him ; and truft in the Lord Jehovah, in whom is everlafting ftrength, un- changeable love, and invariable fidelity. ' Thou, () ' Lord, wilt keep him in perfeiSi: peace whofe mind is * flayed on thee, becaufe he trufteth in tJiee.' The predictions we have now been confidering, re- ceived their literal fulfilment in the day of the Lord, wherein the Almighty executed terrible judgments, by Nebuchadnezzai;, king of Babylon, upon the proud and idolatrous Jevle. That remarkable period we con- fide? Ver. 22. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 179 fider only as a figure of what is emphatically called, the great and terrible day of the Lord, which fliali lay low every one that is proud and haughty, and bring down every thing that exalteth itfelf againfl: the glory of God and his Son ; wherein idolaters and idols Ihall be totally exterminated, angels Ihall remove from, the kingdom of God all things that offend, and them that do iniquity, and Jehovah alone fhall be exalted. Let us improve the .partial accomplifhment of thefe prophecies, for eftablifliing our faith in the word of God ; and for encouraging our expedations in the farther, and flill more glorious completion of the, great events here foretold, in their full extent. PRELIMI. [ iSo ] PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. IN this chapter the prophet foretels the approaching direful calamities which were tp.be inflidled upon Judah and Jerufalem on account of their fms ; fome of which are particularly mentioned. He beginvS by informing them, that they Ihould be deprived of the fupports of life, and good government ; in confe- quence of which, they fliould fall into the utmoft dif- order and confufion, as the juil puniflimcnt of their iniquities, and impudence in fmning againft the Lord, verfe i.^ — 9, After which, comfortable af- furance is given to the righteous, that, notwithftand- ing the extenfive threatened judgments, they fliould enjoy fafety, whilfl the wicked fuffered deferved de- ftruftion, verfe 10. and 11. To juitify the divine procedure, the predifted miferies are declared to arife, in a fpecial manner, from the oppreilion and covetoufnefs of their rulers, with whom Ifaiah warmly expoflulates in the name of God, verfe 12. — 15. • The haughty daughters of Zion are then threatened with being ilript of all the collly ornaments with which they were accuflomed to adorn themfelves, fo that their condition fliould be totally rcverfed, verfe 16. — 24. The chapter concludes by declaring, that the terrible devaftation to be made by the fword was to be attended with mourning and lamentation, verfe 25. and 26. and verfe i. of chap. iv. CHAP. IlL FOR behold, the Lord, the Lord of lioils doth take away from Jerufalem, and from Judah, the ftay and the ftaff, the whole flay of bread, and the whole flay of water. I'he Ver. 1. LECTURES, &c. i8i The omnifcient God, having predided, by the prophet, the awful judgments he was about to execute upon the idolatrous, the proud, and the haughty, proceeds to foretel the certain and fudden deftrudion of the Jewiih (late. The word/cr, in the beginning of the verfe, feems to conned this prediction with the foregoing one, to which it has an intimate rela- tion. The fubjed is introduced with great folemnity and majefty. Behold, the Lord, ?hich we lean fupports the body ; and when reduced to a fcanty allowance of thefe necef- faries, men become weak, languid, and infirm. Now when God here declares, that he taketh away the whole ftay of bread and water, he threatens to fend upon the men of Judah the direful calamity of fa- mine, whereby they were to be enfeebled and weak- ened ; and, under this terrible judgment, howling ■with diftrefs, and pining with want, after having been brought into the greateft ftraits, in which men fhould eat the flefti of their own arm, and mothers their own children, they fliould languifli and die, How dreadful were the effeSs that attended this fore judgment, when this predi£lion was fulfilled ! of which we read in the fourth chapter of the book of Lamentations, ' The tongue of the fucking child * cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirft : the * young children afk bread, and no man breaketh it * unto them. They that did feed delicately, ar^ de- * folate in the ftreets : they that were brought up in ' fcarlet, embrace dunghills.' In confequence of which, it is faid, at the 9th verfe, ' They tbtit be flain ' with the fWord, are better than they that be flain ' with hunger : for thefe pine away, ftricken through * for want of the fruits of the field.' How deplo- rable would you juftly reckon your condition, did your children come around you, crying for bread and water, whilft you had none to give them ! How much more aggravated would be your mi- sery, Ver. 2. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 183 fery, were you under the direful necelTity of feed- ing upon them, as the only means of preferving life, as did the people in Judea, at the time this prophecy was accomplifhed ! Thankful then ought we to be to that God, who, notwithllanding our ingratitude, and mifimprovement of his mercies, gives us rain from heaven, and fruitful feafons, fills our hearts with food and gladnefs, and affords us all things pertain- ing to liie and godlinefs richly to enjoy. 2 The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient. The almighty God here threatens to deprive Ju- dah and Jerufalem of the fupports of their ilate, and the pillars of their church ; in confequence of which, they would fall into diforder, confuhon, and every evil work. -In a flourifliing community there are mighty men, who are remarkable for their llrength and valour, courage and intrepidity, who are em- ployed to 3.0. as warriors againft the common enemy. There are men of war, who are valiant, a6tive, and brave in the field ; who 3.0. as officers and foldiers in the army, which forms the defence of their country, and the protection of their fellow-citizens. There are judges, who ftudy the laws of God and their country, its civil constitution, and the rights of the people, whofe bufniefs is to attend to the impartial diftribu- tion of juftice. There are prophets, who are employed in declaring the mind of God to the people, inftruct- ing them in the knovv^ledge of his will, and teaching them (latutes, ordinances, and laws ; and likev/ile in pleading with God in behalf of the people, that he may protect, blefs, and enrich them. There are pru- dent men, who are remarkable for fagacity and penetra- tion, for extennve knowledge and found wifdom ; who are juflly refpefted on account of their good conduft, their difcretion, and the ri^ht management of their affairs. i84 LECTURES on the Chap. III. viiTairs. There are alfo ancient men, in the advanced ilages of Ufe, who, from long experience, and care- fui obfervation, are well acquainted with men and tilings ; who are capable of inftrucling the young and the thoughtlefs, and giving them good advice. Thefe refpedabie and ufeful charafters the Lord of hofts was about to take away from among the men of Ju- dah, with others defcribed in the following verfe : 3 The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counfellor, and the cunning arti- ficer, and the eloquent orator. The captain of fifty. Not only were their generals and commanders to be removed from among them, who conducted their armies, and had the manage- ment of their mihtary affairs, but the righteous judg- ments of the l\ioll High were to be extended to thofe of lefs authority and influence. And the honourahle rnan^ who was exalted to diflingulflied rank, and high itation ; who claimed much refped: on account of his good qualifications, and his extenfive ufefulnefs to fociety. And the counfellor, who fat at the helm of public affairs, giving diredion in the critical moment of danger ; who formed great defigns for the benefit of the Hate, and marked out the plans which were neceffary to be carried into execution. And the cun- ning artificer, the fkilful artift, and ingenious mecha- nic, who, by indefatigable induftry and application to bufmefs, contributed to the wealth and reputation of the nation. And the eloquent orator, who, by the power of perfuafion and fine addrefs, could influence the hearts and fentiments of a whole affembly, and give them as uniform a diredion as the wind does the trees of the foreft. All thefe ufeful ornaments of fo- ciety God threatens to take away from Judah and jerufalem, by depriving them of the great abilities they polfefTed ; by br^ffling the enterprifes in which they engaged \ hy fruilrating the defigns which they formed ; V£R. 4. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 185 formed ; by cutting them off by the fword, famine, or peftilence ; or by deUvering them into the hands of their enemies, to lead them captive into a ilirange land. The flrength of the mighty man, the equity of the judge, the inftrucllons of the prophet, the counfels of the prudent, the influence of the ancient, the ability of the officers, the example of the honour- able, the advice of the counfeilors, the Ikill of the artihcer, and the eloquence of the orator, Vv-ere the great fupports of the ftate. I'he removal, therefore, of thefe pillarSj on which the public welfare depend- ed, would be attended with certain ruin, and occafion the immediate downfal and deftrudion of the whole fabric of the ft ate. Read the exact accomplilliment of this prediction, recorded 2 Kings xxiv. 10th, and following verfes. Let us, brethren, be thankful to the. Governor among the nations, who raifes up among us men of fuch illuftrious charadfers as thefe above mentioned, to be the ornaments and ftrength of the community to which we bejong ; and let us hold fuch in reputation for their works fake. 4 And I vvill give children to be their prince??, and babes fhall rtile over them. The nation of the Jews, deprived of the care and management of prudent, able men, was to be intruii- ed to thofe who were weak, unexperienced, and un- Ikilful. I prefume it is unneceifary to underftand the words literally, and to explain them in the ftrideil fenfe, of babes and children. Let it fuffice to remark, that the princes and rulers of that people, who, in the days of their profperity, were renowned for their wifdom, vigour, and the adminiilration of govern- ment, were to be fucceeded by perfons either under age, fubjed to tutors, incapable of numaging their own affairs, and much more of direfting the impor- tant concerns of others ; or, if come to age, were yet children in underftanding, and uofit for holding the reins t86 LECTURES on the Chap. Ill, reins of government. This is a heavy judgment up- on a people and hind : and, in this view, God fpeaks of it by the wifeft of kings ; * Wo to thee, O land, ' when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the * morning. Blefled art thou, O land, v/hen thy king * is the fon of nobles, and thy princes eat in due fea- * fon; for flrength and not for drunkennefs *.' Some pi'inces and rulers are bellowed upon a nation in great mercy, and prove ineftimable blefhngs to thofe over whom they prefide ; others are given in wrath and judgment, and prove fevere fcourges to their fubje£ls. Among this latter clafs, we rank thofe here mention- ed, who were totally incapable of performing the difficult duties of their elevated ftation, the lamentable effects of which mufl have been feverely felt through the whole body of the nation. Such was the deftitute condition of Judah, after Nebuchadnezzar carried away to Babylon Jehoiakim, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, and all the craftfmen, when, we fuppofe, this prediction was verified.- vSenfible of the many important advantages, facred and civil, that we enjoy, under the belt of govern- ments, let us value and improve them ; and diligently beware of forfeiting them to ourfelves, or poflerity, by a carelefs abufe of them. 5 And the people fhall be opprefTed, every- one by another, and every one by his neigh- boiu- : the child Ihall behave himfelf proudly sgainft the ancient, and the bafe againft the ho- nourable. The diffolution of good order, and political confu- fion, are here defcribed, as the difmal confequences of the judgments mentioned in the foregoing verfes. Op- preifion and pride every where prevail. The Hebrew ^word tranflated opprefed, fignifies to demand by force, > * JLccIef. X. 1 6, 17. to Ver. 5. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. ' 187 to compel to work, or pay debt or tribute. And as la- bour, debt, and tribute, are often demanded with violence and cruelty, in a manner inconfiftent with right and equity, it is called oppreiTion. The word may denote here, either that oppreffion which comes from the tongue, or from the hand ; that which is in- flicted by violence, or executed by fraud ; whether it confifts in injurioully with-holdiug what is due, or forcibly taking away what is rightfully enjoyed, or unjuflly hurting by unmerited cenfure, or evil-fpeak- ing. . This oppreffion Solomon obferves, in his book of Ecclefiafles, makes a wife man mad. Indeed fools are not greatly dillreffed by it, becaufe thdy do not imderfland jullice and equity ; and therefore tyrants commonly endeavour to keep their fubjefts in igno- rance and poverty. When rigoroully exercifed, how- ever, upon people of fenfe and knowledge, it is enough to render them diltracled. Such was the iniquitous condu<5l of the men of Judah toward one another : fuch was their injurious behaviour toward their neigh- bours, whom they ought to have loved as themfelves, and to whom they oiight to have done whatfoever- they would that they fliould do to them. Thofe in high rank knew the incapacity of the prince to detetl their artful frauds, or to check their avaricious mea- fures, whereby they meant to enrich themfelves. Thofe in the lower walks of life, diftrefled by the oppreffion of the great, from which they could not obtain redrefs, and unawed by the fear of puniffi- ment, imitated the great in their rapacity, cruelty, and injullice, until the practice complained of becomes univerfal, as here intimated : The child Jhall behave himfelf proudly againji the ancient, and the bafe againji ihe honourable. Oppref- fion is accompanied with pride, which leads to the mod indecent and ridiculous behaviour. Among the many excellent flatutes which God delivered to his people Ifrael, the following is recorded : ' Thou ffialt * rife up before the hoary head, and honour the face 'A a ' of I i88 LECTURES on the Chap. Ill, * of the old man, nnd fear thy God : I am the ' Lord*.' He hath commanded to render unto all their due, fear to whom fear, and honour to whom honour belongeth, either on account of advanced age, high ftation, or important olTice. Indeed ho- nour is not only due to thofe who are our fuperiors in any of thefe refpects, but to thofe who are our equals, yea, even to thofe who are our inferiors, as is evident from fuch apoftolical diredions as thefe ; ' Be kindly afie£tionate one to another, in honour ' preferring one another f : In lowlinefs of mind let * each efteem another better than himfelf |.' How diametrically oppofite to this good condu£t is the fuper- cilious bchavioui' here defcribed ! The child in age, in underftanding, in experience, fooliihly over-rating his natural endowments, his acquired abilities, his fuppcfed qualities, and fpecious performances, affumes a moll unbecoming, haughty behaviour toward thofe whom he ought highly to refpecl, for their age, their judgment, and experience, and the other advantages which they poffefs.— The bafe, /. e. thofe of mean parentage, and in low circumJlances in the world, who ought, in a fpecial manner, to cultivate a humble temper and deportment, fuited to their condition, dif. covered indecent pride and infolence toward thofe who were defcended of illuflrious anceilors, and were in high rank and eminent ifation. Thus the beaiUiful order which the great Lord -of all hath eilabUlhed among fociety is inverted ; tranfgreflbrs incur much guilt; and though the profligacy and depravity of the ■ times might fcreen them, from the hand of juftice, thofe againft whom they a<5ted thus undutifully, would mofl fenfibly feel the indignities they received. The prophet Jeremiah mentions the acccmplifhment of this prediftion. Lam. iv. i6. where we thus read ; * The anger of the Lord hath divided them, he will * no more regard them : they refpefted not the per- '^ Lev. xbt. 32. f Pwcn:. xti. 10. . X Philip, ii. 3. Ver.6. prophecies of ISAIAH. 189 ' fons of the priefts, they favoured not the elders.*—. Beware then, my friends, of oppreffion and pride, which difturb the good order and happinefs of man- kind ; and which, when properly confidered, appear to be not only aggravated iniquities, but terrible judgments. Diligently attend to the relative du- ties incumbent upon you, in your various ftations and connections. Endeavour to perform them with fidelity and diligence, that thereby you may pro- mote the happinefs of fociety, adorn your holy pro- fefTion, and the amiable dodrines of God our Sa- viour. 6 When a rriaii fhall take hold of his brother of the hotife of his father, faying^ Thou haft clothing, be thou our ruler, and id this ruin be under thy hand^ The defcription of the confufed, diflurbed ftate of the Jewifh nation, at the time referred to, is here continued, Then a perfon would take hold of foms of his connexions, who were chief of their fathers houfes, in this manner exprefnng his earned defire, that the requefl he was going to prefent might be fpeediiy granted. This aftion is repeatedly m.entioned in fcripture, as intended for this purpofe. We are told, that ' as Samuel turned about to go away, Saul * laid hold of the fkirt of his mantle * :' and that ' in ' thofe days (referred to by the prophet) it fhall come ' to pafs, that ten men Ihall take hold out of all lan- ' guages of the nations, even fhall take hold of the * fkirt of him that is a Jew, faying. We will go with * you ; for We have heard that God is with you f .* Th^ words reprefent, a perfon earnefliy fupplicating from his friend that afiiflance to the ftate, which he reckoned him capable of affording. When we reflect for a moment on the anarchy and confufion which •* I Sara- XV. 2T. f Zech. vlli. 23. every 1^0 LECTURES on the Chap. lit every where pervaded the nation, we cannot juftly be furpriled that proper perfons would be extremely reluftant, and prevailed upon with great difficulty, to accept places of public trufl and power, as here plainly fuppofed. No wonder that men entertain a flrong averfion at being concerned in the affairs of government, in critical and unfavourable circum- itances. Thou baft clothings &c. rich garments, fuitabie to the dignity of chief magillrate, and canfl make an ap- pearance becoming the character of one invefted with iupreme authority. Thou haft vaff abundance and variety of raiment in thy wardrobes, fufficient for a perfon of fuch high rank, to beflow in prefents on proper occafions. Be thou our ruler : occupy the chief place, and exercife the highell power in the fhate ; point out the meafures we ought to adopt, publifli the laws we ought to obey, go before us by thy example, prefide over us by thy authority, fliew us what we ought to do ; and we will be obedient to thy orders, and fubmifTive to thy authority. And let this ruin be under thy hand ; or according to a va- rious reading, making a very good fenfe, " Take " into thy hand our ruinous ftate*." Endeavour, if poffible, to retrieve our affairs, now in fad diforder, prognoilicating our deftruftion as a people : deliver, if pofTible, from injuflice and opprefTion, from foreign enemies and domeflic troubles ; and, in the profecu- tion of thefe great and important purpofes, we will ad as thy dutiful fubjefts. A fenfe of imminent dan- ger, and urgent necefTity, never fails to render men importunate for afTiflance and rcHef. Improve this principle in your addrelfes to the Almighty, by taking hold of God's flrength ; by earneflly Ibliciting his in- terpofition in your favour, that he may take under his hand our ruined ftate, and recover us from the direful effeds of our apoflacy from him. Mentioned by the Bifhop of London. 7 In V£R.7. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 191 y In that day fhall he fwear, faying, I will not be an healer ; for in my houfe is neither bread nor clothing ; make me not a ruler of the people. This verfe contains the peremptory reply made to the reqUeft prefented in the foregoing one, with the reafon why the propofal there made was reje6:ed without hefitation. The perfon applied to by his friend, fliall, in the moll folemn manner, decline to undertake the very difficult work to which he was in- vited. With elevated voice, and Ufted-up hand, he fhall folemnly fwear, that he will not accept of the offer made him of being a ruler. It is doubtlefs law- ful for perfons to take an oath, when their teflimony cannot otherwife be believed, and the matter is in itfelf of conliderabie importance : for thus it is writ- ten, Deut. vi. 13. Thou ihalt fear the Lord thy God, ' and ferve him, and flialt fwear by his name.* In this manner we acknowledge the omnifcience of God, we confefs his confummate wifdom, we do ho- mage to his almighty power and goodnefs ; and by thus confirming our declaration, put an end to all ftrife, refpeding the matter of the oath. To give a determinate final anfwer, that would admit of no dif- pute, to the entreaty of his brother, the perfon reply- ing, invokes the facred name of God, and appeals to the avenger of falfehood, that he would not accept the office of a ruler. ^The Hebrew word tranflated ruler, is derived from one that fignifies to bind i^p ; and in a figurative fenfe, to heal, as the ikilful bind- ing up a wound, or broken member, is of great con- fequence toward its cure. In a metaphorical fenfe, it alfo fignifies a ruler or governor, becaufe he ought to conciliate breaches, and make up differences, whiclt arife among the people. The comm.onwealth of Ihael, at the time referred to, was in a diftempered, broken condition, and needed much a healer, to bind it up ; but none could be found to undertake the arduous work. . Kit LECTURES ON rut Chap. III. work. Perfons applied to for this purpofe, peremp* torily refufed to comply with the folicitations they re- ceived ; for which the following reafon is afligned : For in my hoiife is 7ieilhcr bread nor clothings he. It was cuftomary in Eailern countries, where fafhions did not vary as among us; to collect immenfe quanti- ties of clothes and provifions, not only for the perfon's own ufe, and that of his family, but for prefents up- on proper occafions. This appears plainly, from, the facred writings, to have been the praftice among the jews ; of which there are feveral defcriptions, and to which there are fome allulions. This, as a celebrated writer obferves, explains the meaning of the excufe made by him that is defired to undertake the govern^ ment. He alledges, he hath not wherewithal to fup* port the dignity of that fhation, by fuch a£ls of libe- rality and hofpitality as the law and cullom required of perfons in high rank. He therefore requefls, that there might not be any farther propofal made to him of this kind. The fulfilment of what we have been confidering, feems to have taken place in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, after the carrying away of Jehoiakira ; which, fo far as we learn from fcripture, perfeftly agreed to the deplorable ilate of the Jewifli nation at that period. -From hence we learn, that as in times of national profperity men are commonly ambitious of obtaining power and preferment, lo in calamitous feafons places of eminence and trufl are often refufed, and filled with difficulty. There are fometimes diforders in the ilate, like certain difeafes of the body, which defy the (kill of the moft eminent phyficians, which no perfon will undertake to reme* dy, when one dangerous fymptom appears after ano- ther : this gives rile to defpair, which accelerates ap* proaching ruin. 8 For Jeriifalera is ruined, and Judah is fallen : becaufe their tongue and their doings are againft the Lord, to provoke the eves of his glory. ' Tbefe Ver. 8. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. igi^ Thefe words may be confidered as a vindication of the divine procedure toward the people of Judah. The defcripticn of their calamitous condition, in the firft part of tlie verfe, is fhort, but affecting. Jeru- faiem, once the joy of the whole earth, beautiful for fituation, highly favoured of Heaven, a fiourilhing, populous, renowned city, is become a heap of ruins ; and the inhabitants of Judah, formerly poifefied of the mod diftinguilhed privileges, is divefted of all their dignity, and reduced to the moft depreffed con- dition. Much having been already faid on this mourn- ful fubjeft, I only remark, that as the rod of afflitlion hath a voice which ought to be heard by thofe whom it fmites, fo it ought likewife to be attended to by thofe who hear of its llroks, that frorr} thence they may derive inftruftion. The ruin of Jerufalem, and the fall of Judah, are recorded for our adm.onition , not merely for our information, but for our learning. L.et us not then think it fullicient, that, with the many, we reproach that people for their fms, the pro- curing caufes of their defolation j but let us endeavour to reap benefit to ourfelves IVom their calamities, and to learn wifdom and obedience from their folly and undutiful conduct. -This defcription did not correfpond with the (late of Jerufalem and Judah at the time this prophecy was delivered, for then they were in a fiourilhing condition, but with what it fiiould undoubtedly be at the period the predidion received its accomplifnment, in the days of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah ; and to intimate its certain fulfilment and fpeedy approach, the prophet fpeaks as if this had been their prefent condition. The reafon of this ruin and fall is afligned in the following words : Becaitfe their tongue and ihe'ir doings are againji the Lord^ to provoke the eyes of his glory. The tongue is the chief inflrument of fpeech, which communicates to others the images of the mind, and fentiments of ihe heart. When employed in fpeaking, it common- ly difccvers the difpofition^ of which men are pciTefT- f■^.^ 194 LECTURES on the Chap. HI. ed ; for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth fpeaketh. Hence our prophet obferves, * The vile * perfon will Ipeak villany * :' and* the apoftle John, defcribing the charader of worldly men, thus fpeaks, ' They are of the w^orld : therefore fpeak they of the ^ world f;' for they have nothing elfe to fpeak of. People acting under the influence of the carnal mind, which is enmity againfl God, feldom fail to exprefs their oppofition to the purity of his law, the difpenfa- tions of his providence, the admonitions of his fer- vants, and the benevolent defigns of his grace. On this wicked practice was founded the bitter. complaint which the Moll High brought againfl his people, by the prophet Malachi ; ' Your words have been ilout * againfl me, faith the Lord J.' To this heavy charge tliey reply, ' What have we fpoken againlt thee ?' To check their infolence, the Lord informs them, that their words were flout againfl him, in as much as they had faid, ' It is vain to ferve God, and keep his ' ordinances.* Such alfo feems to have been the fni- ful practice of Judah, for which they were to be fe- verely punifhed.— Befides, their doings alfo were againfl the Lord. Their words and aftions exadly correfpcnded, difcovering their oppofition to God, againfl whom they aded in dire£t hoftility. Though they profeffed to love and honour him, they trampled on his facred authority ; they counteracted his bleffed will; they defpifed his ordinances, and tranfgreffed his mofl jufl commandments ; and notwithilanding fevere corrections, they continued iucorrigible in, their fms. To provoke the eyes cf his glory. The eye Is that curious organ of the body whereby objeds are per- ceived, and knowledge is conveyed into the heart. In reference to its extenfive ufefulnefs to men, eyes are afcribed to God in fcripture, to intimate his per- fed knowledge of all things, and flrift acquaintance * Ifaiah xxxii. 6. f i John iv. 5. t Mai. iil- 13. with Ver. 9. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 195 with mens charafters and conduct. Indeed the Lord feeth not as man feeth, who feeth objefts at a dif- tance one after another, and can only difcover then- exterior form, whilft he may be miliaken and im- pofed upon by deceitful appearances. ' The Lord * looketh down from heaven, and full well beholdeth ' all the fons of men : his eyes are in every place, be- ' holding the evil and the good : he fearcheth the heart, * and trieth the reins ;' fo that he cannot be deceived, nor can any thing be concealed from his view. With great propriety are his all-penetrating eyes called the eyes of his glory, or his glorious eyes. Beware then, brethren, of fpeaking and a^tmg againft the Lord. For this purpofe adopt the wife refolution of the man according to God's own heart, ' I will take ' heed to my ways, that I offend not with my tongue*.* One would think he might rather have faid, I will take heed to my words, that I offend not wdth my tongue. When our ways are wrong, our words are feU dom right : the tongue is foon out of the way of fpeak- ing rightly, when v/e go out of the way of ading pro- perly. He that offendeth witfi his tongue, is apt ta offend in his ways ; and having tranfgreffed in his ways, he is in greater danger of offending with his tongue. ' Keep your hearts with ail diligence, for ' out of them are the iffues of life |/ 9 ^[ The ihev^^ of their countenance doth wit- nefs againft them, and they declare their fin as Sodom, they hide // not ; wo unto their foul, for they have rewarded evil unto themfelves. A circumftance is here mentioned, which greatly aggravated the iniquity of Judah : they had put off fliame and bafhfulnefs ; rhey had become bold and Impudent, in committing the mod abominable crimes.. They gloried in their fliame j and, as God teflified * Pfal. xxxix. I. f Prov. iv. 23. Bb by ig6 LECTURES on the Ghap. III. by another prophet, ' All the houfe of Ifrael are impu- ' dent and hard-hearted*.' God hath fo formed man, and fo clofcly conneded his foul and body, that the one hath a reciprocal influence on the other; inconfequence of which, the various affedions and paflions of the mind felclom fail to difcover thenifelves in the face. Hence the common exprellions of a fad and joyful, a proud and fierce countenance. Indeed the prevailing difpofition of the mind is often confpicuous in the face: if it is envy and difcontent, the countenance fallsj if meekncfs and modcfty, it appears ferene, and full of complacence. And fuch was the external afpect of the people to whom Ifaiah delivered this prophecy, that it teftified againfl them, that they were proud and felf-conceited, foolifh and extravagant in the commif- iion of enormous tranfgreffions.— ^ — Jnd they declare their fin as Sodo??:, they hide it not. The men of So- dom were very wicked, and fmners before the Lord exceedingly ; their fm was grievous, and the cry of it reached up to heaven. I'hey committed all man- ner of wickednefs with greedinefs ; and, far from concealing it, they gloried in their iniquity. They did not declare their Rns like thofe who are humbled for them before God, who declare them that they may be juflified ; but they impudently pubhflied thena, counting it a pleafure to riot in the day, and fmning openly in the face of the fun. How lamentable the condition of Jerufalem, the city of the great King, when Ihe refembled a place famous for wickednefs through the whole earth ! To fuch a dreadful pitch of impiety had the men of Judah arrived, that the prophet Jeremiah enters againfl them this bitter com- plaint ; ' Were they afliamed when they had commit- * ted abomination? nay, they were not at all afhamed, * neither could they blufh f . Their foreheads were as * iron, and their brows brafs ;' which plainly fliewed, that they were lofl to all fenfe of the evil and malig- nity of fm, as is here intimated. * Ezck. ill. 7. -f Jcr. vi. 15. Wo Ver.io. prophecies of ISAIAH. 197 JVo unto their foul, for they have re it Jhall be ill ivith him. It mufl be fo : for they are enemies to God in their minds, and 102 LECTURES ON THE Chap. III. and by ^^cked works ; by nature the children of v/r4th ; by praftice the children of difobedience, the miferable Haves of Satan, who leads them captive at his pleafure. They He under the compHcated guilt of all their multiplied and aggravated tranfgrelTions ; for each of which, they deferve that everlafting de- llrudion, of which they are in continual danger ; having no fecurity but that every moment they may be furnmoned to appear before the tribunal of God, where they ihall be adjudged to weeping, wailing, and gnafliing of teeth, in that place where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Slaves to their infatiable appetites, ever craving, but never iatisfied, they feel the anguifh which arifes from dif- appointment, rcfiftance, and denial, and the mifery which never fails to attend counteracting the influence of the nobled pov/ers of the foul. Belides, they are expofed to innumerable calamities of various kinds, which may fuddenly blaft their reputation, bereave them of health, deprive them of the delufive peace they enjoy, and plunge them into that endlefs ruin which they Httle dreaded. Say then, brethren, is it not ill with the wicked .? Were it lawful for us to wifli the worft condition poffible to our bitterell enemies, we could not form a wifh in which more mifery is comprehended than that of Job ; ' Let them * be as the wicked and the unrighteous *.* Men of this character may dream of peace and fafety ; but the word of God cannot be broken, which faith, There is no peace to the wicked. Would to God that fuch would ferioufly remember,' that the frequent folcmn warnings they now receive of their imminent danger. if neglected and defpifed, will at lall greatly aggravate their condemnation and mifery ! Attend to this ye that forget God, and fay in your heart, God hath forgotten. The reafon of this declaration is added : * Job xxvii. 7. Fcr Ver. 1 1. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 203 For the reivard of his hands pall be given him. The punifhment of tranfgreflbrs fliall be proportioned to the wickednefs they have committed. ' Upon the ' wicked God fhall rain fnares, fire and brimftone, ' and an horrible temped : this (hall bUNhe portion * of their cup *. They (liall not only have the cup put into their hands, but they fhall be obHged to drink off its bitterefl: dregs. ' God will render to every man ' according to his workf.* Do you objeft to thefe, and fimilar palTages of fcripture, the profperity of the wicked, who often enjoy moil of the riches, honours, and pleafures of this world, and poflefs the fairefl in- heritance upon earth ? and do you find difficulty in reconciling the propofition before us with your owil obfervation. The profperity of the wicked does not contradict the truth under confideration, for it is truly ill with a wicked man, even in profperity : it de- flroys him, it hardens his heart, it adminifters fewel to his lulls, and renders calamities more terrible when they arrive. To fome of the wicked God difpenfes the good things of this life, to furnifh them for ac- complifhing the purpofes of his providence, and to re- compenfe them for performing the fervices affigned them. To others, they are given to difcover what is in their hearts, to make them fenfible of the iniquities w^hich predominate there, and to leave them wholly without excufe for their fins. And though fome of this character feem exempted from many of the ills denounced againft the wicked, and do not appear to receive the reward of their hands, yet mifery is their jiifl defert, wrath their certain portion, their increafe fliall go into captivity, their riches fliall flee away, their grandeur fliall be brought down, their beauty Ihall be ftained, their reputation blaflied ; fo that their fulnefs fliall be converted into emptinefs, and all their comforts into wo : and, at the final judgment, they fliall be ordered to depart into everlafling fire, pre- * Pfal. xi. 6. t Rom. il. 6. C c pared 5,04 LECTURES ON THE Chap. Ut pared for the devil and his angels. ' Let the wicked forfake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts : and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God for he v/iUjabiindantly pardon. As I live, faith the Lord God^ I have no pleafure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way, and live : turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways ; for why will ye die. An all-fufficient remedy is pro- vided for your relief, in the mediation of Jefus Chrift, whereby you may obtain pardon of fm, peace with Gody and eternal life. Come then to him with- out delay, that you may enjoy the ineftimable bleffings Contained in his promifes, 1 2 ^ As for my people, children are their op-* preflbfs, and women rule over them : O my people, they which lead thee, caufe thte to err, and deftroy the way of thy paths. A fliarp reproof is here adminilfered to the rulers of God's people, who were chiefly culpable, having greatly contributed, by their pernicious influence, and bad example, to carry forward that general corruption which pervaded all ranks among them. As for my people, faith God, whom I have created for myfelf, that they may fliew forth my praife ; whom I have chofen for my peculiar treafure, above all the people on the face of the earth ; whom I have redeemed by a ftrong hand, and llretched-out arm ; for whole ran- fom I gave Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sebah ; to whom I have given ftatutes, commandments, and ordinances, prophets, teachers, and guides, to infl:ruft them ; and who have been the objefts of my peculiar afi'eftion, and diilinguilhing care Children are their opprejf- ors^ or as the v/ord fignifies, rigorous exaStcis. The governors of Judah are called children^ to intimate, that they were weak, imprudent, and unfldlful, in the management of the public aftairs with which they Ver. 12. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 205 V^ere intruded. Nor did they a£l the part of mild jind eafy magiftrates, but c-f cruel oppreiTors, who exerted their authority with rigour and levcrity, and exaded, without mercy or mitigation, the mod griev- ous demands. — ' — And zvomen rule o-vcr them. The perlbns who were concerned in the government were left and delicate in their manners, variable and iri- conifant in their purfuits, timid and afraid of dangers, weak, and yet violent in the profecution of their de- figns, deftitute of firmnefs and fortitude neceffary to the furmounting of thofe difficulties which every where occur. 0 my people^ they vjho lead thee, caufe thee to err. The word rendered lead, fignifies alfo to blefs ; and both meanings may be comprehended in the cha- radler mentioned. They, whole office it was to (liew the people of God their tranfgreffions, to make known to them the way of falvation, and to go before them in that way, fo as to excite them by their influence and example to walk in the commandments of the Lord ; they, whofe bufmefs it ought to have been to blefs the people in the name of the Lord, and to befeech God that he might be pleafed eftfeftually to blefs them, inftead of faithfully performing the duties of their fundion, caufed the people to err. Men are naturally inclined to err, prone to embrace er- ror rather than truth, to walk in crooked ways ra- ther than in the onward path of life. The mifery of that people muft be truly great, whofe teachers, inftead of correcting their errors, and conducing them in the paths of righteoufnefs, lead them aftray : who, inftead of ftiewing them their fms, encourage them in their evil ways ; faying, Peace, peace to them, f^r whom there is no peace.- And dejlroy the ivay of thy paths. From the various fenfes of the word tranllated dejiroyy which fignifies alfo to per-vert or fwallom, we may coi- left the import of the charge brought againft the lead- ers of the people. Thefe teachers, by their corrupt do6lrincs, and bad examples, perverted the right ways of the Lord, in which they ought to have conduced tliofe 2o6 LECTURES on the Chap. III. thofe committed to their care. They deflroyed the key of knowledge, neither entering into the way of life themfelves, nor fuffering others to walk in it, fo that few upright fervants of God could be fcen among them. This, in faft, was the very charafter of the Jewifli doftors about the time of the Babylonifh cap- tivity, as we learn from the mournful complaints of the prophets ; one of which you will find recorded, Ezek. xiii. from the beginning. Let us improve thefe afteding reprefentations of the deplorable condi- tion of God's ancient people, for exciting us to thank- fukiefs for the many important advantages we enjoy, and a tlutiful concern to profit by means of them. 13 The Lord ftandeth up to plead, ^iid ftandeth to judge the people. In thefe words the Almighty declares his fixed purpofe fpeedily to execute righteous judgment upon his people. It was anciently the practice among Eaflern n^ions, for judge:^ to fit in the gates, where they determined the caufes which were brought before them for decifion ; and then the parties, or their counfel, flood up in their prefence. In referr ence to this cuflom, God condefcends to declare, that he ^-andeth up to plead his righteous caufe againft the rulers of his people. Such is his admirable grace, that he not only permits men to plead before him, but defcending as it were from his tribunal, and fufpending his fovereign rights, he offers to plead before them, to account for his conduct, and fubmit himfelf to the reafon and judgment of impartial judges. The Moft High appears in a poflure ready to enume- rate the injuries he had received, to bring the criminal conduct of the rebellious under review, and moil effec- tually to plead againft them with his great power, not only by the words of his mouth, but by the awful ven- geance of his providence. In this manner God threats ened he would plead againlt Gog and IMagog : ' I will * plead againft him with peftilence and with blood, and '' I will Ver.13. prophecies of ISAIAH. 207 * I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon ' the many people that are with him, an overflowing ' rain, and great hailflones, fire and brimftone *.* In this fenfe we underftand Jthe expreffion before us. And Jlandeth to judge the people^ Though God condefcends to plead, he ftili a£ls in the character of fupreme Judge ; and, in allufion to the pradtice of judges, who often (land when they deliver their opi- nions, and pronounce their decifions, he is reprefent- ed {landing in the congregation of the mighty, and judging among the gods. It belongs to the office of a judge to pronounce fentence on the criminal, and to take care that the fentence be duly executed. Ac- cordingly God, the Judge of all, hath delivered hjs unalterable decifion refpefting men of every charaq^ ter and condition, in his bleifed word, which he ne- ver fails to carry into execution in the courfe of his univerfal providence. Indeed fentence againll an evil work is often not fp^edily executed ; fpace is given for repentance : but, alas ! on this account the heart of the fons of men is fully fet in them to do evil. Though for wife purpofes it may be long delayed, it is always executed in the moll proper feafon, when God flandeth to judge the people, and to render un- to them according to their works. The right hand of the Lord is full of righteoufnefs : what he hath promifed (liall certainly be performed, and what he hath threatened fhall as certainly be inflided, when he arifeth to judgment. Behold, the Judge fland- eth before the door. He is already near, and he will certainly and fuddenly appear to execute judgment, not only to avenge the injuries offered to his people, but to punifh them for their tranfgreffions. Let us be daily looking for, and hailing to the coming of tlie day of God, knowing that it will come fuddenly and unexpectedly as a thief in the night; then we mull aU fland before his judgment-feat, and receive according to our deeds. * Ezck. xxxviii. :i2, 14 The ioS LECTURES on the Chap. Ill, 14 The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes there- of: for ye have eaten up tjie vineyard ; the fpoil of the poor is in your houfes. In this, and the following verfe, the ground of God's controverfy with the rulers of his people is (^efcribed. One perfon is faid to enter into judg!;nent with another, when a procefs at law is commenced, a libel is drawn up by one party againft the other, who is ferved, at the inftance of the former, with an indiftment, and proper evidences are fumrnoned to prove the matters alledged. In referetice to this practice, God is faid to enter into judgment with men, when, by his providential difpenfaiions, he takes the neceffary fteps for executing deferved pu- ^ifhment on men for their tranfgrellions. Deeply affedted with awful views of divine vengeance, David earneilly fuppHcates, that God would not enter into. judgment with him *. The perfons with whom God would enter into judgment, were the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof. The former might denote the elders, and perfons of age and ex- perience, who held offices of trufl and influence in the church ; and by the latter might be meant, men of high rank, great reputation, vaft opulence, and extenfive power in the Itate. Thefe were the men who caufed the people to err, and grievoufly oppreff- ed them ; with v/hom, therefore, God was highly difpieafed. No condition however elevated, no fla- tion however diftinguifhed, can exempt from divine judgments thofe who are leaders in tranfgrellion, who ought to lay their account with the punifliment they have merited. 'The firft article mentioned in the charge, is, T~e have eaten up the vineyards. The land of Canaan was remarkable for the fertility of its foil, the great increafe which it yielded, the excellent vine- * Pfal. cxiili. 2. yarda Ver. 15. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 209 yards with which it abounded, and the rich wine it produced. Vineyards were fo common, that they were not pecuHar to the rich and great, but often Were pofleiled by lower claifes of the people. Naboth had a vineyard that was coveted by his prince : and fuch was the avarice and oppreffion of the elders and princes of Judah, at the time referred to, that they carried away the fruit of the vineyards which belong- ed to the poorer fort of people, and converted the properly of the indigent into fewel to their luxury and pride. It deferves to be remarked, that the word tranflated eaten up, fignihes alfo bunit, as it is ren- dered in the margent of fome Bibles : and in this fenfe the charge becomes ftill heavier ; importing, that fuch was the cruelty and violence of the ancients and the princes, that they not only eat the fruit of the vine- yards belonging to the poor, but they afterward burnt and deftroyed the vineyards themfelves. And the fpoil of the poor is in your houfes. They had enriched themfelves by rapine and plunder, and laid up in ftore in their houfes the fpoil they had col- ietted. We may naturally fuppofe, that the elders and princes did not contine their avaricious, oppref- five practices to the fruits of the vineyards, but all the other polTeflions of the poor would doubtlefs fliare the fame fate. The righteous Lord, who defends the caufe of the poor and fatherlefs, was the conltant wit- nefs of all their injurious condutt, on account of which he threatens td execute upon them defer-ved judgment. Let us beware then of injuring any man, particularly the poor, who are molt eafily, and there- ifore moil commonly opprefled, affuredly knowing that God will certainly punifh fuch notorious tranf- greflions. '^ ;.:• 15 What mean ye that ye beat my people to \ pieces, and grind the faces of the peer? iaith ; the Lord God of hofts. The 216 LECTURES ON THE Chap, nf: The Moft High warmly expoftulates with the ru- lers of his people refpedling their injuftice and oppref- fion. 'What is your delign in committing fuch at- trocious wickednefs, without the leaft colour of reafon Orjuflice? Have you any plaurible pretext whereby you pretend to vindicate your cruel condu6t, which is totally inconfiftent with the didates of humanity and equity? Say, what mean ye, that ye beat my people to pieces ? They are not your people, but mine, whom I created by my power, whom I formed for my glory, and redeemed for my praife. Though I allowed you to rule over them, they are the offspring of my goodnefs, the workmanfhip of my hands, and the objefts of my diflinguilhing care. Rebellious as they have been, and fmful as they are, I will not permit them to be abufed or trampled upon with impunity. Why then do you tread them under foot, like the mire of the ftreets ; and, through your intolerable pride and felf-conceit, treat them with the utmofl feverity and contempt. — Arid grind the faces of the poor. By various afts of tyranny and opprellion, you reduce the poor not only to a ftate of abjeft poverty, but of ignominious fer- vitude, in which their fpirits are vexed, and their dejeftion and anguiih of mind is vifible in their coun- tenances. Of all this accumulated diflrefs, which you ought to have prevented or alleviated, you are the un- worthy authors.- This heavy charge is authenti- cated by thefe folemn words ; Saith the Lord of hojls, the almighty God, who keepeth truth for ever, who cxecuteth judgment for the oppreffed, who giveth food to the hungry, and loofeth the prifoners. Such conduct toward the poor, I hope, my brethren, you heartily deteft, as difcovering a mean and fordid fpiiit, a cruel and inhuman temper, and a culpable con- tempt of thofe whom we ought to compafficnate and relieve. If it is fmful to difregard the neceffities of the poor, how odious and wicked a part do they ad, who bring men into poverty, and then diflrefs them ! Oppreflion is an enormous crim.e in all who are guilty Ver. i6. prophecies of ISAIAH. 21 r of it, but efpecially when committed by thofe who ought to be the guardians and protedors of the weak and the injured. 16 If Moreover, the Lord faith, Becaiife the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with ftretched-forth necks, and wanton eyes, walk- ing, and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet. In this, and the following verfes, the prophet de-., livers the meflage he had received from God to the Hebrew women, wherein he fpecifies many inflances of their foolifli pride and extravagance, on account of which feveral fevere judgments are denounced againfl: them. Moreover, the Lord faith. The perfons to whom he conveyed this information might have been apt to cenfure the freedom he ufed upon this occafion, and therefore he introduces the fubjed: by opening his commiffion, and acquainting them, that he had authority from God for what he was about to deliver. Becauje the daughters of Zion are haughty. Zion, you know, was the mountain on which flood the city and palace of the kings of Ifrael^ and the temple of the Lord, in which were performed the folemn exercifes of his worfliip. The daughters of Zion were the female fex, who collected the fpoils of the common people, and indulged them- felves in the pride and profufion after mentioned j who might be thus defcribed, to remind them of the inconfiftency of their chara61:er and conduct, who, inftead of following vain fafhions, ought to have dreffed themfelves as beconieth women profeff.ng godlinefj. The complaint brought againll them was, that they were haughty and proud ; and that their haughtinefs difcovered itfeif in their whole man- ner, in their various gellures, in their feveral motions,' and in all their appearances. The length of their neck?, the wantonnefs of their eyes, the movements D d qi 212 lECTURES ON THE Chap. HI. of their feet, on which they wore chahis or rings, which made a tinkling found as they walked, all ihewed that their chief bufmefs was to make a fine appearance, that they might attract attention and ad- miration. Thefe affetled ornaments were in themfelves ufelefs,and highly offenfive to God, being proofs of hateful vanity and extravagance. 17 Therefore the Lord will finite with a fcab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will difcover their I'ecret parts. The almighty God here declares, that he would puniih thefe daughters of Zion in a manner fuited to the crimes they commited, by removing their fa- vourite objefts, and expofmg them to poverty, Ihame, and contempt. Their heads, which they were ac- cuflomed to drefs at much expence, with great atten- tion and elegance, and to adorn with various orna^ ments, of which they were extremely fond, Go4 threatens to finite with a difeafe, which mufl have proved a very grievous calamity, efpecially to per- ions of the above defcription. Thus the Mofi High, who hateth the proud, wounded the head of thofe who went on in their trefpafles, at the time they were led captive by their enemies into a foreign land. At the fame period, the latter part of this verfe was like- wife verified. It was anciently the barbarous cullom of conquerors to ftrip their captives naked, to ex- pofe them to the inclemency of the weather, and the intolerable heat of the fun in warm climates. This, to women who had indulged themfelves iri the elegancies of life, and fuperfluities of drefs, mufl have been a heavy calamity, and diflrelfing in the extreme. Such was the punifhment God threatened to inilift upon the delicate daughters of Zion, for their pride and haughtinefs ; of which they had woful experience at the Babylonilh captivity. 18 In I V£R.i8.&c. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 213 1 8 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their fecty and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, 19 The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, 20 The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the head-bands, and the tablets, and the ear-rings. 2 1 The rings, and nofe-jewels, 22 The changeable fuits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crifping-pins, 23 The glafles, and the line linen, and the hoods, and the vails. Suffice it for us to have read over this inventory of the Hebrew womens drels, of which God threatened to deprive them. The antiquity and variety of thefe ornaments render our acquaintance with them very imperfed ; and to endeavour to defcribe them would rather ferve to gratify vain curiofity, and to amule an idle fancy, than to convey ufeful iullrudion and im- provement to the heart. I beg leave, therefore, to pais them over in filence, after I have made two or three ihort remarks. The names of the feveral ar- ticles here mentioned, not occurring in any other palTage of fcripture, interpreters have been difficulted how to tranllate them, and to afcertain with precifion what was the particular thing fignified by each de- fcripiion. Nor does this afford juft ground of fur- prife, when we confider the frequent alterations of faihions, and that the names of particular pieces of drefs are continually varying. Though God threat- ened to take away from the daughters of Zion the or- naments here enumerated, we ought not from hence to conclude, that the wearing of them is unlawful to perfoas Oi high fhuion, and coufiderable aliiuence. 214 LECTURES ON THE CitAP^III* The extravagant ufe of them is doubtlefs condemned by the threatening before us; and the abufe of them, to the bad purpofes of gratifying pride, vanity, and levity, is reprefented in a very ftrong light, demand- ing our ferious attention. A difference in drefs ought certainly to take place among the feveral clafles of mankind, and this difference ought to befomewhat proportioned to their various circumflances and con- xditions in life. People of every rank fhould remem- ber, that they Ought not to allow the expence laid out in purchafmg articles like thofe above mentioned, to encroach on what they Ihould appropriate to more important purpofes, and the affiftance of the poor; nor to allow the time of dreffmg with fucli ornaments, to intrench upon that which ought to be devoted to the far more noble defigns of cultivating the heart, and beautifying the mind. We fuppofe, grofs inatten- tion to thefe material circumflances to have been one reafon, why the divine difpleafurc difcovered itfelf in the manner here foretold ; and recorded for our ad- monition, upon whom are come the ends of the world. 24 And it fhall come to pafs, tJjat in ftead of fweet fmell, there fhall be ftink ; and in ftead of a girdle, a rent; and in ftead 'of well- fet hair, baldnefs ; and in ftead of a ftomacher, a girding of fackcloth ; and burning In ftead of beauty. In thefe words the prophet defcribes farther cala- mities which God would infiift upon the haughty daughters of Zion. They had been accuftomed to ufe perfumes, of which they had no doubt great abun- dance and variety in thofe warm Eallern countries : hence frequent mention is made of them in the Song of Song^. Inftcad of the fine agreeable flavour of fweet perfumes, to which for long time they had been inured, the Hebrew ladies were to be punifhed in a manner moft mortifying to their delicacy, by a dif- agreeable llench, arifing from loathfome difeafes, and the Ver. 25. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 215 the medicines they fliould be obliged to ufe in order to mitigate and remove them. Inllead of embroider- ed girdles, fine-drefled hair, ornamented flomachers, and admired beauty, their clothes fhouM be rent, their heads fliould be bald, their loins girded with fackcloth, and their (kin fun-burnt, through the in- tenfe heat to which they fliould be expofed. In few words, their condition was to be totally reverfed : in room of all their delicacies, of which they were to be deprived, they were to be expofed to innumerable hardJhips, in fo much that all might fee their fm in their punilhment. Tliis is one of thofe things, my friends, which happened for our enfample, and is writ- ten for our inftruftion. Let all, efpecially the female fex, who are in opulence and higher rank, be admo- nifhed of the danger of fpending their money on fri- volous articles of drefs, and occupying their time in a ftudious attention to the niceties of falhion, left, par- taking with the Hebrew ladies in their fm, they iharc alfo in their punilhment. 25 Thy men fliall fall by the fword, and thy mighty in the war. This verfe mentions another dreadful calamity which was to befall the daughters of Zion, or rather Zion itfelf, the form of addrefs being changed from the plural to the fmjxular number. She was to expe- rience the direful eifefts of war, in the deftrudion of her nobles' and mighty men, who were her Itrength and her glory. The fword here intended, was thai of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, whereby the land of Judah was laid wafte from the one end to the other, and its inhabitants deftroyed. The fv/ord of that powerful monarch made no diftinttion of perfons^ it reached not only to the people, but to all the princes of Ifrael, the moft honourable, and the moil powerful not excepted. The fons of Zedekiah were ilain before his eyes : the princes, the nobles, and the mighty 2i6 LECTURES ON the Chap. III. jnighty men, as well as the common foldiers, fell in battle, through the rage and power of the enemy, who fpared neither the great nor the mighty ; fo univer- fal was the judgment God executed upon the Jewilh nation, according to the predictions we have been confidering. 26 And her gates fliall lament and mourn, and llie behg dcfolate, fhall fit upon the ground. Zion is here feprefented as a defolate widow, mourning over her deflitute condition. Mourning is afcribed to her gates, which were the chief places of concourfe, and thronged by the multitudes, which were going into, and returning from the city. Thither men, women, and children reforted, according to divine command, that they might hear, and learn to fear the Lord their God, and obferve to do all the words of his law. There fat the judges, who deter- mined the caufes which were brought before them for decifion by the people. Few now remained to fre- quent thefe gates ; and thefe few fhould bitterly la- ment the deplorable condition to which they were re- duced by the calamities of war, which had laid waite both city and country. In thefe defolate circum- 9i2Li\ct^jhe J]oallfit upon the ground, v/hich was a pollure that fignified forrow, and deep diftrefs. In this penfive manner the royal pfalmilt defcribes the Jews lamenting their captivity ; ' By the rivers of Babylon, there we fat ' down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion *.' And thofe who were left behind in the gates of Zion, were likewife to bewail their mifery ; of which the prophet Jeremiah hath given this moving reprefenta- tion ; * Her gates are funk into the ground ; he hath * deflroyed and broken her bars ; her king and her * princes are among the Gentiles ; the law is no more, * her prophets aifo iind no vifion from the Lord. The * Plal. cxxxvii. i. * elders Ver.25. prophecies of ISAIAH. 217 * elders of the daughter of Zion fit upon the ground, ' and keep filence : they have caft up duft upon their ' heads ; they have girded themfelves with fackcloth; ' the virgins of Jerufalem hang down their heads to * the ground. Mine eyes do fail with tears ; my ' bowels are troubled ; my liver is poured upon the ' earth, for the deftrudion of the daughter of my * people *. O Lord, true and righteous are thy ' judgments. My flelh trembleth for rear of thee, ai^d I " am afraid of thy judgments/ * Lam. 9, 10, J I. PRELIML r 218 3 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. SUCH is the uickednefs of mankind, and the ex- treme difficulty of reclaiming them from error and fm, that a confiderable part of revelation is employed in (hewing fmners their tranfgieffions, and in warning them of their danger. Such is the infinite goodnefs, and amiable compaffion of God, who delights in exer- cifmg loving-kindnefs and tender mercy on the earth, that, having reproved and threatened the workers of iniquity, he never fails to fpeak comfortably to his peculiar people, and to animate them by the mod pre- cious promii'es. In the mid ft of deferved wrath God always remembers mercy ; and having denounced the moft awful threatenings againfl tranfgreflbrs, he follows them with reviving profpeds, to refrelh the difconfolate minds of his faithful fervants. This ob- vious remark is verified in the prophetical difcourfe before us, where the infpired writer pafTes from the many calamities he had been reprefenting, to defcribe the mofl fubflantial blefTmgs to be enjoyed by the people of God, after the judgments above mentioned had been executed. The magnificent appearance of an illuftrious perfon is here foretold, under whole benign influence the church of God was to fliine forth in the beauties of hoHnefs, and to enjoy the agreeable care and protedion of divine providence. CHAP. IV. A N D in that day fcven women fliall take -^*-*- hold of one man, faying, We will eat our ovv'n bread, and wear our own apparel : only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach. The Ver. I. LECTURES, &c. 219 The divifion of the fcriptures into chapters hath been made very injudicioufly in fome places, and in fuch a manner as fometimes interrupts the fenfe of feveral palTages both of the Old and New Teftament. A ftriking indance of the truth of this remark, which hath been often repeated, lies now before us. Our prophet's difcourfe is broken off almoft in the middle of a fentence, by feparating this verfe from the pre- ceding chapter, with which it is intimately connected. The dilmal confequences of what is there related, are here defcribed ; namely, the great fcarcity of men, occafioned by the vaft numbers who had been flain n battle. At the period to which this predidion refers, the difproportion of the males to the females mull have been very confiderable, when feven of the latter Ihould take hold on one of the former fex, and, laying afide their natural modeify, fhould addrefs themlelves to the men with the moft preffmg importunity, in order to obtain their confent to marry them; and, difregarding the fufpicions arifmg from jealoufy, declare they would be content with a fhare in the rights of marriage. We will eat our own breads and loear our oivn ap- parel. The warm folicitations of the women pro- ceeded not fo much from a love of eafe and pleafure, enjoyed in the marriage-relation, or a defire of parti- cipating in the advantages refulting from it, as from a folicitude to fhare in the honour refulting from that connection. They were willing to renounce all claim to food and raiment, which married women com- monly make on their hufoands, and to provide for themfelves according to their ability. Only let us be called by thy name. A perfon is called by the name of another, that he 'may be diflinguiflied from others, by the connection in which he ftands to him whofe name he bears : thus David is called the fon of JeiTe ; Sarah, the wife of Abraham ; and in this fenfe the women here mentioned, were dcfirous to be known by their relation to their common huf- band. To take aivay our reproach. As it has al- E e wavs 620 LECTURES on the Chap. IV. ways been reckoned honourable for a woman to be defired and loved by the men, fo to be neglect- ed and overlooked hath been ever efteemed a dif- honour and a reproach. It mult be fo ; for by the law of nature, and by divine conllitution, the man is the covering and honour of the woman with whom he is conneded, and by whom fhe hopes to fee her own offspring, whom fhe confiders as her greatefl treafure. The celibacy of young women, therefore, is claffed, by Afaph, among the calamities which befell the people of Ifrael : ' Their maids were not given in * marriage*.' Such was the deplorable condition of Judah, after the terrible flaughter made among them by the Affyrians, as appears f;om what is recorded, 1 Chron. xxxvi. 1 7. where we read, ' That the king * of the Chaldees flew their young men with the ' fword, in the houfe of their fanduary, and had no * compafTion upon young man or maiden, old man, * or him that ftooped for age.' On this account the virgins of Jerufalem are deicribed, by the prophet Je- remiah, as hanging down their heads to the ground with forrowf. Let us then, my friends, adore the infinite wifdom and goodnefs of God, who, in his kind providence, commonly proportions the number of males and females, fo that, as hehimfelf direds, every man may have his own wife, and every woman her own hufband. And when we hear of the dreadful defolations made upon mankind by the fword, and their lamentable confequences, let us cautioufly avoid thofe tranfgreffions which expofe to fuch awful judg- ments, and endeavour to be thankful to God for the ineftimable bleffmgs of peace. 2 In that day fhali the Branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the czxih. JJoall be excellent and comely for them that are efcaped of Ifrael. * Pfal. Ixxviii. 6 2,' f Lam. ii. 10. ht Ver. 2. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 221 hi that day. This expreffion mufl not be inter- preted here in its ftrid and literal fignification, but in its enlarged and more extenfive meaning; in which fenfe it is often ufed in prophetic language. Thus in Hofea ii. 1 5. where God fpeaks comfortably to Ifrael, he promifes, ' to give her, her vineyards from ' thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope, ' and fhe (hall fmg there, as in the days of her youth, ' and as in the day when (lie came up out of the * land of Egypt.* The Hebrew words, as fome writers have obferved, may be tranflated after that time^ which feems to be the true meaning of the ex- preffion. The prophet does not foretel what Ihould come to pafs immediately after the return of Ifrael from captivity ; but paffing over in filence interme- diate events, and looking forward by the fpirit of prophecy, he is enabled to defcribe the felicity of the people of God in the time of the Meffiali; though, at firft view, he may appear to treat only of Zerubbabel^ who typified our Saviour in fome relpefts. The branch of the Lord, is a figurative defcription of the great Meffiah, whom the prophet Zechariah, (who frequently alludes to the prophecies before us), plainly informs us, is the perfon intended by this cha- racter, ' Thus faith the Lord of holts, Behold, I * bring forth my fervant the Branch *.' And again, * Thus fpeaketh the Lord of hofts, faying. Behold the * man whofe name is the Branch, and he fliall grow ' up out of his place, and he fliall build the temple ' of the Lordf.' By this title he is foretold by Ifaiahj in this palfage, and in Chap. xi. i. The fame defignation was given him by Jeremiah, U). thefe remarkable words ; ' Behold, the days come, faith ' the Lord, that I will raife unto David a righteous ' branch, and a king fhall reign and profper, and ' (hall execute judgment and juitice in the earth |.' It mufl be evident to the impartial reader of thefe * Zech. jii. S. + Zech. vi; 12. % Jer. xxiii. 5. prophetic 222 ' LECTURES ON THE Chap. IV. prophetic fcriptures, that they do not refer to Zerub- babel, or to any other perfon than our glorious Re- deemer, who, with refpeft to his human nature, fprung from the royal line of David, and root of Jeife; and who, in way of eminence, was called the Servant, and Branch of Jehovah, as he, in a manner peculiar to himfelf, proceeded forth, and came from God. Like a branch, his beginning upon this earth was fmall, his appearance was mean, his growth was pro- greffive ; for he grew up before God as a tender plant, waxing greater and greater, until his fhadow filled the whole earth, and men repofed themfelves under it with great delight, and found his fruits fweet unto their taite. On thefe accounts we conclude, that the promifed Meifiah is the perfon intended by the Branch of the Lord ; which is here foretold, Shall be beautiful and glorious ; or, as you read in the margent of lome of your Bibles, fliall be beauty and glory. Beauty chiefly confills in the juit propor- tion of the feveral parts which belong to the objeft to which it is afcribed : it alio frequently denotes fome peculiar excellence M^iich attrads admiration and efteem. With the greatell propriety is beauty afcrib- ed to the branch of the Lord, in as much as the iliuf- trious perfon fpoken of under this figure, is fully polTeffed of all thofe amiable excellencies which excite admiration and love, and difplays them in their high- eft perfedlion in his perfon and performances. God is love, and whatever is lovely in him is to be feen in the exprefs image of his perfon, in whom dwells all the fulnefs of the Godhead. The divine beauty of the Lord cannot be any where contemplated to fuch ad- vantage as in the Branch of the Lord, nor can the at- tractive beauties of human nature be any where view- ed Ihining with fuch luflre as in the righteous Branch, which God railed up unto David, who was altogether love ly, and fairer than the children of men ; in con- templating whom, we ought to exclaim in the words of the admiring prophet, ' How great is his good- * nefs, V£R. 2. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 223 ' nefs, how great is his beauty * !' It is alfo fore- told, that this branch fhall be glorious. Glory con- lifts in the fplendour, pomp, and magnificence of the perfon to whom it belongs ; and in this fenfe, I fup- pofe, it is afcribed to the bleffed Redeemer, who af- forded the moft wonderful manifeftations of the divine prefence, power, and goodnefs, in the redemption of fmners from among all nations. How incomparably grand were the exhibitions he gave of his grace and ability for effeftuating this great end, firft upon earth, and afterward from heaven ! Having difplayed in this world the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, he was exalted to the right hand of the Majefty on high, from whence he gave forth the moft convincing proofs of his grandeur and magnificence, for the benefit of his church. Thus we fee this prediftion eminently fulfilled in Jefus Chrift, who is indeed beautiful and glorious. Let us ever highly efteem him, who from everlafting was the de- light of the Almighty ; who in every age is pre- cious, is an honour to them that believe, and who is efientially neceftary to our happinefs and falvation. And the fruit of the earth fhall be excellent and comely. By the fruit of the earth, we may underftand, with fome interpreters, the human nature of the Branch of the Lord, which v/as derived from this earth. At the time to which this prophecy refers, it appeared incomparably excellent and comely, when it was rendered perfectly glorious, that it might be elevated to the throne of God, as the complete model after which the bodies of the living in Jerufalem ihall at laft be faftiioned. "What a magnificent defcription dqes the apoftle John give, in the fi^rft chapter of the Revelation, of the view with which he was favoured of this illuftrious Perfon ! Or by the fruit of the earth, as others are of opinion, may be meant, the blelTed eftetts refulting from the amiable afped af- fumed 224 LECTURES on the Chap. IV. fumed by the Branch of the Lord, and the confequent gift of the Holy Spirit, when the gofpel was diffufed through the earth, and the kingdom of God was efta- bliflied among men, who abounded in every divine grace and good work, which adorned the doctrine of God our Saviour. Then, as foretold, ' The earth did ' yield her increafe* with the utmoft profufion ; ' and * God, even our own God, did blefs us * :' and our Lord's observation was verified, ' Except a corn of * wheat fall into the ground, and die, it abideth alone : * but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit -f.' How excellent and comely were the fruits which fprung up on earth, in confequence of the exaltation of Jefus Chrifl to his glory ! How illuflrious was the meek- nefs difplayed by his difciples, in patiently fullaining the many injuries they received, whilft they never offered any violence to others ! How amiable that humility whereby they contemned worldly riches and grandeur, which commonly poffefs the hearts of man- kind, and engage their mofl ftrenuous purfuits. How glorious was the fortitude and magnanimity they dif- covered, in their difcourfes and adtions, in their afflic- tions and perfecutions, by living in obedience to Jefus Chrift, and dying for his teftimony, who was defpifed and rejefted of men ! So excellent and comely were their fruits, that, in profperity, they allured the world by the beauties of holinefs ; and, in alflidion, they excited admiration by the fplendour of their inno- cence, and their invincible patience. For them that are efcaped of IfraeL Thefe beautiful fruits of the earth greatly advanced the honour, the interefl, and reputation of the happy perfons who are here defcribed, in reference to the efcape made by fome of the Jews, when the army of the Babylo- nians befieged Jerufalem. At that time, in the day of the Lord's anger, faith the prophet Jeremiah, ' None * efcaped or remained |.' Thefe words are not to be * Pfal. Ixvii. 6. f John xii. 24. % Lam. ii. 22^. under- Ver. 3. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 225 underflood in their ftriaefl fenfe ; for he himfelf efcaped, and others befide him : but he affirms, that very few efcaped in comparifon of thofe who fuffered. Indeed, in midft of ths moft terrible judgments that were ever executed upon the children of men, God hath always remembered mercy, and fome have e- fcaped. When the old world was dellroyed by water, Noah and his family were preferved ; when Sodom and Gomorrah were confumed to afhes, Lot and his daughters had their lives given them for a prey j and when Jerufalem was made a fpedacle of divine ven- geance, fome efcaped the general calamity. To this the prophet feems evidently to refer in the words be- fore us, which are defcriptive of the fame penons mentioned in the following verfe, where we fhail have opportunity of confidering their charader more par- ticularly. Let the wonderful Perfon of whom you have now heard, poflefs the chief place in your affec- tion. He is infinitely lovely and glorious, and juflly merits your higheft efieem, and molt profound refped:. Abound in the fruits of righteoufnefs, which are by him to the praife of God, and thankfully improve the fruits of the earth to the honour of the bleifed Giver. 3 And it fhall come to pafs, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerufalem, ihall be called holy, even every one that is writ- ten among the living in Jerufalem. Thefe words defcribe the diftinguifliing charader, and pecuHar property of the efcaped in Ifrael, who par- ticipate in the falvation of the great Meffiah.— — The perfons intended, are fet forth as left in Zion, as re- maining in Jerufalem, and as written among the liv- ing in Jerufalem. I fliall endeavour to illuftrate the latter of thefe expreffions, fo as to enable you to underftand the two former. After the Lord had brought forth the children of Ifrael out of the land of Egypt, and houfe of bondage, he commanded them to 226 LECTURES on the Chap. IV. to be numbered : this was likewife done after their return from captivity at Babylon, as is evident from the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The record in "Which their names were engrofl'ed, is fuppofed to have been the writing of the houfe of Ifrael, mentioned in the thirteenth chapter of Ezra. To this practice there is a manifell allufion in the words of this verfe, which may be confidered as referring to thofe who were enrolled as inhabitants of Jerufalem, the metro- polis of Judea, in the regifter kept for that purpofe. This book might be called the book of life, or of the living, as it contained the names of all thofe who were alive in the city, and enjoyed the privileges of citizens. As the prophet, however, hath fomewhat farther in view than the return of the Jews from their captivity, namely, the purity and felicity of the church of God, after the appearance of the Meffiah, I fuppofe the expreffion is intended to include thofe who are written among the living, or to eternal life, in the Je- rufalem which is above. In this fenfe it comprehends all thofe of whom Jefus Chrift fpeaks, as having their ' names written in heaven * ;' concerning whom the apoftle Paul fays, ' Their names are in the book of ' lifef ;' who, as the apoftle John affirms, ' are wrir- * ten in the book of life of the Lamb jQain from ' the foundation of the world J.* This glorious pre- rogative, peculiar to the people of God, is infinitely fuperior to that of having power over evil fpirits : and forms a ftriking contrafh to thofe who depart from God ; concerning whom the prophet Jeremiah de- clares, ' They fliall be written in the earth, becaufe ' they have forfaken the Lord, the fountain of living * waters j|.' The city of the heavenly Jerufalem is frequently fpoken of, as having a regifter belonging to it, in which the names of the citizens are written, who are born from above, made partakers of fpiritual * Luke X. 20. f PhlHp. iv. 3. -^ Rev. xiii. 8. II Jer. svii. 13, life, Ver. 3. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 227 life, invefted with right to eternial inheritance, and endeavour to a£t fuitably to the diftingui filing advan- tages they enjoy. Thefe are the people who are here defigned, and concerning whom it is foretold, that every one of them Shall be called holy. The Hebrew word tranflated holy^ is derived from one that fignifies to fet apart, confecraie^ or de-vote. Thole who are holy, the Lord hath fet apart for himfelf, in his eternal purpofe. In this fenfe he informed the prophet Jeremiah, ' Before ' I formed thee, I fandified thee, and ordained thee * a prophet *.' In confequence whereof, God is gra- cioufly pleafed attuaily to confecrate them to him- felf, by preparing and qualifying them for the im- portant fervices he affigns them. Thus we read, that Barnabas and Saul were feparated for the work whereunto he called them f . The happy effect of this confecration is, that they fmcerely devote, and heartily dedicate themfelves to God -, or, in the words of fcrip- ture, they give or yield themfelves to the Lord, and their members as inflruments of righteoufnefs unto God. In this manner they become veflels of honour, fanftified and meet for the Mailer's ufe, and prepared unto every good work J. Things fuch as filver and gold, when dedicated to God, only change their ufe, whilfb they remain the fame as formerly : whereas men, who are devoted to him, have their nature purified, as M^ell as the purpofes for which they are employed changed; their fouls and bodies, their time and talents, are all ufed in the fervice of God, for the advancement of his glory. According to this predic'don, the per- fons fpoken of (hould be called holy : being truly and atlualiy fan^tified, they were to be known by the ho- nourable defignation of faints. Men who are often miilaken, are ready to mifname peribns and things : they are apt to call the proud happy ; to call evil good, and good evil; and to blefs the covetous, whom * Jer. i. 5. \ Afls xiil. 2. J 2 Tim. ii. 21. Ff the 228 LECTURES ON THE Chap. IV; the Lord abhorreth. In their pride of heart, they may fay to others better than themfelves, ' Stand by, ' come not near, 1 am holier than thou :' whereas God, who is infinite in knowledge, perfect in under- flanding, and whofe judgment is according to truth, always gives perfons their true and proper names ; and, therefore, thofe whom. he calleth holy, juftly de- ferve this charafter. This predidion was remark- ably verified at the time, the Branch of the Lord be- came beautiful and glorious, when, as we learn from the Acls and Epiflles of the apoftles, this was the dif- tinguifhing character of thofe who conftituted the firil churches of Jefus Chrift.— — I now addrefs you in the words which the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying, ' Speak unto all the congregation of the children of ' Ifrael, and fay unto them. Ye (liall he holy, for I the * Lord your God am holy.' Confider the holinefs of God as the perfedl pattern you ought to imitate, and a powerful motive to induce you to follow after this hohnefs, without which no man fliali fee th« Lord. 4 When the Lord fliall have wafhed away the filth of the daughters of Zion,' and fhall have purged the blood of Jeruialem from the midft thereof, by the fpirit of judgment, and by the; fpirit of burning. In this manner the honourable chara^ler, mention. ed in the preceding verfe, is to be attained. That men may with propriety be called holy, their pollu- tion mull be wafhed away by him who alone can bring a clean out of an unclean thing. The exprei- fions here ufed are metaphorical, and feem to refer to the way commonly taken in order to clean a church or city from the naflinefs it hath contracted. The filth to be waflied away from the daughters of Zion, was the notorious crimes committed by the in- habitants of Jeruialem ; fuch as idolatry and fuper- flition. Ver. 4. PROPHECIES op ISAIAH. 229 flition, pride, luxury, and the like, joined with pre- fumptuous felf-confidence in their own righteoufnefs, which notwithftanding they foolifhly endeavoured to eflablifh. By the blood of Jerulalem, may be meant the atrocious crimes of fraud and perjury, robbery and murder, with the cruel oppreflion of the poor, the fatherlefs, and the widow, Thefe were to be wafhed away and purged by the Lord himfelf, whofe glorious prerogative it is, to cleanfe his people from all their iniquities, and to fprinkle clean water upon them, according to his promile, that they nzay be clean. This great change was to be efl-eduated by the fpirit of judgment, which God was to confer upon the minifters and teachers of the Chriitian church, who, by their judicial proceedings and deci- fions, were to feparate between the holy and profane. By the fpirit of burning, may be meant thoie awful judgments which were to be intiided on the Jewifh nation, in that terrible day, which was to burn as an oven, w^herein the Lord was to appear as a refiner's fire, and the blood of Jefus Chrift and his apoilles, fhed about Jerufalem, w^as to be avenged. In confe- quence of which, the church of God, formed of his peculiar people, zealous of good works, lliould ex- clude from their fociety, all thofe who perfiiled in the praftice of the above-mentioned and nmilar tranfgreffions. If internal purification is included in the expreffions before us, whereby the people of God are cieanfed from all jfilthinefs of iiefli and fpirit, fo as to perfefl: holinefs in the fear of God, the fpirit of judgment is that Spirit who judges and condemns men for their fins, by means of the law of God; who infpires them with fpiritual knowledge and underflanding in divine truths, and poffelTcs them of wifdom and prudence to direft their ways. A?id the fpirit of burning (an expreffion peculiar to this paflage of fcripture), may refer to the extraordi- nary gifts conferred upon the difciples of Jefus Chrill at the day of Pentecoll by the Hcly Spirit, of which 230 LECTURES ON the Chap. IV. the cloven tongues, like as of fire, which fat upon them, were inltrudive emblems ; or to his continued influence upon mens hearts, whereby he confumes their corruptions, purifies their fouls unto obedience, warming them with divine love, and ardent zeal for good works. Deeply impreffed with a fenfe of the impurity of our natures, now ftripped of their original beauty, and of the fmfulnefs of our aftions, now taint- ed by pollution, let us earneftly apply to God, that he may wafh us thoroughly from our iniquity ; whilft we diligently improve the means he hath appointed, and often blelled, for accompliiliing this falutary purpofe. 5 And the Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and upon her aflemblies a cloud, and fmoke by day, and the fhining of a flaming tire by night : for upon all the glory y^^// be a defence. This, and the following verfe, reprefent the external happy condition of the fubje6ts of the Mefliah's king- dom, with fome of the glorious prerogatives they were to enjoy, under the favour of divine providence. The Lord, the felf-exillent and alhfufficient Jehovah, who is infinitely poflefled of every divine perfedion, the giver of all good, who cleanfeth from all unrigh- teoufnefs, afferts himfelf to be the author of the in- ellimable privileges here mentioned. Thefe, he de- clares, he will convey by his creating power, whereby he calleth the things W'hich are not as though they were, and forms them for his fervice, to difpiay his glory. The fubjeds to whom thefe important bleflings are promited, are. Every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and her al/hnblics. Mount Zion here, as in many other prophecies, denotes the church of God, that he himfelf hath planted and eltabliflied, which, like that mountain of old, is indeed beautiful, the joy of the whole earth ; concerning which God hath faid, * This is my reft : here will I dwell, for I * have Ver. 5. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 231 ^ have defired it *.* By the dwelling-places of Zion, may be meant the habitations of the juft, on which the bleffing of God doth reft ; the dwellings of the righteous, wherein are heard the voice of rejoicing and falvation. By their aifemblies, may be intended the folemn meetings of her inhabitants, convened for the facred purpoies of divine worlhip, in which the name of God is recorded with honour, the word of God is preached with benefit, the prcfence of God is experienced with joy, his loving-kindnefs is thought of with delight, and his praifes celebrated with gra- titude. They are no other than the congregations of the faints, profeffing reverence and love for God, faith in Chrift, and union with one another, alTem- bled where with moll: convenience they may do ho- mage to the one true God, through the one Mediator, by the one Spirit, in which they find their duty, ho- nour, and happinefs to confuT:. At the period referred to in this prophecy, they convened daily in the temple ; they aifociated in an upper chamber, and went from houfe to houfe as circumftances required. And in after-times, the multitude of them that be- lieved, and profelTed to believe, having greatly increaf- ed, they wifely provided places wherein they might alTemble, for the focial worfhip of the one common Lord and Saviour. We, my brethren, compofe one of thefe alTemblies, to which the reviving promifes in this, and the following verfe, are given. Ever foli- citous to enjoy the ineftimable bleffings they contain, let us frequently and devoutly aflbciate ourfelves, to give honour and glory to him that fitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, in the firm perfuafion, that the Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and upon her aflemblies, ^ cloud, and pnioke by day, and the jlnning of a jlanu ingjire by night. As an eminent writer hath remark- ed, Thefe words contain a gofpel-promife, expreffed * Pfal. cxxxi'i. 14. m 55a LECTURES dN THE Chap. IV. in law-terms ; a New-Teftanient mercy, in Old- Tedament drels. Tht7 bear a manitefl reference to what is written in the conchifion ol the book of Exo- dus, where we are told : ' That a cloud covered the * tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord * filled the tabernacle.' Prior to the eredtion of that flrudure, the pillar of cloud conduced the children of Ifrael in their journeys by day, and by night a pillar of fife gave them light. After the tabernacle was finilhed, the cloud covered the tent of the congregation ; and when the tabernacle was fet afide, and the temple was dedicated, the cloud of the divine prelence filled that magnificent houfe. And now under the gofpel, the temple being fet afide, and long ago buried ia ruins, the Lord hath promifed to create upon the alfemblies of his faints a cloud, from which they de- rive all the important advantages which the people of God anciently enjoyed from the pillar of cloud and fire. The cloud and fmoke by day, afforded the Ifraelites an inftruftive fymbol of the divine prefence which attended them : it conduced them in all their journeys, interpofing between them and their enemies; it confounded the latter, whilft: it conveyed direction to the former. By day, it ferved for a fliadow, to fcreen them from the fultry heat of that warm climate. By night, it rendered the air healthy and agreeable : it proved a defence from numerous dangerous enemies, and yielded light for travelling, and preferving order and decency in the camp. In thefe, and other refpefts, the pillar of cloud and fire was an eminent type of the fpiritual privileges comprehended in the promife under our confideration, made to the afiemblies of Ziop. They fhall enjoy the prefence of God ; of which they are affured by the faithful and true Witnefs, who hath declared, ' That wherever two or three are gathered ' together In his name, there he is in the midft of * them *.* They fliali be favoured with direftion from * Matth, xviii. 20. the Ver. 5. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 43^ the wonderful Counfellor, who will guide them in the ways of truth, and condjuft them by his good Spirit into the land of uprigbtnefs *. They fhall have proteftion from all their enemies, from their Re- deemer, who is mighty ; who will fafely preferve them through the various conditions they have to pafs, in the lightfome days of profperity, and in the dark nights of adverfity. Though the affembhes of Zion may not enjoy a light fufficiently ftrong, to enable them to fee to the end of their journey, God will fhew them their way, one ftep after another. Though- he may not defend them from the attacks of their enemies, he will not allow them to fall a prey into their hands ; and, by gradual conquefts, he will carry them forward to complete viciory. Though they may not always poffefs the confolations of the Holy Spirit, he will not leave or forfake them in any cafe. Such feems to be the import of the promiles here made to the aflemblies of the people of God, and fuch is the fubftance of thofe glorious privileges his peculiar people were favoured with under the former difpen- facion. All thele are continued with us, whilil the bondage, to which, for wife purpofes, they were fub- je'3:ed, is happily removed. Our condition, in many refpe£ls, is greatly preferable to theirs : we have bet- ter promiles, gr-ater liberty, and more grace; and therefore let u« highly value, and diligently improve our advantages, whilil we earneftly plead with God for the accompliihment of the promifey he hath given for our encouragment. For upon all the glory fball be a defence. Befide the pillar of cloud and fire, which attended the children of Ifrael in their journeys through the wildernefs, a bright fenfible difplay of the divine prefence became vifible to them on fome occ^fions. When the taber- nacle was erefted, we are told. That a cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord filled it j and' thus the * Pfal. cxliii. lo. cloud 234 ' LECTURES ON THL Chap. IV. cloud above the tabernacle formed a covering, or de- fence, to the glory wherewith it was filled. To this there feems to be an allufion in the exprefllon now before us. Or it may refer to the ark of the tefli- mony, which was called the glory of Ifrael ; for we read, that when it was taken by the Philiftines, la- mentation was made in thefe words ; ' The glory is * departed from Ifrael *.* With great propriety was this name given to the ark, as it contained the two tables whereon the law of God was written, which was intended to conduct men to Jefus Chrift, who had thr.t law written upon his heart ;• — the pot of manna, preferved by divine command, as a memorial of God having fed his people with bread from hea- ven, and a figure of the true bread of life, which giveth life unto the world ; — and Aaron's rod, which budded, in teftimony of the divine difpleafure againft Korah and his company, who contended for the priellhood, fignifying the order and government which ought to be maintained in the church of God. Thefe things were depofited in the ark, which had for a covering the mercy-feat ; typical of Jefus Chriil, whofe mediation ferves as a covering to his people^ and proves their fure defence. Such was the glory of the church under the Old Teftament, which may afllft us in afcertaining what is the glory under the New Teltament here intended. Jefus Chrift, who is the Alpha and Omega, under this difpenfation, forms its hlghell glory : the God of glory refides in it as his habitation ; the Spirit of glory ref leth upon it, as his highly favoured dwelling-place ; the law of God is preferved in her affemblies ; the glorious gofpel of the Son of God is their treafure and charter ; and faith- ful miniflers, the glory of Chriil:, are their mellcn- gers. All the genuine members of thefe aflemblies are glorious within : they are clothed with the garments of falvation, and fliine forth in the beauties of holi- * I Sam. iv. 2;. ncfs, I Ver. 5. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 235 nefs, difplaying the mofl: amiable fimplicity of man- ners, and unfeigned mutual love, in the exercifes of well-doing.-- — -^Upon all this glory Shall be a defence. The word tranflated defence^ is derived from one that fignifies to cover. In this fenfe it is ufed by the patriarch Jac#b ; who fays concerning his fon Benjamin, ' The Lord (hall cover him all the * day long *.* The word before us fignifies a cover- ings and, by an eafy tranfition, a defence, for which purpofe a covering is frequently intended. The ex- preffion, as already hinted, alludes to the cloud which covered the tabernacle of old, wherein was the ark, the glory of Ifrael, \vhich prefigured the true glory of the church. As that cloud formed a covering, or de- fence, upon the ark, fo the almighty God, whofe pe- culiar prerogative is to give exiltence to things which formerly had not a being, and to form things of pre- exiftent matter, which had not the leail tendency to. become what it is formed ; in like manner, I fay, the all-powerful God will create a defence upon iiis people's glory. This defence lliall be extended, in a pccuHar manner, to their immortal fpirits ; for the Lord (hall preferve them from all evil : he Oali pre, ferve their fouls. Their bodies alio are under his pro- teftion ; for he keepeth all their bones, not one of them is broken, Over their reputation he likewife forms a defence; for thou, Lord, flralt keep them in fecret as in a paviHon, from the ftrife of tor.gues. About their houfes and polTcffions he maketh an hedge, in which there is not one gap through which an adverfary may enter. ' As the mountains are ' round about Jerufalem, fo the Lord is round about ' his people, from henceforth even for ever f . No * weapon formed againfl: them,' however fliarp, and aftively employed, '{hall ever profperj. Let all ' thofe then whp put their trufl in God, rejoice : let ' them ever ihout for joy ; becaufe thou. Lord, de- * Dfut. xxxiii. 12. + Pfal cxxv. 2. % Ifalah liv. 17, G g ^ fendeft. 236 LECTURES ON THE Chap. TV. ' fended them : let them alfo who love thy name, be ' joyful in thee. For thou, Lord, wilt blefs the righ- ' teous, with favour wilt thou compafs him as with a * fhield*.* Trufl then in God at all times: ye people, pour out your hearts before him : God is a refuge : in the Lord is our defence. Among men the defence of their glory and privileges cofls very dear. That we may be protefted by government, \ve fupport it with a confiderable portion of our property : whereas God is gracioufly pleafed to create a defence upon our highefi glory ; and only requir-r eth, that we afk his protection, truft in him for lafe- ty, and ufe the means he hath prefcribed. 6 And there fhall be a tabernacle for a fhadow in the day-time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from ftorm and from rain. The fubjeft introduced in the preceding verfe is here amplilied. Lender the former difpenfation, the church enjoyed the privilege of a tabernacle, made by divine appointment, according to the pattern >vhich God ihewed to Mofes in the Mount. After the children of Ifrael entered the wildernefs, and re- ceived the law from Mount Sinai, they were employ- ed in providing materials for this ftrufture ; which w^ere curioufly wrought, and richly ornamented, by Bezaleel, under the infpedion of the Jewiih lawgiver ; Avho ordered every thing relative to its beauty, order, and ornaments, as the Lord commanded. The hillory of its ereclion is the chief fubjecl of the latter part of the book of Exodus. This tabernacle was intended to be a vifible pledge of the prefence of God among that people, which conilituted their prote(5lion and de- fence, as we learn from the prayer prefented to God, at its removal from one place to another, recorded Numb. X. 35,36. In this view, it proved the means of confirming the faith and hope of IlVaci in the di- * rfui. V. II, 12. Ver. 6. PROPHECIES of ISAlAH. 257 vine prefence, and powerful prote£lion of Jehovah. It was the place appointed for the performance of all the ordinances of divine worfhip, where the book of the law was kept, where the people brought their offerings, and the priefts prefented them before the Lord in the manner they were directed. It was the fanduary and dwelUng-place of the Mofl High, where he met with his people, converfed with them, and fandified them by his glory ; which afforded them a powerful motive to awe and reverence for God, ahd to hoHnefs and purity of conduct. Above all, it was chiefly defigned to be a continual reprefentation, and inftruclive type, of the Son of God's dwelling upon earth, in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man, as a glorious demonftration of his love and grace. In him dwelleth all the fulnefs of the Godhead ; through him all his peculiar people have accefs to God, with their fpiritual facrifices ; from him they enjoy the moil agreeable protedion ; and by him they have the mod fubilantial proof of the love of God, which pafTeth knowledge. This is the true tabernacle, of which, v/e fuppofe, our prophet fpeaks, when he fortels, that ii fhall be For a fnadow in the day-time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from fiorm and from rain. The heat of perfecution, which was to diftrefs the church of Jefus Chriil, at the period to which this prophecy looked forward, is ^oubtlefs the heat here meant. It arofe from the intenfe hatred of the king'i and princes of the earth, glowing with indignation againft the difciples of the Son of God ; and from the fiery darts of the evil one, which were direded againft them. Thefe things are very properly fignihed by the heat of the fun, which fcorches thofe who are ex- pofed to its penetrating rays without fliadow or cover- ing, efpecially in warm eaftern countries. In hke man- ner, thofe who arc expofed to the heat of perfecution, are haralled and tortured by inflruments of cruelty, unlefs protected by fome kind hand. By the itorm and 238 lECtlTRES ON THE Chap. IV, and the rain may be intended, thofe awful divine judg» ments, and general calamities, fuch as war, famine, pedilence, and the like, whereby God correfts the na- tions, and chaftens them for their fms. Like a ftormj and a deluge of rain, "they fpread defolation and ruin wherever they fiill, and are attended with many dread- ful confequences. Hence the awful declaration, ' Upon * the wicked he fliall rain fnares, fire and brimftone, * and an horrible tempefl : this fliall be the portion ' of their cup *.* Alluding to the fame metaphors, God, by the prophet Ezekiel, threatened to punifh the land of Magog ; ' And 1 will plead againil hiirt ' with peltilence and with blood, and I will rain upon ' him, and upon hii bands, and upon the many people * that are with him, an ovcriiovving rain, and great ' hailflones, fire and brimftone. Thus will I magnify * myfelf, and fanftifymyfelf, and 1 will be known in ' the eyes of many nations, and they fliall know that ^ I am the Lordj.'- In fuch calamitous feafons it is foretold, that the great MefTiah Ihall be for a fha- dow, a place of refuge, and a covert In warm climates, where the fcorching rays of the fun beat with great vehemence on the weary travel- ler, ready to faint with heat, a fliadow is highly valued. Hence the Hebrew word tranflated defence (Numb, xiv. 9.), fignihes alfo a jhadow^ as you fee it rendered on the margent of fonie of your Bibles. The Son of God, by tabernacling^ among men, in human na- ture, interpofed betweeiithem and the hot difpleafure of the Almighty, which they had incurred by tranf- grellion. -This tabernacle is likewife foretold ihall be a place of refuge. The exprellion may allude to the cities of refuge, appointed under the lav/ ; of which we read, Numb. xxxv. 11. — 14. Thefe were erefted, by divine appointmert, upon confpicuous high grounds, where they might be feen at a great ciiftance: they were to be fo lituated, that a perfon mioht reach one of them in a fliort time, from the * Pfal. xi. 6. f Ezek. xxxviii. 22, 23. molt Ver. 6. PROiPHECIES of ISAIAH. 239 moft diflant corner of the land : they were required to be cities of the Levites, from whom thofe who fled thither might enjoy the benefit of inftrudion : the roads leading to them were ordered to be made good; and ftones fet up, to give direction to thofe who re- forted thither for protedlion. Such a phce of refuge is the true tabernacle here fpoken oF, which is the only fufficient fandluary from /lorm and rain. It was eredled by divine appointment ; and elevated, that it might draw all men unto it : thither men are com- manded to flee for refuge : the way is clearly marked out in the gofpel, by which the prifoners of hope are to turn to this ftrong-hold, vv^here they are alTured oF inftruftion, which Ihall make wife unto faivation. Thefe prediftions received a partial accomplifnment, in the peace and fafety which the churches in Judea, Samaria, Galilee, and other places enjoyed, under the fpecial proteftion of divine providence, and the extraordinary proofs with which they were favoured of God's gracious prefence. And afteru'ard, when the heat of perfecution arofe, Jefus Chrift afforded comfortable ilielter and defence to his church, and preferved it from thofe fevere judgments which over- turned the Jewifh ftate. And bielfed be God, that, in following ages, the church of Chiill hath happily ex- perienced the farther fulfilment of thefe prcmifes, the completion of which we are lliil admitted to behold.^ — Let us h. V, trailing the wine from the grapes. In allufion to this practice, the blelled God is here laid to have made a wine-prefs in the vineyard of his church, that he might therein collect the fruits of his vineyard, and ail that praiie and glory which he jufliy expeded to receive. Learned men are divided in opinion refpecting what is here intended by the wine-prefs. Some have thought, that the altar was thereby fignified, upon which the blood of facrifices, and drink-offerings of wine, were poured out; others have contended, that the prophets were thereby reprefented^ whom God fent unto his people, to prefs them, by their inllruc- tions and example, to the exercifes of true religion and virtue. 1 rather fuppofe, that the temple of Je- rufalem was fignified by the wine-prefs, in which the aifemblies of liVael were convened : the fruits of faith,- of righteoufnefs,and obedience, were, in fome meafure, collected and expreifed in the facrifices, the prayers, and praifes, which were therein prefented to the Moil High. This beautiful edifice was a kind of public re- pofitory, in which all the gifts and graces of God's people were expreifed in the mofl becoming manner, in obedience to Jehovah, and to his glory. The tribes of Ifrael, who went up thither, were ifrongly urged to the exercile of devout affections, and good con- duct, whereby the public benefit was promoted, and their own fruitfulne's demonftrated. Under the better difpenfation, with which we are favoured, Jefus Chrift affords us many greater prerogatives than thofe which were enjoyed in the temple by the pofte- rity of Abraham. Such were the important ad- vantages which God was pleafed to coiifer upon the vineyard of his ancient church. Let us not over-rate, nor envy their privileges. The bleliings we enjoy are far more excellent than the benefits they poifefTed. Deeply impreifed then with a grateful fenfe of God's dillinguifning goodnefs, let us dihgently improve it, for animating us to the faithful performance of every good wurk. s And Ver. 2. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 251 And he looked that it Jhould bring forth grapes. Af. ter fo much had been done for the vineyard, the great Lord of all juflly expected, that it would have yielded good fruit in great abundance. The event however proved otherwife. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning. From everlaliing he had a full view, and perfed knowledge of all the events of time ; and therefore, itrlftly Ipeaking, he never finds any thing different from what he clearly foreknew would certainly come to pafs. Notwith- Handing, dlfappointment of expectation is here a- fcribed to God, refpefting the confequences of the care and kindnefs he had Ihewn to his church. The expreffion is ufed in condefcenfion to the weaknefs of our capacities, and muff be underftood fo as to be confiftent with the infinite perfedion of the divine nature, and the glorious attributes of Jehovah. Men who are attentive to their vineyards, and bellow much care and expence upon their cultivation, naturally ex- peO: fruits in fome meaiure proportioned to their la- bour and charges, and would not be a little difap- pointed did they prove otherwife. You who are hu^tandmen, entertain the pleafmg hope, that, in the weeks of approaching harveft, you flrall be abundantly recompenfed for all the cofl and toil you have laid out upon your fields. In like manner, the blelfed God looks for fruit from the vineyard of his church, fuited to the many advantages they have enjoyed ; and, in this profpeft, he exercifes much long-futfering to- ward them. This expectation, you muit acknowledge, is jufl: and reafonable, accordinoj to the well-known rule of equity, ' To whom much is given, much will ' be required.* The proper eiiects, however, the de- firable confequences of the divine kindnefs and care, could not be difcerned in the vineyard of lirael. Would to God that, in this refpect, we may bear them no refemblance ; but, being planted in the houte of the Lord, let us (till bring forth fruit, to flicw that the I i Lord 251 LECTURES ON the Chap. V, Lord is upright, he is our rock, and there is no un- righteoufnefs in him. And it brought forth wild grapes. Inflead of the good fruits of rightcoufnefs, which tend to ihe glory of God, and comfort of men, the Ifraelitifli church pro- duced only wild grapes, the fruits of corrupt nature. They entertained wrong fentiments concerning the ■ways of God, particularly refpeding the way by which they might have become righteous before him. ' They * followed after the law of righteoufnefs, but did not * attain to it ; becaufe they fought it not by faith, * but as it were by the works of the law : for they * ftumbled at that ftumbling-fi:one *.' Falfe notions of the great promifed MefTiah, of the rites they were commanded to obferve, and the facrihces which they offered, were exceedingly prevalent among them. They indulged corrupt affedions: they were addicted to all manner of vice and wickednefs ; fuch as idolatry, pride, oppreiTion, and injuftice, which they pradtifed under the cloak of a high profeflion. They rebelled againfl God: ' they defpifed his judgments, and ' walked not in his ftatutes, but polluted his fabbaths: ' for their heart went after their idols -f.* Hence the heavy charge which God brought againfl them, by the prophet Jeremiah, ' I had planted thee a noble ' vine, wholly a right feed : how then art thou turned ' into the degenerate plant of a ftrange vine unto * me { ?' Their beft performances were no better than "wild grapes, and the clufters of Gomorrah, which, though outwardly beautiful, were putrid and ufelefs. On the part of God, no care or pains was wanting: but fo flrong was the corruption of Ifrael, that it abufed the divine goodnefs, and turned the grace of the Mod High into wantonnefs : very great was the difproportion between the means employed for their improvement, and the end thereby accompli(hed. Have not we, my brethren, fooliilily aded over, in * Rom. ix. 31, 32. t Ezck. xx. 16. % Jer. ij. 21 - i"ome Ver. 3. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 253 fome meafure, their criminal conduft, by the ungrate- ful returns we have made to the Giver of all good for his diftinguifhing kindnefles. Aftiamed of our paft un- fruitfulnefs, let us henceforth have our fruit unto hoU- nefs, that, in the end, we may obtain everlafting life. 3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerufalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. The ungrateful, unprofitable people, with whom God was at variance, are here conllituted judges by fa- preme authority, and invited to decide the caufe de- pending between the God of Ifrael and themfelves, re- Ipeciing the reafonablenefs and juilice of the divine ex- pectations. Such is the perfeft righteoufnefs and equity of the divine procedure, and fuch his wonder- ful condefcenfion, that he not only permits fmners to plead their caufe before him, but, fufpending as it were his fovereign rights, he offers to plead be- fore the tranfgreffors, to account for his conduft, and to fubmit to the judgment of his creatures. Si- milar inilances of this aftonifhing grace are men« tioned in fcripture : a remarkable one is recorded in the firft part of the fixth chapter of the prophecies of Micah ; ' Hear ye now what the Lord faith, ' Arife, contend thou before the mountains, and ' let the hills hear thy voice,* iifc. The Almighty, by acting in this manner, obligeth fmners to condemn themfelves, and to pronounce their own fentence ; of which I will mention two memorable examples, ferv- ing to illuftrate this remark. "When the Lord fent Nathan the prophet, to reprelent to David his crimi- nal condud, David was neceflitated, by the meffage he received, to prono*ince fentence upon himfelf ; as you may fee by confulting the twelfth chapter of Second Samuel. Our blelfed Saviour, by a parable, refemhling the one before us, fo accurately defcribed the charac- ter and conduft of the rulers of the Jews, that they ^vcre compelic^d to condeinn themfelveii : * Wiien * therefore £54 LECTURES ON THE Chap.V. * therefore (faid Jefus Chrift) the lord of the vineyard * cometh, what will he do unto thoie huihandmen ? * They lay unto him. He will milerably deftroy thofe * wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto * other hulbandmen, who fhall render him the fruits ' in their feafons *. In the verfe under confideration, the Lord our God called upon the inhabitants of the highly favoured city Jerufalem, and the men of Judah, to whom he had granted many ineftimable privi- leges, to judge between him and them ; in doing which, jultice and equity would conlbain them to decide againft themfelves. Never was fuch a caufe heard before any judges. Never was a court con- cerned in a matter of fuch magnitude. Never were fuch parties heard at the bar of any tribiinal : on the one part, the God of the whole earth, before whom all nations are lefs than nothing, and vanity ; and, on the other part, fmful duil and afhes, guilty creatures, a backfliding people. Never was a fubjecl of fuch extent and confequence agitated before any judgment- feat, it being no lefs than the whole conduct of the great Lord of all toward his church, and the whole behaviour of the church toward him. To you, my friends, whom God hath favoured with many fignal advantages, he now appeals for your decifion upon. his kindnefles toward you, and your ingratitude and inifimprovement. He will always be jufLified when he fpeaketh, and clear when he judgeth ; and before him every mouth muff be ftopt, and all the world be- come guilty. Judge then righteous judgment : fuffer not foolifli prejudices, or partiality to yourfelves, to bia& your decifion ; but declare plainly, what, in found rea- fon, are your fentiments upon the fubjed of contro- verfy ; and if your determination be juft, it mud be for God, and againft yourfelves. 4 What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it ? wherefore ■* Matth. XX!. 40, 41. when Ver. 4. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. a^S ,when I looked that it fhould bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes ? In thefe words, God as it were brings an adion againll his ungrateful profelling people. -He Speaks as one confident of the goodnefs of his caufe ; and contends, that he had not omitted to afford his church every advantage neceflary to render it fruit- ful. Do you reply, or think it might have been re- plied, to the inquiry here made, that he, for whom all things are poffible, could eafily, by the power of his vidorious grace, have converted the men of Ju- dah from the error of their ways ; othervvife people can frufhrate the grace of God, and make it of none effect ; elfe God had not done all to his vineyard that could have been done in it ? We affirm, that men cannot render the grace of God of none effeft. Do you ferioully think, that the almighty God can- not effe6|:uaily convert fmners from the error of their ways ; that he hath not power to give them new hearts ; that he is unable to write his laws upon their inward parts ; and that, having promifed thefe, and other fimilar bleffmgj^, his fuccefs entirely depends upon the varying inclinations, and capricious hu- mours of men ? You mud be lenfible, that, by fuch a fuppofition, you afcribe the glory of fmners con- verfion not to God, but to themielves : you err, not knowing the fcriptures, which uniformly attribute this happy change to him who worketh all in all ; and you err, not knowing the power of God, which can eafily furmount every obftacle that might hinder men from returning to the Moft High, Notwithflanding the power of Jehovah could have eafily effectuated a univerfal bleifed change in the church of Ifrael, there appears great propriety and juiUce in the inquiry be- fore us, when underftood, as it ought, not in an ab- folute and unhmited, but in a confined and re[lri*S;ed fenfe. No doubt God could have done much more for the improvement of that people than he adually perlormed ^55 LECTURES on the Chap. V. performed under the Old Teflament : he could have given them eyes to fee, ears to hear^ and hearts to iove him : he could have given them his Spirit, and caufed them to walk in his ilatutes, and to keep his judgments, and do them. There is, however, a pe- culiar force and energy in the queftion here put, which we will more clearly perceive, by recollefting the character of the perfons to whom it was originally directed. A few excepted, who were jews inwardly, whofe circumcifiori was that of the heart, in the fpirir, they were a carnal and felf-righteous people, the fer- vants of corruption, and infenfible of their need of divine grace, to effcftuate their converfion to God. To convince them of their inability to return to God, and the infufficiency for this purpofe of all external meiuis and advantages, God requires them to fay, What could have been done more for his vineyard ? What other means, fubfervient to their falvation, and neceffary to promote their happinefs, fuited to the difpenfation under which they lived, could they have wifhed to enjoy, befide thofe with which they were favoured. The Lord their God had put them in pofTeffion of a good land ; he had exterminated from before them the Canaanites ; he had given them good laws ; he had raifed up among them great men, for their defence ; he had fent his fervants, the prophets, to inftru^t them ; he had inflituted tfmong them the folemn fervices of his worfoip ; he had ereicted for them a mod magnificent temple, the admiration of the world ; he had multiplied to them his favours ; and chaflized them for their fnis, with many fevere judgments. Could any thing more have been done, to render them fruitful in good works, befide giving them the Holy Spirit, the neceffity of whofe influence they were unwilling to acknowledge. This fubjed prefents us with an affeding inftance of the wcak- nefs and depravity of human nature, which cannot be cured by the bed means appointed for this end, unlefs accompanied with the grace of the Holy Spirit, yER.4- PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 257 which God is ever ready to beftow upon thofe who, convinced of their own impotence, humbly and ear- ned ly afk it of him. Wherefore ivhen I looked that it Jhould bring forth grapes^ brought it forth wild grapes ? The bleffed God here defcribes his condud: toward his church after the manner of men ; who, having cultivated their vine- yards, expert that the fruits (hould, in fome meafure, correfpond to the great care and expence with which they have been attended, and are confequently much difappointed when it proves otherwife. Though the great Lord of ail perfetlly knew that he was not to receive adequate returns for the benefits he had con- ferred, he is neverthelefs reprefented as looking for the fruits of his kindnefs and care, in the obedience of his people ; to remind them of his conftant infpection, his juit expedation, and his high difpleafure at their unprofitablenefs. This momentous circumllance 1 en- deavoured to illuftrate, when treating the fecond verfe, where it like wife occurred ; and therefore I think it unnecelfary to fay more on the fubjeft at prefent, than to recommend it to your ferious practical regard. In the parable of the fig-tree, delivered by our Saviour, recorded in the thirteenth chapter of Luke, from the fixth verfe, the great God is reprefented as looking for fruit : when he hndeth none, he is juftly offend' ed ; and, after fome time, he ordered it to be cut down. This prefents us with a jufl view of what will be our certain doom, if, when God looks for faith, he obferves unbelief; for repentance, and beholds pre- fumption ; for love, and feeth hatred ; for patience only, and lo murmuring ; for reformation, and in- Itead thereof backfliding ; for fruit, and nothing to be found but leaves. If fuch is our unhappy condi- tion, what, what can we expect, but that when we cry to God for mercy, we find none ; when we wiih for light, behold darknefs ; when we defire peace, behold trouble ; when we look for good, evil cometh ; and when \vc expect fucccfs, behold difappointment ? Per- mi: 258 LECTURES ON the Chap. V, mit me then to addrefs you, in the words of the apoftle Peter, ' Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, * and to virtue knowledge ; and to knowledge, tem- * perance ; and to temperance, patience ; and to pa- * tience, godlinefs ; and to godlinefs, brotherly kind- ' nefs ; and to brotherly kindnels, charity. For if ' thefe things be in you, and abound, they make you * that ye (hall neither be barren, nor unfruitful in the * knowledge of our Lord Jefus Chrill *. 5 And ROW go to ; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard ; I will take away the hedge thereof, and it fhall be eaten up : and break down the wall thereof, and it fliall be trodden down. In this, and the following verfe, God denounces, againft the vineyard of his church the moft awful de- ferved judgments, which the confciences of thofe to whom he appealed muft have acknowledged jufl and equitable. — We have before us the divine purpofe and determination refpefting the Ifraelitifli church, which the Lord was gracioully pleafed to make known, by our prophet, for their and our inftruftion. ' Surely ' the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his ' fecret unto his fervants the prophets f.* He ac- quainted Noah of the flood he was about to bring up- on the world of the ungodly : he informed Abraham of the deflrudion of Sodom : he revealed to Jofeph the feven years famine with which the land of Lgypt was vifited : to our prophet, Jeremiah, and others, he communicated the knowledge of the captivity at Ba- bylon. The future fortunes of Ifrael and Judah were foretold long before they happened, not only as in- llruftive warnings of approaching judgments, but likewife for the fame reafon that our blelfed Saviour told his difciples before-hand of the treachery of Ju- * 2 Peter s. 5. — 8. f Amos. iii. 7. daSi Ver. 5. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 259 das, ' That ye may believe, faid he, that I am *.* The Almighty indeed fometimes executes upon tranf- greflbrs thofe judgments which were never heard of until they are felt. Commonly, however, he lets men hear of them before they are inflicled : he founds the trumpet before he goeth forth to battle : he inti- mates his defigns to his fervants, that they may call upon men to prepare to meet the Lord ; to repent, and return to the Mod High, that they perilh not. Being thus warned, they are deprived of every excufe with which ignorance might have furnilhed them. / will take away the hedge thereof; and to the fame purpofe, in the following claufe, and break down the wall thereof. The firll judgment here threatened, is, the removal of the benefit firft mentioned in the fe- cond verfe, which God had conferred upon his people. This circumftance, worthy of our attention, conveys this ufeful inftruclion, That the fupreme Difpofer of all events often begins to execute his judgments where he began to confer his favours, and removes them in the fame order he bellowed them. The word tranf- lated hedge, lignifies a fence made of thorns, in- tended to proted the vineyard, or garden, from the injuries it might receive from the beads of the field. That which is rendered wall, means a flrong fence built with (tones, defigned to proted it from the hand of fraud or violence. The hedge threatened to be taken away, we fuppofe, was the defence which God fet around the Ifraelitifh church, by means of laws, judges, princes, and rulers, whereby he guarded them from innumerable dangers. The wall threatened to be broken down, may fignify the protection of divine providence, which encompaifed them like a wall, and proved a fure defence againd the hodile attacks of their enemies. Thefe being removed, they were con- fequentiy to be expofed to imminent dangers, and violent incurfions, upon all quarters. This great ca- * John xiil. ig. K k lamity 26o LECTURES ON THE Chap. V, lamity Mofes, the fervant of the Lord, anciently fore- told ftould certainly be inflided upon them, did they forfake God, and break his covenant : ' Then (faid ' God) my anger fhall be kindled againft them in ' that day, and I will forfake them, and I will hide my * face from them, and they fiiall be devoured, and ' many evils and troubles lliall befal them*.' Afaph, contemplating the forlorn ftate of this vineyard, when this threatening received a partial accomplilhment, thus complains : ' Why haft thou broken down her ' hedges, fo that all they which pafs by the way do ' pluck her. The boar out of the wood doth wafte ' it, and the wild beaft of the field doth devour ' itf.' // Jlmll be eaten up— and it Jholl he trodden down, Thefe expreflions plainly foretold in what manner the Jewifh nation were to be treated by their enemies ; ibme of whom were to be greedily devoured, whilft others fhould be trampled upon with indignation, and trodden down in triumph, as a proof of their fubjedion to foreign power. And thus it aftually came to pafs, when, on account of their multiplied tranfgrelTions, God deprived that people of their defence, and ex- pofed them to the hoftile attacks of their powerful enemies. The Affyrians fell upon Ephraim ; the Babylonians attacked Judah : they laid wafle their land, they demoliflied their fortrefles, they burnt their temple, and led them away captive into ftrange countries, until they found, in'woful experience, what an evil and bitter thing it was, that they had forfaken the Lord their God. And afterward thefe predidions were more fully verified, when the Romans carried devaftation through the whole land, and both con- fumed and trod them down, until deflruftion came upon them to the uttermoft. Thefe righteous judgments, executed upon Tfrael and judah for their lins, are recorded for our admonition ; and inftrud * Deut. xxxi. 17. f Pfal. Ixxx. 12, 13. US Ver. 6. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 261 us to beware of abufmg the many ineftimable privi- leges we enjoy, left God be thereby provoked to take away from us the hedge of his proteftion. Attend to the diredion given for this purpofe, by the prophet Jererniah ; ' Go ye now unto my place, which was in ' Shiioh, where I fet my name at the firft, and fee ' what I did unto it, for the wickednefs of my people « Ifrael*.' 6 And I will lay it wafte : it fhall not be pruned, nor digged, but there fliall come up briers and thorns : I will alio command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. Other evils are here threatened to be executed upon the unfruitful houfe of Ifrael, as confequences of the prediction contained in the preceding verfe. The vineyard which God had planted in Canaan, was to be fg defolated as to become like a defert or wilder- nefs. With this prophecy the declaration pubhfhed by Jeremiah exactly agrees : ' For thus hath the Lord * faid. The whole land ihall be defolate ; yet will I * not make a full end f .* Though the nation was to be defolated, and the foretold devaftation was to be general, the whole church of God was not to be de- flroyed ; a remnant of the true worfhippers of God was ftill to be preferved. Hence, in the book of La- mentations, that remnant is introduced, bewailing their deplorable condition, in thefe aifefting words; ' He hath turned afide my ways, and pulled me in ' pieces : he hath made me defolate J. This threat- ening was renewed by Jefus Chrift, toward the con- clufion of his public miniftry: ' Behold, your houfe is ' left unto you defolate i|.* And after his afcenfion, it was accompliflied in a ftill greater degree' than in former times. It is unnecefiary, under this article, to * Jcr. vii. 12. f Jcr. iv. 27. | Lam. iii. li. il Matth, x::iii. 38. lliew ^62 LECTURES on the Chap. V. fhew in what manner the Jewifh church was brought into a ruinous condition, as this fubjeft is defcribed in the following part of this verfe. From what hath now been faid, we learn, that however highly diftinguifhed by privileges and purity any church of God may be, it may fo lamentably degenerate as to be laid wafte by divine judgments. The church of lirael, the churches in Judea, the churches of Afia, are affeding proofs of this interefting truth. Whence originated the great change which pailed upon thefe churches ? God, who conferred upon them molt im- portant advantages, juflly expeded that they would have repented of their evil ways ; that they would have worfhipped him in the manner he required; that they would have executed juftice, Ihewn mercy to the afflided, and walked in his commandments : "whereas they became unthankful, and unfruitful ; in confequence whereof, he withdrew from them his pro- tection, and then they were laid wafte. ' Be thou ' inftruded, O Jerufakm (faith God), left my foul * depart from thee : left 1 make thee defolate, a * land not inhabited*.* It Jhall not be primed. By pruning trees, or vines, the fuperfluous, ufelefs wood, that might hinder their fruitfulnefs, is lopt off with a proper inftrument. The expreftiOn, applied to the church of God, may denote the exercife of neceflary difcipline, by v* hich vice re- ceives a-fevere check, and evil men, who are unfruit- ful to God, and injurious to others, are cut off, hke hurtful branches. This ufeful work is performed, by the fervants of God, according to the directions given in his word; who, by their decifions and cenfures, prove to the church what a pruning-hook is to the vine. Thefe decifions, like the axe of which John the Baptift fpeaks, they are fometimes obliged to lay to the root of the tree. Now, when God here faith concerning his vineyard, it fhall not be pruned, he * Jer. vi. 8. acquainted Ver. 6. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 263 acquainted his ancient church, that, at the period to which he refers, he would not, for their benefit, correct them any longer, nor employ his fervants to reprefs their abounding iniquities, or to cut off from among them the wicked and profane. Thus were they to be deprived of a fubilantiai proof of God's kindnefs and care toward his vineyard : ' Every branch in which * that beareth not fruit, he taketh away : and every ' branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may * bring forth more fruit*/ Confidering this pro- phecy as looking forward to the captivity at Babylon, the words muft be underftood in a limited fenfe ; for about that period, the prophet Ezekiel, and others, were employed in ufing their befl offices to cultivate this vineyard, which after that time affumed a much better appearance. Viewing it as referring to the defolation brought upon the Jewifh church by the Romans, we may give the prediction its full force ; for after the days of cur Saviour, and his apoftles, that once highly favoured people did no more enjoy this pecuHar privilege, of which, as here foretold, they were bereaved. Nor digged. In cultivating a garden or vineyard, the trees or vines muft be properly digged about, in order to loofe the earth, to expofe it to the fun and the rain, to clean away whatever is hurtful to the roots, and to give them room to grow and fpread. In re- ference to this well-knov/n practice, the figurative exprefTion here ufed, may denote, that the faithful fervants of God were no longer to be employed, in laying open the foundations upon which the faith and hope of the church were ellabliihed, in extermi- nating falfe opinions, in pulling up by the roots the errors that had crept in among them, and in detath- ing the minds of men from earthly objects ; all which are neceffary to their growth and' fruitfulnefs. To this important work God hath been pleafed to fend * John XY. 2. fortli 264 LECTURES on the Chap. V. forth his fervants in every age ; and, <^hen properly executed, it hath never failed, through the divine bleffing, to produce the moil happy effefts. The ne- gledt of it hath ever been attended with the worfl confequences, and therefore ought to be confidered as a heavy judgment. Of the truth of this threat- ening the Jewifh church had experience, in fome mea- fure, about the time of the Babylonifh captivitv ; and when defolated by the Romans, fo far from enjoying the privilege of being digged, in the fenl'e now given, that, in this refpeft, it was totally negle6ted. But thct'e j}:)all come up briers and thorns. Thefe were threatened hy the Almighty to be the produc- tion of the earth, when it was laid under the curfe, after man had tranfgreffed againft his Maker *. The confequences of this awful curfe you have every day before your eyes, in the barremiefs of the earth, which, if left uncultivated, would produce little or nothing but thefe noxious plants, with which it would foon be over-run. Briers and thorns, you well know, are hurtful things, dangerous to handle, and good for nothing almoft but to be dug up, and burnt in the fire. They afford, however, an indruclive re- prefentation of wicked men, who are often fpoken of in fcripture under this fmiilitude. Of this you m.ay fee a remarkable inftance, Micah vii. 4. where the church, complaining of the fmall number, and de- plorable corruption of thofe of whom it was compof- ed, thus fpeaks : ' The beil of them is as a brier : ' the molt upright is fharper than a thorn-hedge :' In this figurative fenfe the expreilion before us mufl be underilood. The briers and thorns here intended, are wicked, ungodly people, whofe minds are occu- pi^ with fmful imaginations, whofe lives are filled up with wicked aftions, m^Iio are unprofitable to them- felves, and hurtful to others. They produce nothing but unbelief, impenitence, and immorality, the unfruitful workc Ver. 6. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 26 works of darknefs, .which never yield any teal ad- vantage to themfelves, or to the world : on the con- trary, to them is to be attributed ail the confufion and devaflation that hath overfpread the earth. Such were the briers and thorns which were to fpring up in the Jewifh church, at the period to which this prediftion refers ; namely, at the time of the captivity at Babylon, and elpecially at the defolation made by the Romans. Notwithftanding all the advantages they had long enjoyed, many among them reful'ed to believe the truths of God ; or, if they profeifed to receive them, they would not amend their lives ; or, if they pretended to fome reformation, they did not perfevere in their profeflion. Their hearts were im- pregnated witii the feeds of corruption, which grew lip in great abundance, and brought forth all manner of fm and wickednefs, not only without means, but in oppofition to excellent means of improvement. / will alfo command the clouds that they rain no rain upo7i it. This is the fixth, and lad awful judgment, which God here threatens to infli8: upon the unfruit- ful vineyard of the Jewifli church. Rain, you know, is the fmall drops of water which fall from the hea- vens upon the earth, communicating to it that moif- ture of which it muft be poffelled, in order to its con- veying nourifhment to the feeds which are fown into it, that they may become fruitful. It is frequently fpoken of in a metaphorical fenfe in fcripture ; and then it denotes the word of God, to which it is com- pared, Chap, Iv. 10, II. of this prophecy. The re- femblance merits attention. The rain fent from hea- ven to water the earth, is the efFed of the fovereign good pleafure of the Almighty, v/ho claims the gift of this inellimable blelhng as his peculiar prerogative *. In like manner, the word of God is dilpenfed as feemeth good in his fight: he fendeth it to one people, and not to another; to one city, and not to another; * Jer. xiv. i2. at- 266 LECTURES on the Chap. V. at one feafon, and not at another. The word of God, like fliowers of rain, is fometinies given more gently and fparingly, and at other times more copioufiy and plentifully. Like the literal rain, which fructifies the earth, it renders the people of God fruitful in every good work. The prophets and teachers of the Jew- ifli nation, may be intended by the clouds here men- tioned. Their employment was, to colled the word of God, that, being filled with the knowledge of his will, they might diftribute this precious treafure among the church ; which, when accompanied with the di- vine blefiing, rendereth them fruitful in knowledge, faith, .and righteoufnefs. Here God threatens, that he will command thefe clouds that they rain no rain of the word of God upon his vineyard, at the time to which this predidicn refers. How awful the judg- ment ! The rain is not more ncceffary to the earth, than the word of the Lord to the fouls of men. The great end of divine difpenfations, the future manifeft- ation of divine glory, the tender care of the Saviour of the church, the weaknefs of our natural faculties for receiving fpiritual things, the feeblenefs of our graces which require continual fupplies, the variety of* temptations which muft be refifted, all unite in de- monftrating the abfolute necellity of the rain here fpoken of. Truly deplorable then mud be the condi- tion of thofe who feek the word of God, and do not find it ; or, having obtained it, read, and do not underftand it, nor receive the inftrudions and con- folations it is intended to convey. This, with the former articles in the predidion, were remark- ably fulfilled, in different de^rrees, at the two memo- rable periods 1 have marked lor the time of their ac- complifhment. In the manner now defcribed, a righ- teous God commonly proceeds againll unfruitful pro- feflors in his church : in perfed righteoufnefs, he withdrav/s from them the ineftimable privileges they had ungratefully abufed. This procedure ought to excite us to improve, with the greatell diligence, the important Ver.;. prophecies of ISAIAH. 267 r important advantages we enjoy, left, by our negle£t, we expofe ourfelves to finiilar divine judgments with thofe inflifted upon the Jewifli church. 7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hods is the houfe of Ifrael, and the men of Judah his pleafant plant : and )ie looked for judgment, but behold oppreflion ; for righteoufneis, but behold a cry. This verfe contains a (liort explanation of the chief fubjects mentioned in the foregoing fong, or parable; — - By the houfe of Ifrael, is meant all the poilerity of the patriarch Jacob, formed into one, great family or fociety. The defcendants of that great man derived this name from a very memorable circumftance, re-r corded in the hiflory of his life. There once wrellled a man with him until the breaking of the day, whom Jacob refufed to let go, except he bieffed him. After aiking Jacob*s name, he faid, ' Thy name fhall be no ' more called Jacob, but Ifrael : for as a prince hafl * thou power with God and with men, and hafl; pre- ' vailed *.' This new and honourable name, which he received after this extraordinary tranfa£lion, hath been beftowed on his pofterity in all ages. The houfe of Ifrael compofed the vineyard of the Lord of hods, on whom he conferred the peculiar prerogatives men- tioned in the firft and fecond Verfes of this chapter, in confequence of which he expected from them abundance of good fruit.- You that are attentive cannot fail to remark, that the fame p.erfon whom our prophet, in the hfth verfe, called his well- beloved, is the Lord of hofcs, of v/hom he here fpeaks. This mighty Lord, who does in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of this earth, whatever pleafcth him, was the objeft of our prophet's fupreme affccT noil, and the perfon to wliom this fong was fung. — ■ * Gen. xxxii. 24, ct f:q. LI ' A::^ 268 LECTURES on the Chap. V. And the men of Judah his pleafant plant. It is evident, as the writer of the Epiflle to the Hebrews remarks, that our Lord fprang out of Judah, the tribe which contained within its boundaries the city Jerulalem, in which refided the kings of Ifrael, and wherein was built the temple of the Lord. After the other tribes had a])ofl:atized from the worfiiip of the true God, and ' compaiTed him about with lies, Judah ruled ' with God, and was faithful with the Mod Holy *.' Among the men of Judah, the duties of divine worfliip, and the fruits of righteoufnefs, were found in greater perfeftion and abundance than among the people of Ephraim. On this account they might have given them the defcription of God's pleafant plants, in whom he much delighted. It is a certain, and, my brethren, it is a comfortable truth, that the Lord loveth them that follow after righteouf- nefs ; he taketh pleafure in them that fear him, and that hope in his mercy. Let it be your chief ambi- tion to be of the planting of the Lord, in whom he is glorified ; and beloved of him, whofe affedion is infmitely to be preferred to that of all the creatures. And he looked for judgment^ but behold opprejjton ; for righteoufnefs^ but behold a cry. -By judgment, may be here meant the knowledge of good and evil, the dif- cernmcnt of right and wrong, united with the practice of juftice and equity. In this fenfe it frequently oc- curs in fcripture; as in the following palTage : ' BlelTed '' are they that keep judgment, and he that doth * righteoufnefs at all times |.' The word may not only denote equitable, but alfo mild condud, mixed with mercy and moderation, in exa£ling what is due to us by others, in oppofition to rigour, and extreme feverity. Thus it muit be underflood, where the pro- phet entreats, * Correftme, but with judgment; not in * thine anger, left thou bring me to nothing];. In this laft fenfe, it ftands in direft oppofition to the op- * Hcfea ::i. 12. f Pfal. cvi. 3. % J"- ^- 24- prefTion Ver. 7. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 269 preffion which was fubftituted in its place. By righteoufnefs, may be intended that upright and jull conduft which God requires us invariably to obrerve in all our tranfaftions with one another, fummed up in the perfed rule of equity given by our Saviour : ' Therefore all things whatfoever you would that ' men fliould do to you, do ye even fo to them : for * this is the law and the prophets *.' Such righteouf- nefs forms a flriking contrail to the fraud and injuflice which gave occafion to the cry of which the prophet fpeaks. He that worketh this righteoufnefs Ihall i\ever be moved. Both exprelTions feem to be of the fame import : or the former may relate to jufl fenti- ments refpe£ling good and evil ; and the latter, to the correfponding pradice of thofe things that are juft and equal. After the many im.portant advantages wherewith God had diflinguilhed the people of Ifrael, he looked that they would have received, and under- flood the inftruftions of judgment ; he expeded from them the exercifes of righteoufnefs, which exalteth a nation, and redoundeth to the praife and glory of God. To thefe things they were encouraged by many promifes of mofl defirable bleffings ; of which take the following as a fpecimen : ' That which is ai- ' together juil (halt thou follow, that thou mayeft live, * and inherit the land which the Lord thy God giveth ' thee f .' Indeed never did they fiourifli and profper as when they performed judgment and righteoufnefs : then they experienced the truth of their wife fove- reign's excellent obfervations ; ' He that followeth ' after righteoufnefs and mercy, findeth life.; righ- ' teoufnefs, and honour {. In the way of righteouf- * nefs is life, and in the path- way thereof there is no ' death ||.' But heboid oppreffion. The Hebrew word rendered opprejfion^ fignifies a fcab, a ivound, or leprofy. As thefe things fpoil the beauty and foundnefs of the hu- * Mattli. vii. 12. t Dcat. xvi. 20. :}; Prov. xxi. ^\. \ Prov. xiii 28. jn.ui 270 LECTURES ON THE Ckap. V. man body, and make it difeafed and loathfome, fo opprefiion renders the body politic, or ecclefiallical,^ deformed and odious, reduces it to a dangerous con- dition, and excludes it from agreeable intercpurfe with God. It is a very great evil, a very heinous fm. Oppreffion confilts in the abufe of power; and, there- fore, moil commonly proceeds from thofe who are ex- alted above others in opulence and influence : for what Solomon remarked of old is always true, ' That ' on the fide of oppreiTion is power/ It always dif- covers a haughty and crue! difpofition, with a con- tempt of juilice and clemency. The poor and needy, the fatherlefs and the widow, the orphan and the ftranger, are ordinarily the objefts who are hurt by this crime ; and, therefore, God cautioned his people to bevvare of injuring thefe helplefs clafles of mankind *. Taking advantage from the neceflities and circumftances, of the unhappy perfons who are the ob- jetls of it, to over-reach them, or prejudice their in- tereils, it greedily feizes their poiTeffions, deprives them of their liberty, injures their reputation and credit, and employs every effort to make them appear weak or wicked, foohfh or factious. Oppreffion then is a very enormous crime, exceedingly offenfive to God, and highly injurious to the facred rights of mankind ; being a wicked perverfion of the benevo-^ lent defigns of divine providence, in exalting fome perfons above others, that they may be a protettion and fupport to the v/eak and indigent, that they may give counfel and comfort to them that need them. But behold a cry. It is not here laid v/ho cried, of to whom the crv was directed ; and fo the expreffion admits of a double interpretation, either as it defcribes the mournful complaints of the opprefTed, or the ri- gorous demands of the oppreffors. Opprellion is a crying fm, which, though the opprelled fhould keep filence, calleth. aloud for vengeance. Such, how-' * See EKod. xxii 21. ever. Ver.;. prophecies of ISAIAH. C71 ever, is commonly the mifery of their condition, that they are obliged to unite their cry with that of their oppreiTors, who loudly exaded their cruel demands. Hundreds, thoufands loudly exclaimed, becaufe their vineyards were taken from them, their houfes were devoured, their fields were pillaged, the wages they had earned were detained, the faces of the poor were grinded, their caufe was not heard, nor their griev- ances redreffed. Thofe who aflumed^ the charafter of priefts and prophets, polluted the fandtuary, and the ordinances of the Moli High : the princes, and the rulers, injured the rights and properties of the people. In .few words, fuperitition abounded in the church, injuftice and oppreffion in the flate : and to fuch a pitch did thefe crying iniquities arrive, that the city Jerufalem is thus fpoken of by the prophet Jeremiah ; ' She is wholly oppreffion in the midft of ' her *.' What a contrait between righteoufnefs, the eifed of which is quietnefs and aflurance'for ever, and oppreilion, attended with a cry that reacheth the throne of the almighty Avenger !— Such was the corrupt flate of the Jewilli church prior to the Baby- lonilh captivity, as is abundantly evident from the writings of the prophets. This corruption and de- pravity arrived at a ilili greater height, and became more confpicuous, about the time our bleiled Saviaur came feeldng fruit from the vineyard ; as vve learn from the parable, recorded Matth. xxi. 33. and fol- lowing verfes, and many other pafihgcs inferted in the gofpels. —Let us then diligently beware of the ag- gravated crimes of injuftice and cppreiTion, with the other fms which expofed the poiferity of Ifrael to the moil terrible calamities,^ left,, partaking in their fms, v/e Ihare in their puniihments. Contemplating their captivity, and afterward their deftruciion, as awful warnings of the danger of unfruitfulnefs in thoie v/Lvm God hath diftinguiflied by his favour:, let us brincT 272 LECTURES (5N THE Chap. 7, bring forth fruit with patience, that, having our fruit unto holinefs now, in the end, we may obtain everlaft- ing life. 8 ^ Wo unto them that join houfe to hoiife, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midfi of the earth. The lirfl: of the fix woes denounced in this chapter, is againfl the covetous and avaricious, whofe minds are inflamed with infatiable rapacity, and boundlefs ambition.— The perfons here defcribed, already poffeiled a houfe and a field ; but difTatisned with what they enjoyed, they were eagerly intent upon ac- quiring more ; and were as anxious to enlarge their eftates, as if their life and happinefs confifled in the abundance of earthly things. In oppofition to the di- vine command, which required that they fhould not feek great things for themfelves, they were bent upon increafmg their riches, and enlarging their territories ; fo that, like the grave, they could never fay it is enough. Meafuring their eftates by their defires, they were greedy to acquire more houfes, and more lands : endeavouring, by every mean, both fair and fraudulent, to amais wealth, and increafe gain, they exerted their utmofi: abilities in forming and executing fchemes, whereby they might add to their treafures. Afraid of lofmg what they had acquired, they eat the bread of carefulnefs : penurious in ufnig the riches they pcffeiTed, and folicitous to aggrandize their for- tunes, they deprived themfelves of the comfort they might have enjoyed ; they coveted the property of their neighbours, and defrauded the great Lord of all of the tribute he juftly demands, as an acknowledg- ment (hat airthings come of him. ' By fuccefsful in- duilry, and the bleffing of God attending their dili- gent application to bufmefs, they might have lawfully added ?. houfe and a field to their former inheritances ; and Veh. 8. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 275 and on this account, we fuppofe, they would not have been cenfured. What was culpable in the perfons threatened, and what is condemned here, was the in- fatiable dehres, and inceiTant endeavours, of covetous men after earthly things. The exprefiion ufed in this verfe, like that of joining hand in hand, intimates, that they were keenly fet on uniting together houfes and fields without end, that their name might continue for ever. This odious charafter was remarkably ex- emplified in the conduct of covetous king Ahab, who, diiTatisfied with a kingdom, could not enjoy his royal domains, whilft Naboth had a vineyard in the vicinity of his palace. Till there be no place, that they may he placed alone in the midji of the earth. The perfons fpoken of, made their little feives the centre of their adivity, in which all the lines of their exertion terminated. Man be- ing a focial creature, defigned to advance the interefts of fociety, he mufi have counteraded the firft prin- ciples in his nature, by his covetous, ambitious en- deavours, that he might be placed alone in the midft of the earth. The exprefiion. muft not be underftood in its ftricleft fenfe, as if the people, whofe practice is here condemned, wifhed to five entirely alone, and to have no perfon near them. Men of the de^ fcription before us, are averfe to folitude, and often terrified to be alone. It imports, that they were anxious no room might be left to rival them in power, influence, or property ; that they were foiici- tous all around them might be their inferiors, obliged to give them place, to do them homage as their vaffals and tenants, to adminifler fewel to their pride and ambition, and, in fome refpeO: or other, to acknowledge them their fuperiors. Such odious cha- raders were frequent in the days of our prophet, and his cotemporary Micah, whofe words exaftly corre- fpond to thefe we are confidering : ' Wo to them that ' devife iniquity, and work evil upon their beds: when * the morning is light they pradifc it, becaufe it is in 'the 274 LECTURES ON THE Chap. V, ' the power of their hand. And they covet fieldsj ' and take them by violence ; and houfes, and take ' them away ; lb they opprefs a man, and his houfe, * even a man and his heritage. Therefore thus faith * the Lord, Behold, againft this family do I devife an ' evil, from which ye fliall not remove your necks, ' neither ihall ye go haughtily : for this time is evil *.* It is probable that perfons of this fort greatly multi- plied, during the period which elapfed from the de- livery of this prophecy until the captivity at Babylon. Toward the conclufion of the Jewilh difpenfation, men of the above defcription mightily increafed among that people. Avarice, rapacity, injuftice, and oppreffion, were the fms for which they were remarkably confpi- cuous, and frequently threatened. Againft fuch perfons God denounces, by his fer- vant Ifaiah, mifery and wo ; comprehending all man- ner of evils, which fhould befal them, both in this and the future world ; and which, even in this life, would afflict them in their confciences, reputation, and property. The moft terrible calamities are ex- preiTed in fcripture by this fliort word, of which many inftances occur both in the Old and New Teftament. The practice here condem.ned, pro- ceeding from that covetoufnefs which is idolatry, juftly merited mifery and wo. It affords ftrong proof that men are deftitute of the love of God ; that they 'diftruft the care of his kind providence; that they contemn the authority of his word ; that their hearts are fet upon this world ; that they are cruel and op- preffive toward their brethren, to whofe welfare they are indifferent. Juftly, therefore, are they expofed to the difplealure of almighty God, whofe curfe is in the habitation of the wicked. Sometimes the curfe enters into their hearts, and prevents them from enjoying comfort in their eftates, and perplexes them with fears and cares about their poifeffions : at * Micah ii, i, 2, 3. Other Ver. 9. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. i^^ other times it wafles and confumes tl ^m like a moth, or fuddenly devours them by fire and fword ; and, in feme inftances, they are plundered by enemies of all their effefts, or fnatched away from their enjoyments by captivity and death. What an inftruftive warn- ing does this adminiller to us, my friends, to take heed and beware of covetoufnefs, which debafes the mind, excites infatiable defires of more than we can expeft to acquire, and reduces thofe who live under its influence into a much worfe condition than^ if they had Uttle or nothing with contentment ! Even whiHh the covetous and ambitious man is adding field to field, and houfe to houfe, and hath much goods laid up for many years, he is miferable. * Let your con- * verfation then be without covetoufnefs ; be content ' with fuch thinrrs' as ye have : for he hath laid, I will * never leave the^, nor forfake thee *.' 9 In mine ears, y^/zV the Lord of hofts, Of a truth many houfes fliall be defolate, even great and fair without inhabitant. In this, and the following verfe, the punilliment of the crime mentioned in the foregoing one is defcribed. — The prophet introduces the fubje<3:, by acquainting us in what manner this Information was conveyed to him. It was gently whifpered in his ear by a voice from God, to excite him to receive this inflrudiou with the greateft attention and care ; to intimate, that the fubjeft made known to him remained a profound fecret, of which others were ignorant j "and that it might leave fuch imprellion on his heart as might never be effaced. In tliis manner God was pleafed, from time to time, to reveal his mind to his lervants of old, as Elihu remarks. Job. xxxiii. 14, 15, 1.6^ Thus the Lord of hofls, wonderful in counfel, and excellent in working, gracioufly condefcended to com- municate to Kaiah the knowledge of thofc awful judg- * Heb. xii'i. ,c. 276 LECTURES on the Chap. V. rnents which he was about to inflid on his people, on account of their avarice and ambition. To give the utmofl certainty to this prediclion, it is delivered in the form of an oath. The fentence in the Hebrew text fecms to be incomplete ; and is differently ren- dered in our verfion, and in the margent of fome of your Bibles. The Lord of hofts is frequently in. troduced in fcripture giving the moll folemn alTur-. ances to his people of the truth of what he de- clares, many inftances of which might eafily be pro^ duced. 1 only refer you to one, which you will find in Plal. xcv. lo, 1 1. : ' Unto a people that do err in * heart, and have not known my ways, I fware in my ' wrath, that they fnould not enter into my relt.* And in the words before us, he affirms. Of a truth many houfes iliall be defolate, iisV^,- Great numbers of elegant houfes, and fumptuous edifices, had been built in the land of Ifrael, at a vaft expence, and be;)U- rifully adorned by the bcft of tradefmen ; but being built out of the fpoils of the poor, and the gains of oppreflion, thefe large convenient Itrudlures were to become defolate and ruinous, without inhabitant, The polTeffions of wicked men, however excellent, ihall certainly be defolated : their profperity, not hke the permanent light of the fun, but like that of a ta- per, which confumes itfelf, fliall foon be extinguifhed. This is a circumftance truly worthy of our ferious at- tention, arid praOiical regard. 10 Yea, ten acres of vineyard fliall yield ,one bath, and the feed of an homer Hiall yield an ephah. In the former rerfe, defolation was threatened to thofe fuperb buiidingSj which the covetous, among the pollerity of IfracI, had erefted, to gratify their pride and ambition. In this verfe, the rich fields they poHefled are threatened to be converted into a barren and delblate country. They expetted great increafe from Ver. 10. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. '^^^ from the vineyards and fields of which they had pof- fefncn, or hoped to acquire ; whereas God here de- clares, that he would blail the fruits of both, and dif- appoint their expedations. An acre of land contains forty poles or perches in length, and four in breadth ; or two hundred and twenty yards multiplied by twenty-two, being four thoufand eight hundred and forty yards. A large vineyard, including ten of thefe acres, was to produce only one bath. The bath and the ephah were meafures of the fame fize. The bath, which contained about eight or nine gallons Englifli, was ufed for meafuring liquids. The ephah, which was equal to half a bufhcl and a pottle Engliih, was em- ployed in meafuring corns and dry goods. Each of them held the tenth part of an homer, which was equal to fourteen bufhels and one pottle. So very great was the change to be made upon the vineyards and fields in the land of Canaan, which yielded the mod luxu- riant crops, and abundance of the richell: wines, that, at the period to which this predidion referred, ten acres of vineyard were to yield only the fcanty produce of nine gallons oi wine, and fourteen bufhels of feed- corn was to bring no more than about the tenth part of the feed fown. The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth. The judgments of God are always inflicted in perfed righteoufnefs, and the punifnment often conefponds to the fm comm.it- ted. This truth Adoni-bezek was obliged to acknow- ledge, after his thumbs and great toes' v/ere cut off: * Threefcore and ten kings, having their thumbs and ' great toes cut off, gathered their meat undcT my * table : as I have done, fo God hath requited me *.' In every age this remark hath been verified. * Whofo,* faith Solomon, ' iloppeth his ears at the cry of the ' poor, he alfo fhall cry himfelf, but fhall not be heard.* Ifrael were informed by the prophet Jeremiah, whom God intruded to fay, ' Like as ye have forfaken me, * Judge? 1,7, * .ind ^278 LECTURES ON THE Chap. V, ' and ferved flrange gods in your land, fo jQiall yc * ferve Grangers in a land which is not yours *.' The perfons to whom this prophecy was directed, had endeavoured, through avarice, to deprive their bre- thren of their poflcirions ; and therefore God threats ens to take away the fruitfulnefs of their fields, and to fend them fcarcity of corn and wine, on the increafe of which their hearts were keenly fet. This predic- tion was remarkably fulfilled about the time of the Babylonifli captivity, and afterward more efpecialiy at the deflruclion of Jerufalem by the Romans. 1 1 H Wo unto them that rife up early in the morning, -7/6^/ they may follow ftrong drink, that continue until night, //"// wine inflame them. Complicated v/o and niifery are next denounced -againfl thofe who are addidted to intemperance and luxury, and indulge in thoughtlefliiefs and inconhdera- tion. The prophet ftrongly condemns intempe- rance, and excefs in fenfual pleafures, particularly in •drinking. . Early rifmg in the morning conduces much to give health and vigour to the conllitution. l-ying long in bed is an intemperance of the word kind: it ge- nerates difcafes in the body; it enervates the mind, and is attended with many bad confequences. Rifmg early is neceflary to the difpatch of bufmefs, the morning being the befi; feafon for arranging our affairs, for per- forming moil kinds of work, and making fuch progrefs as accidents and avocations may not diflurb, nor on the whole greatly retard, in the execution of our well-laid fchemes. It is of confiderable importance to the in- terefts of devotion. In the morning the animal fpi- rits are recruited, our bodies are refrellied, we are furnifhed with new grounds of gratitude and praife ; and being then moft lively and vigorous, it becomes the moft proper feafon for prayer, and other devo- * Jer. V. 19. tlonal Verm I. PROPHEaES of ISAIAH. 579 tional exercifes. The mofl: eminent faints, therefore, of whom we read in fcripture, fuch as Abraham, Mofes, David, and others, are faid to have rifun early, to feek God, whofe going forth is prepared as the morning; and to direft their prayers to him, in expeclar tion of gracious anfwers. Thofe who are given to intemperance, rife early for other purpoles than thefe ; namely, • That they may follow J}r on g diink^ he. They are as keenly employed in gratifying their fmful, infatiable appetite, as the induftrious mechanic, or laborious hulbandman, in following the bufmefles of their pro- felTion. Among the intemperate, there are fome who ilill retain a fenfe of decency, and confider drunk- ennefs as a work of darknefs : when, therefore, they get drmik, as the apoille Paul fays, ' They are ' drunken in the night/ There are others who come under the, defcription before- us, and take pleafure to riot in the day, when they ought to be employed in following their lawful bufmefs. Fond of intoxicathig liquors, they rife early in the morning to engage in thepernicious practice of drinking, and are ailiduous in their apphcation to this difgraceful employment from morning to night. By this criminal indulgence, they confume much of their precious time, they abufe the good creatures of God, they enfeeble their minds, they hurt their conflitution, they injure their tempo- ral as well as fpiritual interells, and expcfe themfelves to the righteous judgments of Heaven. If you in- quire with Solomon, ' Who hath wo ? who hath for- '- row ? who hath contentions ? v*'ho hath babbling ? ' who hath wounds without caufe ? who hath rednefs ' of -eyes?* I return you hisaniwer: ' They that ' tarry long at the v/ine, they that go to feek mixt ' wine *.' Take heed then to yourfelves, bre- thren, left at any time your hearts be over-charged with furfeiting and drunkennefs. Such is the divine ■ Prov. xxlii. 29, 30. bounty. ito LECTURES ON THE Chap.V. bounty, that it gives us all things richly to enjoy : it furnifhes us not only with the neceffaries, but alfo with the conveniencies and comforts of Hfe. Abufe them not by intemperance, but ufe them as thofe who know the fafliion of this world paiTeth away. Be fo» bar and moderate in the ufe of all the comforts vou enjoy, and the refrefhments which you take, and ' guard with caution againil all temptations to excefs. 1 2 And the harp and the viol, the tabret and pipe, and wine are in their feafts : but they re- gard not the work of the Lord, neither confi- der the operation of his hands. The condufl: which is here cenfured, confifted in an intemperate and unreafonable indulgence in the luxuries of inftrumental mufic, and elegant entertain- ments. Mufic and feafling are things in themfelves lavvful, and on proper occafions expedient. The king of Ifrael^ who had this honourable teftimony, that he was a man according to God's own heart, in- vented inilruments of mufic, which were employed in praifing the Lord. The feafls among the Jews feem to have been commonly attended with inflru- mental mulic, which to fome of the gueils would be the mcfl delicious part of the entertainment, whilfl it would produce agreeable effects upon all who were prefent. Hence, in the book of Lamentations, the young men ceafnig from mufic, is mentioned as a mournful confequence of the defolations there bewail- ed *.* And our Lord, in the parable of the prodigal fon, introduces mufic and dancing upon the joyful oc» cafion, which he there defcribes with inimitable beauty. Peftivity, which was not unfrequent among the pofle- rity of Ifrael, might be derived from their fathers, whofe memory they profeffed hi^^hly to venerate. Abraham made a feaft at the weaning of his fon ; * Lam, V. 14. Ifaac Ver. 12. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 281 Ifaac made a feall for Abimelech, and Phichol the chief captain of his army; befide other inflances which might be mentioned. Our blefted Saviour ho- noured with his prefence a marriage-feall, in Cana of Galilee, where he changed water into wine, to fupply the deficiency of the entertainment. Indeed we have not a doubt but that the good Lord v*ho confers not only the necefiaries, but the delicacies which cover the table of not a few, intends that they ought to be received with humility and thankfgiying on proper oc- calions. Why then do you a{k, Doth a righteous God de- nounce mifery and wo againfl: thofe who feafted, and in their fealls had mufic and wine ? I fuppofe the fin which expofed them to the divine difpleafure, confifl- ed in their not attending to the lealbns in v/hlch, with propriety, they might have made merry with their friends. To every thing there is a feafon, and a time to every purpofe under the heaven : there is a time to mourn and to weep, and there is a time to laugh and to dance, as God hath taught us by the wifeft of men *. Now if, after this inif rudion, people are fo foolilh and perverfe as to employ the time in mirth and jollity, hi which they are called to forrow and lamentation, they thereby expofe themfslves to many terrible calamities. You may fee a remarkable in- llance of the truth of this obfervation, recorded Chap, xxii. 12, 13, and 14. where you read, * In ' that day did the Lord God of hofts call to weep- * ing, and to mourning, and to baldnefs, and to * girding ivith fackcloth : and behold, joy and glad- ' nefs, flaying oxen and killing fteep, eating flefh ' and drinking wine ; let us eat and drink, for to- ' morrow we Ihall die. And it was revealed in mine ' ears by the Lord of hoih, furely this iniquity fliail * not be purged from you, till ye die, faith the Lord * God of hoils.' The feafon there referred to, as we * Ec«lef. iii. i. stfe^. learn a82 LECTURES ON THE Ghap. V. learn from the fifth verfe of that chapter, ' was a day of ' trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by * the Lord God of hoils in the valley of vifion, break- ' ing down the walls, and of crying to the mountains.* This was not a time for feafling and rejoicing: and, by endeavouring to counteract the call of God, their fni became fo aggravated, that he declares, it fhould not be purged. On the fame account, complicated mifery is here threatened againft fmiilar wicked con- dud. Diligently obferve the difpenfations of pro- vidence, carefully mark what feems to be their tenden- cy and defign, and faithfully improve the admonitions you thereby receive. But they regard not the work of the Lord, neither CG7ifider the operation of his hands. Inconfideration, and negled of the work of God, is the natural confe- quence of the practices above mentioned. The ope- ration of God's hand, may refer not to any particular difpenfation, but to the whole work of divine provi- dence toward mankind in general, and efpecially his peculiar people. The connexion and defign of the words feem to favour this interpretation. How won- derful, how diverfified, and glorious, are the works of God, which are fought out of all them that have plea- fure therein! How grand and magnificent are the operations of his hands, for the inllruOiion and bene- fit of man ; works in the heavens and upon the earth, works of judgment and mercy, works of ven- geance and deliverance ! They are accompanied with circumftances meriting the moll ferious confideration, and the higheft admiration ; for he hath put upon tiiem fuch marks of his power as render them moii worthy of regard. They are defigned to accomplifli the mod valuable purpofes, to difplay the glory of their divine Author, to lead up the thoughts of men to God himfelf, and to excite them to the exercifes of gratitude, praife, and obedience. Many of them are' placed fully in our view, that we may contemplate and admire them, though on* this very account they Ver. 12. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 283 are often negle£ted and overlooked. The leaft of God's works, and the leafl of his mercies, ought not to be flightly paffed by, much lefs his greateft works and deliverances in behalf of his church. To this fubjed M^e may apply the words of Jefus Chrift, wdth refptO: to tithing mint, anife, and cummin, and doing the greater things of the law ; ' Thefe ought ye to have * done, and not to leave the other undone.* The people, againft whom God, by the prophet, brought the charge before us, had their minds occu- pied with fenfible objedbs, and deluded by fenfual pleafures ; therefore they avoided all lerious conli- deration, and every fpiritual exercife. They peril fted in a criminal contempt of divine providence, which had wrought, on their account, the mod ftupendous wonders. Thefe w^orks of the Lord they ought to have attentively confidered, and acknov/ledged them to be the Lord's doing, and marvellous in their eyes. Though they were witnefTes of many great and fur- prifing events, they did not view them as operations of the Almighty : they did not diligently apply their minds to the contemplation of the works of God, that they might perceive his power therein magnified, and difcern his wifdom, goodnefs, and mercy therein manifefted. Any impreflions made upon their hearts, by the operations of the Molt High, were of fhort du- ration, and eafily effaced ; as we learn from the feventy-eighth pfalm, where it is recorded, to their everlafling reproach, ' That they foon forgat his ' works, and his wonders that he had Ihewed them ; * that they remembered not his hand, nor the day ' v/hen he delivered them from the enemy.* To this important duty, therefore, in v/hich they were cul- pably negligent, they were repeatedly invited by that great man, who once fat upon their throne, and whofe devotional exerclfes they had among their hands : * Come (faid he), and behold the works of the Lord.' And becaufe they regarded not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he foretold, that God N It would 284 LECTURES ON the Chap, V* would deftroy them, and not build them up *. This ufeful employment was greatly neglefted by ' the fons * of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord came, * faying, Ifrael ihall be thy namef ;* as is abundantly evident from many pallages in the prophets and go- fpels, which I ftay not to recite. This, among other fins, expofed them to mifery and wo. — Whofo then is wife, let him obferve divine difpertfations, and he fhall underflandthe loving-kindnels of the Lord, that is confpicuous in the manner and feafon in which he operates, the inftruments he employs, the events which he accompliflies, the defigns which he effeduates, and their correfpondence to the revelation he hath given of his blefl'ed will. i3 V Therefore my people are gone into capti- vity, becaufe tbej have no knowledge : and their honourable men are famiilied, and their multi- tude dried up with thirft. The punifhment of the fms above mentioned, is defcribed in this, and the foUov/ing verfes. The judgment of captivity, which is here denounced, is fpoken of, in the prophetic ftile, as already executed ; to intimate the abfolute certainty, and near approach of the threatened calamity. The pofterity of Ifrael were firft led captive by Tiglath-pilezer king of Affy- ria, under the reign of Pekah king of Ifrael, and that of Jotham king of Judah, as we learn from 2 Kings XV. 27. and following verfes. About the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, under the reign of Holhea over Ifrael, Shalmanezer king of AlTyria carried Ifrael again captive to Allyria, as we read 2 Kings xvii. 6. In the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of AlTyria came up againil the fenced cities of Judah, and took them, and fent a great holl againft Jerufalem, as recorded 2 Kings xviii. 13. and follow^ * Ffal. xxviii. 5. f i Kings xviil. 31. ing Ver.13. prophecies of ISAIAH. 285 ing verfes. Under the reign of ManalTeh king of Ju- dah, the Lord brought upon them the captains of the hoft of the king of Aflyria, who took Manafleh and many of his people to Babylon, as it is written 2 Chron xxxiii. 11. After that Jehoahaz was elevat- ed to the throne of Judah, Pharaoh-nechoh put him in bands at Ribiah, and carried him away into Egypt, where he died, 2 Kii>gs xxiii. 33, 34. In the days of Jehoiachin, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came againil Jerufalem, and befieged it, and carried away- all Jerufalem, and all the princes and mighty men of valour, even ten thoufand captives, and all the craftf- men, as ye may fee 2 Kings xxiv. to. et feq. When Zedekiah was king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar, with all his hoft, befieged Jerufalem, took the city, feized Zedekiah, bound him with fetters of brafs, and car- ried him to Babylon: and afterward Nebuzar-adan captain of the guard, a fervant of the king of Baby- lon, came unto Jerufalem, and burnt the houfe of the Lord, and the king's houfe, and all the houfes of Je- rufalem, and every great man's houfe burnt he with fire; and the remnant of the multitude he carried away: 2 Kings xxv. In after-times the Romans treated this people in the fame manner with the Aify- tians and Chaldees, and completed that captivity and deftruftion which was often foretold in prophecy. Thus went the houfe of Ifrael into captivity, accord- ing to this predidion, as a jull punifiTiment of their many aggravated tranfgreflions. Think upon the miferies that Ifrael mult have fuftained in thefe capti- vities, and from thence learn the evil and the danger of offending God. Beeaufe they have no knowledge. Ignorance is the certain confequence of inconnderation : inconfidera- tion is the natural effed of luxury and diflipation, which arlfe from gratified avarice and ambition. Ac- cording to this procefs, Ifrael had become dellitute of that excellent knowledge, more precious than gold, which confifts in intimate acquaintance with the per- fe»?:ions, 2S6 LECTURES ON THE CHAP.V. feftions, providence, and falvation of God, with the mifery and danger of our condition, and the means whereby the eternal enjoyment of Jehovah may be at- tained. Such is the fupreme excellence and inefti- mable»value of this knowledge, that, in comparifon of it, all other things ought to be efteemed only as drofs or dung. It lies at the foundation of all true godli- iiefs, and is abfolutely neceifary to the love of God, and giving him that homage he juflly requires. Who can love God that doth not know he is perfedly ami- able ? who vt^ill worflnip him that doth not know he is infinitely glorious f v.'ho will obey him that is not acquainted with his fupreme authority ? and who will praife him that doth not know his confummate good" nefs ? The want of this knowledge was the reproach and ruin of the people of Ifrael, whofe minds were, blinded through the pernicious influence of carnal af- fedions, ^and foolilh prejudices, in fo much that they neither obferved the figns of the times, nor fludied the word of God. On this account they are thus de- fcribed by the prophet Jeremiah : ' My people are ' foolifh, they have not knoMm me, they are fottifh * children, and they have none underftanding : they * are wife to do evil, but to do good they have no ' knowledge *.* And in after-times the apollle Paul charged them with the fame criminal ignorance, for which they had been notorious in the days of the pro- phets, as ye m.ay fee AGs xiii. 27. where he aiTnms, That they that dwelt at Jerufaleni, and their rulers, knew not the Son of God, nor ret the voices of the prophets which were read every Sabbath-day. They Vv^ere willingly ignorant, becaufe they found it more difficult to increafe knowledge than to indulge in ig- norance, more eafy to (in in darknefs than in the light of knowledge.— — Admoniflied of the danger arifmg from the negled of knowledge, permit me ta addrefs every one of you in the words of Solomon : * Jer. jv. 23. * Mv Ver. 13. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 287 * My fon, incline thine ear unto wifdom, and apply * thine heart to underftanding : yea, if thou criell af- * ter knowledge, and lifted up thy voice for under- * (landing : if thou feekelt her as filver, and fearch- * eft for her, as for hid treafures : .then (halt thou un- * derftand the fear of the, Lord, 'nd hnd the know- * ledge of God*.* ' And their honourable wen are famijhed^ and their multitude dried up with thirjl. I'hefe words feem in- tended to defcribe fome of the direful calamities which the moft refpedlable people, among the pofterity of Ifrael, were to experience in the time of their capti- vity. Their honourable men, who were moft efteem- ed on account of the dignity of their ftation, the greatnefs of their abilities, and the ufcfulnefs of their employments ; their men of glory (as the Hebrew words fignify), who were moft eminent for pomp and fplendour, were to be reduced to the greateft ftraits, and to become men of famine. Such perfons were to experience the reverfe of their former condition. They who frequently feafted at the moft elegant en- tertainments, who fared fumptuouily every day, and were much admired for their riches and affluence, were to i^t\ the terrible eftefts of famine, and to be reduced to the utmoft extremity, in want of the ne- ceffary fupports of life. And their multitude dried up with ihirj}. The common people, who were ad- difted to drink to excefs, were to be parched vvith thirft, through the intenfe heat of the climate, the long journeys, and hard labour, to which they ftiould be obliged to fubmit. Thefe predictions were re- markably verified about the time of the Babylonifli captivity, as appears from the fecond chapter of the book of Lam.entations ; and were more fully accom- pliftied, in the compHcated miferies to which the Jews were expofed, and actually fuftained from the Ro- mans. Hence let us be inftrufted to ufe with mo- * Prov. ii. 2. — 5. deration £83 LECTURES on the Chap. V. deration the good things of this world, fince God, in righteous judgment, often deprives thofe of the neceffaries of life, who have abufed the affluence they once enjoyed, for gratifying their corrupt appetites. 14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herfelf, and opened her mouth without meafure : and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and lie that rejoiceth fhall defcend into it. This verfe reprefents the certain* confequences of the preceding judgments. The word hell, infcripture, fometimes fignifies the grave, or Jlate of the dead : in this fenfe we underftand the words of Mofes, in which he affirms, refpeding Korah and his compa- nions, who were fwallowed up in the earth, and bu- ried alive, that they ' defcended quick into hell *.' At other times, it denotes the ftate of deflrudion and mifery with which death and the grave are followed to the wicked and ungodly ; which is its obvious meaning in thefe awful words, ' The wicked (hall be ' turned into hell f .* Death, the grave, and dellruc- tion, are frequently introduced, both in facred and profane writings, in the form of a ravenous monfter, opening wide his devouring jaws, that he may quick- ly fwallow his prey. Of this you have an inllance in the v/ords which the wife man puts into the mouths of fmners, enticing others to join them in their wic- ked practices : * They fay. Come with us, let us lay * wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent * without caufe : let us fwallow them up alive as the ' grave, and whole, as thofe that go down into the * pit {. A proud ambitious man is faid to enlarge * his defires as hell ; and is as death which cannot * be fatisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and * heapeth unto him all people ||.' The image is ftrong * Numb. xvi. 30, 31. t Pfal. ix. 17. % P^O"'' »• ^^» ^2. li Hab. ii. ^. and Ver, 14. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 289 and expreffive in the highefl degree. The people, to whom this predidion relates, indulged in feafting and drinking ; and, therefore, were to perifh with hunger and thirfl : and their avaricious conquerors were to indulge their appetite as much as they had done, and devour them all. At the periods to which this pre« "di<5tion looked forward, the proud monarch of Baby- lon, and after him the mighty Roman emperor, enlarg- ed themfelves, they opened their mouths without mea- fure, and greedily dellroyed the JewiiTi people, which once were the flock of God's paflure, but having be- come ripe for deftrudion, fell a prey to their enemies. And their glory, and their multitude, and their fomp, &c. Thefe exprelTions may denote the power and authority, the riches and afiluence, the flecks and herds, the children and fervants, by which they were enabled to make a confpicuous figure in the eyes of men, and rendered honourable and refpe£lable in the view of the world. Their glory may comprehend what- foever acquired for them reputation and renown, and conveyed to them a pre-eminence above others. In this fenfe, the infinite mercy of God is called his glory, and the pafiing over a tranfgreflion is faid to be the glory of a man. The fons of Laban affixed this meaning to the glory of which they fpake, in their in- vidious complaint againfl Jacob, when they affirmed, * Of that which was our fathers hath he gotten all * this glory *.'• With their glory and pomp, their multitude is joined ; which confifled of the whole body of the Jewifh nation, the great bulk of the people ; fo exceeding numerous, even at the time in which this prediction received its completion, that, according to Jofephus, they amounted to two millions five hundred and fifty-fix thoufand perfohs.- — — And he that rejoiccth Jhall defcend into it : he that rejoiceth in his perfonai quahfications of flrength and comelinefs, in his external advantages of riches and honour, in * Gen. XXXI, i. ^90 LECTURES ON TiiE Chap.V. his mental endowments of wifdom and underftanding, or in his church-privileges, whereby he enjoyed many advantages beyond others. Dignity of llation, felicity of condition, and joy of heart, could not free them from the general calamity. Perfons of every defcrip- tion among them, were to defcend into the ftate of death and deftrutlion, which were to open their mouths to receive them ; or they were to be obliged to defcend into AiVyria, and afterward into the Ro- man empire, where they were to be detained in captivity. No charader however eminent, no condi=. tion hol/ever affluent or joyous, was to be exempted from fharing in the terrible judgments which were to be inflifted upon that finful people, who are fet forth as an inftruftive example of divine vengeance. — ^— This prophecy was verified in its full extent, in the deftruftion of the Jews by the Roman army, when, according to their own hillorian Jofephus, eleven hundred thoufand were killed, and ninety-feven thou- fand were taken prifoners. In its accomplifhment, we behold an awful inftance of the righteous judgments of God, and an affecting proof of the truth of the pro- phecies, many of which referred to this great event. 1 5 And the mean man fhall be brought down, and the mighty man fnall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty fhall be humbled. People of all ranks, high and low, were fo be deeply depreifed and hifmbled, by the execution of the above- mentioned calamities. This prediftion is of fimilar import with that recorded Chap. ii. 17. which I have already confidered. I obferve, however, from the words before us," that none are fo mean in their con- dition but they may be elated with pride, none fo low but God can bring them lower, and none fo high but the judgments of the Almighty can lay them low. He that humbleth himfelf fhall be exalted, and he that exalteth himfelf fliall be abafcd, is the unalterable con- ftitutioa Ver. 15. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 291 {lltiition of Heaven, the irreverfible decree of the Moll: High, which he hath clearly illuftrated in the difpenfations of his providence and grace, which are intended to humble both the mighty and the mean among mankind. At the time to which this predic- tion looked forward, the lofty looks of people of every condition were humbled, by the divine judgments which, in the courfe of providence, were executed upon the polierity of Ifrael, on account of their ag- gravated tranfgreffions. It is natural here to turn our thoughts to a glory on the one hand, and degradation on the other, of a more diftinguiflied nature, which happened about that period, whereby the fame pur- pofe was effeftuated. By the humiliation, futfer- ings, and death of Jefus Chrift, principaHties and powers were fpoiled, the former difpenfation, with its external grandeur and glory, was aboliihed ; and in its room an oeconomy was eftablifhed, diflin- guiflied for its plainnefs and fimplicity, and a way opened for the fpiritual woriliip of the humble and poor in fpirit. In the inftitution of the gofpel, and the ereddon of the kingdom of Jefus Chrilt, who was meek and lowly in heart, the rich and the great, the wife, the mighty, and the noble, find no pre-eminence. God hath chofen the weak, the defpifed, and the fool- illi of the world, to confound the mighty, and to bring to nought things that are, that no flefli fhould glory in his prefence *. Thus we fee the divine pro- cedure, both in mercy and judgment, is uniformly in- tended to humble both the mighty and the mean. As workers together with God, we befeech you, brethren, to be humble, that ye receive not the provi- dences and the grace of God in vain. Shall creatures who are as a fnadow and a vapour, who are like grafs, and at their beft eilate as a flower in the field — fhall fliort-lived, finful^duft and allies be elated with pride ? Remember you mufl give account to the great Judge * I Cor. i. 27, 28, 29. Oo of 392 LECTURES on the Chap. V, of all, how you have iifed and improved thofe things which you make fewel to your pride. Amidft your fulnefs, recoiled your deficiencies in knowledge, in grace, and in duty ; and if you are properly fenfible of what YOU lack, you will not be proud of what you have attained. Above all, fix your attention upon the aftonifliing humiliation of Jefus Chrift. Did our Lord and Mafcer humble himfelf ? and fliall we, his profefTed difciples, elevate ourfeJves ? Did he become obedient to the death of thr ctofs ? and fliall we be difobedient, and glory in our iliame ? Did he incul- cate upon us humility in the mofl forcible manner ? and fliall we walk in pride, until we are abafed by awful judgments. If I have injured you, or my fubjed, by this digrefTion, forgive me this wrong. 1 6 But the Lord of hofls fliall be exalted in judgment, and God ibat is holy, fhall be fand:i- iied in rigliteoufnefs. Becaufe Ifrael did not exalt and fanftify the Lord of hofts, by the praftice of judgment and righteouf- nefs, God declares, that he would accompliih this end, by infliding righteous judgments upon that per- fidious and rebellious people. The meaning of the firft part of this verfe depends upon the fenfe which we afnx to the word jtcdgment, which admits of differ- ent fignifications. Sometimes it denotes wifdom and prudence, the ability of difcerning and determining juftly with refped to every one's right. In this fenie our prophet aifirm.s, that the Lord is a God of judg- ment * : he is infinitely wife, and perfed in knowledge. According to this interpretation, God is exalted by the difplays he alibrds of his confummate wifdom, in humbling the proud among men : he fliews, that he hath the mofl intimate acquaintance with every cha- rader j that he perfedly knoweth what is proper to be * Ifaiah xxx. i8. done, Ter.i6. prophecies of ISAIAH. 293 done, in what manner, at what time, and by what in- llruments it ought to be performed. At other times, judgment, when afcribed to God, fignifies that mode- ration and clemency with which the diftribution of juftice is tempered, as in the following prayer of Je- remiah : * Corred me, O Lord, but with judgment *. In this view, the Lord of holts is exalted, by mode- rating the punifliments he inflicts, and preferving them within the bounds marked by wifdom and difcretion. In fome palfages, the word denotes thofe calami- ties which God infli£ts upon tranfgreflbrs, for ac- complifliing mofl important purpofes, as where we read ' of executing upon the Heathen the judgment * that is written f.* In this flrane;e work, the Lord is exalted by punifliing obftinate linners (whatever may be their external circumftances), who have ne- gleded him, who have been formal or hypocritical in his fervice, forgetful of his benefits, and difobe- dient to his laws. In other places, judgment fignifies the exertion of influence and authority, for reforming things that have been wrong, for corredling abufes that have arifen, and for reitoring to order things that have been in confufion, attended with the con- demnation of thofe who excited thefe diflurbances, and the abfolution of thofe who were thereby injured. In this fenfe our blelfed Saviour declared, ' Nov/ is * the judgment of this world |.* In this view alfo the Lord of hofls was to be exalted, in the judgmicnt he was about to execute for the reformation of his church, the deftruction of the ungodly, and the refto- ration of perfons and things to their proper order. In thefe various ways God was to be exalted, at the time to which this prediction referred. And God that is holy [_or the holy God'] [hall be fanCuJied in righteoufnefs. The holinefs of God con- fifl:s in his perfect freedom from all evil, and the con- fummate reditude of his nature, according to which * Jer. X, 24. t Pfal, czlix. 5. t John. xil. qi. " all 294 LECTURES on the Chap. V. all his difpenfations are regulated. This conftitutes the excellency and najelly of his name, the beauty and glory of his divine effence ; and communicates the moil amiable lulire to all his other attributes, fuch as his wiidom, juflice, and power. He is incom- parably, unchangeably, and univerfally holy. In this glorious charadler, he appears lovely and venerable ; and therefore, on this account, he is frequently cele- brated in fcripture.— This holy God {liall be landi- fied in righteoufnefs. The holinefs of Jehovah can- not admit of any increafe, nor fuffer any diminution ; and therefore this expreiTion cannot fignify m.ore than the manifeltation and acknowledgment of this divine attribute. God fandifies himfelf, by declaring his ho- linefs in his difpenfations toward men, by communi-f eating the knowledge of this glory to the world, by rendering men holy like himfelf, by refloring the pu- rity of his worfhip, and by taking vengeance upoii the wicked. He is Yanftified by others, when they reverence his great name, believe his teftimony, ac- knowledge his mercies, obey his commands, and en- deavour to attain a growing conformity to him in pu- rity. In this manner God was to be fanclified, in the righteoufnefs he was about to difplay, in punifn- ing his perfidious people, according to the predictions of his fervants, whereby they were timeoufiy adver- tifed of their danger.— At the time of the Baby- lonijfh captivity, and afterward in the terrible defuuc- tion executed upon the Jews by the Romans, God demonftrated his infinite purity, and his jud deteila- tion of the many aggravated fins of his people, in fo fingular and remarkable a manner, as attracted the attention of the nations of the earth, who were there- by excited to reverence and honour the Lord of hods.- -Sandify the Lord God in your hearts, by humbly acknowledging the dilplays he gives you of his divine excellencies, and ferving him with pure af- fcftions in all the duties of obedience. 17 Theii ^fER.iy. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 295 ly Then fhall the Iambs feed after their man- ner, and the wafte places cf the fat ones fhall ftrangers eat. Thefe words defcribe an agreeable event that fiiould follow the accompiifhment of the foregoing predic- tions. Thev cannot be underllood in their literal meaning, in which it is impoiiible to apply them to ' any event that was the fubjeft of prophecy. Interpre- ters, therefore, agree to explain them in their myfti- eal fenfe, which indeed is abioiutely neceiiary to ren- der them confident with the connedion in which they Hand ; and in this view we (hall confider them. In the fcriptures of the Old and New Tellaments, the faints are frequently fpoken of by the name of fneep * j little children, and weak Chriitians, the young and tender of the flock, are confequently called lambs j-. There is a peculiar beauty and propriety in the figure, founded in the refemblance which the difciples of Je- fus Chrifl bear to thefe creatures, in meeknefs and innocence, in fimplicity and harmlcilnels, in feeble- nefs and timidity, in liablenefs to injuries and the at- tacks of enemies. The peculiar people of God then, and more efpecially the young and feeble among them, are the lambs ; concerning whom it is foretold, they Ihall feed after their manner. The manner of feeding here intended, mud be that for which perfons of the above defcription are diftinguilhed from all Others. It is their fpeclal privilege, to feed, in a fpiritual manner, upon the bread of life, that cometh down from heaven, upon that meat which endureth unto life everlaftlng. They live not by bread alone, but by every word of God, from which, through the divine bleffing, they receive fpiritual nourifhment, and growth in grace. This high prerogative they were to- enjoy in peace and fafety, at the time to which this prophecy refers. Such is God's tender care of his * Pfal. c. 3. John x. f Ifaiah i.!. ii. John xxl. 15. • people, 296 LECTURES ON the Chap. V. people, that he never fails to provide for their defence and fupport amidft the greateft calamities. And the wajle places of the fat ones fhall Jl rangers cat. Fatnefs fometimes denotes, in fcripture, abun- dance of temporal or fpiritual good things ; and fat ones is a defcription of luch as enjoy the choiceft ex- ternal comforts, or fpiritual advantages. The places ® which perfons of this defcription once poffelfed, had been defolated, when the Almighty executed the threatening coritained in the ninth verfe of this chap- ter, and laid wafte the habitations which were for- merly occupied by the great and affluent. Having been deferted by their inhabitants, and fallen into de- cay, they were to be enjoyed by ftrangers ; the dif- perfed Jews, who were carried away captive to Ba- bylon, and afterward by thofe who v/ere fcattered by the Roman army, and thus rendered ftrangers in their own land. Upon their return from foreign countries, where they had been long detained, they were to polTefs the places which once belonged to the rich and honourable. Or by ftrangers, may be meant fome of the Geptile nations, who, being aliens from the commonwealth of Ifrael, had this defignation fre- quently given them by the Jews. Thefe people were to poiTefs the defolate places, which were formerly in- habited by the moft confiderable men among the po- fterity of Jacob. In either of thefe fenfes, the predic- tion was in fome meafure accompliflied, about the time of the Babyloniih captivity, and after the inva- fion of Judea by the Romans. ;The fulfilment of this prophecy affords an agreeable proof of God's gracious regard for the young and feeble among his people, and the neceffary provifion which he makes for the deftitute and the ft ranger 3 which ought ta ? encourage us to hope in his mercy, and truft in his '^'kina providence. 1 8 Wo unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and fin as it were with a cart-rope. The Ver. i8. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 297 The fecond wo is pad, and behold, the third wo Cometh quickly; which is denounced againft thofe who, by falfe reafonings, and fpecious pretexts, per- fuade themfelves to iii ;ul^;e in finiul practices, and to perpetrate the greateft acls of wickednefs. The character and condad of the perfons intended, is de- fcribed in metaphorical language, which you who are acquainted with putting horfes and oxen to the cart, and the plough, may eafily underfland. Iniquity or fni is the draught, which the perfons fpoken of drag along with them. This is indeed a heavy load, of an enormous v/eight, and always efteemed fo by thofe who are fenfible of the opprefiive burden which is thereby impofed upon them. Cain felt this fo much, that he exclaimed, ' My fm is greater than I can ' bear * ;* and David experienced it to fuch a degree, that he complained, ' Mine iniquities are gone over * mxine head : as an heavy burden they are too heavy ' for me |.' They prefs hard upon the confciences of tranfgrelTors, and expofe them to an unfupportable weight of punilhment. In reference to this inltrudive view of fm, one of the Hebrew words ufcd to exprefs the pardon of iniquity, fignifies to take oif a weight or burden ; and one of the Greek words ufed for this purpofe, denotes deliverance from bonds }. The perfons here defcribed, drav/ iniquity with cords of vanity, and fm as it were with a cart-rope. Cart-ropes, you know, are compofed of feveral fmall cords firmly twilled together, which ferve to conned: the beads of burden with the draught they pull after them. Thefe reprefent a complication of means clofely united, whereby the people here defcribed continue to join themfelves to the molt wearifome of ail burdens. They confift of falfc reafonings, foolifh pretexts, and corrupt maxims, by which obflinate tranfgreffors be- come firmly united to their fins, and perfiil in drag- ging after them their iniquities. Of this fort the fol- * Gen. iv. 13. , f Pial xxxviii. 4. | Luke iv. iS. lowing 298 LECTURES ON the Chap. V. lowing are a few fpecimens : God is merciful, and his goodnefs will not fuffsr any of his creatures to be completely and everlaftingly miferable. Others, as well as they, are tranfgrellors. Repentance will be time enough upon a death-bed, or in old age. The greateft: of fmners often pafs unpuniilied. A future ftate of reti;ibution is uncertain. Unite thefe, and fuch-like cords, and, I fuppofe, you have the cart- ropes, whereby the perfons mentioned draw after them much fm and iniquity. — —All thefe pretexts, how- ever, are light as vanity, like a vapour that rifeth from the earth, a bubble that floats upon the water, or the breath that proceeds from our noftrils, as might eafily be demonftrated, did time permit, and the fub^ jeft require. Difappointment, mifery, and wo, as here declared, fhall be the certain portion of all thofe who, in this manner, are infeparably united to their fms. Let not him that is deceived trufl in vanity. If you are fo unhappy as to have been deluded by your deceitful and deiperately wicked hearts, through the allurements of this prefent evil world, the fubtilty of the great deceiver, or the deceitfulnefs of fm, be- ware of continuing in the dangerous illufion, and of being any longer impofed upon by thofe things which either have no real exiftence, or are very different from their vain preteniions. 19 That fay, Let him make (peed, oth at the period which preceded the captivity, and the deflrudion of their flate, as appears from fome paiiages of the writ- * Piov. xxxi. 6. ings Ver. 23. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 307 ings of the prophets, and feveral of our Lord's dif- courfes *. Let thofe to whom this charadier be- longs, ferloufly confider, that God who gave them llrength to ferve and pleafe him, will certainly, and perhaps fuddenly, make them feel that mifery and wo which they have n'lerited as their portion. 23 Which juftify the wicked for reward, and take away the fighteoufnefs of the righteous from him. Thefe words farther reprefent the odious chara£ter which is here threatened with mifery and wo. Thofe whom they juflify, are the wicked, who, far from refifling temptation, and avoiding fm, furrender themfelves to the pradice of iniquity ; and, notwith- Ilanding the various methods employed to deter them from tranfgreffion, obftinately perfift in committing the moft enormous wickednelTes. Though juftly de- ferving, on account of fuch condudt, to be condemn- ed, the perfons defcribed efpoufe their caufe, approve of their ways, and pronounce them to have aded right ; and thus uniformly decide in their favour, in direft oppofition to juftice and equity. A cir- cumflance is mentioned which greatly aggravated this crime ; it was committed with a view to reward. Rewards are of two forts. Thofe which are beftowed upon the well-deferving, who, by actions truly praife- worthy, have merited from others marks of efteem and gratitude. Such acknowledgments of obliga- tions conferred, prove encouragements to v/ell-doing, and ought to be received with pleafure and thankful- nefs. To aft'with a viev/ to fuch recompences, as we apprehend, cannot be culpable. There are alfo re- wards which are fometimes given with defign to pervert the judgment, to blind the eyes, and to corrupt the exer- cife of juHice. Thefe lad were flridly forbidden in the * See Mattb. xxiv. 49. Qjl law 3o8 LECTURES on the Chap. V. law of God ; the acceptance of them is perfedly incon- fiilent with integrity ; and aiSling under their influence is mentioned as a daring inflance of impiety to which the Jews were addidled, at the time to which this pro- phecy refers. Deftitute of good principles, regard- lefs to the facred lights of equity, their judgments were bialfed, and their condufl; regulated, by the pro- fpeft of advantage, or the reward they had already received. In the words of the prophet Amos, * They * fold the righteous for filver, and the poor for a pair * of flioes. They panted after the dufl of the earth * on the head of the poor, and turned afide the way * of the meek*.* And take away the right eoiifnefs of the righteous from him. By the righteous, may be meant thofe who have received abundance of the gift of righteoufnefs ; who are fmcere and upright in heart, equitable in their tranfadions, inoffenfive in their conduct ; who are righteous before God, walking in the ordinances and commandments of the Lord blamelefs. The righteoufnefs of fuch, the perfons fpoken of take away. Though they cannot deprive them of that righteouf- nefs which is unto all, and upon ^dl them that believe ; though they cannot deprive them of the good prin- ciples they polfefs, and the good conduft they exem- plify ; they do what is in their power for thefc pur- pofes, by mifreprefenting their character, by vilifying their aftions, and endeavouring to undermine the juflice of their caufe. On thel'e accounts, we fuppofe, the perfons defcribed had this heavy charge brought againft them.-- This odious character, like the others already mentioned, became very frequent in Judea, at the two remarkable periods to which the difcourfe in this chapter looked forward. Thus the multiplied tranfgrelTions of the men of Judah increaf- ed their forrows and calamit'es, and brought upon them all , thofe repeated woes which are here de- * Amos iL 6, 7. notmced. Ver.24. prophecies of ISAIAH. 309 nounced. Such fins as thefe which we have had under our review, never fail to expofe people to the righ- teous judgments of God, however great may have been their privileges and profeffion. After the church of Ephefus decayed from her firft love, the church of Pergamos turned afide to the doctrine of Balaam ; after the church of Thyatira followed the fedudions of Jezebel, Laodicea became lukewarm, and the other Afiatic churches abated in their zeal; God removed the candleflick he had placed among them, and ex- tinguished the light they had enjoyed. Let us then who think we Hand, take heed left we fall ; and cau- tioufly avoid thofe fms which have brought mifery and ruin upon others. 24 Therefore as the fire devpureth the ftiibble, and the flame confumeth the chaff, fo their root {hall be as rotteunefs, and their bloffbm Ihall go up as duft; becaufe they have caft away the law of the Lord of hofts, and defpifed the word of the holy One of Ifrael. The prophet now proceeds to declare more fully the punifhment which God was about to inflift upon the Jewifh people.- The language which he ufes in this verie is highly figurative, and the fimilitude whereby he illuitrates divine judgments is familiar and inllrudive. They are compared to fire and flame, which fuddenly break forth in a moment, and blaze out unexpectedly, when no fuch thing is looked fijr. Like fire, they devour and confume all that comes within their reach : nothing can ifand before them : they deflroy the ftrongeil fences, and lay in ruins the largeft edifices. As fire and flame, when once burning with violence, is got under vv^ith the utmofl difficulty, fo divine judgments cannot be refifted, their dirc£tion cannot b^ altered, their force abated, nor can the flame be extinguifhed by human efforts. As threatened calamities cannot be averted, lb inllided judgments 310 LECTURES ON THE Chap. V. judgments cannot be removed, unlefs by true repent- ance, and earned fupplication to the fupreme Difpofer of all events. In this fimilitude, tranfgreflbrs are intended by the ftubble and the chaff, which the fire devours and confumes, to which they are very figni- ficantly compared. As the ftubble and the chaff, whilft they continue united to the wheat, are ufeful for fuppcrting and covering the grain, in like man- ner the wicked, when conne£led with good men, are fometimes fubfervient to their welfare, by affording them fupport and proteftion from danger. As ftubble and chalf, when feparated from the corn, are of little or no value, in this refpecl they are the image of the ungodly, who are often fpoken of in fcripture under this figure. ^ The heart of the wicked,^ faith Solo- mon, ' is little worth * ;* and if his noblefl: part is of no value, he mufl be an infignificant creature indeed. Stubble and chaff are light and trivial, having no real folidity ; and fo emphatically reprefent the vanity and unprofitablenefs of fmners, who are confumed, by di- vine judgments, as the lighteft and dried fewei is fuddenly devoured by the fire. So their root Jhall be rot.tcnnefs, mid their bloffom Jloall go lip as ditjl. The pofterity of Ifrael are here com- pared to a fruit-bearing tree, whofe root gives it ftrength and {lability, conveys to it nourilliment, and preferves it firm amidlf the ll.orms to which it may be expofed. By their root, may be meant every thing - whereby they thought to fecure and eftablifa them- felves, fuch as their fecret counfels, their deep-laid defigns, their ftrength and riches, their friends and connections, from ail which they derived fupport, and expected to keep their ftatioft. Viewing them in their focial capacity, by their root, we may under- ftand parents, heads of families, judges, governors, and princes, who give ftability and fupport to the ftate, and prefer ve it in a flour idling condition. * PlQv. X. 20. Bloffortis Ver.24. prophecies of ISAIAH. 311 Bloflbms are the beautifal flowers which grov/ upon trees or plants, prognoflicating plenty of fruits, and feeds in their feafon. Was the exprcliion before us to be explained in its literal fenfe, the meanhig would be fimply this : Their trees fnould bear no fruit : their gardens, vineyards, and plantations, were to be deftroyed, according as it is written, ' (Jurfed (lialt * thou be in the field * : not only fliall thy cattle be weakly and barren, but thy fruit-trees fliall be blaft- ed. To give the ftrongefl affurance of the certainty of this event, the prophet acquaints thofe to whom he delivered this melTage, that their more remote, as well as more immediate expectations were to be fruf- trated. It feems, however, more uniform and conlifl- ent with the. figurative language ufed in this verfe, to explain the words in their metaphorical fenfe. In this view, the blolfoms denote the beautiful promifmg appearances among that people, which feemed to pre- fage plenty of fruit ; fuch as their rehgion, their chil- dren, their magnificence and influence as a nation : in fhort, every thing which condituted their excellence, and difplayed their glory, was to be confumed. With relped to thefe things it is foretold, that they fhall be rottennefs, and Ihall go up as dull. The exprefTions allude to the condition of a tree, whofe root and blolioms being deftroyed, is deprived of its beauty, ufe, and fruitfulnefs. This is a familiar man- ner of fpeaklng frequently ufed ,by the facred writers, of which I refer you to the two following inftances. The firfl you may fee, Amos ii. 9. where God faith concerning the Amorite, ' He was flrong as the oaks, ' yet I deftroyed his fruit from above, and his roots ' fiom beneath.' The other you will fmd in liofea ix. 16. where the Moft High thus fpeaks by the pro- phet, * Ephraim is fmitten, their root is dried up, ' they fnall bear no fruit.* And in the prediction be- fore us, their root fliall be rottennefs: having in it no * Deuh xxviii. t6. flrength. 312 LECTURES on the Chap. V. ftrength, firmnefs, or fap, it (hall quickly confume away to nothing, and their bloflbm fhall go up as duflj'all their promifing appearances were foon to fade and vanifh as the fmoke, or the fine duil that arifes from any dry thing that is rotten, when it is touched. The judgment which is here foretold, was to prove univerfal ; for what remains of a tree when its roots and branches are deftroyed. The mercy p^o- mifed, Chap, xxxvii. 31. to the remnant that efca} ed of the houfe of Judah, is very great : ' It (liali again ' take root downward, and bear fruit upward ;' and here the mifery threatened is equally great, both root and bloifoms were to be confumed. There is no fe- curity from the judgments of God : when he comes to take vengeance, ftrength and beauty perilh at his rebuke. The reafons are fubjoined why the Al- mighty would execute thefe extenfive judgments upon the houfe of Ifrael and Judah ; Becaufe they have caji away the laiv of the Lord of hojts. By the oppreffion, injuftice, luxury, drunken- nefs, pride, and perverfenefs, of which they were guilty, they contemned the facred authority of that mighty Lord who muflereth the armies of battle, who numbers and orders all the hoits of heaven. By the law of the Lord, may be meant the lively oracles which were committed unto them, and particularly the tefti- monies and ftatutes which God made known to Ifrael, conftituting one of thole diftinguifhing prerogatives whereby that highly-favoured people were exalted above all other nations. The generous gift of fuch a perfcd rule of conduft by the great Law-giver, for accomplifhing the moll benevolent purpofes, laid them under peculiar obligations to honour him, to love his law, and to afpire after the honourable teftimony which one of their own princes received from God: ' My fervant David, who kept my commandments, * and who followed me with all his heart, and did that * only which was right in mine eyes *.* To this they * I ivings xiv. 8. had Ver.24* prophecies of ISAIAH. 31^ had the highefl encouragement they could have de- fused, as you may fee, Lev. xviii. 5. ' Ye (Irall therefore ' keep my ilatutes and my judgments : which if a ' man do, he fliall live in them : I am the Lord.* Notwithflanding, like the Heathen who raged, and the people who imagined a vain thing, they broke God's bands afunder, and call away his cords from them. ' Lhough he had written to them the great ' things of his law, they were counted as a ftrange * thing*,* in which they had httle or no concern; and between which, and their hearts and lives, tlicre was little or no correfpondence. They refufed to yield the obedience it required, and made light of the folemn inflitutions which were therein appointed. And dcfpifed the 'word of the Holy One of Ifrael. If thefe words have a meaning different from the former, and contain not an illullration of the preceding article, but another, though fnnilar reafon, why the anger of the Lord was kindled againft his people, we may un- derfland them as fignifying his word of promife, given unto the fathers ; which the apoftle Paul affirms, God fulfilled unto their children, by raifmg up Jefus Chrill agaiil from the deadf. This was the word which the Lord gave, and great was the company of thofe that publifhed itj. This diflindion between the Word and the law of God feems to be marked, Pfal. cxlvii. 1 9. where men are invited to praife the Lord, becaufe, among other things, ' He hath fhewed his ' word unto Jacob, and his ilatutes and his judgments ' unto Ifrael.* To exprefs the great aggravations, wherewith the fin of this people was attended, the word which they defpifed is faid to be the v/ord of the holy One of Ifrael, who hath a perfeft detellation of all fni, efpecially the prefumptuous tranfgreffions of thofe by whom he ought to be^ fanclified, and with whom he vouchfafes to ftand intimately con- neded. The word and promife of Jehovah they * Hofea viii, 12. f See A6I3 xiii. 32, 33. % Pfal. Ixvlii. 11. wickedly 3i4 LECTURES o^ the ChaK \'. wickedly contemned, and blafphemoufly rejefted, though containing bleilings of incomparable excel- lence, and given in tender compaffion to his people, for accomplifliing the mod fahitary purpofes. —The wickednefs with which the Jews are here charged, arrived at an enormous height at the time which pre- ceded the Babylonifh captivity * ; and at the period which went before their extermination by the Ro- mans, as we learn from the conckifion of the apoftle Paul's difcourle in the fynagogue at Antioch : ' See- * ing,' faid that great man to the men of Ifrael * yc ' put the word of God from you, and judge yourfelves * unworthy of everlailing life, Ic, we turn to the Gen- * tiles. For fo hath the Lord commanded us |.' By rejecting the gofpel, and defpifmg the means of fal- vation, they juilly expofed themfelves to the fevere judgments here threatened. No wonder that the punifhment of fuch defpifers fhould be terrible and unavoidable. What madnefs and barbarity do they commit, who perverfely rejeQ; their own happinefs, and ruin themfelves! Did we fee condemned criminals trample under foot the pardon that was offered them ; did we fee fick people, languifhing under danger- ous difeafes, throw away the only rertiedy which could cure them ; did we fee wretched captives rejecting with difdain the kind offer of freedom ; or indigent beggars fpurning at the liberal hand v/hich reached them an alms ; we would reckon them obje.ds juilly defcrving pity and contempt. What (hall we then fay of the conduct of guilty, difeafed, enfiaved, indi- gent fmners, who wickedly reject and defpife that mercy which would pardon and cure, liberate and enrich them ! We only fay at prefent, they richly de- ferve defrrudion. ' How fhall we efcape if we ne- * gleet fo great finlvation ?' 25 Therefore is the anger of the Lord kin- dled againft his people, and he hath flretched * Sec s Chron. xxxvi. 15, 16, 17. •}■ Ads xiii. 46, 47. forth Vf.r.25. prophecies of ISAIAH. 31^ forth his hand againft them, and hath fmitten them : and the hills did tremble, and their car- cafes iDtre torn in the midft of the ftreets. For all this his anger is not turned avray, but his hand is ftrctched out ftill. This verfe contains a further defcription of the pu- nilhment which was to be inflided upon the pofterity of Jacob, on account of the fms above-mentioned. — It is extremely difficult to conceive, how the almighty- God is affected by the good or bad conduft of men ; how he can be pleafcd or difpleafed with their aftions. As his nature is unchangeable, without vaviablenefs, and Ihadow of turning, fo his felicity is immutable, and cannot admit either of increafe or diminution. Notwithftanding, he hath taught us to confider obe- dience to his will as highly acceptable to him ; and the tranfgreffion of his law as no lefs difpleafmg to him, and expofmg to his wrath, Mdiich is here faid to have been kindled againft his people. Anger, indig- nation, wrath, and fury, are alcribed to God in fcrip-f ture. Properly fpeaking, none of thefe angry paffions are in the all-perfeft Jehovah ; but they are attributed to hira, when he ads in a manner fomewhat fimilar to men, under the influence of thefe atfedions. There is no change in him, but in his difpenfations toward his people, when his anger, here compared to fire, is kindled againft them. The anger of God, Hko fire, which is the moft terrible of all the elements, is the moft dreadful attribute of Jehovah ; and when kindkd and blown up into a flame, by the prefumptuous, per- fifted-in tranlgreflions of men, it burns with vehemence, until it confume both root and branch. This wrath of the Lord is faid ' to be kindled a.c^^ainft his people,* whom he had appropriated to himfelf as his peculiar treafure, whom he had diftinguimad from all other na- tions by the moft excellent prerogatives, and who pra- feficd themfelves devoted to his lervice and obedience, i'heir wickednefs became greatly aggravated by the R r prlvil'fgeb 3i6 Ll:CTURES ON THE Chap. V. privileges which they abufed, in fo much that when God declared, by the prophet, that he would plead with them, he thus Ipeaks ; ' Pafs over the ifles of * Chittim, and fee, and fend unto Kedar, and confi- ' der diligently, and fee if there be fuch a thing. ' Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no * gods ? but my people have changed their glory, for ' that which doth not profit. Be aftonifhed, O ye ' heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very * defolate, faith the Lord*.' So enormous were their crimes, that they were unparalleled among other na- tions ; and therefore the anger of the Lord was kin- dled againfl them. -Beware, my friends, of kin- dling the wrath of the Moft High, of , which none knoweth the power, what it can do, and how far it may go. Cordially embrace the Son of God, and yield him the moft humble and dutiful homage, left he be angry, and ye perifh w^hen his wrath is kindled but a little. And he hath ftretcheJ. forth his hand againji thetn^ and hath/mitten them. By the hand of God, is here meant, as in many other places of fcripture, his mighty power, whereby he puniflies incorrigible fm- ners, and executes upon them righteous vengeance. This hand of the Lord is faid to be ffretched out, ready for immediate exertion, that he may infiicl de- ferved judgments upon tranfgreifors. Thefe he fome- times difpenfes by the intervention of inflruments, which he employs for this purpofe : hence the wicked are called, God's handf. At other times, he fends unexpected calamities upon a perfon or people, which come immediately from himfelf, whilfl he acts with- out the inftrumentality of the creature; many in- ftances of which occur in the courfe of divine provi- dence. And hath fmittcn them. God is faid to fmite, when he afHicls with terror, with famine, with peftilence, with the fword, with difeafes and death : * Jer. ii. 10, II, 12. t ^^'^^ ^'^'"- ^4'^ ii> Ver.55- prophecies of ISAIAH. 317 in all thefe various ways, he Is faid to have fmitten traiifgreiTors. The expreflion is ufed in the book of Exodus, with refped to the deflrudive plagues where- with God vifited the Egyptians : ' I will ilretch out ' my hand (faid he to his fervant Mofes), and fmite * Egypt with all my wonders *.' The ftroke to which the prophet here refers, was a very fevere one, and reached to old and young, to great and fmall. The Almighty required Ifrael, when they took a city, to fmite every male with the edge of the fword, and to fpare the women, the little ones, and the cattle |. "Whereas when God reached that terrible blow to the poiterity of Ifrael, which is here fpoken of, no age, fex, or condition whatfoever, was exempted from feeling the effefts of the out-flretched arm of Jehovah., The hoary head of the aged, the tendernefs of the children, the tears of the mothers, the beauty of the maids, the wifdom of the prudent, the power of the great, the eloquence of the orator, could not procure deliverance from the flroke of divine vengeance wherewith they were fmitten.-- The confequences were. And the hills did tremhle. Similar expreffions to this frequently occur in fcripture, in which thofe ac- tions are attributed to inanimate creatures, which, properly fpeaking, are peculiar to thofe only which are endowed with life. The words feem to allude to the tremour occafioned by the llroke of the workman's hammer upon fome hard body ; and, in their lowed fenfe, intimate the great effedls which were to be produced by the powerful arm of Jehovah ftretched to' fmite his people. Viewing the hills in the figurative fenfe, in which they are often mention- ed in the prophetic writings, they denote great men, conipicuous on account of their eminent itation, and ditunguilfied dignity. As in the difpofuion of this earth, the great Creator made fome places of it * Zxod. ill. 20. f See Dcut. xx. 13, 14. plain 3i8 LECTURES ON THE Chap. V. plain and low, others high and mountainous, fo in like manner he hath formed fociety. Some men Hand upon level ground, in the middle ranks ; others are fituated in a low and deprelled condition, like the valley and meadow grounds ; whilft a few, like hills and mountains, are elevated far above thofe around them. Such were to be the extenfive eifefts of God*s fmiting his people, that perfons of the higheft rank, emperors, kings, and princes, were to be itruck with dread and trembling, at the fudden unexpected ap- proach of the terrible judgments which the hand of God would inflid. And their carcafcs were torn in the viidjl of the Jirects. Thofe who were to fall victims to the im- pending deitruftion, were to be deprived of the bene- fit of a decent burial, which is generally efteemed a defirable privilege. Their dead bodies were to be barbaroufly treated by their cruel enemies, and ex- pofed as a prey to the beails of the field, and the fowls of heaven, by whom they ihould be mangled and de- voured. -If the aivine judgments here mentioned, were executed at the time this prophecy was deliver- ed, they mull have been thofe which befell the Jews in the days of Ahaz, of which we read, i Kings xxviii. 6, 7. 17, 18. et feq. Some of the neighbour- ing princes and ftates, with their great men, 'then tottered and fell : the king of AlTyria overthrew the kingdom of Syria, and greatly weakened Ephraim. If the prophecy looked forward, as 1 rather fuppofe, to times w^hich were then at a great diftance, it may re- late to the calamities which were infiided upon the Jews at the deltruftion of their Itate by the Romans, which was attended with great commotions among va- rious empires and Hates. Be admoniihed then to Hand in awe of God's righteous judgments. Though we fee them not, though we feel them not, the inform- ation we receive concerning them, ought to excite in our minds a holv iear and dread. This proper ef- fect the awful threatenings fuhainated againil the old wcild Ver.26. prophecies of ISAIAH. 319 world produced In Noah, the preacher of righteouf- nefs, as affirmed by the apollle, writing to the He- brews : ' By faith Noah being warned of God of ' things not feen as yet, moved with fear, prepared * an ark to the faving of his houfe*.' Surely if we ought to itand in awe of threatened judgments, we ought to fear and glorify God on account of his judg- ments already made manifeft, efpecially when the fol- lowing words are fubjoined : For all ibis bis anger ■is not turned away, but bis band is Jiretcbed out Jiill. After a man hath been greatly incenfed, and hath fe- verely punifhed the objects of his difpleafure, his wrath commonly begins to fubfide, and he ceafes farther to exert himfelf for their correction. His anger then fet^ms to be turned away. It was otherwife here. Not- wdthftanding the above dreadful threatenings which God had denounced againfl his people, his difplea- fure was not abated: his hand which was flretched out to fmite, he ftill retained in that pofture, in immediate readinefs farther to affiift them, for thofe complicated iranfgreffions from which they would not defift. Thefe words are thrice repeated in the ninth, and once in the tenth chapter of this prophecy, where the truth of them is fully evinced by the connedtlon in which they itand. 26 1[ A.nA he will lift up an enfign to the na- tions from far, and will liifs unto them from the end of the earth : and behold, they fhall come with fpeed fwiftly. In this and the following verfes, we are acquainted with fome circumllances relative to the forces which •the Almighty was to employ in fmiting his people for their fms. He was to convene them fpeedily, by erecling a ftandard for this pu.rpofe, and by calling them to his fervice, fo as to give them intimation of * licb. xi. 7. his 320 LECTURES ol^ the Chap. V- his pleafure. Enfigns are military banners or flan- dards, which, when lifted up, were anciently intended for raifmg armies, and colledling men together for warlike employments, and to thefe the foldiers were accuilomed to refort. To this praftice of princes and generals, who, when they wilhed fpeedily to raife an army upon any emergency, ufed to ered: a ftandard on fome hill or rifmg ground, the exprelTion before us feems plainly to allude. The Lord of hods, the Prince of the kings of the earth, by this means, was about to aflemble quickly a numerous army from a great dii- tance, to execute the purpofes he had in view to accom- plifli. — —And will hifs unto them from the end of the earth. In fcripture, perlbns are faid to hifs, as an expref- fion of derifion and contempt. The diftrelfed ftate of Jerufalem is in this manner defcribed ; ' All they that ' pafs by thee, clap their hands at thee ; they hits and * wag their head at the daughter of Jerufalem, faying, * Is this the city that men call the perfeftion of beauty, * the joy of the whole earth * ?' This, however, is not the meaning of the v/ord in the verfe under confider- ation. The hifling here fpoken of, is given as a fjgn or call to the people to whom it is directed, to march inmiediately to the work alhgned them. The phrafe, which is repeatedly ufed by our prophet, probably al* ludes to the cuftom of coUeding bees into the hive, by m.eans of a fort of hilling noife. It imports, that the God of the whole earth would fpeedily colled, by certain intimations of his pleafure, a vaft army, to exe- cute vengeance upon his perfidious, rebellious people, 'J'he fcofters among rhem had faid in derifion. Let him make fpeed, and halfen his work, that we may fee it : and lo, here their defire is granted. The people who were to perform this fervice, were to march with much halle and fpeed out of kingdoms very remote from Judea : they were to come from far, from the ends of the earth j firll from Chaldea, and afterward from Ver.27. prophecies of ISAIAH. 32X from the Roman empire, both of which kingdoms were fit.uated at a great dillance from Canaan. Heze- kiah tpld our prophet, that the meflengers concerning whom he inquired, came from a far country, even from Babylon *. And the Romans may as juilly be faid to have come from far, when, with furpriling rapidity, they marched toward Jerufalem, to dtltroy it, accord- ing to prophecy. Hence we learn, that the eternal God is the great Agent, who fends unto cities and kingdoms all the terrible judgments wherewith they a.re vifited. Nebuchadnezzar king of AH'yria, Titus the Roman emperor, with great armies, went againll Jerufalem ; but they acted only in obedience to the orders they received from God. In his hand they were only as the rod and ftaff, wherewith he beat his difobedient people ; the axe, Vv'herewith he hewed them ; and therefore they might thus have upbraided thofe whom they puniflied : At the command of Je- hovah, we defolate your country, and burn your city, becaufe you refufed to yield obedience to his com- mands, by which you might have prevented thefe ca- lamities. 27 None fhall be weary nor ftumble amongfl them : none fhall fl umber nor fleep : neither {hall the girdle of their loins be loofcd, nor the latchet of their flioes be broken. Thefe words reprefent the indefatigable diligence, the conftant vigilance, and wonderful alacrity, of the armies which God was to march againfl the Jewifli na- tion. They were not to be weary or faint, through the length of their journey; they were not to ftumble, through the roughnefs. of the roads by which they were to pafs ; neither were they to lofe any time in unnecelTary fleep ; but, with the utmofl readinefs and ^ftivity, they were to execute the orders of Jehovah. * 2 Kings. XX. 14, Nor 322 LECTURES ON the Chap. V, Nor was this to be the practice only of fome of the (lout- eft of them, but it was to be their conduft in general, with few or no exceptions. Neither Jl^all the girdle of their loins be loofed. They were to be in a ilate of continual readinefs for ac'cual fervice, and no impedi- ments were to retard their progrefs. Military girdles or belts, girt about the loins, were confidercd anciently, among eiiftcrn natir.ns, as a partof afoldier's accoutre- ments : hence girding, or putting on the girdle, was an expreffion uicd to denote preparation for war, or for a L;ng journey. Thus we read, that ' when the ' Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight ' againft them, they gathered all that were able to ' put on armour, or every one that girt himfelf with ' a girdle *.* Ihe girdles of thofe who are fpoken of, were not to be loofed, or laid afide, until the great purpofes for which they had been put on were effeduated : they were always to be prepared for ac- tion, until they had accompliflied the defigns for which they were armed. Nor the latchet of their jhoes be broken. A very minute circumftance this to be entered into the record of God. It feems intended, to intimate the remarkable fpeed with which the troops here defcribed, were to advance to the execu- tion of the work aifigned them, and that they were to meet v.'ith little or no in*"erruption in their progrefs. — Hereby we are inftru£i:ed in the obvious and important truth. That the Lord is the Governor among the na- tions, and that he hath the abfolute command of all the inhabitants of the earth. He calls them forth at •what time, and to what fervices he fees proper to alligii them. In the courfe of his univerfal providence, he condudts armies from their own territories into diftant countries, that they may do him fervice, and fpeedily execute righteous vengeance upon tranfgref- lors, whofe enormous crimes accelerate divine judg- ments, and give fpeed and fuccefs to the inftrumenls * .\ Kings iii. 21. employed Ver. 28. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 323 employed againft thetn by the King of nations. Let us reverence this mighty God, whofe kingdom ruleth over ail. ' Who Ihall not fear thee, O Lord, and glo- ' rify thy name ? for thou only art holy : for all na- ' tions fhall come and worfhip before thee ; for thy ' judgments are made manifeil*.' 28 Whofe arrows are fharp, and al! their bows bent, their horfes hoofs {hall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind. In this verfe, the military indruments of the ar- mies, who were to march into Judea, are defcribed as ready for ufe ; and the aftonilhing esp,edition with which they Were to advance to the fervice is ilrongly reprefented. -The arrow is afmall weapon made of Wood, pointed with iron or flint, and in ancient times was ufed as an inftrument of war. Its name, in the Hebrew language, is derived from a word which fig- nifies to cut or ivound^ this being the end for which it is made, and ufed in battle. That they might ef- fectually execute thefe purpofes, they are here affirm- ed to be fharp. — • — And all their bows bent ; quite ready for lliooting the arrows they had Iharpened, that thereby they might make terrible devaftation among thofe whom they attacked. Their horfes hoofs Jld all be counted like flint. You know, it is one of the chief properties of a good horfe, to have a hard hoof. The firmnefs and folidity of the hoof muft have been of ftiil more importance to a fine horfe among the ancients, who feem to have been unac- quainted with fhoeing horfes, by nailing iron-plates to their hoofs, as praftlfed in modern times. When, therefore, the hoofs of the Babylonian and Roman cavalry are foretold to be hard, and difficult to break, like a flint-flone, upon which the weather, and the iloncsj make no impreflion, the phrafe intimates, their * Rev. XV. 4. Sf ability 324 LECTURES ON THE Chap. V. ability and readincfs to perform the long march which they were to make into Judea. And their ii 'he els like a ivhirkvind. This wind is remarkable for coming very fuddenly., for running with great rapidity in a circular motion, and with fuch vio- lence as to carry every thing before it that lies in the way. The chariots, drawn by the horfes above de- fcribed, were to refemble a whirlwind, on account of their fudden and unexpected appearance in Judea ; for, as the prophet Jeremiah foretold, ' The fpoiler ' was fuddenly to come upon them *,' and overthrow them. Like a whirlwind, their motion was to be fwift ■ and rapid : hence the Chaldean horfes are compared, by the prophet Habakkuk, to leopards |, which are exceeding fv.ift creatures ; a circui:hilance this which was of great confequence to the fuccefs of their enterprife. Alexander, called the Great, being afked. How he conquered the world in fo fliort a time ? replied, By not delaying. The wheels of the chariots, like a whirlwind, alfo were to do great execution. Very terrible have been the effects of a tempell: Ihips at fea have foundered, or been dallied to pieces ; ilately buildings have been fliattered; the largell trees have been fplit in pieces, and the llrongelt houfes have been demolilhed. In hke manner, thofe who invad- ed Judea, fpread, with irrefiilible violence, defolation and ruin wherever they went. This remarkable preditlion, with its exaft accomplifhment, by the Ba- bylonians and Romans, furniflies us with an invin- cible argument for the unlimited power of God, in the firm belief of which we ought to be ellabliflied. All times, all nations, and all things, are fubjecl to his jurifdiclion and control, whofe name alone is Jeho- vah, the Moll High over all the earth. He is exalted far above all gods, potentates, and princes, and fends their rroops whitherfoever he pleafes, to execute his purpofes, and to punifh the fms of his perfidious people. * Jer. vi. 26. -1- Ilab. 1. S. . 2 0 Their Ver.29. prophecies of ISAIAH. 325 29 Their roaring y??^// be like a lion, they (hall roar like young lions : yea, they fhall roar and lay hold of the prey, and fhall carry it away fafe, and none fhall deliver //. The boldnefs and fortitude, the flrength and con- tempt of danger, the ferocity of difpofition, and love of prey, poifeired by the people who were lent againfl: the men of Judah, are here reprefented by a llrong comparifon. Befide vigilance, labour, difcipline, aftivicy, and military weapons, fortitude, bravery, and the love of glory, are highly necelfary to fuccefs in war. Thefe qualifications the armies fpoken of, were to poiTefs in an eminent degree. Their- roaring 'ivns to be like that of a lion. The great noife they were to make, when feizing upon their prey, 'is fignificantly compared to the roaring of a lion, which is faid to be the ilrongeft, and among the fierceft and mofl; rapa- cious of wild hearts. So loud and tremendous is his roar- ing, that fome have affirmed, that the other beafts of the forefls tremble and fall down at the hideous noife, whicli renders them an eafy prey. Wicked tyrants, power- ful and cruel men, are frequently compared to lions in fcripture, becaufe they refemble thefe creatures in their rapacity, love of prey, and other favage difpofi- tions. * As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear, fo is a * wicked ruler over the poor people *.' And in the verfe before us, the hideous noife made by fierce and inflexible troops, when fpreading defolation through Judea, and feizing upon the fpoils, is foretold to re- femble the roaring of the lion, and that of the young Hons. To intimate their fuccefs in pillaging that devoted country, it is added. They fiall carry azvay the prey fafe, and none Jloall deliver it. There were many among the men of Judah who had fpoiled and op- prefi'ed the poor ; and, therefore, as a juft recompence of that, and their other enormous crimes, thofe who were ji'^ LECTURES ON THE Chap. V. were to be employed in executing upon them righ- teous judgment, were to carry away their fpoil as a prey. Nor were there to be any deliverer, to refcue oat of the hand of their vidorious enemy, the fpoils they had gathered among the vanquilhed. Blefled God, defend us from the horrors of war, and preierve us from becoming a prey to our enemies ; and, above all, fave us, we befeech thee, from thofe tranfgreflions which expofe to thefe dreadful calamities. The predictions contained in this, and the two foregoing verfes, were remarkably verified at the invafion of Judea, by the Allyrians : concerning whom the Lord, thus fpeaks, by the prophet Jeremiah ; ' Lo, I * will bring a nation upon you from far, O houfe of * Ifrael, faith the Lord: it is a mighty nation, it is an * ancient nation, a nation whofe language thou know- * eft not, neither underftandeft what they fay *.' After- ward thefe predidions were more fully accomplilhed by the Romans, who excelled all other nations in mili- tary difcipline, in expedition and bravery; and, in vari- ous refpeds, refenibled a lion, to which they are here compared. All the circumfhances mentioned, have a remarkable correfpondence to thofe which attended tiieir march into Judea, when they fpread univerfal defolation over all that land. 30 And in tha.t day they fhall roar againfl them, like the roaring of the fe^ : and if one look unto the land, behold darknefs and forrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof. The prophet concludes this prophecy, by reprefent- ing the diftrefs and anguifli with which the foretold calamities fhould be accompanied. The invafion of the land of Judah, and the facking of the city Je- Tufalem, was to be attended with defpair on the part of the befieged. In that day. In that remarkable period in which the above-mentioned predictions were * Jer- V. 15. to Ver.30. prophecies of ISAIAH. 327 to be aecompliflied, the mournful fcene, defcribed in, this verfe, was to be exhibited. The great and powe> ful armies which were colle;iv. 21. Son. V£R. 3. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 345 Son of God Is eretSled. The kingdom of Jefus Chiiil is full of the glory of Jehovah, In which it fliines with the mod rellilgent fplendour, confounding the impla- cable enemies of mens falvation, baffling their flrata^ gems, and counterafting their erlbrts for our deflruc- tion : — conducing them by the mod unlikely means to the end he hath in view ; leading them through weaknefs and reproach, temptation and alHIclion, through innumerable difficulties, and death itfelf, to lifcj glory, honour, and eternal felicity : — render- ing perfetlly confiiient, neceffity and contingency, the freedom of fecond caufes, and the infallible cer-' tainty of divine purpofes : — effectuating the greateft events by the feeblefl Inflruments, that all the glory may redound to himfelf: — making the fame difpenfa- tions produce the mod oppofite effects, and by a thoufand other ways I day not to mention. In this manner, the earth was filled with the glory of the Lord : all the divine perfedions were manifeded and exalted after the exaltation of Jefus Chrld, through the minidry of the gofpel which was publlfhed over the whole known world, confirmed by the mod ftu- pendous miracles, accompanied with the plentiful ef- fufion of the Holy Spirit, and every where attended with the moft glorious eft'ecls. In another view, this truth was alfo remarkably verified, when the land of Ifrael was fmitten with a curfe, and the miferable remnant of that devoted people were fcattered through the 'world; and the glory of the Lord, manifeded in the righteous judgments inllicled upon them, was made known to all nations. A.nd hereafter it fhall be more eminently accomplifhed, when all the kingdoms of the earth Ihall become the kingdoms of our Lord, and his Chrifl. Let us, my brethren, unite our praifes with thofe of celeftial fpirits, unto that God who hath filled the earth with his glory, and often make the theme of their adorations the fubjeft of our prayers ; heartily joining with feraphs and faints, in the lad lupplicatiou of the man according to God's own 54^ LECTURES ON THE Chap. Vt own heart, ' Let the wh^ole earth be filled with his * glory. Amen, and amen *.' To thefe let us add our utmoil efforts, in bringing to pafs what we de- voutly wifh his almighty hand may fpeedily ^xecute. 4 And the pofts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the houfe was filled with fmoke. In this verfe, the prophet defcribes the powerful ef- fefts which followed the voice which he heard, and the glory which he beheld. The whole fcenery of this vifion is taken from the temple. God is repre- fented as feated on his throne above the ark, in the moft holy place, furrounded by his minillers, employ- ed in celebrating his praifes. The vail feparating the moft holy place from the outer part of the temple, is fuppofed to be rem_oved ; and the prophet, to whom the whole is exhibited, feems to have been placed be- fide the altar of burnt-offering, at the entrance of the temple, which was filled with the divine glory. From this ftation, he faw the whole vifion which he re- lates ; and, on this occafion, he particularly obferved the pods of the door moving at the voice of him that cried. The voice of the feraphims at this time v/as fo loud and melodious, and the power of their heavenly mufic was fo great, when extoUing the holinefs and glory of Jehovah, that the polls, with the lintel of the door of the temple, feemed to tremble, to be fhaken in the place where they ftood, or loofed from their place. This was a very furprifmg effect ; for thefe pofls were fo large and ftrong, that they fupported gates of brafs, which are faid to have required twenty men to fhut them, on account of their prodigious weight. This part of the vifion miglit prefigure the removal of thefe pillars, and the dellriidion of the temple by the Romans, which was the beauty of the •^ Pial. kxll. iq. Jewifa Ver.4. prophecies of ISAIAH. 347 Jewifli church, the place of their divine worfliip, and confequently the aboUtion of the whole Old-Teflament oecohomy. Jofephus records the following circum- ftance, which, he fays, happened at the deftrudion of the temple: Csefar, feeing that he could not reftrain the fury of the foldiers, and that the fire which had been thrown into the temple increafed, entered with his nobles, the flame not having yet pierced into the in- ner part of the temple, and entreated the foldiers to extinguifli the fire. Notwithftanding, a certain fol- dier fired the pofls of the doors ; and prefently the flame appearing within, Casfar, and the captains, de- parted *. Viewing the temple which our prophet be- held in vifion, as a type of the church of Jefus Chriit, in which God manifefts his glory, the moving of the polls, may fignify the powerful effects which were to be produced by the gracious prefence of God accom- panying his worfhip, particularly the celebration of his praifes. To this purpofe tv/o rejnarkable inftances occur in the New Tellament : ' After the apoflles had ' prayed, the place was fliaken where they were af- ' fembled together ; and they were all filled with the * Holy Ghoft , and they fpake the word of God with ' boldnefs -j- : When Paul and Silas prayed, and fang * praiies unto God, fuddenly there was a great earth- * quake, fo that the foundations of the prifon were * Ihaken ; and immediately all the doors were opened, ' and every one's bonds were loofed ];.'■ Jehovah now refides in the Chriflian church as he did in the temple of old ; therefore let the people tremble : he fit- teth between the cherubims ; let the earth be moved. And the houfe was filled with fmokc. Smoke is fometiraes mentioned in fcripturc as an emblem of the wrath of almighty God, and the terrible judg- ments with which it is attended. In this fenfe it mud be underftood in the fong which David fpake to the Lord, in the day the Lord delivered him from the * jofepli.book vli. cliap. X. fAftsiv. 31. :{: As5 works of creation, providence, and redemption, as ought to excite our higheft admiration, and humble us to the dufl. In every creature we may behold the glory of the Lord, which appears confpicuous in the fun, the moon, and the flars ; in the corns, the trees, and the plants. We may behold it in every difpenfa- tion of providence ; in the rife, progrefs, and declen- fion of empires, kingdoms, and flates ; in the various revolutions through which they pafs ; as well as in the formation of our bodies, and prefervation of our lives. Efpecially we may contemplate it fhining with ineffable fplendour in the face of Jefus Chrift, the brightnefs of his glory, and the exprefs image of his perion, the great author and linifher of falvation. Did we view thefe difcoveries of God as we ought, we (hould thereby cultivate the happy temper here exprelTed ; and find good reafon to adopt, in our mea- fure, the confeflion of the prophet. Our eyes have feen the King, the Lord of hoils. 6 Then flew one of the feraphlms unto me, having a live coal in his hand, ivhich he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. In this and the following verfe, the prophet narrates a diftinguiihing favour which he feafonably received on this occafion, by means of one of the feraphims. After what he had feen, he was deeply depreifed with an affetiiing fenfe of his own impurity, and the impu- rity of the people among whom he dwelt : in this con- dition, he greatly needed frefh intimation of pardon and fandification, which are now afforded him in a remarkable manner. For this purpofe, one of the celeftial minifters, who attended the throne of God, is immediately difpatched to perform this kind office ; who, having received the divine command, flew, with the utmofl fpeed, to execute his orders. Though t\-\Q. benefit here mentioned, proceeded entirely from God, it was communicated through the miniftry of ■r. Y V one 3.5^ LECTURES on the Chap. VL one of the feraphims, who took with him a live coal he had taken with the tongs from off the altar.— — > Fire, you know, was kept alive continually upon the altar of burnt-ofFering in the temple, near to which ,the prophet feenis to have had his ftation, when lie contemplated this vifion. God exprefsly required, that ' the fire fhould ever be burning upon the altar : ' it fliall never go out*.' Upon this altar the prieft was commanded to offer the trefpafs-offering, and the burnt-offering, and the facrifices that were to make atonement before the Lord, that fm might be forgiven* From this altar the prophet faw the feraph fly to hiiii with a live coal. Before I proceed to explain the tranfadlion, recorded in this and the firfi: part of the following verfe, it may not be improper to obferve, that the paffage muft be underftood in its figurative and emblematical fenfe. The fymbols presented to the view of our prophet were fignificant and inftruc- tive, when interpreted on fymbolic principles, or ac- cording to the fame ideas of analogy we explain the prophetic ftyle, which abounds with hieroglyphic imagerv. And you ought to reflect, that there is really nothing more ftrange in applying this mode of interpretation to vifions, than to parables, or to any other fpecies of prophecy. You ought alfo to conn- der, that when the eternal God condefcends to reveal himfelf to his fervants, he does it in the way he fees proper, and in a manner fuitable to their ideas and iipprehenfions ; and if men' miilake, the fault is in themfelves, not in the ufe of common emblems. Befides, it is proper that I remark, that in the part of the vifion now before us, as in fome other prophecies, there is a mixture of the plain and highly figured I'tyle, which it is neceffary carefully to difcriminate. I'he action of the feraph is fymbolical : the words which he ufes are to be underflood in their literal fenfe. The alrar in the temple, from which the feraph took the live coal, was a type or figure of Jcfus Chrift ; * I.cv. vl. 13. whom Ver.6. prophecies of ISAIAH. 2S7 whom the apoftle, writing to the Hebrews, affirms to be the aUar of Chriftians, of which they have right to eat. In the fourth and fifth chapter (jf that epiftle, the infpired writer dernonifrated, that Jefus Chrifl was our great High-prieft. In the ninth and tenth chapters, he exhibits him as our great atoning facri- fice ) and in the palfage now referred to *, he fpeaks of him as our ahar. The fum of what is there faid upon, this fubjed feems to be this : I'he folemn facriiic;: whicli was offered for fm on the great day of atone- ment, was burnt not upon the ahar in the temple, but without the city of Jerufabm. In Hke manner, Je- fus Clirill offered himfelf a facrifice for us without the gate ; and, wlicfoever will participate in the merit, of his atonement, mud repair not to the altar in the temple, but to that altar v;hereupon he made expia- tion for fm. As the facrifices prefented by the Ifrael- ites, were exprefslj required to be brought to the al- tar of the Lord their God, that they might be offered thereon, in order to their being accepted, fo the ipi- ritual facrifices of Cliriflians mud be prefented upon the altar of Jefus Chrifl:, where alone atonement is malde for finners, and from thence they muii afcend, would we have them become acceptable unto God, Jefus Chriff then is ihe altar which fanftifies our gifts, and renders our facrifices well-pleafing unto God ; which was typified by the ahar of burnt-offering, from which the feraph took the live coal. The difficulties v/hich occur in the Old and New Teftaraent are very different. The obfcurity which we obferve in fome paffages of the New Teilament, arifes chiefly from the language, in which there i.> intermixed Hebrew idioras, Talmudical phrau^s, and aliufions to Jewifli opinions and cuiioms, which, when properly underftood, the meaning appears plain and obvious. In the Old Teftameiit it is otherv.dfe ; the ^itticiilties we there meet with, ariie net fo mucti fi'oni * Peb. ^::a. io> the 358 LECTURES on the . Chap. VI.' the exprefiion, as from uncertainty refpeding the fenfe in which it ought to be underftood. So far -as the fubfequent revelation of the will of God explains it, we proceed with certainty and fafety ; but when that ceafes to enlighten our path, we hcfitate, and can pro- nounce nothing decifively. This obfervation will, I hope, in fome meafure apologize for my oftering you a conjeftural interpretation of what was fignitied by the live coal, which the feraph applied to our pro- phet's mouth, as I do not know any paffage in the New Teflament that authorizes any determinate mean- ing to this fymbol. The cloven tongues, Hke as of fire, which, on Pentecofl, fat upon each of the apofUes, hath but a diflant refemblance to what the prophet had reprefented to him in vifion. A burning coal is a pro- per emblem of light, heat, and purity, which impor- tant bleffings are conveyed by the Holy Spirit to the fervants of God. I'hefe were benefits which Ifoiah, in his own humble apprehenfion, greatly needed at prefent ; and therefore the feraph, by this fymbolical attion, reprefented and communicated them to him. 1 do not fuppofe there was any inherent virtue in the coal lifted from off the altar to take away iniquity, and to purify from fm, no more than there was in the waters of Jordan to cure Naaman of his leprofy, or in the impofition of the apoftles hands to confer the Ho- ly Spirit. God, however, in his infinite wifdom, hath oft-times fixed a certain connexion between external fymbols, and the communication of important fpiritua^ benefits; of which the vifion we are confidering affords a remarkable inftance. Other inltances are frequently prefented to our view, in the facred infl:itutions of bap- tifm and the I>ord*s fupper. Let us gratefully ac- knowledge the divine goodnefs, in appointing external vifible objefts and aftions to be fignificant of fpiritual invifible bleilings ; and let us earneftly pray, that, in divine ordinances, the former may prove the means of conveying to us the latter, which they are appoint- ed to exhibit. 7 And Ver.7. prophecies of ISAIAH. 359 7 And he laid // upon my mouth, and faid, Lo, this hath touched thy hps, and thine iniqui- ty is taken away, and thy fui purged. In this verfe, we are informed what the heavenly meffenger did with the Hve coal, and what was the comfortable meiTage he delivered to the prophet. With the coal he touched Ifaiah's mouth. This was a very fignlficant action performed toward one who had juft complained, that he was undone, becaufe a man of unclean lips. That his lips might be purified from their pollution, his faculty of fpeech improved, and he himfelf quahhed for delivering with freedom and boldnefs the affefting meffage with which he was to be intruded, the Spirit of God was to confecrate and fancllfy him ; and of this he hath a vifible reprefenta- tion afforded him. The feraph having laid the coal upon his mouth, faid, Lo, this hath touched thy lips ; thus intimating, that this was a reprefentative action which ought to be carefully attended to, and would be accompanied with very happy effefts. Confider this live coal is n^t common, but holy fire, brought from the altar of God. This is a fign and feal of pardon- ing mercy, and fanclifying grace, communicated to thee by the Holy Spirit, through the mediation of the great Mcfiiah. How admirable the condefcenfion of the mofl high God, who emplovs fignificant figns, the more deeply to imprefs fpiritual objecb upon our minds ; and to figns he is gracioufly pleafed to fub- join words, the more clearly to explain their meaning and defign ! And thine iniqitity is taken cnuay. The Hebrew word here tranflated iniquity^ properly fignifies crook- ednefs or perverfenefs ; and hence it is ufed to denote iniquity, which proceeds from a froward difpofltion of mind, and confilts in deviating from the llraight rule of the law of God. Such perverfity in temper and conduct judly expofes men to the divine difplea- fure, and renders them guilty and polluted b^;fore God J 6o LECTURES on the Chap. VI. God ; and confequently occafions deep felf-abafement in his fervants, when they are admitted to contemplate his glory. What a defirable intimation then did our prophet receive from the ieraph, who told him. Thine iniquity is taken away ; the tranfgrefiions thou had: eommitted are .blotted out of remcm.brance ; the guilt thou haft contracted is removed ; the punifliment thou haft deferved is cancelled ! The expreftion here ufed, feems to refer to an ordinance in Ifrael, with which Kaiah was periedly acquainted ; the appointment of which you read, Leviticus xvi. 7. and following verfes. Over the head of the goat, there called the fcape-goat, the high-prieft was ordered to confefs all the iniquities of the children of Ifrael, "putting them upon the head of the goat, which was to carry them away into a wildernefs, where he was to be fent by the hand of a proper perfon. This divine inftitution^ into "the meaning of which you ought carefully to examine, feems to have been typical of Jefus Chrift taking away the fms of his people, confefled over his atoning facrifice. Indeed this is a work altogether peculiar to him, who, you know, was raanifefted for this very purpofe, to take away fm ; and gave himfelf for us, to redeem us from all iniquity. In this manner the prophet's iniquity was taken away ; and of this ineftimable favour he received the comfortable aftur- ance, which would greatly increafe the pleafure and joy which would arife in his mind from the poflellion of this diftinguiftiing mercy.-^ riearing of this glorious privilege, fay unto God, in the words of Job, ' Do. * not condemn me :' fay unto him, with the publican, * God be merciful to me a linner :' fay unto him, in the language which he himfelf hath taught, ' Take ' away all iniquity, and receive us gracioufly :* and may he who bears the fupplications of the needy, grant your petition ; and, along with it, the agreeable intimation. Thy fm is taken away. Jbid thy fill purged. The original word rendered /?«, is derived from one that fignifies to err, or mifs the. Ver.;. prophecies of ISAIAH. 361 the mark at which ive ought to a'un : hence it is ufed to exprefs fin, whereby men wander from the path of God's commandment^;, come fhort of the glory of God, and mifs the prize of the high calUng of God in Chrifl Jefus. To alfdl us in forming juft fenti- ments of this abominable thing, it is compared in fcripture to thofe things which are reckoned mod dif- agreeable and loathfome, fuch as poifon and dileafe, drofs and fcum/ Like a dangerous contagion, it hath extended its baneful influence through every part of our conititution : it hath defaced the beautiful image of God with which we were originally adorned, and de- filed all the faculties of the human foul ; in fo much that even the bed of men acknowledge, that in their fielh dwclieth no good thing ; that their lips, and their hearts, are unclean. How joyful then mufl have been the tidings here announced to the prophet, ' Thy fm ' is purged !' What an infpired apoflle affirms, con- cerning pardon of fm, we may with equal juflice af- fert, with refpedl to purification from fm : he faith, Without jhedding of blopd there is no remiffion ; to this we may add, Without (bedding of blood there is no fanftihcation. It is the office of Jefus Chrift, the great liigh-prieft of our profeffion, who purifies unto himfeif a pecuKar people, zealous of good works, to cleanfe and fanclify his church. This blefied work he performs through fandTtification of the Spirit unto obe- dience, and the fprinkling of his blood, which cleanf- eth from all fin ; and, upon this occafion, it was eminently advanced in Ifaiah, as the celeflial intelli- gence declared. Thus God purged our prophet's fin, removed acknowledged pollution of heart and lips, and confecrated him to the difficult fervices which he was about to affign him. Though this is God's own proper work, and the effeft of his diflinguiihing favour, he invites us to co-operate with him : he re- quires us to do more than we are able, that we may feek ability from him, who can do more for us than we can alk or think, and who works all our works in and %6i LECTURES ON THE Chap. VL and for us. Senfible that though the mercy flows from him, the duty is ours, let us caft away all our tranfgreffions, and cieanfe ourfelves from all filthinefs of fiefh and fpirit, perfeding holinels in the fear of God. 8 Alfo I heard the voice of the Lord, faying, Whom fhall I fend, and who will go for us ? Then faid I, here am I, fend me. We are now to confider the third part of this vi* fion, in which the prophet, after his confecration, re- ceived command from God to deliver a very afRicl- ing meffage to the Jewifli nation. By what he had already feen and heard, his mind, formerly troilbled, is compofedand invigorated ; and now that he is prepar- ed for eminent and difficult fervices, he is not allowed to indulge in eafe and indolence, but is to be imme- diately employed in executing the commiilion he is going to receive from God. He had already heard the voice of the feraphim, praifnig the holinefs and glory of Jehovah, and delivering a mod agreeable meffage to him from heaven. Now he hears the voice of the Lord of hofts, whom he beheld enthron- ed in divine majefty, fpeaking to him fo as to make trial of his affeftion and obedience. In fcripture, a voice is fometimes afcribed to God ; and he is faid to fpeak, when he gives intimation of his will, in what- ever Way he maketh known his mind, which he al- ways does in a manner fuited to his own grandeur, and the capacity of the creature. What peculiar marks of majefly and power attended the voice of the Almighty at this time, by which our prophet difcern- ed it from that of the feraphs, I ilay not to inquire, being certain that he was fully convinced by fatisfying demonft rations, that the words which he heard pro- ceeded from the Lord of hofts. The inquiry which attraded his attention was this j W/jom Ver. 8. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. ^6^, WbG7n jOmll I fend, and ivho will go for us ? Thefe words do not fuppofe doubtful deliberation, or fluc- tuating uncertainty, as to the perlbn who was to be employed in the fcrvice after mentioned ; but have a manifeif allufion to the cuftom of kings and princes, who conlult as to the moll proper perfon to be in- truded with a commiflion of high importance. They plainly intimate, that the work to be performed was extremely difficult, and required great titielity and for- titude in him who was to be employed in the execu- tion of it ; that very few were equal to the fervice ; and that God would not commit it to any one, who vv^as not willing and ready to undertake it from ar*- dent affection to his higheit Lord. Belides, they af- forded Ifaiah an opportunity of declaring his imme- diate readinefs to perform any fervice which God would be pleafed to afiign him. In the latter of thefe inquiries, there is a remarkable change of per- fon, from the fmgular to the plural number, which ought not to efcape our notice ; as it feems to inti- mate, that, in the perfeft fimplicity and unity of the Godhead, there is, in fome refpeft, a plurality, which, in this manner, is often hinted in icripture, and in many paffages is clearly evinced. This is a very fub- lim^e fubjcft, upon which it becomes us at all times to fpeak with the greateit modelly, impreffed with a deep fenfe of our inability to comprehend in what manner the infinite Jehovah exifts. Let us attend with diligence, humility, and meeknefs, and the great- efl deference, to every information that is given of this very important fubject; forming all our fentiments, and founding all our determinations, entirely upon the revelation which God hath given of himfelf in his word. In confulting thefe lively oracles, I obferve an exprefiion fomewhat hmilar to this in Genefis i. 26. where God faid, ' Let us make man in our image, * after our likenefs.* I cannot fuppofe that Jehovah there addreffed himfelf to angels, who had no hand but that he expreiled himfelf thus, Z z to 364-- LECTURES ON t?te Ci^ap. YI. to point out what the wife man requires us to re- member, namely, our Creators * ; the Hebrew word there, as well as here, being in the plural. I read in Genefis xi. 7. that the Lord God faid, ' Go to, let us ' go down, and there confound their language.* In Englilh, one perfon, efpecially a great perfonage, fonietimes ufes the plural number, to give dignity and confequence to what he faith ; but it is ptherwife in the Hebrew tongue, where the plural number is not ufed, that I know, to denote honour and dignity, but to fignify more than one. Other inftances of this mode of expreffion might have been added; but enough hath been fuggeded to gain your candid at- tention to a circumflance well deferving your notice, who fearch the fcriptures with earnefl defire to learn the knowledge of the Mod High. Then /aid /, here am /, fend me. Blefled reply to the voice of the Lord. The words clearly exprefs the prophet's wiliingnefs to obey the divine comm.and, whatever it might be ; and to execute the work af- figned him, however arduous it might prove. He does not afk, Where he was to be lent, to whom he was to go, or what meflage be was to carry ? but, like a faithful fervant, or dutiful fon, he waits to re- ceive the commands of his great Lord, and heavenly Father ; and immediately, without limitation or de- lay, he offers his fervices. Warmed by heavenly fire, and inflamed with ardent zeal for the divine glory, he quickly replies to the voice of God, Here am 1, ready to execute thy orders ; fend me to perform any piece of fervice thou pleafeil ; afTign me my ftation, point out my buiuiefs, and I fhall endeavour to dif- charge it with alacrity and fidehty, repofmg unfufped- ing confidence in the alhftance of thy grace. Our pro- phet ffands in diftinguifhed eminence above all his fel- low-fervants, in refpect of promptitude in engaging in the work of God. Mofes and Jeremiah, deeply aiieded ^ * Ecclcf. xii. I. with Ver. 9. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 365 with their unworthinefs and infufficiency, difcovered, at firfl, fome reluftance in undertaking the difficult fer- vices to which God appointed them ; whereas Ifaiah, after his iniquity was taken away, hke the angels who excel in flrength, and do his commandments, hearken- ed to the voice of the Lord, and Hood in readinefs to fulfil his pleafure. What a noble example is here prefented to view, of the cheerful fubmiilion""of a Chridian, whole heart and mouth ought always to echo obedience to the calls and commands of God! When thou, O Lord, didfl fay, Seek ye my face ; my heart replied, Thy face. Lord, will I feek above ali things. When thou calleft , I will anfwer ; when thou flretchr eft out thy hand, I will regard ; when thou com- mandeft, I will obey. When thou faidll. Whom Ihali I fend ? Then faid I, Here am I, fend me. Lord,' what wilt thou have me to do ? Speak, Lord, thy fervant heareth. Such ought to be the language ot each of our hearts, and fuch the obedience of every one of us through every period of hfc. 9 ^ And he faid, Go and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but underiland not ; and fee ye indeed, but perceive not. Ifaiah's offer of fervices is accepted, and he receives his commiilion and authority from the Lord of hofts, who acquaints him with the meiTage which he orders him to go and dehver to the Jews.- 1 am going to remiark what fome of you may perhaps have obferv- cd, that the apoftlePaul, when at Rome, expounding the kingdom of God to thofe who came to his lodg- ing, concluded his difcourfes by quoting this fcripture-, w^ith a remarkable variation * : ' Wellfpake the Holy ' Ghoft, by Efaias the prophc*:, unto our fathers, fay- ' i)ig, Go unto this people, and fay,' isfc. As the glory tjf Jehovah, which our prophet law, was the glory of * Ads xxvlil. 2:;, 26, 27. Jefl^?. 366 LECTURES ON THE Chap. VI. Jefus Chrlll, according to the apoftle John ; fo the voice of the Lord, which he h.eard, was the voice of the Holy Gholt", according to the apoftle Paul.— The commillion given to Iiaiah is in thele words. Go tell this people. Every word here merits our attention. Go from this place, in which thou hail: been favoured with a vifion of my glory, of the fublime exercifes and cheerful obedience of my minifters ; in which alfo thou hafi: received fuch marks of my favour, and communications of my grace, as may furnifli thee for the important fervices upon which I now fend thee to this people among whom thou dwelleft. Remark, God doLS not call them., as on many other occafions, his people, but this people ; thus difowning his rela- tion to them, and teltifying his juft difpleafure againlt them., on account of their wicked abufe of the high privileges which for long time they had enjoyed. In a fimjiar manner he had formerly fpoken of them to his lervant Mofes, after they had fallen into idolatry : ' Go,' faid he, ' get thee down ; for thy people which ' thou broughteil out of the land of Egypt, have cor- ' rupted themfelves *.' Here our prophet is ordered faithfully to inform his countryjf^en, by word^^ writ- ing, of the melfage with whicn he is intrulted ; to conceal no part of it, however Jevere it might feem to him ; but to deliver the whole with courage and firm- nefs, as became the meifenger of the Lord of hods. Hear ye indeed, but itnderjland not. What is con- tained in this and the following verfe, is five times cited by the writers of the New Teffament, befide- being once referred to in the Epiflle to the Romans, The people to v/hom the prophet was fent with this meifage, had been intruded for many ages with the oraclts of God. To them were made known his fta- tuTes and his judgment-*^, his ordinances and his laws. With the greattit magnificence and folem^nity, he publillied his law from Mount Sinai in the ears of * Exod. xxxii. 7, their Ver. 9. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. ^^Sy their fathers, who were commanvded diligently to teach what they heard to their children, and their childrens children. They had alfo enjoyed for a long period the miniilry of the prophets, whom God raifed up among them in continued fuccefTion, from Moles to John the Baptift, who were employed in commu- nicating, explaining, and inculcating the will of God; and with fuch aiiiduity, that they rofe up early, and fat up late. As this prophetic vifion looked forward to times which were then future, to thefe important advantages I mufl add, the glorious miniilry of ther Son of God, who came to the loft ilieep offthe houlV of Ifrael, and a6ted as a minifter of the circumcifion, for the truth of God to the fathers. Juftly did Mo- fes, contemplating the privileges they had already en- joyed, and thofe which they had in profpecl, addrefs them in this animated manner: ' Afk now of the ' days that are paft, which were before thee, fmce the ' day that God created man upon the earth, and alk * from the one fide of heaven unto the other, whether ' there hath been any fuch thing as this great thing is, ' or hath been heard like it ? Did ever people hear the ' voice of God fpeaking out of the midil of the fire, ' as thou haft heard, and live * ? To the moft impor- tant fubjefts their attention was frequently demand- ed, and urged by the moft interefting confiderations, which the prophets never failed to fuggeft. Notwithftanding thefe fignal advantages, Ifrael was a people of no underftanding. They enjoyed the beft means of inftruftion, but they reaped little or no real benefit from them : they neither underftood the im- port, nor confidered the defign of what they heard. To hear with underftanding is indifpen^ably neceffary, in order to mens profiting by what they hear ; for unlefs divine truths are in fome meafure underftood, they can neither be believed nor pradifed as they ought. Spiritual underftanding of the will of God * Deut, iv. 32, ^^, 68 LECTURES on the Chap. VI. is abfolutcly requifite to walking worthy of him unto all well-plcafjng, and to Hiew, that, in affeiUon and practice, objects occupy their proper place and order. The vaft importance of people's underftanding what they hear, our blciied Saviour frequently inculcated upon thofe who attended his»minillry. He often in- troduced his fubjeci, by callhig upon them to hear and underftand : after difcourfing to them, he fome- times aiked, If they undcrftcod what they heard ? he blamed them if they did not underftand, and com- mended thofe who were fo happy as know the things w'hlch were freely given them of God. The bulk of the Jewiih nation correfpondcd to the defcription here given of them : they were deftitute of fpiritual underftanding in the law of God, which they minn- terpreted, and made void through their traditions : they had little or no acquaintance with the reahty and excellence of heavenly objefts.^ Alarmed by the awfui judgments to v/hich this people expofed them- felves, by not underflanding what they heard, do you, my brethren, ftudy to be attentive, intelligent hearers of divine truths, and well acquainted with the word of God, and the feveral parts of which it is com- pofed. For this purpofe, never interpret fcripture in a fenfe contrary to the dictates of found reafon, incon- fiilent with the plain drift of the paifage, compared with other texts, or the connection in which it ilands. Explain words and phrafes not always in the m'eaning they bear in common converfation, but that in which they are ufed in other places of fcripture : underftand them hterally, when they will bear this fenfe ; and figuratively, when you find it neceifary. Make fuch abatements from general expreflions, fuch excep- tions to them, and allowances for the whole m.anner of fpeaklng, as you perceive the nature of the fub- jeci, and the cuftom of the facred writers demand. Think not you have done with a paffage of fcripture as foon as you underftand it ; your principal work is yet before vou, to feel its divine influence, and difplay its Ver. 9. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 369 its divine efficacy, to have an experimental fenfe and feeling of the interefting fubjetts of which ir treats *. With the greateft earneftnefs fupplicate the Father of lights, to illuminate your underitanding in the know- ledge of his truth; adopting the words of the royal pfahnift, Givf. me underdanding, and I (hall keep thy law, yea, I Ihali obferve it with my whole heart. Then may you hope to read and hear with under- ftanding. And lee ye indeed, but perceive not. The great ob- jecls which were prefented to the view of this people, to which the prophet here refers, were, the aflonifh- ing wonders v/hich v/ere wrought before their eyes, the many terrible judgments infiifted upon their ene- mies, the fignal victories with which they were crowned, the glorious deliverances and remarkable interpofitions of kind providence in their behalf. Of thefe things Mofes often reminded them ; and efpe- ciaily before his death, when he called unto all Ifrael, and faid unto them, ' Ye have feen all that the Lord ' did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, unto ' Pharaoh, and unto all his fervants, and unto all ' his land ; the great temptations which thine eyes ' have feen, the figns and thofe great miracles |.' In after periods, new wonders were from time to time exhibited to their view ; furprifmg conquefts, through the favour of heaven, they obtained ; many narrow efcapes did they make from dellruftion, and unex- pefted ways were opened for their return from capti- vity. And in the latter days, after the great Meffiah made his \appearance among them, they were eye- witneiTes of his llupendous miracles of grace for the fal- vation of men, and the eilabhfhment of his kingdom upon earth : they beheld iilufhious difplays of omni- potence and companion, corupicuous proofs of the divine prefcnce and glory, and the great light of the glorious gofpei which then fcrung up. They faw and * See Seeker, vol. vi. ferm. v. -f- Deut. xxix. 2, 3. heard 370 LECTURES on tuS Chap. VL heard thofe things which many prophets and righ- teous men defired in vain to fee and hear, as our Lord informed them*.* Though they beheld the wonderful v/orks of God, the bulk of them had no fpiritual perception of their , excellence and glory, no juft fenfe of their worth and importance; nor did they perceive the rich mani- feftations of the power and glory of Jehovah, which were therein prefented to their view, fo as to honour and obey him. The corre£b talle of which highly cultivated minds are pofTeiTed, enables them to form juft fentiments of natural beauty, to difccrn fublimity of thought, elegance of ftyle, propriety and graceful- nefs of good condud:. In like manner, the fpiritual perception, with the want of which this people are here charged, gives a fpiritual tafte for moral beauty, a high relifh for that which is truly excellent, and a juft difcernment of the beauty and defign of the works and word of God. Deftitute of this principle, the great part of the Jewilh nation did not obferve the hand of God in the remarkable difpenfations of his providence, though eminently confpicuous in every ftep by which he conduced them ; they did not per- ceive the dignity and glory of the Meffiah ; they were blind to all the wonderful proofs which he gave of his divine miifion, of his amiable condefcenfion, and con- fummate ability, to perform the whole v/ork of a complete Saviour. The confequences were, that they remained in great meafure ignorant of the admirable difplays of the divine attributes which they beheld ; they were deftitute of fanctifying knowledge, of the devout exercifes of the heart, and facred confolations, to all of which fpiritual perception is certainly requi- fite. Endeavour to acquire this fpiritual percep- tion, under the teaching of God, in the faithful im- provement of the advantages you enjoy. The illu- mination of the underftanding, which is abfolutely * Matth. xiii. 17. neceffarv Ver. 10. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. ^yt neceffary for this purpofe, proceeds from the Father of glory ; and therefore to him you muft earneftly apply for it. And that nothing may be wanting upon your part, diligently ftudy your Bible, which is the appointed mean of Spiritual improvement, the perfect flandard of fpiritual perception, and the great repofi- tory of divine knowledge, from whence you may bring forth to view the wonderful things which this people faw, and yet did not perceive. I am the more anxious about your diligence in this matter, that I fee before me, in the following verfe, a very alarming event foretold, as the effect of not underftanding and perceiving the providences and truths of God. This prediftion began to be fulfilled in the days of Ifaiah, and the following prophets ; and was after- ward more fully accomplifhed, under the minillry of Jefus Chrifl and his apoftles. The Jews heard the difcourfes which thefe illuftrious perfons delivered, but did not underftand aright their meaning and de- fign. They faw with their bodily eyes the many miracles which thefe fervants of Jehovah performed, but they perceived not the proofs which they afford- ed of their divine milTion, nor the truth and import- ance of their do£trine. lo Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and fhut their eyes : left they fee with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and underftand with their heart, and con- vert, and be healed. The prophet is ordered to foretel the terrible fpi- ritual judgments which God was about to infiid: upon the people to whom he was fent.^ — ' — The heart here mentioned, is not to be underflood in its literal, but in its metaphorical fenfe ; denoting the whole foul, with all its various faculties, which being difor- dered and vitiated by corrupt principles and bad ha- bit.i, are unlit for performing their proper fundions. % A To 372 LECTURES on the Chap. Vt To this lafl circumftance I would have you advert j for the heart of this people mull have been greatly depraved, otherwile we cannot fuppofe that God would have fent the prophet to malie it fat or grofs. This exprefiion mull likewife be interpreted in its figurative fenfe ; frTnifying (lupidity, fottiihnefs, and incapacity of underitanding the true import and de- fign of what was feen and heard. To produce this deplorable Ifate of mind, nothing contributes more than fenfuality, and the immoderate ufe of prefent enjoyments in time of external profperity. If lenfibi- lity, according to the opinion of fome, is principally feated in the bowels, we may, without much difficul- ty, afcertain the import of the words. Make the heart of this people fat. Let them become infenfible, and unaffected, both with the mercies and judgments of God.— — And make their ears heavy. By the ears, feem here to be meant the powers of the mind, by which attention is given to the nature, importance, snd defign of divine truths. In hearing aright, fo aS to profit by inftrudion, the mind, as well as the ear, muif be employed. Careful attention, fpiritual un- derflanding, fuitable affection, and the exercife of va- rious graces, fuch as faith and meeknefs, are all ne- ceffary. The ears, in this fenfe, were to be made heavy, dull, and inaftive ; in confequence of which, they were not to attend diligently to the things that v/ere fpoken to them by the Lord ; they were not to confider their high importance, or interefl in them j nor to treafure them up in their hearts, fo as to derive fpiritual benefit from them. And Jhut their eyes. The eyes of the underftanding, I fuppofe, are here in- tended, by which fpiritual objetls are contemplated, and neceilary acquaintance with them is acquired. Thefe eyes were direded to be fhut, or clofed ; in confequence whereof, this people did not know aright the things freely given them of God, nor did they form jufi fentiments concerning them : they faw the ffupendcus miracles that were wrought among them ; but Ver.io. prophecies of ISAIAH. 3/3 ' but the Lord did not give them a heart to perceive, nor eyes to fee, nor ears to hear, to this day *. After what you have heard, are you furprifed that the Lord of hofls fiiould have deUvered this commif- fion to the prophet ? Why, my brethren, the people to whom he was fent, had forfeited their hearts, their cars, and their eyes. They were fooHflily puHed up by the form of knowledge they retained ; they were unthankful for the light they enjoyed ; they grofslr abufed the inftrudions they received, and obilinately perfifted in the fms for which they were reproved ; and therefore, you mull acknowledge, that it was juil in God to hide their heart fromunderftanding. As (he purification of the heart, and the opening the cars and the eyes, are attributed to God in fcripture, as his diftinguifhing favours ; fo, covering the heart with fat, making the ears heavy, and (hutting the eyes, are alfo afcribed to him, a"S acls of his righteou-^ dcmuiion, and judicial procedure, refpefting thofe v.ho have done what they could to bring themfelves into this condition, by rejefting the counfel of God, and obflinately perlifling in their evil ways. This ap- pears to me abundantly evident, from many pafl'ages both in the Old and New Teftament ; among- thefe are the following, v;hich you may confult at your leifure; Exod. iv. 21. Deut. ii. 30. John xii. 40. Rom. i. 28.' -Thi^i is indeed a very nice point, and requires to be touched with great tendernefs, left, by faying too much, we obfcure the divine glory ; or fay too little, and leave the fubject involved in difTicultVj and expofed to abufe. Certain, it is, that God doth not communicate any wrong propenfity to the. mind^ of men : that he neither commands, perfuades, Ot ap- proves of any thing that contributes to render the hu- man heart grofs or infenfible, that fliuts the ears and eyes of men, and prevents them from underftanding his word, or contemplating his works. Some things^ * Deur, xxix. 4. howcvqr* ^y4 lECTURES on the . Chap. VI. however, concur toward this event, which the fciip- tures does not conceal ; fuch as, the removal of thok reilraints whereby people were kept from fin; accord- ing to what God faith of Ifrael, * 1 gave them up to. * their own hearts luft ; and they walked in their * own counfels * :' the permifiion given to Satan, who is the chief agent in this bufmefs, to pervert the mind by carnal prejudices and affedions ; for proof of which, you may compare 2 Sam. j:xiv. 1. with. J Chron. xxi. i.- If you really think that I have af- figned too much to the divine agency in this matter, you are at full liberty to fubtraft whatever in con- fcience you apprehend, in this reprefentation, is too Itrong, and to form your judgment upon fcripture- evidenee. Do you afk, as it is natural you fliould. How could Ifaiah, a man of like paflions with us, make fat the heart of this people, make their ears heavy, and fhut their eyes ? You ought to know, that, in the ftyle of fcripture, the prophets are faid to perform ihofe things which, in obedience to the command of God, they foretel (hall certainly come to pafs. In this fenfe, they are faid to plant and to pluck up, to build and pull down, to fave and dellroy, to fhut up heaven and to fmite the earth, to make fat the heart, and many great things, of which you read in prophecy. Two inflances may fuffice at prefent to illullrate and con-; firm this remark, which contains the anfwer to the above inquiiy. God informs the prophet Jeremiah, Chap. i. 10. ' See, I have this day fet thee over the ' nations, and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to * pull down, and to deliroy, and to throw down, to ' build, and to plant.* One would think this com^ milTion was more fuited to a Caefar, or an Alexander, or fome great commander, attended with valt armies, than to a humble prophet, vhom his countrymen confpired to deftroy. This unarmed man was fent to * Pfal. hxxi. 1 2, root Ver.^o. - PROPHECIES OF ISAiAH. 375. root out kingdoms, and deflroy nations, by denounc- ing againft them defolating judgments, and compli- cated calamities, vvhich their enormous wickedneis, and multiplied tranfgreflions, juflly merited. The prophet Ezekiel, Chap. xUii. 3. fpeaks in the fame uyle, where he fays, ' The appearance of the vifion ' which he faw, refembled the vifion that he had feen, \ when he came to deftroy the city ;' that is, as it is rendered in the margent of fome Bibles, when he came to prophefy that the city flioulJ be de'lroyed. I-n like manner we explain our prophet's commiirion. He did not make the heart of this people fat ; he did not flop their ears, or clofe their, eyes ; but only fore- told that thefe judgments lliould befall them, becaufe they had for long time fjiut their eyes, their ears, and iheiy hearts, againft i|i(lru£lion. L^} they fee ivilh their eyes, and hear with their ears, and underjiand'^juith their heart, and convert, and be healed. ' Everlafli^g righteoufnefs, O Lord, is in all thy ' commandments. True, O Lord, and righteous are * thy judgments *. O the depth of the riches both, of * the wifdom and knowledge of God ! howunfearch- ' able are his judgments, and his ways pafl finding * out! For who hach known the mind of the Lord, *- or who hath been his counfellor ? Or who hath full * given to him, and it lliall be recompenfed to him * again? For of him, and through him, and to him, * are all things: to whom be glory for everf.' 1 paufe, I hefitate what to fay. The words before us plainly intimate a very momentous truth ; namely, that the long-fufi'ering patience of God, exercifed to- ward fmners, hath its bounds, beyond which it will not extend ; that the door of divine mercy fliall be fhut againil thofe who obflinately perfifl in abufing the ]iches of divine goodnefs, and iii turning the grace of our God into lafcivioufnefs. ' And we are fure * [h:it the judgment of God is according to truth. f Rom, xi. 33. — 36. ^ againft 375 LECTURES on the Chap. VI. * againil tLem who commit fuch things *.* Perfons of this defcription, treafure up to themfelves wrath' againll the day of wrath ; and have no profpe£l of being converted to God, and healed of their fpiritual diftempers. Let us remember, that the examples, as v/ell as dodrines and predi6lions, recorded in the Old Teftament, are intended to convey inflruc\ion to us under the New Teftament. Impreffed by this in^ terelting confideration, diligently improve the word and providences of God, for your converfion, and the cure of your inward diforders. Return from all your tfanfgreffions, that iniquity may not prove your ruin : with your whole hearts return unto the Lord, from whom you have deeply revolted. Earneflly fuppli- cate, that he may heal all the wounds you have re- ceived by fm ; that he may forgive you all tref- paffes, and reftore your fouls to fpiritual health, ioundiieis-, and beauty. No difeafe ever reproached his fKill, or refilled his power ; and as for his tender conipafiion, and readinefs to relieve, they never fail.' W'^it upon liim then, who waits to be gracious, who' delights in fhewing mercy, and you fhall certainly ex- perience his kind ailillance, and feafonable relief. 1 1 Then faid I, Lord, how long ? And he" anfwered, LTntll the cities be wafted without in- habitant, and the boufes without man, and the. land be utterly dcfolate. In anfwer to lus requcft, the prophet is here iri- formed by the Moft High, of the continuance and confequences of the awful fpiritual judgments he was commanded to denounce againft the Jews.— — You will obferve, that Ifaiah does not prefume to utter a word in way of muiinur and complaint, with refpeft to the affliclive difpenfations of divine providence',,' which were the fubjcd of the melTage he received * Rom. il= 2. from Ver. II. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 377 from God. He reverences and adores that fove*- reignty, which always manifeflo an inviolable re- gard to the facred rights of jufHce and equity, and yet never fails to iliew tender compalTion to thofe who expofe themfelves to the judgments of heaveh. An inftrudive lelfon this, of that amiable humility, and. profound fubmiflion to the will of God, which we ought, on all occafions, to exprefs. In his humble uddrefs to Jehovah, he expreffeth his firm belief, that he v/hom he acknowledgeth as Lord, hath an un- queftionable right to difpore of all perfons and events as feemeth good in his fight. The import of his prayer feems tp be this : Since thou, the great Lord of all, hath ordered me to foretel thefe terrible cala- mities, I preiume not to fay, What doft thou ? or to doubt of the reftitude of thy dilpenfations ; but as thou haft not yet declared how long thy difpleafure fhall endure, and what Ihall be its confequences, per- mit me humbly to afk. How long, and how far its effedis ftiali extend ? I afk this queftion, not to gratify vain curiofity; but, moved with pity at the approach- ing wretched condition of this people, I am folicitous to know how long they will be allowed to continue , in this miferable iiate. To this modeft petition the prophet received the following anfwer, from him who allows none of the pofterity of Jacob to feek his face in vain, and who always fulfils the jufl defire of them that fear him : Until the chics be ijoajicd without inhabitant. The Lord plainly declares, that the judgments he had em- ployed Ifaiah to foretel, were to be prolonged until the final rejection, and the general difperfion, of this people to whom he was fent; until the overthrow of their ftate, and the defolation of their land. Thefe ca- lamities are defcribed in feveral particulars, which are fo arranged as to form a fort of climax, wherein the reprefentation rifes ftep by ilep, until it reaches the higheft degree of defolation. The fpiritual judg- ments already mentioned, v/ere io be attended with verv 37^ LECTURES ON THE Chap.VL Very great temporal miferles. Their cities were to be wafted without inhabitant. Of thefe, as V^-ell as of towns and villages, there were vaft numbers in Judea. The Levites alone, you recolleft, had forty-eight ci- ties allotted to them, though they were to have no in- heritance among their brethren. The cities, in gene* ral, feem to have been populous and flourifhing, well fortified, and furnilhed at leall with one fynagogue. All their cities, however numerous their inhabitants, however magnificent their buildings, however elegant their houfes, and ftrong their fortifications, were to be entirely deftroyed, and left without inhabitant.—* And the houfes without man. Cities have fometimcs been Overthrown, and yet fome of their inhabitants have been left to poffefs a few remaining houfes which have efcaped the general ruin. But fo complete was to be the deftruftion of the cities of Judah, at the time referred to, that there was fcarcely a fingle per- fon to be left in them. Thofe who did not defert their habitations through fear, were to be killed, of carried away captive by the enemy ; and fo ftridlly were the few remaining houfes to be fearched, that no perfon almoll could avoid the general calamity. Sometimes when cities have been depopulated, and houfes demolilhed, in diftant country places, and in remote corners of the hmd, a few people have efcap- ed the general calamity ; but in the event referred to, it was to be otherwife. And the land be utterly dc* folate. That land which was the glory of all lands ; a land which God cared for, and watched over conti- nually ; a pleaiant, a holy, and fruitful land, which flowed with milk and honey, which abounded with fountains and brooks of waters ; a land of wheat and barley, of vines, fig-trees, and pomegranates, of oil and wine; a land whofe ftones were iron, and in whofe hills was brafs ; where nothing was wanting to render life comfortable : even that land was to be ut- terly defolate ; or, as the Hebrew v/ords denote, and are rendered in the margent of fome Bibles, it was to become ^ER. 12. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 379 become defolate with defolation. The vineyards were to be fpoiled, the gardens were to be laid wafle, and: the fields were to remain uncultivated, fo as to afford jufl reaibn for adopting the mournful complaint, ' Thy holy cities are a wildernefs, Zion is a wilder- ' nefs, jerufalera a defolation. Our holy and our * beautiful houfe, where our fathers praifed thee, is ' burnt up with fire : and all our pleafant things are * laid waite*.' 12 And the Lord have removed men far av^ay, and there be a great fbrfaking in the midfl of the land. • ' In this verfe, the anfwer given by the lord to our prophet's requell is continued.- -Aland maybe laid delolate, and its inhabitants led captive by their ene- mies into neighbouring countries, from which they may Toon return to their native foil. To prevent ex- pectations of this fort, this people, who were to be difperfed and led captive, were to be removed far away into remote regions and dirtant kingdoms, frorii which they could not entertain the lead profpeft of returning home. And that none might imagine that this calamity was to be mitigated, by its fliort conti- nuance, it is added And there be a great for faking in the midfl of the land ; or, a deibhition of long con- tinuance, which was to be lengthened out, until the riloft populous places of the land about Jerufalem were almftll totally deferted. You will obferve, that the removal of men far away, and their difperfion, is here attributed to the Lord, who fends defolation, and every other judgment upon v/icked men, whoever be the inftruments that he employs. The Alfyrian, and afterward the Roman armies, marched into Ju- dea : but they were only the flair in his hand, where- with he beat the men of Judah : and the axe, where- * Ifalah Ixiv. ic, it. 3 B with 3So LECTURES ON THE Chap. VL with he hewed them. We are apt to look no farther than fecond caiifes, and to attribute our perplexity and diftrefs wholly to them ; and therefore we are taught here, and in many other paiTages of fcripture, that they are under the direction of God, who wound- eth and killeth, who fendeth war, famine, and pefti- lence among men, as the juft punifhment of their tranfgrefTions.- Thus we fee that fpiritual judg- ments, and temporal calamities, were the appointed portion of this people, in confequence of their obfti- nate continuance in fm. By the fpiritual judgments with which they were vifited, their hearts became in- fenfible to the evils which befell them, and to thofe which were threatened to be inflided upon them. They neither were afraid of their approach, nor en- deavourrd to prevent them. By the temporal cala- mitico with which they were alllided, they were fe- verely punifhed for their folly : they were inftrufted in the necefhty of true repentance, and the danger of trajifgreffion ; and are fet up as beacons, to warn other people of thofe fins which proved their ruin. Behold therefore the goodnefs, and feveiity of God : on them which fell, feverity ; but towards thee, goodnefs, if thou continue in his goodnefs : otherwife thou alfo flialt be cut off. Be not then hi8;h-minded, but fear : for if God fpared not the natural branches, take heed left he alfo fpare not thee *. Though the temporal mifcries, mentioned in this and the foregoing verfe, befell the Jews in great meafure about the time of the Babylonifh captivity, they experienced them in a far higher degree at the memorable period in which their cities and land were laid defolate by the Romans, when thefe predi(51:ions received their completion. 13 ^ But yet in it fiall he a tenth, and it fliall return, and fhall be eaten : as a teil-tree, and as an oak whole fubftande is in them, when * Rom xi. 20, 2I> 2 2. thev Ver. 13. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 381 they cafi: their leaves : fo the holy feed fiall be the iubftance thereof. In the firft part of this verfe, a remarkable circum- ftance is mentioned, refpefting the defolation where- with the land of Judea was to be vilited. The palfage is fomewhat obfcure, and differently explain- ed by interpreters. The meaning, as I apprehend, is fimply this : Notwithilanding the general dilperfion and dedruiflion of the Jews at the time to which this prophecy refers, about a tenth part of them iliould flill remain, who were to return to their own land, and as far as poiTible to their former condition. Thefe, however, were to be eaten ; that is, as the word fome- times denotes *, they were to be devoured and fwal- lowed up by their enemies, to whom they became a prey. This fenfe of the expreffion correfponds well to the two great events to which it is fuppofed to re- fer, and by v/hich it was verified. When Nebuchad- nezzar carried away great part of this people into captivity, there was yet a tenth remaining in the land, the poorer fort, who were left to be vinc-drelfers and hufbandmen under Gedaliah |. The difperfed Jews gathered themfelves together to the governor from all quarters,, and fo returned, as here fortold ; but after the death of Gedaliah, they milerably perifli- ed. When the predidion was afterward more emi- nently accomplifhed, in the diflblution of the Jewilh commonwealth, and the utter defolation of the land, by the deilruftion of about eleven hundred thoufand Jevi's, a fmall refidue of them was Rill left. This remnant having foon greatly multiplied, near half as many of them were not long after flain under the em- peror Adrian. Yet after thefe and other dreadful exterminations, by which they might be faid to have been eaten and devoured, we fee, with allonifh^ ment, that the Itock ftill rem.ains, from which God, *- §ee Ecclef. v, ii. ar.dMicali ;'H. 3. -]■ Sue 2 Kin^sxxv. 12. 2 2>, according 382 LECTURES ON THE Chap. VI. according to his promife, will caufe his people to fhoot forth again, and to ilourifh. Another good meaning may be given to the words under con fi dera- tion, if thq return fpoken of is underftood of return to God. The predidion will then foretel the conver- fion of fome few of the Jews, the efcaped of -Ifrael, and them that were left in Zion, who, by means of the gofpel, were to be turned from lying vanitie?;, to the faith and obedience of ihe Meffiah, in the joyful hope of participating in the ineftimable blel- fmgs of his great falvation. Thefe converts, however, were to be eaten and confumed by their ferocious per- f.x'itors ; which was, in fact, the cafe, as we learn from the hiftory of the Ads of the ApoiUes. As a teil-iree^ and as an oak^ whofe fubjiance is in them, when they caji their leagues. By a well-kiHOvvn fnnilitude, the fubfequent condition of the Jews is here reprefented. With the teil-tree, I fuppofe, you are unacquainted ; and you are likely to continue fo, for there is hardly any thing lefs certain than the Hebrew name§ given in fcripture to feveral kinds of trees and plants. The oak, you know, whofe fubitance is in it, though its leaves fall off in the end of harvelt, and it appears to wither and die, yea, though it be cut down to the ground by the hand of man, yet if the flock is left, from thence young fprouts will grow up, •which, in proccfs of time, will loecome trees. The Jewifh nation was beautifully reprefented by a. tree, and with great propriety compared toa llately fpread-. ing oak. Like a tree, it was firmly rooted and elta- bliflied in the earth, fo that the united efforts of the mod powerful kingdoms could not root them up. Like the llurdy oak, which raifes its lofty head above other trees, and widely extends its branches, it was highly elevated above the empires and fiatcs with which it was furrounded : its power, inlluence, and reputation, reached far and near, and many took fhel- ter under its fliadow. This great tree was cut down, after it had flied its leaves : the flock and root being left Ver. 13. PROPHECIES; OF ISAIAH. 383 leftin the ground, like* an oak \vhafe fubftance is in it, it {hall again flioot forth, increafe, and flourifh. The almighty,, God will yet caufe th^ root of Jeife to fpring up, and bring forth many righteous' branch^s.-^ Let us admire the kindnefs of God, who, in the midfl of deferved wrath, remembers mercy ; and, who,. witl> threatenings of deferved judgments, always mixe$ promifes of divine confolation to his faithful people. The land of Judea was to be laid wade, apd the* cities depopulated; and confequently the ordinances ;of di- vine worfhip deferted : in this profpect, what fhali fupport the dejet\ed mindsiof God's upright fervants ? Shall they, in deep dtfpondency, take up Balaam's parable, and fay, * Who ihaU live when God doth ' this*? No: though all thefe direful events were certainly to happen, yet this people, though cut down, iliall again grow like an oak, or a teil-tree. There is hope of this tree ; though it be cut down, it will fprout again. For the holy feed Jhall he the fubjiance thereof. By the holy feed, may be meant the pollerity- of Abra-r ham, who were alio the children of God, ' a feed who ' ferve him, who Ihall be accounted to the Lord for * a generation f ' Thefe holy ones, whom God fet apart for himfelf, and preferved from the general cor- ruption, were the fubftance of the Jewilh nation. They were to it what the lap is to the tree ; they were as the fait, which preferved it from univerfai corrup- tion ; they were the light, which illuminated the world ; the eletl, on whofe account calamities were mitigated, and evil days fliortened. Such perfons are a public mercy, and a. general bleffing. By their falu- tary counfels, their good examples, and earneft pray- ers, they never fail to prove a moll fubllantial benefit to fociety, being often the happy inftruments of avert- ing judgments, and obtaining deliverances for the na- tion to which they belong, • The Itrength and fafety * Numb. xxiv. 23. f Pial. xxii, jo, of 384 LECTURES ON THE Chap. VI. of kingdoms may frequently be afcribed, under God, not fo much to the wiltiom of ftatefmen, to the valour of foldiers, to fortifications upon land or navies at fea, to union at home or allies abroad, as to the more powerful influence of thofe who, in the words before us, are faid to be the fubftance of the nation. Or, by the holy feed, the great Meffiah may be intended, who was the illuflrious perfon promifed to the pa- triarch Abraham, ' in whom all the families of the earth were to be blelTed* ;' and to David, ' as the fruit of • his body, whom God would fet upon his throne f.* Moll: juftly does he merit the character of holy, on account of the fpotlefs purity of his nature, the per- fe<5l innocence of his life, and the unbiemifhed good- nefs of his adions. This root and offspring of David is the fubftance of the Jewilh nation, to whom all their types and figures ultimately referred, from whom all the numerous branches of righteoufnefs fhall arife, through whom all the promifes of grace given them fhall receive their accomphlhment, and by whom all the faints are preferved. This holy feed may conti- nue long undifcerned among that people, like the fap of a tree in winter, which produces no vifible efleft ; but when the time to favour them (\rA\ come, which fhall be as life from the dead, they fliall bud and blof- fom, and fill the face of the earth with fruit. Thus far, my friends, through the help of God, I have advanced in my Ledures upon the Prophecies of Ifaiah. How I have fucceeded in this attempt, and what benefit you have derived from thefe exercifes, you ought ferioully to confider. So far as I am fen- fible, I have not amufed you with empty fpeculations ; I have not furnilhed you with fubjecls of controverfy and debate, nor with weapons for cenfure and abufe. My fole aim hath been, to render you wifer, and ho- lier, and better, that, through patience, and comfort pf the fcriptures, you might have hope. Recollect * Gen. xii. ^. f Pfal. cxxxii. 11. hpw Ver. 13. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 385 how you have received and heard, of -what fins you have been convinced and reproved, in what duties you have been inftri^ded, againfl what dangers you have been warned, with what threatenings you have been alarmed, what confolations you haVe had admi- nillered, and what grateful acknowledgments you owe to the God of your mercies. Reflect what fcnfe you have acquired of the holinefs and glory of Jehovah, of your own finfulnefs, and your ne^d of the falvation of Jefus Chrlft, and the fandifying grace of the Holy Spirit, Humbly entreat that the divine bleffing may accompany what you have already heard, and that we may enjoy the divine affiftance and prefence in the whole of our progrefs through this facred book. ' Now the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jefus, that great Shepherd of the fheep, through the blood of the everlafting coyenant, make you perfect in every good work, to ido his will, working In you that which is well-pkafmg in his fight, through Jefus Chrift j to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen,' PRELIMI- C 386 ] ^"■■^RlELlMINARY OBSERVATIONS. WE are now going to confiider the -fiFtH and laft . ,. "part of .the difcourfe contained , in the firfl twelve, chapters of this prophecy; \yhich is qompofed of a- variety of excellent matter, that is partly do.ftri- nal," partly prophetical, and partly confolatory. It may be divided 'lita.. Bye fcCi^ions, in the following - rhanner : .'I'l^e firft is co'mprifed in the feventh chap- teVi, me rfecond comprehends the eighth chapter, and tn'e fii-ft ieven verfes of chapter ninth :. the. third ex.-. tendjS'fro.m chapter ninthj verfe 7th, to the 5th yerfe of the tejith chapter : tjie fourth included the 5th, and ^ollowiiig verfes of c^prer tenth, to the end ; and tha fifth is contained in.tbe eleventh and twelfth chapters. Tlie,"lif:il of thefe: fection*^ on which we are new en- tef iiig,ld^'{c,rK3.e$, the fu,ture fortunes of the Jtwifli na- tion, as "they lloqd .connefted with the kingdoms of ITrael and Syria.' "Pe'kah.'* king of Ifrael, had entered into an unnatural confederacy with Rezin, king of Sy- ria, againft judah. In the days of Jotham, and in the beginning of the reign of Ahaz, they united their forces, and invaded that kingdom with a powerful ar- my, threatening to dethrone and deftroy the family of David. The king, and royal family of Judah, feized with conflernation on hearing of their hollile defigns, inllead of fupplicating protection and fup- port from the God of their fathers, thought of calling in the king of Affyria to their ailiflance. In this cri- tical emergency, the Lord of hofts was graciouily pleafed to fend his fervant Ifaiah to comfort them in their perplexity and diiirefs ; with the alTurance, that he would certainly accomphlh his promifes to David and his houfe, and frultrate the inimical intentions of the two kings who had confpired againd them. The chapter before us, begins with an hiftorical account of the occafion which gave rife to this pro- phecy, C 387 ] phecy, in ver. j. and 2. Then follows a predI6lion of the ill fuccefs. that (hould attend the expedition of Ifrael and Syria againft Judah, which was to ter- minate in their deftruclion ; of the certain accom- plifhment of which, God was to give them a fign, ver. 3. — 16. From thence to the end of the chapter, the defolating calamities are foretold, which were to be inflided upon the king and people of Judah by the Aflyrians, whom they hired to their ailiftance. C H A P. VII. AND it came to pafs in the days of /\haz tlie fon of Jothani, the foil of Uzziah king of of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pe- kah the fon of Remaliah, king of Ifrael, went up towards Jerufalem to Vwar againft it, but could not prevail againft it. In thefe words, the event is mentioned which gave rife to the following prophecy. The kingdom of Judah feems to have attained a higher degree of profpe- rity under the reign of Uzziah and Jotham, than at any other period after the revolt of the ten tribes. The former of thefe princes had recovered the port of Elath, on the Red fea, from the Edomites : he car- ried on wars againft the Philiftines, v/hich were crown- ed with fuccefs: he compelled the Ammonites to pay him tribute: he repaired the fortifications of Jerufa- lem, and kept up a great and well-difciplined army. Equally attentive to the arts of peace, he encouraged agriculture, and the breeding of cattle ; he employed . huibandmen and vine-dreifers. Ihe latter, walking in the fteps of his father, carried on the improvements that had been begun ; fortified the frontier towns ; conquered the Ammonites, who refufed to be his tri- 2 C butaries. ^88 LECTURES on the Ghap. VII. butanes, and obliged them to acknowledge their fub- jedion. In the following reign, after his fon Ahaz af-, cended the throne, all thefe advantages were loft, and the kingdom of Judah was brought to the very brink of deftruftion, by means of the lerrue that Vv^as form- ed between Ifracl and Syria. In an engagement with Pekah, he loft in battle one hundred and twenty thoufand men ; and the Ifraelites carried away as pri- foners two hundred thoufand women and children, which were afterward releafed at the remonftrance of the prophet Oded. Rezin improved the opportunity which the diftrefs of Judah aiiorded him, of recover- ing Elath to Syria, of which they had been deprived by the Jews ; and, uniting his forces to thofe of Pe- kah, they laid fiege to Jerufalem. In this attempt, however, they failed of fuccefs ; and all their moft vi- gorous erforts were fo baffled, that they could not pre- vail againft it. This was a remarkable circumftance, worthy of attention. After the time that David, king of Ifrael, expel- led the Jebufites from this city, and beautified it, to be^ the feat of his empire, often did it fall into the hands of its enemies, on account of the \vickednels of its inhabitants. When Rehoboam afcended the throne of his fathers, it was taken by Shilhak, king of Egypt, who carried away the treafures of the temple and the royal palace. 'Ihe reafon aiTigned for this great calamity, as the Lord informed that prince and his people, was, ' Ye have forfaken me, and therefore * have 1 alfo left you in the hands of Shilhak*.' Amaziah, king of Judah, having been defeated by the ?.rmy of Ifrael, and taken prifoner, Joafti entered Je- rufalem, and carried away the treafures which were in the temple and the royal palace. Tjiis judgment was infii£ted becaufe the king of Judah defer ted the houfe of God, * and bowed himfelf before the gods ^ of the children of Seir, and burned incenfe unto * 2 Chron. xii. 5. -* them .' Ter. 2. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 389 ' them *.* Necho, king of Eg}'pt, afterward entered Jerufalem, and took Jehoahaz, whom the people of Judah had fet upon the throne, and carried him into Egypt, where he died. This afflidion came upon him becaufe he was regardlefs of the words of the prophet Jeremiah,, which were fpoken by the Lordf, About 600 years before Chriil, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, entered the city ; in fix years af- ter, he returned, and took Jehoiachin captive ; and again, in little more than three months, he took the city, and carried away to Babylon the treafures of the temple and palace royal ; becaufe the king of Judah did that which was evil in the fight of the Lord |, And when the wrath of the Lord was kin- died againfl his people until there was no remedy, Ne- buchadnezzar entered the city Jerufalem, and deftroy- ed it, carrying away the inhabitants into a feventy years captivity. Thus was Jerufalem attacked at dif- ferent times by its powerful enemies, whofe fuccefs againft it is uniformly attributed to the fins of the princes and people of Judah. And though, in the reign of Ahaz, idolatry was eftablifhed by the com- mand of the king throughout Judea, and the fervice of the temple intermitted, yet, through the tender mercy and forbearance of God, their enemies, who went up to war againfl Jerufalem, could not prevail againfl it. Let us humbly adore the patience of God, who does not fpeedily execute fentence againfl mens evil works; who waits to be gracious, and there- fore ought to be exalted. 2 And it was told the houfe of David, fay- ing, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. '--.And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind. * 2 Chron. XXV. 14. f i Efdras i. 28. $ 2 Chron. xxxvJ. 9. The ^go LECTURES on the Chap. VII. The occafion which gave rife to the following pro- phecy is here farther explained. — The alarming news had reached the court of Ahaz of the above-mentioned alliance, and the hoftile defigns of the confederate na- tions againll the throne and kingdom of Judah. Their intention in going to w-ar againfl Jerufalem feems to have been, to dethrone Ahaz ; and, in his room, to fet up king over Judah, a fon of Tabeal, one of the family of Tabrimmon. The Hebrew word ufed to exprefs the connection formed between the king of Ifrael and the king of Syria, intimates, that the one kingdom reftcd upon the other ; and that they firmly relied upon each other's affiftance, which they had mutually agreed to furnifh. Though this was, with- out doubt, a very flrong confederacy, it was a very unnatural league. Pekah, king of Ifrael, though pro- fefiedly a worfiiipper of the true God, and nearly con- neded with Judah, in order to fubjugate that king- dom, formed an alliance with Rezin, king of Syria, their inveterate enemy, an idobtrous Heathen prince, who reigned in Damafcus. The houfe of David had often yielded to the fuperior force of thefe kingdoms, when feparately attacked by them ; and now That they had united their ftrength, and in- tended to fall upon the Jews, and to aifault their me- tropolis, they had juft reafon to ix^ar their joint efforts would be crowned with fuccefs. Their timidity, at this time, might be greatly increafed, by the recollec- tion of the terrible judgments to which they had ex- pofed themfelves by their enormous tranfgreflions. In thefe dangerous circumllances, the court of Ahaz, and the inhabitants of Jerufalem, were greatly alarm- ed, and filled with conffernation and dread. Would you then, my brethren, not be afraid of evil tidings, let your hearts be fixed, trufting in the Lord : in this exercife, you may expe^ to enjoy the mod agreeable ferenity of mind, amidft the ill reports you may hear, and the troubles with which you may be vifited. Ver. 2. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 391 And his ijeart ivas movcd^ and the heart of his pcopky. as the trees of the wood are nwued ivith the wind. Both prince and people, having heard of the intended in- vafion of their country, were feized with difmaying fears of the approaching enemy ; in confequence of which, a univerlal commotion was vifible through all the land of Judah. ' The righteous Ihall never be ' moved : he is not afraid of evil tidings : his heart is ' fixed, trufting in the Lord * :' whereas wicked men are terrified at imaginary dangers, and the report of threatening calamities. The apprehenfions of impend- ing defolation feeni to have ftruck the king and people of Judah with a panic, and to have filled them with perplexity and timidity. The effefts were, they be- came credulous of the word reports that were circu- lated, fufpiclous that matters were worfe than repre- fented ; their own weaknefs increafed ; the power of thofe from v/hom they apprehended danger was mag- nified ; the faculties of their minds were enfeebled, and rendered unfit for devifmg means of fafety; and their vigour was fo enervated, that ^hey became in- capable of executing fchemes that might have been formed for their relief. This general perturbation of mind, arifmg from the above report, is here illuftrat- ed by a beautiful fimilitude. On account of its powerful operation and univerfal influence, it is com- pared to the ftrong effecls which the wind produces upon the trees of the foreft, when it blows with vio- lence. Perfons of all ranks and conditions were bend- ed by its mighty influence, and were moved by its force, which proved fuperior to all oppofition. This tremour and conilernation was felt not only by thofe who were naturally of a weak and timid difpofition, but by thofe alio who were more (tout and coura- gious. Deeply fenuble of the diilrefs and danger arifing from the ftate of mind here defcribed, let us get our hearts ellabliflied with grace, and dihgently * Pfal. cxii. 7. beware 392 LECTURES on the Chap. VII. .bevi'are of thofe fmful praciices which give occafion to difmay and terror in the feafons of alarm. Parti- cularly, let us guard againfl fecurity and prefumption, which have often proved fatal to multitudes. Unex- pe6led dangers eafily furprife and diflrefs ; whereas when known, and looked for, they may either be pre- vented in their approach, or v/e may be provided for them againft the time of their appearance. Proper expectation, and fuitable preparation, will either weak- en them, or ftrengthen us ; render them lefs capable of hurting us, or us more able to fuftain them : whereas every calamity that finds us indulging in fin and fecurity, will thereby acquire confiderable advan- tage over us. 3 Then faid the Lord unto Kiiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jafhub thy fon, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, in the high-way of the fullers field. At this critical time, in which the king of Judah and his people were agitated with perplexing fears, and overwhelmed with dread of the rumoured advance of the formidable confederate army of Ifrael and Syria, the Lord orders our prophet to go forth with his ion, and meet the king at the place here mentioned In what manner Jehovah delivered this command to his fervant, it is unnecelTary curioufly to inquire : it was fo given as not to leave him the le?.{t room for helitation or uncertainty who fpake to him, or what he faid on this occafion. Ahaz was one of the mofl wicked princes that ever fat upon the throne of Judah, lie was an idolatrous king, who, in the feveral cities of his dominion, made high places, to burn incenfe to other gods, and provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers. In the time of his dilf refs, in- ftead of acknowledging his tranfgreflions, and return- ing to the Lord, he trefpalfed more and itiore againd him. His daring impiety, and obilinate perfeverance Ver. 3. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 393 in fin, is thus emphatically defcribed by the writer of the Second Book of Chronicles : ' This is that king ' Ahaz * ;* or, as the words in the Hebrew denote. He "ivas always Ahaz. Many other princes have, like him, wrought wickednefs, but afterward have repent- ed of their crimes, and defifted from their evil ways ; but this king fignalized himfelf by his continuance in fm, and his inflexibility in the pradice of the molt enormous tranfgreffions. To this notorious fmner the moll high God was gracioufly pleafed to fend a condefcending meffage, by the prophet Ifaiah, who was accompanied with his fon Shear-jafliub ; whofe name being interpreted, fignities, a remnant Jhall re^ turn. The name of this child was prophetic of a very remarkable event, v;hich our prophet was now lent to announce to Ahaz and his people. This circum- ftance points at the propriety of the divine command, which required liaiah to take with him his fon, v>rho was a pledge of the certain accompliihment of the pro- mifes which his father was about to deliver in the exe- cution of his commilFion. How nobly difplayed are the grace and compainon of God, in fending the following meifage to fuch a v/icked prince, and pro- fligate people, whom he might juftly have delivered to the will of their enemies 1 Let us earnedly feek tp enjoy his favour, who is a prefent help in the time of need ; and then may v/e hope to fecure his merciful interpofition in our behalf, in the feafon of perplexity and danger. At the end of the conduit of the upper pool, in the high-way of the fullers field. This v/as the place which God appointed for Ifaiah's interview with king Ahaz. Upon the top of mount Acra, on which Rood part of the city Jerufalem, was the fountain of Siloam, an- ciently called Gihon. From this fountain there were two conduits, for conveying the water into two pools or refervoirs ; one of which was called the Upper Pool, or the Pool of Solomon, for whofe ufe and * 2 Chron. >:xviii. 22. pleafure 3^4 XECTURES ON THE Chap. VIL pleafure it was probably formed ; and the other was called the Lower Pool, the Pool of Siloam, or the Pool of Betheida, remaikable for the fovereign virtue of its waters*. The former feems to have been de- ligned for fupplying the king's gardens with water, and the latter for the ufe of the citizens of Jerufalem. Near the conduit which ferved to convey the water into the upper pool, was fituaied the field where cloth was cleaned and whitened, called on that account the Fullers Field. To this place of great refort there was made a caufey or high-way, which paffed not far from the end of the conduit. There the prophet was to meet Ahaz ; who, at tliat time, might be viewing in what manner the water could be bed conducted for the benefit of the inhabitants, and kept from being ufeful to the enemy in cafe of a fiege. In this cir- cumftance, we have a ftriking proof of the foreknow- ledge of God, who hath the mofl accurate view of all his creatures, and all their aftions, whether part, pre- fent, or future. The moft contingent events are per- fe£lly forefeen by him, to whom all his works are known from the beginning. Many inltances of this occur in fcripture. Nothing could be more acciden- tal than the death of Ahab king of ifrael, who was killed by an arrow fliot at a venture in battle; and yet this circumflance was foretoki, i Kings xxi. 19. And in the words before us, God informed Ifaiah of the particular fpot where he would meet the king, and have an opportunity of delivering to him the meffage with which he was intrufted. Such know- ledge is too wonderful for us ; it is high, we cannot attain to it. Let us humblv adore, and love, and ferve him, who poireffeth it in full perfedion, and employs it for the benefit of his people. 4 And fay- unto him, Take heed, and be quiet ; fear not, neither be faint-hearted, for the * See Nehem. iii. 15. and John ix. 7. two Ver. 4. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 395 two tails of thefe fmoking fire-brands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the fon of Remaliah. In this and the following verfes, to the end of the chapter, the prophet records the comfortable meifagc he received from God to carry to Ahaz ; in narrat- ing which, he blends together the orders that were given him, and his execution of them, to prevent re- petitions. It begins with a neceflary caution, which you will do well to confider as addrefled to your- felves : Take heed. The Hebrew word fignifies, to prevent or keep off any evil with which we are threat- ened. .The diredion ought to extend to all that we do ; for not one duty can be rightly performed with- out diligent attention, and it is no lefs incumbent up- on us than upon the king and people of Judah. It is a neceffary and ufeful caution, which ought to be re- duced to practice at all times, efpecially in feafons of perplexity and diflrefs, fuch as that was wherein Ahaz and his fubjeds received this admonition. Take heed to your hearts, and keep them with all diligence, for out of them are the iffues of life : attend to the fecret operations of your minds, and the objects on which your affedions terminate, that you may perceive whe- ther or not they are properly moderated and directed. Take heed to your tongue, that you fin not with your mouth : confider wifely what you fay, to whom you fpeak, and to what purpofe, efpecially when your minds are fretted, and when you feel yourfeives under the influence of timidity and difappointment. Take heed to your fenfes, particularly to what you fee and hear ; for thefe are the avenues by which fin and va- nity, or wifdom and inftrudtion, enter into the heart. Take heed to your actions, what you do, and how you ad, and for what purpofe you are employed, that you may happily avoid the many fins and dangers to which you are expofed, and attain the great ends ivhich you ought uniformly to purfue. And he 3 D quiet* ^g6 LECTURES ON THE Chap.VIL guiet. The mind of Ahaz, and the mnids of his people, were at this time greatly agitated, by the con- fideration of the perilous circumflances to which they found themfelves reduced. They were all in commo- tion, like the trees of the wood when moved by the wind. This wicked prince who now filled the throne of Judah, muil have been like the troubled fea, when it cannot reft, whofe waters caft up mire and dirt. Such notorious fmners as were now in Zion had many grounds of difquietude. In this ftate of perturba- tion and anxiety, they are direded to diveft themfelves of thofe diitrading thoughts which arofe from the dreaded approach of their enemies, to lay afide their diftruftful foiicitude, and not vex themfelves in vain. They were alfo required to pollefs a ca4m, com- pofed, recoUefted ftate of mind ; to truft in the Lord, and then they would be quiet from fear of evil. Some truft in chariots, and fome in horfes, in the numbers, the difcipline, and valour of their armies : do you, my friends, remember the name of the Lord your God ; then may you find, as in former times, that when they are brought down and fallen, you fhall rife and ftand upright*.' Fear ?wt, ?ieitber be faint-hearted. . Fear is a na- tural paffion, which arifes in the mind of man on the view of threatened, expected calamities, and is infeparable from human nature in its prelent ftate. Though people are naturally in fome meafure afraid at the profpetl of danger, and ought to ufe every lawful expedient to efcape the evils that are dread- ed, this paffion becomes fmful and diftreffing, when it depreifes the fpirits, and leads to defpair of de- liverance. To this fmful extreme did the fear of the Ifraelites proceed, when they faw the Egyptians in their rear, and the Red fea in their front, as you read in the fourteenth chapter of Exodus. The king of Ju- dah, and his fubjeds, felt at this time the influence of * Pial. XX. 7, 8. fuch Ver.4. prophecies of ISAIAH. 397 fuch exceffive diftrafting fear, from which God, by the prophet, here diifuades them. He does not admonifh them to become fecure and infenfible of danger, and to be wholly devoid of moderate fear on this alarming occafion, which might render them cautious and cir- cumfpecl, and attentive to the means of prefervation and fafety ; much lefs to lay afide the fear of the Lord, which is the trued wifdom. The good effects of a holy, well-regulated fear, are confpicuous in the conduft of Noah, who, being thereby moved, prepar- ed an ark, to the faving of his houfe ; and in the Ifraelites who feared the Lord, when, at the approach of divine judgments, they made their fervants and cattle flee into the houfes. It was certainly the duty of Ahaz, to take every proper precaution in order to avoid the danger he fo much dreaded. The fear againft which the king and people of Judah are here cautioned, is of that kind which is accompanied with torment, which proceeds from infidelity, overwhelms the mind with terror, and which fo dillurbs and dif- tradts it as to difable from the right ufe of the means of deliverance, and the faithful performance of duty. This fear of man, this faint-heartednefs, they are required to lay afide, as it might prove exceeding- ly hurtful to them in their prefent dangerous condi- tion. This falutary advice I addrefs to you, my brethren. Fear not, neither be faint- hearted, in the profpecl of the greateft dangers of which you may be apprehenfive : your ' Redeemer is mighty ; the Lord ' of holts is his name. The Lord preferveth the faith- * ful. Be of good courage, and he (hidl ftrengtheu ' your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord *.' For the two tails of thcfe fmoking fire-brands^ for the fierce anger of Rezin ivith Syridy and of the fon of Re^ maliab. To banilh effectually from the minds of Aha2; and his people, thofe difmaying fears againft which they were cautioned, the prophet fubjoins a moft con^ * Pfal xxxi. 23, 24. tsmptibk 398 LECTURES on the Chap. VII. temptible reprefentation of the enemies whom they fo much dreaded. The confederate princes of Syria and Ifrael are compared to two fire-brands, or pieces of burning wood, which for a little make a great blaze, and are quickly extinguiilied, fo that both their heat and flame are foon over. Though when beheld at a diftance, by perions v/ho are frighted, efpeciallv in a dark night, they appear at firft fight very formidable, yet in reality they have little hurtful or terrible in them. What ! might the terrified prince fay, not fear, when fuch powerful enemies are coming to invade the kingdom : they will confume all before them, like the flame of devouring fire. No, faith Ifaiah : they refemble only the two tails of fmoking fire-brands, whofe flame foon dies, after which they fmoke for a fhort time, and then are at an end. In them you have a fignificant reprefentation of Rezin and Pekah. In the former year, their fierce anger had been kindled againft Judah, and for fome time raged with vio- lence ; now it was nearly extinguiflied, and little more remained than fmoke. You may obferve, that thefe princes are compared not to burning fire-brands, but to the tails of thole which are fmoking, and nearly confumed ; which exhibits them in a very diminutive point of view, as incapable of doing much hurt, and therefore not the proper objefts of terror. Their heat and flrength were almofl fpent ; their rage and fury were foon to abate ; and therefore their hoftile de- figns were not greatly to be dreaded.^ How infig-^ nificant and contemptible are the objeds of which we are fometimes afraid, if properly confidered I they are no more to be feared than bits of burn- ing wood, that are moftly confumed. To check this timidity, let us view things in the true light in which they are reprefented in fcripture ; and exercife conffant dependence upon the kind provi- dence and faithful promifes of God, who difappoints the defigns of the crafty, and works glorious deliver- ance for thofe v/ho put their trull in him. Let us not Vek.5,6. prophecies of ISAIAH. 395 not be greatly dejected, nor defpair, in the mofl dan- gerous circumftances, of his gracious interpofition, who hath delivered, and will deliver his people from all evil. 5 Becaiife Syria, Ephraim, and, the fon of Remaliah have taken evil counfel againft tiieCj faying, 6 Let us go up againft judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and fet a king in the midft of it, eve/i the fon of Tabeal. The prophet here informs the king of Judah, that he was perfectly acquainted with the caufelefs anger, the adverfe counfels, and fecret machinations of the confederate princes, notwithftanding he cautioned him againil difraaying fears. He well knew, that the Syrians and Ephraimites (vmh the king, who in way of contempt feems to be called the Son of wle- maliah) were undertaking an expedition againft Judah, with the mifchievous defign of overturning that king- dom, of dethroning Ahaz, and in his room elevat- ing to the government the fon of Tabeal. He had the beft information, that the projedt which Rezin and Pekah had formed, to the execution of which they mutually encouraged each other, was, to march their forces, when united, into the land of Judah. Though they fcem not to have had any juft caufe of quarrel with Ahaz, or any fufficient realon for carry- ing war into his dominions, yet, confident of their power to conquer Judea, and not hefitating with re- fpe£l to their luccefs, they refolved, to gratify their ambition and other turbulent paflions, to invade that country, and diitrefs its inhabitants. That they might the more fuccefsfully accomplifli the hoftile defigns they had in view, they determined, if polTlble, to make a breach in the defence of the Jewilh e npire ; or, as the original word may fignify, Let us make <^ divifion therein for us, or, iij other words, Divide the jij-lngdoin 400 LECTURES on the Chap. VII. kingdom between us. So certain did thefe adverfe powers apprciiend they were of vidory in their in- tended expedition, that they had planned the divifion of the country before they entered it ; and determin- ed on the very perfon whom they were to invefl with regal authority, who was to aft as vice-roy. The fon of Tabeal, who M'as nominated to this high office, not being mentioned in any other place of fcripture that I recoiled:, I prefume not to affirm any thing concerning him ; but luppofe that he was a branch of the royal family and houfe of Tabrimmon, the father of Benhadad, king of Syria. Men may propofe, but God difpofeth of all perfons and events. Plans are often formed for execution which the Moft High fruitrateth, and bringeth to nothing, as we fee exemplified in the inftance before us. When highly provoked by the pride, the prefumption, the avarice, and other fins of a nation, he permits them to run inte ruin. Deflitute of public fpirit, and wife coun- fel, they become feeble, entangled by difficulties from which they cannot extricate themfelves ; dangers are not forefeen, opportunities are negleded, and their plans of operation are difconcerted. 7 Thus faith the Lord God, It fhall not ftand, neither fliall it come to pafs. Ahaz, and the people of Judah, are here informed of the grounds upon which v/as founded the encourag- ing exhortation, ' Fear not, neither be faint-hearted,' notwithflanding the combined efforts of their nume- rous enemies. Thus faith the Lord God, to whofe power all things are fubjeft, by whofe wifdom they are direfted, who does according to his pleafure in \ the armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of/ this earth, and who always exercifes the mod tender care of his peculiar people. It Jhall not J} and, nei- ther (hall it come to pafs : the evil couni'el devifed by the alfociated princes againlf Judah, to vex that na- tion. Ver. 8. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 401 tion, and to make a breach in its defence; to dethrone their king, and to fet up another in his room. Thefe events, which they were intent, if poffible, to bring about, the Ahnighty here declares, they fliould not be able to efFeduate by all their united exertions. Thus were they to be made to know, that the Mod High ruleth among men, and giveth the kingdoms of the earth to whomfoever he pleafeth. This evil counfel, though the refult of much ingenious contriv- ance and ferious deliberation, was to be wholly over- turned, and never carried into execution. It is the glorious work of God to defeat the pernicious delibe- rations of wicked men, to prevent them from doing what they would do, and to bring to pafs what they endeavour with all their might to oppofe. How many vifible demonllrations hath he given, in all ages, of this remarkable truth ! Pharaoh, king of Kgypt, fram- ed evil counfel againll the children of Ifrael ; but it could not ftarid. Haman, the Agagite, devifed evil againft the Jews, intending no lefs than their deftruc- tion ; in which he was totally difappointed, through a remarkable interpofition of providence. Herod con- trived a wicked plot in order to deftroy the child Je- fus ; but he could not perform his enterprife. Rezin and Pekah took counfel againft Judah ; but it was fruftrated. The Lord had them in derifion; and none of thefe men of might found their hands able to exe- cute the defigns they had framed. In thefe and innu- merable other inftances, the Lord bringeth the coun- fel of the Heathen to nought : he maketh the devices of the people of none eft'ect *. 8 For the head of Syria is Damafcus, and the head of Damafcus is Rezin ; and within three- fcore and five years fhall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people. * Pfal. xxxiii. lo. 0 And 4d2 vXJECTURES on rnt Cha?. Vlt 9 And the head of Ephraim /j Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliahs fon. If ye will not believe, furely ye fhall not be eflablifhed. The rnofl: explicit aflfurance is here given, that the hoflile defiqns of the confederate princes ihould be difappolnted ; that the danger which was fo much dreaded fhould be averted; and that the deliverance of Jiidah v/as to be followed by the overthrow of Ifrael. The Almighty would reftrain both king- doms that were united in league, within the bounds he had fet them. The learned Bifliop of London fuppofes, that the order of thefe verfes hath been difturbed by a tranfpofition, through miftake of fome copieft. The order, he fays, as it now (lands, is prepofterous, the deftruftion of Ephraim being firft denounced, and then their grandeur is fet forth ; whereas naturally the defcription of their grandeur fliould precede that of their deftruction. He obferves, the arrangement of the whole fentence feems originally to have been thus ; *' Though the head of Syria be Damafcus, and the head " of Damafcus Rezin, and the head of Ephraim be Sa- " maria, and the head of Samaria Rem'diah's fon; yet " within threefcore and five years Ephraim ihall be *' broken, that it be no more a people." So be it. The conjefture feems worthy of being adopted. Damafcus was the chief city of Syria, and Rezin reigned in Da- mafcus over Syria. Sam.aria was the metropolis of Ephraim, and the fon of Remaliah reigned in Sama- ria over Ephraim. In this {tate thefe two confederate, nations were to remain : their territories were not to be enlarged by their union and expedition againft Ju- dah : notwithftanding all their efforts, it was to con- tinue an independent kingdom. The daring project formed by thefe princes, of fetdng up the fon of Ta- beal to be their vice-roy, was to be baffled ; and Ju- dah was to be governed by its own kings, until Shi- loh, the promifed Meffiah, did appear. This was the unalterable decree of that God who worketh all in all, and Ver. 8, 9. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 403 who fets the boundaries of mens habitations, and who exaftly fuL'illed his purpofe in its feafon. And within threefcore and five years JJjall Ephraim be broken^ that it be not a people. Ephraim was ori- ginally the name which the patriarch Jofeph gave to bis I'econd fon * : afterwards it was transferred to one of the tribes of Ifrael. It was alfo the name of a moun- tain which belonged to the inheritance of the children of Jofeph, and remarkable for being the burying-place of Joihua f . In following ages, there was a city called Ephraim, into which we are informed Jefus Chrifl entered, and there continued with his difciples J. Not only was this name given to the pofterity of Ephraim, the fon^f Jofeph, but this tribe being the moft nu- merous and powerful of all the tribes of Ifrael, and the tribe to which their firft king belonged, who governed them after their revolt from Judah, the name is often ufed to fignify the whole ten tribes of Ifrael ; and in this extenfive fenfe it is doubtlefs to be underftood in the predidion before us. Commentators have been much embarrafled in explaining the chronological dif- ficulty which occurs here. If this prophecy was de- livered about the beginning of the reign of Ahaz, as feems highly probable, it was exadly lixty-five years from the fecond year after he afcended the throne to the total depopulation of the kingdom of Ifrael by Ezar- haddon, who planted the country with new inhabitants, and carried av/ay the rem^ainsof the ten tribes which had be^n left by Tiglath-pilefer and Shalmanezer. Until that period the land of Ifrael was not wholly divefted of its inhabitants, as appears from feveral paifages of the hiftory of Ifaiah, in which Ifraelites are mentioned as ftill remaining in the country j|. Ephraim then ceafed to be a people ; the ftate was diffolved ; the kingdom was deftroyed. To prevent, however, the land from, becoming entirely defolate, people were tranfported * Gen. xli. 52. f Judges ii. 9. % John xi. 54. ii 2 Chror.. xxxiv. 6, 7. 33. 1 E from 404 LECTURES on the Chap. VI!. from Babylon, from Cutha, from Ava, from Hamath, and Sepharvaim, to dwfll in the cities of Samaria. Thus were brought to ruin, from which they never recovered, the ten tribes of Ifrael, called Ephraim. Thofe of them who were carried away captive, a few excepted, who joined themfelves to the Jews, foon adopted the idolatrous cufloms of the nations among which they dwelt ; and, after fome time, lofmg their name, their language, and religious rites, were totally abforbed by other kingdoms. Thus ended the king- dom of Ifrael, according to this prediftion, fixty-five years after it was delivered by our prophet, which may be calculated in the following manner: Ahaz reigned, after the time in which Ifaiah received this meffage from God, - - 14-,^ Hezekiah reigned - - - 29 / Manaileh, prior to the accomplilhment C ^ of this prophecy, ' - 22^^ In all 6^ years. The exaft fulfilment of this prediction, by the de- (Iruclion of the kingdom of Ifrael, forms a very me- morable and awful event, which proclaims the folly, wickednefs, and ingratitude of that people ; and an- nounces, in the mod folemn manner, the righteouf- nefs and vengeance of almighty God. It inllructs the inhabitants of the world to learn righteoufnefs : it dc- monftrates the perverfity of mankind ; and calls lord- ly to us to repent of our fms, and return to the Lord, whom we have greatly provoked to call us off, and to deal with us as with Ifrael of old. Let us hearken to the admonition, and without delay obey the call. If ye ivill not belic-ve^furely yc Jhall not be ejhib'ijhed* To believe, is to give credit to the teflimony of thofe in whofe knowledge and veracity we fafely con- lide, fn-mly perfuaded of the truth of what is related. In this fenfe the word is ufed in common language, in many pallages of fcripture, and particularly in the words Ver. 8, 9. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 405 words before us. Of this belief the prophet inti- mates, by this declaration, that he fufpe£ted Ahaz and his people were not polfefled ; of which their ti- midity, on hearing the report of the warlike expedi- tion of the confederate kings, afforded ftrong evi- dence. They trufted for affnlance, in the feafon of danger, to the king of Affyria ; and not to that God who had often delivered their fathers when in the ut- mofl perplexity and diftrefs, and who had ditfuaded them from unneceifary anxiety and dejeftion. Ifaiah, therefore, obferving the effeds of their incredulity and diflruil, concludes his melfage with this explicit affur- ance, If ye will not believe, lurely ye Ihall not be efta- bliflied. If ye will not give credit to the word of God, nor place your trufl in his omnipotence and fidelity, but in an arm of flelh, neither your church nor ilate fiiall long continue in a firm and fettled condition, but fhall fall into ruin, and be aboliflied. This de- claration places faith in the divine teftimony in a moil important light, meriting the mod ferious attention, A firm belief, and unfufpecting confidence in the word of God, is the only way by which the troubled, wavering minds of men can arrive at ferenity and compofure, and enjoy true fupport and (lability. It operates by quiet fubmillion to the will of the Lord, and patient waiting for the accompliiliment of his promifes, whilfl it teaches to counterbalance prefent bufferings with future hopes. It excites to the excr- cife of humility ; it cherifhes godly forrow for fm ; it invigorates divine love ; it leads to victory over this prefent evil world; and, in this manner, conveys real eftablilhment and tranquillity to the heart. Un- belief pulls up the anchor wliich ought to preferve the mind firm and fteady aniidfl the fluctuating uncertainr ties of this life, and the rifmg biliov/s of aiiiiction ; in confequence of which, it is in continual danger of being agitated and diilreffed by every fform of adver- fity : whereas by believing the record of God, we ac- count him able and faithful v>:ho hath proaiifed ; we truii 4o6 LECTURES ON THE Chap. VII. trufl; that he will do as he hath faid, and that he will certainly perform all the engjjgements he hath been pleafed to come under for the benefit of his people.— Would you experience that defirable (lability which arifes from believing the teftimony of God, endea- vour to know the certainty of thofe things where- in you have been inftructed, to underftand what you ought to believe, and the fure foundation upon which your faith ought to reil, that it ftand not in the wif- dom of man, but in the power of God. 1 conclude this article with the good advice which pious king Jebofhaphat delivered to his army, when going forth to battle : ' Believe in the Lord your God, io fnall ' you be eftabliflied j believe his prophets, fo Ih&U ye ' profper*.' 10 H Moreover, the Lord fpake again unto Ahaz, faying, 11 Afk thee a fign of the Lord thy God, afk it either hi the depth, or in the height above. To remove every pretesct for incredulity that might have been alledged, and to confirm the faith of Ahaz and that of his fubjecls, our prophet is employed by Jehovah, to require of the king of Judah to afk of him a fjgn. hi fcripture-language, God is faid to fpeak whatever he commands his fervants to deliver in his name, or infpires them by his Spirit to communicate to others for their inflrudion. In this fenfe we un- derftand 2 Chron. xxxiii. lo. where we are informed, that the Lord fpake to Manaffeh, and to his people, but they would not hearken ; and in like manner we explain the words before us. The Lord fpake now to Ahaz, as he did formerly, by the miniftry of Ifaiah, faying, AJk thee afign of the Lord thy God. Signs are men- tioned in various fenfes in fcripture. Sometimes they * 2 Chron, XX. 20. denote Ver.iOjU, prophecies of ISAIAH. 407 denote things obvious to the ienres, that either of themfeives, of divine inilitution, or human appoint- meHt, ferve to reprefent or remind men of Ibmewhat different from thcmlelvcs. In this view, the rainbow is called a fign or token cf the covenant into whicli God entered wiih Noah *. The huninaries of heaven are called figns ; becaufe, by their appearance, mo- tions, and revolutions, they not only announce the glory of God, but, by their fituations, conjundions,' and eclipfes, they indicate the iealons, the Itate of the weather, and other circumitances. At other times, they are ufed to fignify wonders or miracles ; fenfible effeds furpalling the power of natural caufes to pro- duce, or ibme extraordinary phaenomena wliich can- not otherwiie be explained than by attributing them to the omnipotence of Jehovah. In this fenfc, the royal pfalmiit acknowledges, that IlVael remembered not the figns and the wonders wrought among them in the land of Ham f. Signs of this fort, are certain demonilrations of the power and prefence of the Al- mighty ; and have been performed, for the moll part, to prove, that thofe who wrought them were fcnt of God to reveal his will to men, and that therefore what they delivered was inconteilably true. Such were the figns and miracles wrought by Moles and the other prophets, and fuch was the fign that Ahaz was requir- ed to afk of the Lord his God. The Moll High, who alone doth wonders, could eafJy have given the king, and his people, fuch a fign or miracle as would have elfeclually atteiled the truth of the melfage he autho- rized his fervant to deliver, though it had not been allied. The prince, however, is defired to requeit this favour of the Lord, that, in this manner, he might publicly acknowledge his dependence upon the God ot Ifrael, and exprefs his agreeable expeclation of his merciful protection. * Gen. Ix. 12, 13, f ffal. cv. 27. and cvi. 21. Though 4o8 LECTURES on the Chap. VII. Though Ahaz is direded to afk for himfelf a fign, to remove his infidelity and diflruft, and to excite hope and confidence in God, we mud not fuppole that his people were to be excluded from receiving benefit from it. The court and fubjefts of Judaii were informed, with the prince, that unlefs they be- lieved, they could not be ellablifhed; and though this declaration could not be broken or reverfed, there was great danger of their difbelieving the word of the Lord ; and therefore a fign was offered, whofe bene- fit might extend to the whole body of the people, to encourage their faith in the alfurance they had receiv- ed. Though Ahaz was a man of a very wicked and profligate character, he is defired to afk a fign of the Lord his God. To juftify this expreffion, we ought to recoiled, that the king and his fubjefts were the pofterity of Abraham, to v/hom Jehovah had pro- mifed, that he would be a God to him, and to bis offspring ; and that this prince was one of the family of Daviei, to whom God had declared, ' Thine houfe ' and thy kingdom fliall be eftabliflied before thee for ' ever *.' In the full fenfe of the words, Jehovah was the God of Jefus Chrift, who is called, by way of eminence, the feed of Abraham, in whom all the fa- milies of the earth are bleffed with fome advantages, and through whom fome of all nations enjoy fpiritual bleffmgs ; in virtue of which, God is called their God. The words, when addreffed to Ahaz, muff be under- ftood with fome limitation. Though his grandfather and father, who were kings of Judah, feem to have been children of the promife, at this time he was an impious young man, addifted to the molt enormous crimes. Defcended, however, from great and good progenitors, elevated to the throne which they had filled, reigning over a kingdom compofed of the pro- feffing people of, God, who had not formally re- nounced their fubjection to the Lord, the prophet re- * 2 Sam. vii, 16, minds Ver.io,ii. prophecies of ISAIAH. 409 minds Ahaz of his relation to the true God, who, by this meffage, difplayed toward him the molt admir- able condefcenfion. Afn it either in the depth, or in the height above. No reftridion is laid upon the prince, refpedling either the place, or element, in which he might re- queft the fign offered him to be performed. To give him the more convincing evidence of the prophet's being fent from God, that every plea for unbelief might be taken away, and that the king might have the faired opportunity of difplaying the difpofitions he pofl'efled, he is left entirely at liberty to pitch upon whatever fign he pleafed, and to aflv it to be done in whatever place he choofed. Afli it, faid Il'aiah, either in the depth, in the earth, or in the waters under the earth ; or in the heavens above, in the firmament, or in the luminaries whereby the world is enlightened. Will you have the earth to be moved, the rocks to be rent, the waters to be dried up, the dead to be raifed, or the face of the earth to afliime an appear- ance ditfcrent from the feafon of the year ? Will you have fome aftonifning v/onder done upon the beafts of the field, or the birds of the air ? or. Shall the fun fland dill in his courfe, or go backv/ard; be eclipfed, or covered with darknefs ? Aik of him who calleth the things that are not as though they were, fome of thefe figns ; and, in confirmation of the meffage I have delivered to you from God, it lliall imme- diately be done. The God whom I ferve, and who fent me vv^ith the folemn affurance 1 have repeated, is infinitely able to do beyond what you can either afk or think. Refufe not to accept the generous ofl'er now made you by him who fpeaketh to you from heaven : afk and you fiiall receive, that your faith may be ftrong. How admirable the grace and condefcenfion of the raofl high God, in vouchfafing to make this generous offer to a wicked, luperflitious prince, to remove his incredulity refpeding the mef- fage lent Iiim by the prophet ! How glorious the om- nipotence 4id LECTURES ON THE CrfAP. Vlt nipotence of Jehovah, for whom all things are pof- fibie ; who is always able to perform what he de- clares, to confer what he promifeth, and to inflid what he threateneth ! ' Take heed, then, left there be ' in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing ' from the living God*.* 1 2 But Ahaz fLiid, I will not afK, neither will I tempt the Lord. Thefe words contain the perverfe anfwef which the king of Judah returned to the very condefcending offer he received. It refembles the haughty reply of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to the juft demand that Mo- fes made upon him in the name of God, to let his people go, that they might ferve him. Who is the Lord, faid that proud monarch, that I (hould obey him ? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Ifrael go. The Almighty had gracioufly promifed protec- tion and fafety, in the time of danger, to Ahaz and his people, from their numerous powerful enemies.^ who were about to march againft them ; and, as an evidence of the certainty ot this extraordinary, unex- peded event, God was pleafed to offer a fign, for the conviction of the prince and his fubjecls, which he obftinately refufed to accept. By this perverfe con- dud, he puolicly avowed his impiety, and united re- bellion to ingratitude. Kow obftinate and perverfe a creature is man ! A crown, a fceptre, and a king- dom, cannot change his nature 5 nor do his obliga- tions to God for his elevation to royal dignity, check the perverfity of his difpof^rions. Royalty, which al- lows a man to ad without control, affords him oppor- tunity of difcovering his real temper. Perlons in the lower ranks of life, may be intluenced by timidity, or the example of their iuperiors, and ad with the view of aggrandizing themfelves in their favour j but he * I-kb. iU. 1 2. who Ver. 12. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 411' who prefides over a kingdom, a6ls without reftraint. In this exalted Itation, we behold human nature in its true light, undifguifed by falfe colouring, ading agreeably to the diftates of a mind unfettered, un- awed, and perfe£lly free from the fear of man. If we form an eftimate of the human character upon the hiflory of the kings of Ifrael and Judah recorded in fcripture, it muft be highly unfavourable to mankind. Though laid under peculiar obligations to the fervice of God, and the practice of goodnefs, we fee united in their conduiidl>n, >ul. ii. fcrm, iii. Vitringa's Comment, hi Joe. ma^lc Ver. 17. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 423 made in a fliort time by the kings of AlTyria, as plainly intimated in the following verfe. 'The accomplifh- ment of this prophecy feems to be limited within the fpace of three, four, or at moft five years, after its de- livery. About that time, Tigl'ath-piiefer, Idng of AlTy- Via, overturneu^the kingdom of Syria, Hew Rezin the king, and carried away captive the Syrians into Alfy- ria and Media *. Hofhea, the fon of Eiah, flew Pe- kah, the king of Ifrael, and the Idngdom of Ephraim was almoft totally deilroyed, in the twentieth year of Jotham, the fon of Uzziah f .- By this paifage of fcripture, we are inftrucled in the exad foreknowledge of God, to whom all his works are known from the beginning ; and the firm liability of his counfels and purpofeS) who doth in heaven and in earth according to his pleafure ; and that all the circiimllances relative to his difpenfations of providence and grace, are ac- curately adjufted. We are alfo taught the impgrtant lelfon of firmly relying upon the unchangeable faith- fulnefs of Jehovah, which is engaged to fulfil all the promifes he hath given of deliverance and fafety to his people, however improbable their accomplifhment may appear. His word is irrevocable ; his power is invincible, and cannot be refilled ; his purpoi'e is im- mutable, and cannot be difannulled, and will certainly be executed at the determined feafon. 17 ^[ The Lord fliall bring upon thee, and up- on tliy people, and upon thy fathers houfe, days that have not cDnie, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah ; evc7i ihc king of AlTyria. In this and the following verfes, down to the end of the chapter, the prophet foretels the invafions and defolations which the JewiOi nation v/as to fuffer from the Affyrians. Notwithftanding the promife of de- liverance from the confederate kings of Ephraim and * 2 Kings xvl. 9. f 2 Kings xv. 30, S vria» 424 LECTURES on the Chap. VIT. Syria, confirmed by the affurance of the nativity of Immanuel, God, juftly difpleafed with the incredu- lity and difobedience of Ahaz, and the fins of his people, diredls his fervant to place fully in their view the grievous calamities, which he was about to inflift on them by means of the Aflyrians. Fen- this purpofe, he fir ft reprefents the incurfions of that powerful na- tion, and then the confequent defolation with which thev were to be attend.il. -The prediction is ab-* ruptly introduced; and the judgments here denounced, are diclured to proceed from Jehovj^h. People are apt to look at fecond caufes, and to rife no higher than the inftruments who are employed in diftrefling them ; whereas, in the words before us, and in many other pafiages of Icripture, God is repreiented as the chief agent in chaftizing the nations, whiUl thofe who execute the judgments he inflifts, are only as the rod, tht- ftaff, p.nd tlie axe, in his hand. The v/rath •which Shifhak, king;.:>f Egypt, was to pour upon Je- rufalem, was the wrath of God ; and that prince was no more than the vial from which it was to be con- veyed. The cleannefs of teeth, and want of bread, which Ifrael experienced in all their cities, was fent them by the Lord God. The pellilence which burft forth like fire in the houfe of Jofeph, and devoured it, proceeded from the Lord God of hofts. The ar- mies of Aifyria, which marched into Judea, received their orders from the Molt High over all the earth. Thefe and fimilar awful judgments, never m^ake their appearance until they have got a divine commi'fiion. If the wild beafts deltroy, it is God who fends them ; if the peftilence deiolate the land, it is God who gives the command ; if the fword devour, it is be- caufe the Lord hath fi:retched out his hand. If days commence that fhall exceed hi devaiirtion and horror all that have preceded them, it is affirmed, in this verfe, that the Lord brings them. Ahaz, his people, and hii; fathers houle, were great tranfgrefibrs, and confeauently the authors of their own calamities. Their Ver. i;. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 425 Their fm proved their deftrudion. The armies of Affvria could not have made one captive, or one breach among them, had not their iniquities kindled aojainfl them the dinne difplcaiure. My brethren, the principles of deftruction are in ourielves. Sin, like the moth, which eats away the garment in which it •is bred, conl'umes thofe in whom it is indulged, unlefs it is dellroyed. Abounding iniquity in kingdoms and ftates, like fatal diftempers which prey upon the hu- man conftitution, and prognofticate the dilfolutiori of our frame, becomes the certain forerunner of their overthrow, and the procuring caufes of their ruin. Let us then ilrenuoufly endeavour, in dependence upon God, £0 check the progrefs of thofe fms, which, unlefs they are abandoned, will prove moft dangerous to our^ felves, and the community of which we are members. Days that have not come ^ from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah ; even the king of Affyria. The calamities which were to overtake ^haz, his family, and people, were to exceed thofe wherewith the Jews had iDeen vifited, fince the feparation of Ifrael from Judah. That remarkable revolt happened, you know, in the reign of Rehoboam, the fon of Solomon ; and took its rife from the tyranny of that rafli young prince, who, rejecling the advice of aged counleilors, refufed to hearken to the remonflrances of his fubjefts. After that memorable period, Judah fuflained many griev- ous calamities, all of which were to be e:j^ceeded by thoie which arc here foretold. Of the truth of this prediction, you may be fenfible, by comparing the miferies they had fuffered at different times, with thofe inflided upon them by the Aifyrians, whereby this prophecy was fulfilled. Tiglath-pilefer, king of Affyria, greatly diftreffed and fpoiled Ahaz, as we read, 2 Chron. xxviii. 20. Afterward Sennacherib, in the reign of Hezekiah, poffeffed himfelf of the cities of Judah, laid walfe the country, and ifruck with terror the inhabitants of Jerufalem, as we learn from'the thirty-fecond chapter of Second Chronicles,, lu 426 LECTURES on the Chap. Vlf. In the days of Manair^h, the captain of the hod of the king of Affyria took Manalfeh among the thorns, bound him in fetters, and carried him away to Baby- lon, as is written, i Chron. xxxiii. ii. And again, in the days of Jehoiachin, Nebuchadnezzer, king of Babylon, came and bound the king of Judah in fet- ters, and carried him to Babylon, with the goodly veilels of the houfe of the Lord, as recorded, i Chron. xxxvi. lo. By contemplating the calamities fuftain- ed by the Jews in the feveral invafions of the iVlfy- rians, you will find, that they were greater than the diftre'Tes which they had fuffered in former times, from Shilliak, king of Egypt, under Rehobonm ; from the Phililtines and Arabians, under Joram ; from the Syrians, under joalh ; or the Ethiopians, in the reign of Afa. In this manner you may be fully fatisfied of the truth of the prediction before us. Let the review of the terrible judgments which God infiided upon the Jews, in accompliihing this threat- ening, excite us, for whofe inftruclion they were re- corded, to a holy fear of offending him, who doth terrible things in righteoufnefs. Afraid of his dread difpleafure, let us carefully avoid thofe traufgreffions, which expofed them to fuch direful calamities. 1 8 And it fliall come to pafs i,ii that daj^ that the Lord fhall hifs for the fly, that is in the uttermoft part of the rivers of Egypt, and. for the bee that Is in the land of Allyria. In this and the following verfe, the prophet illuf- trates the prediction delivered in the foregoing one, by figuratively defcribing the inflruments who were to be employed in executing the above threatening. — It is manifeit, from the connection and defign of this prophecy, that it ought not to be interpreted in the literal, but in the figurative fenfe of the words. In this view, the fly, that is in the uttermoft part of the rivers of Egypt, feems intended to denote the numerous Ver. i8. prophecies of ISAIAH. 427 jaumerous troops of that once powerful kingdom, which is fiiid to have been able to mufler an army of four hundred thouiand men. In prophetic language, the forces of Egypt might be fignificantly exprelTed by a fly, as that land abounded with great quantities of this kind of infect ; and to intimate the vail num- bers of Egyptians who were to be called forth to ac- tion, the lurprifing rapidity with which they were to march, when, alter the manner of flies, they were to alight in Judea^ that they might fuck out the (Irength and vigour of the Jewifli nation. The Egyptian army was to march from the uttermofl: part of the rivers of that kingdom. The great river Nile, by which the land of Egypt was watered, is faid to have divided into feven different flireams, by which it emptied it- felf into the fea. Thefe, I fuppofe, are the rivers here intended ; and from the remote places about them, called Lower Egypt, the troops here fpoken of, were to march againfl Judah. And for the bee that is in the land of A/fyria. By the bee here mentioned, the army of Aifyria feems to be meant. To this infeft the Creator hath given a (harp fting, by w^hich it defends itfelf, and annoys its enemies ; and fo affords a lively reprefcntation of people armed for war. The army of Affyria, in a Ipecial manner, refembled the bee ; as it was com- pofed of vafl: numbers, who were all fubjew exact the obedience, how ad- mirable the candour, which our prophet difplayed, in executing the order he received from Godi Let us imitate him in thefe refpetls, and endeavour faith- fully to perform every part of the office afligned us. 3 And I went unto the prophetefs, and (he conceived and bare a fon; then faid the Lord to ypie. Call his name, Maher-fhalal-ha{h-baz. In this verfe, Ifaiah mentions another exprefs com- mand that he received from God, with the circum- flance which gave rife to this order. According to the cuifom of the Hebrews, and foms other narions, women derive their names from their hufbands, or the profeffions which they follow; though this prac- tice does not correfpond altogether with the idiom of our language, and the phrafeology ufed among us. By the prophetefs, the wife of our prophet feems plainly to be intended. About this time flie conceived and brought forth a fon, whom the Lord, by foiae revelation he afforded his fervant, directed to be called Maher- flialal-hafh-baz, the very name which was required to be written in the roll, or inferred in the poliihed tablet, mentioned in the firfl verfe of this chapter. In confequence of this divine appointment, which doubtlefs Ifaiah punctually obeyed, all who faw the child, or heard him named, were reminded of the pro- phecy 442 LECTURES on the Ckap. VIIT. phecy written by our prophet, -and attefted by two. faithlul witneii'es, of which this name was the com- prehenlive fum. You may remember, he had an elder fon, cailed Shear-jafhub, a name big with com- fort, lignifying, a remnant Ihall return. The mani- fold mercies of God having been abuied by the people among whom the prophet a6led by divine commifTion, and among whom he, and the children whom God gave him, were for figns and wonders in IfraeJ, he was direded to call a younger fon by a name, import- ing, that predicted judgments would be fpeedily exe- cuted. -Thus did God gracioufly condefcend, by various ways, to inftrud his people in the certainty of approaching calamities, which were foon to be in- flifted upon Damafcus and Samaria. Hence we ought to learn, diligently to attend to the divine admoni- tions which we receive of thofe awful judgments,, which ere long fliall be executed upon the impenitent and ungodly. 4 For before the child Ihall have knowledge to cry, My father and my mother, the riches of Damafcus, and the fpoil of Samaria, fliall be taken away before the king of AiTyria. In thefe words, the time is fixed for the accomplidi- ment of the calamities here foretold. Lirtle chil- dren commonly begin to call their parents by name, when they are between two and three years of age ; io that we may conclude, that within four years- after the date of this prediction, the events fore- told fliould come to pafs. The firlt of thefe re- fpecls the riches of Damafcus, which was the chief city of Syria, in Afia, fituated in a large plain, upon the river Chryforchoas, lying betvveen the range of mountains over againll Lebanon and mount Hermon, one hundred and forty miles to the fouthward of Je- rufalem. It was one of the moft ancient cities in the world, being mentioned in the hillory of the pa- triarch Ver. 4. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 443 trlarch Abraham, Gen. xiv. 1 5. where we are hiforin- ed, that the father of the faithful, with his trained fer* vants, pMrfued aft»5r the kings who had plundered His brother's fon, and taken him captive, unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damafcus. In the days of Ahaz, this city feems to have been remarkable for its opulence, and its numerous inhabitants. — —The latter relates to the fpoil of Samaria, which was the chief city of the kingdom of Ephraim, built by Omri, one of the kings of Ifrael, who bought the hill Sama- ria of Shenier, for two talents of filver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, the former owner of the hill, Samaria *. The city flood higbs, was well for- tified, and was remarkable for the fine fprings of wa- ter from which the inhabitants were plentifully fup- plied, and watered the vineyards, the olive-yards, and gardens, that were planted in its vicinity. It is now known by the name of Sebafte, where the remains of the palace of A.hab, king of Ifrael, are ftill to be feen* — ^ The riches and the fpoil of theie royal cities are here foretold, to be taken awLiy before the king of Aifyria. The expreffion feems to allude to the ancient cuftom of conquerors, who ordered the fpoils of thofe they had vanquiflied, to be carried in triumph before them into the kingdom or city for which they fought. The Alfyrian monarch, with his vidorious army, were to re- turn to their own land, richly laden with the fpoils they had taken in war, after having pillaged both the metro- polis and the country of Ephraim, and Syria, and made great Uaughter among their inhabitants. This pre- diction v/as accordingly fulfilled within three or four years, by Tiglath-pilefer, king of Aifyria, who took Damafcus, carried the people captive to Kir, and flew Rezin, as you read, 2 Kings xvi. 9. ; and who alfo took the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manalleh, and carried them captive to Alfy- •' 2 Kings xvt. 23, 24» 3 K via, 444 LECTURES on the Chap.VIIL ria, as is written, 2 Kings xv. 29. In the review of this fubjeft, we may fay of the people of God what was faid of the Romans, They were often overcome in battle, but never in war. They have been fre- quently in perilous circumftances ; but the Moll High hath always been their defence, and hath never failed feafonably to appear for their deliverance, which ought to animate us to hope and confidence in God. Like Ahaz, and his people, however, we are apt to fufpe<5l the truth and faithfulnefs of Jehovah, in his promifes and predidions refpecling the fafety of his people, efpecially when events run counter to our ex- peftations, and unfurmountable difficulties feem to lie in the v»'ay of their accomplilhment. In defpond- cncy we are ready to exclaim. Where is the help that God hath promifed in the day of trouble ? Let the exaft completion of the above and fimilar prophecies of the mod unlikely events, excite us to fay of the Lord, ' He is my refuge, and my fortrefs : my God, ' in him will I truft*/ 9 ^ The Lord fpake alfo Unto rae again, faying. The prophet declares, that the Atmight)', who gave him the initrudions he had already mentioned, was the author of thefe which he is about to relate.— He affirms, that the Lord fpake unto him : but he does not inform us, whether he received the following re- velation by an audible voice from heaven, by a vifion in the night, or by fome deep impreffion made upon his mind. The words alfo and' again ^ which are here ufed, ferve to intimate, that a new period begins at this verfe ; and that another fubjed of difcourfe, fome- what different from the former, is introduced, con- taining a more full declaration of the future for- tunes of Ephraim and Judah. By this affertion, he * Pfal, xci. 2. Ver.6. prophecies of ISAIAH. 445 gives the mod explicit afTurance of the divine autho- rity by which he fpake, in the manner following; and, therefore, we ought dihgently to attend to what is written for our admonition. 6 Forfomiich as this people refufeth the wa- ters of Shiloah that go foftly, and rejoice in Re- zin and Remaliahs fon. Thefe words defcribe the criminal conduct which was the procuring caufe of the judgments threatened in the following verfe. The perlons whofe conduct is reprefented, are called this people, among whom Ifaiah exercifed his oiBce as a prophet, to whom he was fent with the awful meffage here recorded. Both the kingdoms of Judah and Ifrael feem to be intend- ed in the defcription contained in this verfe : the for- mer charge was brought againft Judah, who defpifed the waters of Shiloah ; and the latter, againil the Ifraelites, who rejoiced in Remaliah's fon, —The fm of Judah confilted in refufmg the waters of Shir loah. Shiloah or Siloa'm was a fountain fituated on the weft fide of Jerufalem, tov/ard the fouth-weil cor- ner, without the wall, remarkable for the excellence and abundance of its waters. From this fountain, wa- ter was conveyed, by different ftreams, into two pools within the city, for the ufe of the inhabitants ; the one of which was called the Upper, and the other the Lower Pool. Thefe waters, gently gliding along the channels that were formed for conveying them to their different receptacles, afforded, in their progrefs, an agreeable emblem of the kingdom of David, which, though much reduced in flrength, was preferved, by the bleihng of God, and continued in the line of his, family, notwithilanding all the etjbrts of its enemies. By the waters of Shiloah that run foftly, may be meant, in a figurative fenfe, the kingdom of the houfe of David, which was perpetuated, under the favour and protedion of Jehovah, amidft the many hoftile attempts. 44^ LECTURES on the Chap. VIII, attempts that were employed for its deftrudion. Be not furprifed at this expolition, which accords with the interpretation of the angel, who informed the apoftle John, ' The waters which thou faweit, are * peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues *.*• The figure is juil and' elegant. Waters confift of an aggregate body of liquid parts, which eafly receive imprclTion, and are carried hither and thither accords ing to the force of the external cauies by which ihey are agitated and directed. In thefe and other refpccls, they reprefent the colledive body of the people, who are eafily actuated and influenced by various external caufes, efpecially by their king, or chief magiftrate. Many of this people of whom the prophet fpeaks, contemning their native country, defpifing their prince, their form of government, and the advantages en-, joyed by their metropolis, deftitute of faith and truft in God, were reduced to the diiagreeable alternativcj either of furrendering themfelves into the hands of the confederate kings, or of committing themfelves to the protection of AfTyria, whofe affiftance they had already implored. By adopting either of thefe mea-. fures, they difcovered a criminal contempt of the Al- mighty, who was their king and defence, and who generoufly offered them his help, which they had wickedly rejefted. Such was the fin and folly of Ju- dah, which expofed them to the invafion threatened in the next verfes.- The fin of Ifrael confiited in their rejoicing in Rezin and Remaliah's Ion. The great bulk of the people were highly pleafed with the treaty of aUiance formed between thefe two princes : they approved of the plan^ they had formed, and the avaricious views which they avowed, in their intended enterprize, of rendering the kingdom of Judah a pro- vince of their empire. Elated with the good fortune which had attended the united efforts of the confede- rate princes, and trufting to the ftrength of the com- * Rev. xvv- 15. Ver. 7. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 447 bined armies, they doubted not the fuccefs of the ex- pedition, and were already joyful in the profpeiSt of victory. By this very culpable behaviour, they juftly expofed themielves to the dread difpleafure and ven- geance of that God, whofe beloved land they had pre- fumptuoufly confpired to invade and defolate. — — Hence let us be inltrufted highly to value and improve the important advantages with which we are favoured in this happy land, under the bell form of human go- vernment, adminiflered by the beft of kings. Whilft we carefully avoid trulHng in man, and making flefli our arm, let us ever be folicitous to experience the happinefs of thole who have the God of Jacob for their help, whofe hope is in the Lord their God *. 7 Now therefore behold, the Lord biingeth up upon them the waters of the river, llrong nnd many, even the king of Aflyria, and all his glory : and he fhall come up over all his chan- nels, and go oyer all his banks. Upon people of the above defcrlption, God, to whom vengeance belongeth, threatens, by the pro- phet, to execute judgments correfponding to the crimes they had committed. By the river here fpoken of, may be meant the Euphrates, which Is fome- times called the Great River, as it was the greateft with which the Ifraelites were acquainted, though there are larger rivers in the world, fuch as the Ganges, the Danube, and fome others. Its waters were flrong and many : they ran with great violences and rapidity from tiie mountains of Armenia, efpe- cially at the feafons in which the fnow melted ; they foon became very deep, and fpread themfelves to a great breadth. In the following part of the verfe, the prophet explains this figure ; and teaches us, that by the waters pf the river, were meant the king of * PfaL cxlvi. 5. ^Ifyjia^ 44S LECTURES ON THE Chap.VIIT. Affyria, and all his glory. The glory of the king of Affyria confiited in the very numerous and well-» difciplined troops which he commanded, and could march againll his enemies. According to the obferva- tion of the wile man, ' In the multitude of people * is the king's honour *.' Much more, however, is included in the expreflion. All his glory, taftern kings and princes, when they went forth anciently on great expeditions, ufed to carry along with them their wife counfellors, their renowned heroes, their nobles, and great men, as their attendants, befides their wives and concubines, who, with their military equi- page, their tents, and beds, and large veifels of gold and filver, added greatly to their magnificence and fplendour. In this manner, Xerxes and Darius con. duded their famous expeditions : and thefe things conftituted their glory, and the glory of the king of Affyria, here fignified, by the waters of the river, ftrong and many. The prodigious army of this haughty monarch, its great ftrength, its rapid march, and the terrible noife with which it was attended, are very fignificantly reprefented by the waters of the river Euphrates, efpecially when it overflowed its banks, running along with irrefiftible force and im- petuofity. Thefe waters, figurative of the vaft armies of Affyria, God threatens to bring down like a mighty flood upon Judah and Ifrael, as a juft punifliment for their aggravated fins, and particularly for their wic* ked contempt of his promifcs, 8 And he fliall pafs through Judah, he ihall overflow and go over, he Ihal: reach even to the neck, and the ftretching out of his wings fhall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel. The progrefs of that de(lru6lion with which the Affyriaus were to overflow the land of Judah is here * Prov. xiv. 28. marked* Ver. Sr PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 449 marked. The metaphorical language employed in the foregoing verfe is here continued, in which the Aflyrians are dill fpoken of as a river, which, having fwelled above its banks, pours its waters into the neighbouring plains. Having deluged the kingdom of Ephraira, they were next to fpread defolation over the land of Judah, which was now in a low condition. Though it was to be preferved from total deftrutlion, with which it was threatened, its inhabitants were neverthelels to find themfelves in very perilous cir» cumftances, like a man who is near being drowned, when the waters reach to his neck. In this figurative defcription, the kingdom of Judah is compared to a human body ; by whofe head the chief city of Jeru- falem v/as intended, which, by the kind providence of God, was preferved in fafety from the threatened invafion, whilil the whole country befides was over- run by the enemy,- and demoiifhed.— y/W the Jiretcbing out of bis wings, &c. The mod diftant parts of the vafl Affyrian army, which, in the mili- tary ftyle, are called wings, are threatened to ex- tend over the whole land, and to occupy its entire breadth, reaching from the river Jordan to the Medi- terranean fea. Our prophet, contemplating thefe direful events, converts the prediftion into the form of a complaint, which he addrelTes to Immanuel, the illullrious Perfon whofe wonderful nativity he had foretold in the preceding chapter. Having his mind illuminated with the knowledge of this extraordinary charadler, who was at once to be the Son and Lord of David, the Son of God, the Saviour, and Guardian of his people, he invokes him to ccnfider the forlorn con- dition of thofe whom he had appropriated to himfelf, as the objects of his gracious care and fpeciai protection. Thou who art God with us, whofe land we poffefs, whofe chofen city we inhabit, in whofe temple we wor- fhip, pity thy pecuhar people in the depths of diftrefs, and atford us thy friendly aid, and feaibnable deliver- ance, in the time of our extremity. ' God be our refuge ' and 45© LECTURES on the Cha^.V!!!. * and ftrength, a very prefent help in trouble. There- ' fore will not we fear, though the earth be removed j ' and though the mountains be carried into the midll * of the fea. Though the waters thereof roar, and * be troubled, though the mountains fliake with the ' fwelling thereof*.' -The fulfilment of the former part of this prophecy you may read, 2 Kings xx'u. 6.; and the accomplilhment of the latter you may fee, 2 Kings xviii. 13, 14. — • — One great defign of record- ing the predidlion, and afterward the execution of thefe defolating judgments, is, that, by diligently confidering them, we may be warned againft thofe deftrudive pradtices which prevailed among the polte- rity of Abraham, who are let up as beacons, to di-' reft us to keep clear of thofe fms in confequence of which they were involved in ruin. Having received precept upon precept upon this fubjett, let us learn this necelfary leffon, and make this wife improve- ment of what we have now heard for our benefit. 9 ^ Aflociate yourfelve8, O ye people, and ye fhall be broken in pieces ; and give ear, all ye of far countries : gird yourfelves, and ye fliall be broken in pieces ;' gird yourfelves, and ye fhall be broken in pieces. 10 Take counfel together, and it fhall come to nought; fpeak the word, and it fliall not iland: for God is with us. In thefe verfcs, the prophet foretels, that the hollile attempts of the enemies of Judah fliould certainly be fruftrated. Forefeeini;, by the fpirit of prophecy, the many powerful enemies of that nation, who would endeavour to accomplifh their deftruftion, and the difappointment with which their exerdons fhould be attended, he repeatedly calls upon them, with * Pfal. xlvi. I, 2, 3. exultatiorj Ver.9,10. prophecies of ISx^lAH. 451 exultation and triumph, to adopt thofe meafures which they might judge mod likely to complete their defign- The words may be confidered as primarily addrefled to the nations of Ephraim and Syria, who were con- federated for the overthrow of Ahaz and his kingdom. As the prophet repeats the command, or invitation, a fecond and third time, he might have his views of the potent adverfaries of his country extended to more dillant future periods, in which the Aifyrians, and afterward the armies of Antiochus Epiphanes, were to be defeated.-— — Ajfociate your/elves, 0 ye people* Aifemble your troops from every quarter, Ephraim- ites, Syrians, Affyrians, and Chaldeans : let ail your forces be colleded from the moil diftant parts of the country, to carry into execution your intended enter*- prife. -And ye jh all he broken in pieces. Immanuel, againft whofe people and kingdom no weapon that is formed can profper, fhall break you with a rod of iron : he (hall dafli you in pieces like a potter's veltel. Your plans of operation fhall be difconcerted, your armies fhall be routed, your power fliall be briDken, and your hoftile purpofes abandoned. And give ear all ye of far countries ; however diilant in refpe£l of time and place, from thofe in which this prophecy is delivered. Be attentive to the folemn affurance now given, in the name of the Lord, for your inftruftion, as to the future fortunes of his church, and the difap- pointment and ruin of her enemies. '—Gird your- fehes. Prepare for allien, make ready for battle, put on your fwords, and furnifh yourfelves with all the im- plements of war. I repeat the challenge, Gird your- felves. Though you again prepare for acls of hofli- Hty, and anew ftrengthen yourfelves, however formi- dable your expeditions may appear, and likely to be crowned with fuccefs — - — Te pmll be broken in pieces. The Moft High over all the earth again declares, all your efforts againfl Judah fliall be vain ; all your re- peated attempts againil that kingdom fhall be fruit- lefs : only you yourfelves fliall perifh in the enterprife. 3 L Take 45i LECTURES on the Chap.VIIL Take counfel together^ as to ways and means by which you fuppofe you may mod fuccefsfully invade and conquer the land of Judah. Aiid it Jlmll come to nought. All your devices and plans of operation ihall be fruftrated. ' Kings of the earth may fet them- * felves, and rulers take counfel together, againll the ' Lord, and his people. But he that fitteth in the * heavens ihall laugh: the Lord (liall have them in * derifion. He ihall ipeak to them in his wrath, and * vex them in his hot diipleafure*.' — - — Speak the *iVord. Declare your determined refolution of invading and defolating the land of Judah, and give orders to your powerful armies to carry your purpofes into exe- cution. —And it JJmll not Jiand. Who is he that faith, and it cometh to pafs, if the Lord commandeth it not ? There is no counfel or wifdom againil the Lord. His counfel Ihall (land, and he will do all his pleafure ; but your word and purpofe fhall riot iland, for this good reafon God is idth us. The pro- mifed Immanuel, to whofe name the prophet alludes, and of which he gives the interpretation, God is with us, he ihall be the defence of the houfe of his fervant David, and deliver the kingdom of Judah out of your hands. God is with us in his temple, affording the fymbols. and proofs of his gracious prefence ; he is with us by his providence, granting us protedtion from powerful enemies ; he is with us in his promifes, aifuring us of defence and fafety. And if God be for us, who can be againil us | ? ' He is clothed with ' ilrength wherewith he hath girded himfelf ; and is ' mightier by far than the noife of many waters, yea, ' than the mighty waves of the feaf. Behold, all ' they that are incenfed againit thee, iliall be aihamed ' and confounded : they ihall be as nothing ||.* The God who is with us, is full of the moil tender affec- tion for his people, whom he keeps as the apple of * Pfal. V-. ^.etfcq. \ Rom. viii. 31. % Pfal. xcfii. !| Ifaiah y}^, n. hi? Ver. 1 1. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 455 his eye: he confiders the injuries done to them as done to himfelf ; and in all the difpenfations of his providence and grace, he difcovers the higheft regard to their bed interells. In every age, and in every na- tion of the world, God, my brethren, is with his people, to ftrengthen and proted, to blefs and fave them. How animating and comfortable is this alTur- ance to all good men, who wait for the falvation of the Lord! 1 1 ^ For the Lord fpake thus to me with a ftrong hand, and inftrii6ted me that I fliould not walk in the way of this people, faying. Ifaiah here declares in what manner God was pleafed to communicate to him the inftruftion that he received. He fpake to the following efteft, with a ftrong hand ; with fuch irrefilHble energy, that he w::s not difturbed or didrefl'ed, but elevated, ftrength- ened, and comforted. The prophet's mind at this time was probably in fome meafare enfeebled, in con- fequence of which he was ready to be difmayed by defponding fears ; and the profpecl of difficulties and dangers might have made him give way to the pre- vailing temper and praclice of the times. God, there- fore, who upholdeth them that fall, etfeftually ftip- ported, inflru^ted, and enabled him to perform what he was commanded. By his ftrong hand, every im- pediment was removed out of the way of duty, all op- pofition was vanquiflied, and what was fpoken carried home with divine power to his heart. The exprelFion' imports, that the Lord fpake with fuch glorious evi- dence of the truth he dehvered, and accompanied his inftruftions with fuch mighty energy, as rendered them efteOiual for the purpofes for which they were intended. There arc principles of oppofition to the difpenfations and admonitions of God in the hearts even of good men, which require the ftrong hand of the Almighty to fubdue- them* Of this re- mark 454 LECTURES on the Chap.VIII.- mark the prophet Jonas affords a remarkable inftance. The apoftle Paul loudly complains, that the flefh luft- eth againfl the fpirit ; and this all the faints feel in their experience. Wrong apprehenfions of the truths and Vr'ays of God, unfuccefsfulnefs in his fervice, the influence of temptation, the entanglements of the world, the power of corruption, and a fenfe of guilt, confpire to render this method of inftrudion necef- fary. And fuch is the tender companion of Jehovah^ that, in order to the profiting of his fervants, by his flrong hand, he cafts down every lofty imagination, and every high thing that exalteth itfelf againfl the knowledge of God ; and at once affords effectual de- liverance, convidion, and affiftance. And injlriicled me that I Jhould not ivalk in the way of this people. The people of Judah, defer ibed at the fixth verfe of this chapter, who had become weary of the government, the laws, and religion, which God had eftablilhed among them, and were attached to foreign princes, alliances, and cuftoms, are doubtlefs here intended. The prophet is cautioned not to walk in their ways. This prohibition is not to be under- jftood in the literal, but in the figurative fenfe. He, was not diffuaded from travelhng in the ways by which they journeyed from one place to another, but from following their example, and deliberately proceeding, by a conilant progreffive motion, in imitating their temper, converfation, and condudl. He was cau- tioufly to avoid conformity to them in their bad dif- pofitions, and fmful pradices. In this fenfe, fome of the kings of Judah are faid to have walked in the way of David and Solomon *. This inflruftion was intended to preferve our prophet from going into the evil courfes, upon which his countrymen had entered ^t this period, who were overwhelmed with timidity, defpondency, and dlitruft in God. He is divinely taught not tp entertain the fentiments and opinions * 2 Clirort. xi. i-;^. they Ver. 12. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 455 they had formed at this crifis of affah's, not to fpeak and acl in the fame foolilh manner that they did, un- der the corrupt influence of unbelief and flavilh fear. -My brethren^ if this lelfon was neceflary to Ifaiah, it is furely no lefs needful to us. Permit me, therefore, to addrefs this advice to you, with the greateft earneftnefs and affe£tion, ' Walk not in the * way of this people.* Turn not from the holy com- mandment delivered unto you. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be ellablilhed. Tura not to the right hand, nor to the left : remove thy fool from evil. Turn not to the right hand : pretend not to do more than God hath commanded ; and aim not to be righteous overmuch. Turn not to the left hand : refl not fatisfied with your own imperfect per- formances, which come far (hort of the duty which God hath prefcribed. Make not void the law of the Lord, either by doing that which it hath forbidden, or by leaving undone that which it requires. ' Such as ' turn afide to crooked ways, the Lord (hall lead them ' forth with the workers of iniquity * j but whofo * walketh uprightly fliall be faved |,' 1 2 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people fhall fay, A confederacy j neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. This verfe contains another article of the inftrnc- tion which our prophet received from God, in which he, and his other fervants, are cautioned againft com- plying with the prevailing iniquity of the times. The people of Judah, on hearing of the ftrong combi- nation formed againft them by Syria and Ephraim, were greatly alarmed ; and, filled with defpondency, they exclaimed, A confederacy,, a confederacy, which Ihall prove the means of our ri'in. Inilead of im- ploring the gracious interpofition of God in their be^ * Pfal. cxxv. 5. f Prov. xxvjii. i8. half, 45^ LECTURES on the Chap. VIII. half, they called in the help of Aflyria ; and formed a very improper connection with that people, who helped them not. The prophet, and thofe who feared the Lord, are here diffuaded from approving this plan of operation, which, in the iffue, v/ould prove ex- ceedingly hurtful to the kingdom of Judah. They are ftridly prohibited from joining the bulk of the nation, and acting under the influence of that cul- pable timidity by wiiich they were diftrefied. They are required to diftinguifh themfelves from the people in general, by more excellent principles and pra6tice» than thofe which were prevalent among the multi- tude. Particularly they were directed ; Neither fear ye iheir fear, nor be afraid, Thofe diftreffing objects which filled the many with con- fternation, and overwhelmed them with dread, fhould not difcompofe or intimidate the godly : on the con- trary, they ought to contemplate them with ferenity, deflitute of thofe diflrading fears which compelled a profane prince, and wicked people, to feek help any where rather than in God. The fear againfl which the caution is here given, may fignify either the ob- jeft of which they were afraid, namely, the power-. ful league formed againil the Jewifli people by their confederate enemies, or that kind of fear and per- plexity with which the ungodly were much dii'lurbed. Or the words may be confidered as including both fenfes : fear not what your enemies have done, or can do ; nor fear with difmaying, anxious timidity, as do' the wicked and unbelieving among whom you live. The natural palTion of fear, though in itfeif not fm- ful, yet, in depraved creatures, is mixed with fin, and becomes irregular in its actings, either miffing the proper obi eft on which it ought to terminate, or operating in a wrong way, or forbidden meafure ; either directed into a wrong channel, or elfe over^ flowing its banks. Indeed the other affedions of love, hatred, and joy, are likewife often excited by iniproper objefts j and when people are violently agi- tated Ver.i3» prophecies dt ISAIAH. 45^ tated by them, their tranquillity of mind is unhappily difturbed, and they are either diftreflcd with anxious uneafmefs, or lulled alleep in carnal fecurity. ^ Would you comply with this falutary advice ? Get the internal caules of this diftreffing fear removed, and its difagreeable effeds Ihall certainly ceafe. Ufe the fovereign remedy which a merciful God hath pre- fcribed in the following verfe, for curing this grievous malady ; which never fails to prove effectual, through his divine bleffing, for difpelling uneafy difquietudes, and reiloring a fettled ferenity to the mind. . 13 Sandiify the Lord of hofls himfelf, and let him be your fear, and Z?/ him Z'^ your dread. Thefe words point out an effe(3ual remedy for pre-* venting and allaying thofe difmaying fea^^, which our prophet, with all the godly, are cautioned carefully to avoid. The word fa?idify is ufed in various fenfes in fcripture, with Vv'hich you ought to be acquainted, that you may underfland this and other pailages where it occurs. It fignilies, to confecrate, or fet apart, from a common to a (acred purpofe*; to purify, or make holyf. Sometimes it is afcribed to men, who, withdrawing from their common employments, devote themfelves to the folemn worlhip and fervice of God |. At other times it is attributed to Jehovah, who fanclifies himfelf, when he difplays the confum- mate reditude of his nature, and perfed detefhuion of fm, in the difpenfations of his providence, and in his word of truth || ; and who fanclifies men, when he conveys holy principles into their hearts, from the proper improvement of which proceeds that holinefs in life, and all manner of converfation, whereby his people are happily diftinguifhed § . Men are faid to fandify God, when they venerate his glorious majeily, * Joftiua iii. 5. f John xvii. 17. -^ Exod. xix. 10. f] Ezek. xxxviii, 23. ^1 Thtfl". y. 23. extol 458 LECTURES ok the ChakVIIL extol his divine perfeclions, celebrate his infinite pu- rity, and, trufting in his word, walk in his ordinances and commandments. In this important exercife, they entertain juft and elevated apprehenfions of his gran- deur and grace, his power and faithfulnefs ; and, fix- ing their dependence upon his omnipotence, they are raifed far above confidence in human aid. Contem- plating him in the magnificent charader of the Lord of hofls, who hath all the armies of heaven, and the inhabitants of this earth, to execute his pleafure, they are convinced, that he, and he alone, is to be feared; and that they have no juft reafon to be intimidated by the number and power of their enemies. Deeply fen- fible that none can deliver out of his hand, and that without him none can either help or hurt them ; that he can never want infiruments Sufficient to baffle the projefts, and defeat the conipiracies formed againft them ; they commit themielves, and all their interefts, into the hands of their great Creator. Thus, my friends, ought we to fantlify the Lord of hofls, not only in our words and actions, but in our hearts, as the apoffle Peter teaches us, in Chap. iii. 1 5. of his Firfl Epiflle. He fanclifiethhis people in foul and bo- dy, rendering their hearts, their language, and their lives holy ; and, in return, we ought to fandify God, both with our outward and inner man. He clearly fees through every appearance and difguife into the heart, which he attentively obferves, and prin- cipally regards. IF he is fuitably refpecled and enter- tained, and the heart is poU'effed of reverence and love, he gracioully approves ; if not, all the a6ts of external homage are only vain oblation, which he will not accept. If this remedy reaches not to the heart, the difeafe will remain which it is intended to remove, and difmaying fears will continue to perplex and ha* rafs the mind. And kt him he your fear ^ and let him be your dread. The perfon who ought to be feared, is the Lord of hofls, Immanuel, God with us j concerning whom it is, Ver. 14. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 459 is foretold in the following verfcy ' That he fliall be for * a fanftuary ; but for a flone of {tumbling, and for ' a rock of offence to both the houfes of Ifrael.' Let this mighty Lord, who is your Father, your Saviour, your King, and your God, in whom are united the mod glorious majefty, and the moll amiable conde- fcenfion and grace — let him be the chief obiect of your fear and dread. The fear of God here recom- mended, doth not confiil in terrifying apprehenfions of God as an enemy, but in compofed reverence and awe of that almighty Parent, whofe favour is worthy of the higheft elfeem, and whofe difpleafure ought carefully to be avoided as worfe than death. It is a reverential awe ot God, excited and preferved by proper views of his goodnefs, as well as of his greatnefs. This gracious diipofition effeftually dif- pels every other kind of uneafy fear, and leaves no room for them in the heart. It compofes the foul amidft every difquietude : it reflores to it the mod de- firable tranquilj-ty and (lability, and forms a powerful bulwark againft the approach of evil. What time, faid David, I am afraid, I will trull in, thee, O Lord, who art my defence, and my rock *. Had he raflily refolved to feek for fafety in the number, power, and fidelity of his friends and armies, or in any other advantage he enjoyed, his diflracting fears would (till have didreffed him ; whereas the fear of the Lord, accompanied with a firm tvull in his wifdom, power, and love, is the bed antidote againd, and fured relief from every per- plexing anxiety.- -' Let not thine heart envy lin- ' ners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord ail the ' day long. For furely there is a reward, and thine ' expeclation Ih^U not be cut offf.' 14 And he fhall be for a fanduary ; but for a done of ftumhling, and for a rock of offence to both the houfes of Ifrael, for a gin, and for a fnare to the inhabitants of Jcrufalem. * Pfal. !;vli. 5, 6. t Prov. xjsiii. t", iS. ^. M The 46o LECTURES on the Chap. Vllt The benefit to be enjoyed by thofe v/ho fanftify the Lord of hods, is here contrafted with the dangerous condition of thofe who reject and contemn him. To fuch as fanftify and fear the Lord of hofts, he Ihall be for a fanduary ; which is a place fet apart for the defence of thofe who refort to it for fafety in the time of danger. They ihall participate of all thofe impor- tant benefits which people enjoy who repair to a fan^tuary. By the interpofition of his kind provi- dence, the Loid wiil protect them from the various evils to which they are expoled ; and they iliall find agreeable fafety from every enemy, however fubtile and Itrong. Both foul and body comes into his gracious proteftion, who is their keeper^ and a {hade upon their right hand, as it is written in Pfal. cxxi. : ' I'he Lord fliall preferve thee from alJ ' evil : he fhali preferve thy foul. The Lord fliall •^ preferve thy going out, and thy coming in, from * this time forth and even for svermore.* The body, with all its iiiterefts, comes under his defence j who hath faid, that ' he keepeth all his fervants bones ; ' not one of them is broken * ;Vwho keeps them as in a paviMon from the ftrife of tongues f ; and fets a hedge on every fide about their houfes, and all that they have. The foul, with all its concerns, enjoys in God the mail defirable covert ; who, by moit undubitable ligns, demonitrates his gracious prefence with his people, and folicitous regard for their welfare and fafety, by forgiving their fins, illu- minating their minds, admitting them to communion with him, comforting their hearts, alfilHng them in- duty, and accepting of their perfons and fervices. In this fanduary, they always find the plentiful fupply of all manner of necelTary provifion, and the moll de- lightful reft and repofe amidft all the evils and dan- gers with which they are furrounded. It is not indeed the objefl; of fenfe j nor can we fully explain in what * Pfal. xxxiv. 20. t Pful. xxxi. 20. manner Ver. 14. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 461 manner thofe who feem to be equally expofed to dan- gers with other men, are diltinguifhed by the power, the grace, and fpecial care of the providence of God. Though the defence is invifible, it is certain that he that dwelleth in the fecret place of the Moffc High, {hali abide under the fliadow of the Almighty *. This is indeed a moft extenfive privilege, comprehend- ing every thing neceiTary to real felicity, and everlaft- ing confolation. Inftead of fliewing you, that this aflurance hath been verified in ten thoufand inftances, I rather requefl: you to take fanduary in Immanuel, the Lord of hofts ; and then you need not be afraid of any calamity: there is not any thing that fhall really hurt you : your bed interefts fliall be fafe, and your hopes Ihall never be difappointed. But f CI' ajlone ofjiwnbling, and for a rock of offence to both the heufcs of Ifrael. Immanuel, God with us, who is the chief fubjeft of the ancient predictions and promifes which were announced by the prophets, who, in the preceding verfe, is called the Lord of hods, is doubtlefs the perfon here intended. The words be- fore us are highly figurative, and multiplied, ty point out the certainty and greatneis of the calamity which ihould befall the fearful and unbelieving. The ex- prelFions are of fimilar import, though the latter is ftronger and more forcible than the former. The firit, in which the perfon fpoken of is faid to be for a flone of Humbling, plainly intimates, that though men were to be ofl^ended at him, and difpleafed with him, he was firm and permanent ; one that could not eafily be broken, or torn afunder ; and proper to be laid into the foundation of a great building. The lafl, in which he is foretold to be a rock ot ofl'ence, denotes the wonderful immutability of his nature, the everlailing perpetuity of his duration, and his perfect fufficiency to afford defence to thofe who be- take themfelves to him for refuge, notwithftand- * Ffal. xc!\ I. 4^2 LECTURES ON the Chap. VIII. mg he wns injured and offended by multitude?;. Thefc qualifications are often mentioned in the pro- phetic writings as attributes of the Meffiah, who is repreCented as pofTeiling thefe and funilar proper- ties, lie is the foundation-ftone which God hath laid in Zion, upon which he builds his church ; the rock of falvation, by which all the eleft of God are pro- tefted from the many hazards to which they are ex- pofed.- To thofe of an oppofite character, he is a Ihme of ftumbling, and rock of ofi'ence, as the pro- phet declares, and the New Teftament abundantly teltifies. Some of both the houfes of Ifrael Humbled at the meannefs of his birth, and the poverty of his condition ; others were offended at the obfcurity of his perfon, and his defpicable appearance in the world, ijome (lumbled at the company with which he affo- tiated; others were offended at the audience with which he was attended. Some Humbled at the high preten- fions which he affumed, the dodrine that he taught, or the condefcenfion that he difplayed ; whilil others were offended at the miracles he performed, at the fufferijigs he fuftiiined, and the ignominious, painful death to which he fubmitted. Thus it proved to many of both the houfes of Ifratl. At the time this prophecy was delivered, the poflerity of the patriarch Jacob was divided into two dillinft nations, well known by the names of Judah and Ephraim : but af- ter their return from captivity, according to the pre- diclion delivered by the prophet Ezckiel *, they were united into one people ; and in this (late they conti- nued, when the great MerHah appeared among them. — Let us beware cf Rumbling at Jefus Chrill, and of being offended with him, like the Jews cf old. Let us ellimate his charader by the unerring ftandard of the fcriptures ; and, grateful for his benevolent inter- poHtion in our favour, let u§ repair to him, the rock of falvation, and then fliall we be for ever fafe. ^ Ezek. xxxvil. 19. Far Ver. 14. PROPH'ECIES of ISAIAH. 463 For a gin., and for a f no. re to the inhabitants ofjcru- jalem. You all know, I fuppofe, that a p;in or iuare are terms of nmilar import, ufed to figiiify any trap that Is intended to entangle, through ignorance or in- attention, thofe for whom it was fe't. Here our pro- phet foretels, that Immanuel, whom he calls in the preceding verfe the Lord of hods, would prove for a gin and a fnare to the inhabitants of Jerufalem, by whom they were to be reduced to thofe (Iraits, and perplexing difficulties, from which they ihould be un- able to extricate themfelves. They expected the Mef- fiah to appear with external pomp and magnificence ; whereas the Son of God dwelt among them in a mean and humble condition. They raflily pronounced him an impoflor, and a falfe prophet ; whilfl:, in faft, he •was the truth, and his doiflrine heavenly and divine. ' They calumniated him as poifelfcd with a devil, and an evil-doer, though lie uniformly maintained the mod untainted purity of condutt, and performed, in their prefence, thofe ftupendous miracles which na man could do unlefs God was with him. They fup- pofed that by putting to death Jefus Chriil, they would have enjoyed the favour of the Romans, and their (late would have been preferved in fecurity ; whereas, ac- cording to the counfel of Jehovah, their putting him o death, was the caufe of the deflrutlion of their nation, city, and temple, by that very people whofe frlendilrip they meant thereby to conciliate. When the Son of God affirmed in his difcourfes, that ' he and the Fa- * ther are one ;' that ' the Father is in him, and he * in the Father * ;* that ' he was the Lord of the Sab- ' bath I ;* that ' he had power on earth to fotgive ' fms J ;' that ' he is the bread of life ; and unlefs we * eat his fl-ih, and drink his blood,' b^r. II; theyfooHfhly imagined, that thefe, and the like declarations, were fufficient reafons why they fhould reject him as a blaf- phemer. In this manner they were deceived : they * Jolin X. 30. 38. -j- Mdtth. xji.'S^ \ Matth. I'x. 6. !j Jpl^n vi. 48. cS'f. eiTe4 4<54 LECTURES on the Chap. VIII. erred in judgment and praftice, and fubjedcd them- felves to the moft terrible judgments. Many in Je- rufalem were reduced to the moft diftrefling circum- llances, and fuffered the moft dreadful calamities, from which they could not extricate themfelves. The caufe, however, of the divine judgments in which they were involved, was not in Jefus Chrift, at whom they were offended ; but in themfelves, who, without jufl reafon, were difpleafed with him. Thus was ful- filled the prediction before us, and thus were verified the words of good old Simeon, recorded Luke ii. 34, 35. which he fpake unto Mary, the mother of our Saviour : * Behold, this (difficulted by what name to * call this illuftrious child) is fet for the fall and rifing ' again of many in Ifrael ; and for a fign which fliall * be fpoken againft, that the thoughts of many hearts ^ may be revealed.' As it was of old, fo it is now, and Ihali be in following ages c; the church: ' Unto you * that believe, he is precious : but unto them who are * difobedient, the ftone which the builders difallowed, * the fame is made the head of the corner, and a ftone * of ftumbling, and a rock of offence, to them who * ftumble at the word, being difobedient, whereunto * alfo they were appointed *,' I ^ And many among them fhall ftumble and fall, and be broken, and be fnared, and be taken. The effects that (hould follow the accomplifliment of the foregoing preditlion, are here particularly men- tioned and illulTrated..i Of both the houfes of Ifrael and Judah, and of the iniiabitants of Jerufalem, there were fome who participated in the great falvation of the Lord, to whom he was for a fanftuary. Of them alfo there were many, a great number, who {tumbled, and were offended at him ; and were, there- fore, excluded from the blcffings of his redemption. • I Peter ii. 7, 8. With Ver. 15. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 465 With wkked hands, having llain the Prince of life, and killed the Lord of glory, many of them, through blind infidelity, and perverie obftinacy, fell under the moft: awful mlferies. They were deprived of their civil and religious privileges, the gofpel was taken from them, the covenant between God and them was diflolved, their city and temple was de- llroyed, wrath came upon them to the uttermolt, and fome of them fell into everlalling perdition, And be broken. Their nation and church was broken to pieces, in fuch a manner that they could not recover their former unity and grandeur, whilft great num- bers of individuals were broken and ruined by mif- fortunes of various kinds. — — And be fnared. By their foolifh reafonings, and vain delufions, they were brought into a perplexing, dangerous condition, in ^'hich they could not reconcile the events of provi- dence to the opinions they had formed concerning the promifed Meffiah ; and thus, through ignorance and prejudice, they were taken as in a fnare. It is added, And he taken. As birds are caught in the net that is fpread for them, and filhes are inclofed in the net that is let down for them into the water, fo the inhabitants of Jerufalem were to be infnared by their own wicked devices, and to become a prey to their enemies. God, in his infinite wifdom,' fo over-rules the opinions, the reafonings, and adions of wicked men, that, whilil they think they are efcaping dan- ger, fear, and trouble, they find, in experience, that they were egregioufiy miftaken, and that they were working their own mifery and deftruction. As Solo- mon obferves in the Proverbs, ' In the tranfgreffion * of an evil man there is a fnare*/ in which his neighbour is fometimes caught, and in which he him- felf is always taken.— Reviewing this part of pro- phecy, the words of Jefus Chrift, which are written Matthew pci, 6. ought to make deep imprellion upon * Prcr, x.xix, 6. our 46^ lECTURES on the Chap. VIIL our hearts : ' Blefl'ed is he Avhofoever fhall not be of- ' fended in me.' Be not offended at tlie perfon or conduft of the Son of God, at the doctrines or duties he inculcated, at the fufferings to which he foretold his difciples Ihould be expofed, and you fhall expe- rience the truth of thi.; beatitude; you fnall enjoy peace and fafety, when others are broken and fnared ; you fliall be bleffed with confolation and joy in this world, and in the world ro come with everlaiting life. • From this fubjed I might eafily lead you into an unfa- thomable depth, which it is much more fafe to contem* plate, and retire to treat of other matters, than to enter far into it, and lofe ourfelves. This, however, wc affirm, that the deftruftion of men is always the fruit of their own doings ; and that thofe who pre- fumptuouily reject Immanuel, Ihall certainly fall into the condemnation here mentioned. Though this won- derful Perfon came into the world not to deftroy, but to fave ; though his primary and proper defign was, to lay a fure foundation on which men fliould build all their hopes ; yet if people will Humble, and be of- fended at him, they Ihall be broken and fnared. Re- jection of the Saviour effe£tuall)' excludes from his fal- vation, and converts the very means of deliverance into' meanii of dcftru(£tion. This was the miiery of many in Ifrael ; and this is the condemnation of many among us, v/ho either make light of the gofpel, and account it fooHihnels, or endeavour to pervert it to the woril of purpofes. Take heed then, brethen, leil there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 1 6 Bind up the teflimony, feal the law among my difciples. The prophet, in the nartie of Jehovah, who gave him commandment what he fhould fay, ad- drelfes Immanuel, calling him to perform his pe- culiar work toward his difciples, to whom he fhould be Ver. i6. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. ' 467 be for a fanduary. The perfon introduced as fpeak- ing by Ifaiah, and the perlbn to whom the words of this verfe aj-e direfted, are the fame that are mention- ed in Pfa!. ex. i. where the royal poet declares, ' The ' Lord faid unto my Lord,* ^c. The teftimony, and the law, here intended, are the word of God, con- taining the dodrine and precepts dehvered concern- ing the promifed Meffiah, and thofe which were pub- liihed by him and his apoftles. Thefe facred truths, and mod juil commandments, are fometimes called a teftimony, in the fcriptures both of the Old and New Tellament*. With great propriety do they bear this defignation, as they teftify the will of God, and the duty of man ; as they bear witnefs of Jefus Chrill, and reveal the gracious defigns of God for the lalva- tion of fmners. The word tranllated teftimony^ is de- rived from one that figniftes to witnefs ; and is applied to the record of God, which is folemnly atteiled by the mod proper and competent witneffes. The law which it contains, was promulgated amidil the mi- nidry of angels, in the prefence of the whole camp of Ifrael, and accompanied with the mod adoniihing wonders, a^^d awful figns from heaven. The goijiel which it publifht;s, was preached by the Lord, and his infpired apodles, God bearing them witnefs with figns, and wonders, and miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghod : it was confirmed by the death, refur- rection, and fubfequent glory of Jefus Chrid, which the w'orld was required to confider as evidences of the truth of their tedimony. The law fome- times denotes, in a limited fenfe, the moral lav»' of God, compriied in the ten commandments ; or the Jcwilh difpenfatlon, indituted by their great Le- gifiator. In this fenfe the apodle John affirms, that ' the law was given by Mofes f .* At other tim.es, it fignines the whole word of God revealed in the fcriptures, which indrutls mankind in the knov/ledge * Plal. x'X. 7. 2 ThefT. i. lo. | Jolm i. 17. 3N ■ Qf 468 LECTURES on the CHAr.VIII. of their dut)^, and points out the manifold obligations we lie under to perform it with fidelity and diligence. In this extenfive meaning, we fuppofe, the following affertion is to be underllood : ' The law of the Lord * is perfect, converting the foul *.' This lait fignifi- cation of the law feems beft adapted to the palllige be- fore us, where the whole revealed mind and will of God is intended, of which the law is an excellent fum- mary, as well as the perfed rule of that obedience which is required of the difciples of Jefus Chriit. This teflimony the Mefliah is required to bind up : this law he is direfted to feal among his diiciples. A learned commentator well obferves, that the He- brew word tranllated biyid up, fignifies alfo to infcribe and engrave, which, in this verfe, feems to be the preferable interpretation. By this tranflation, both the expreflions under confideration are of fimilar im- port : a juft and elegant expofition of the words is fuggefted, which, according to this view of them, re- late to the infcription of the teiHmony and law of God on the heaits of his difciples. Of this teflimony the apoille John gives a ihort abridgment, in thefe few words : ' God fent his Son to be the Saviour of the * world f .* When the teflimony i$ infcribed or con- firmed by the internal operation of the Holy Ghofl, the evidences of its glorious truth are deeply im- preffed upon the mind, and examined with the utmofl attention and care. The witnefs of Mofes is com- pared with that given by the other prophets ; the tefli- mony of the Father and the Son, w ith that of Mo- fes, and the prophets ; and with all thefe is unit- ed the evidence delivered by the apollks of Jefus Chrifl. The combined force of all thefe evidences, which perfectly agree among themielves, is dear- ly perceived ; conviction of the truth is carried to the heart : in confequence of which, the record of God is received by the difciple, who thus fets to his * Pfal. xix. 7. f I John iv. 14. feal Ver. i6. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 469 feal that God is true ; and, in this manner, as the apoftle Paul fpeaks, ' It is confirmed in him*/ The Meffiah is likewife direded to feal among his difciples that law, of which love is the abridgment and fulfilment. Seals, you know, are ufed for dif- ferent purpofes. Sometimes, to authenticate a deed, or confirm a tranfaction of high importance : thus the letters written in king Ahafuerus' name, by Mordecai, were fealed with the king's ring or feal f . At other times, things are fealed, to (hew whofe workmanfliip they are, or to whom they belong ; and, in this fenfe, probably, the apoftle Paul obferves, that after men believe, they are fealed with the Holy Spirit of pro- mife {. Sometimes, to conceal things from public view: with this defign, letters are fealed to prevent people from infpeding their contents. At other times, to pre- ferve them in falety from the hand of violence or fraud : the word is to be thus underftood, where God informed the people of Ifrael, that the fins they committed were laid up in (lore with him, and fealed up among his treafures [j. I fee no reafon for reflrifting the exprefiion here to any one of thefe fenfes, and therefore 1 confider it as including all of them. Seal the law among my difciples : by this in- ward operation upon their hearts, afford them the witnefs in themfelves of the truth of the divine tefti- mony ; give them evidence that they are God's work- manfhip, created unto good works ; furnifli them with thofe excellent principles and rules of action with which other people are unacquainted ; and preferve them fafe in the exercife of cheerful obedience to the commands of God. Such, my brethren, if I miftake not, is the import of what is contained in this verfe. — Let us who profefs to be the difciples of Jefus Chrift, convert this direction into earnell prayer to God, and requeft of him the ineftimable bleffings here men- * I Cor. 5. 6. t Efthcr yIH. 10. | Eph. i. 13. jj Dent, xxxii. 34. tioned. 470 LECTURES on the Chap.VIIL tioned, as the fulfilment of his proraife, and the rich difplay of his marvellous grace, that henceforth we may tranfcrihe his law into our lives, fo as it may be known and read of all men. 17 And I will wait upon the Lord that hid- eth his face from the houfe of Jacob, and I will look for him. The illuflrious Perfon, to whom God, by the pro- phet, had addreiTed the words of the foregoing verfe, is here introduced, acquieicing in the appointment and command of God, and waiting, with his dlfciples, for the accomi)hflimcnt of his promifes. Some interpreters are of ophiion, that what is contained in this and the following verfe, are properly the words of our prophet, though partly applitc. to Jelus Chrift, in way of accommodation, by the writer of the Epiille to the Hebrews. Others have afferted, that what is faid in this verfe, is to be attributed to Ifaiah ; and that which follows, in. the i8th verfe, is to be afcribed to the Meffiah. A third clafs, fuppofmg that thefe expofitions are rather (trained, coniklcr both verfes as the words of the Son of God, to whom the latter verfe is exprefsly applied *, and to whom what is here fpoken is equally applicable. Vv/'hichfoever of thefe fentiments you are pleafed to adopt, the import of the refolution, now to be explained, is nearly the fame : / ivill ivait upon the Lord. In the pradice of this be- coming refolution, Jehovah is the objed of intenfe de- fire, of diligent attention, earned expectation, and conftant dependence, hi this important exercife, hu- mility and hope, patience and perfeverance, are hap- pily combined with an agreeable ferenity of mind, which ftands in dirctl oppofitipn \.o turbulence of fpirit, and uneafy emotions of foul. It checks every oppolitc paflion, and preferves the mind in a pleafmg * Hcb. ii. 13, tranquillity.. Ver. i;. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 471 tranquillity, fatisfied with the ibvereign good pleafure of God, and attentive to the diligent improvement of all the means appointed for attaining the end in view. In every change, afiiidion, and trial, it difpofes wholly to rely upon God, for all the bleuings he hath pro- mifed to beftow, in the feafon he fees moil proper to confer them. Hence, in the lad claufe of this verlb, the fame refolution is thus expreifed : / will look for him. This is at once a very pleafant and profitable employment ; and, therefore, the writer of the book of Lamentations affirms, that ' it is good to hope, ' and quietly to wait for the falvation of the Lord *.* To this important duty the royal pfalmiil frequently encourages himfelf and others : ' My foul,' faith he, * wait thou only upon him : for my expectation is ' from him-j-.' And elfewhere, ' I wait for the Lord, ' my foul doth wait, and in his word do 1 hope. My ' foul waiteth for the Lord, more than they that watch ' for the morning J.' This was the employment not only of David, but of David's Lord, of ifaiah, and all the holy men of God that ever livc^. upon the earth. ' Wait then on the Lord : be of good cou- ' rage, and he fnall ilrengthen thy heart : wait, I fay, * upon the Lord.' Roufe yourfelves to aftivity, dili- gence, and perfeverance, in this good work of the Lord : lay afide your timidity and indolence, and everv other incumbrance, and devote yourfelves to this becoming exercife. Conihmtly depend upon God, for all the mercy and grace that your various circum- ftances may require ; and look to him daily for the accompUfhment of your juft defires, alfured that it is not a vain thing to wait upon him, who waitj to be gracious. That hideth his face from the houfe of Jacob. This charader is repeatedly afcribed to Jehovah in this prophecy |j. Though, by the imm.enfity of his divine * Lam. iii. 6. f Pfal. kii. 5. :j; Pfal. cxxx. 5, 6. Ij See Ifaiah xlv. 15. nature, 472 LECTURES on the Chap. VIII. nature, God is every where prefent, fuch is the fpi- rituality of his nature, that he cannot be feen by mortal eyes ; and being invifible, he may be faid to hide himfelf from human view. The charafter, however, before us, is efpecially attributed to him, on account of his vvithdravv-ing from his fervants the fenfible manifeftations of his gracious prefence, fo that they perceive not the prools ot his providential care and loving-kindnefs, with which they were formerly fa- voured. For wife and falutary purpofes, he conceals from them the reafons and ends of the various dif- penfations of his providence and grace : he allov.'s the agreeable correfpondence that he formerly maintained with them to be interrupted for a feafon, and reftrains from them the light of his countenance, and the pledges of ins love, which comtituie the felicity and joy of the upright among men. In thefe and other fimilar refpeftfi, God hideth himfelf from the houfe of Jacob : by which may be meant the natural pofterity of that great patriarch, comprehending both the houfes of Ifrael, of w~..om the church of God was compofed un- der the Old Teflament ; and who afforded a lively re- prefentation of the church of Jefus Chriil under the New Teflament, which often bears this name in pro- phetic language. Both of thefe focieties may be in- cluded in the cxprefiion, as each of them have their Ihare in this difpenfation. Though this fubject is not rightly underflood by thofe who are not experi- mentally acquainted with the power of godlinefs, yet the truth it contains is not on that account a whit the lefs real and certain. Strangers to the happinefs reiulting from the manifeilations of the peculiar favour of the Lord, and incapable of relilhing thofe enjoy- ments, are readv to call in queflion the reality of this matter, and to lligmatize it with the names of enthu- fiafm and fanaticifni. Such condud, which always proceeds from ignorance or prejudice, no more injures the truth here aflcrted, than the contempt of mufic, which fome foolifii people difcover, who have no ear, and Ver. i8. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 473 and are infeRfiJDle to its charms, can detrad from the excellence of that much-admired art. Truly, O Lord, thou art a God that hidcll thyfelf. Thy profeffing people, by their fins, frequently provoke thee to withdraw from therm thy gracious prefence ; and when thou hidcft thyielf, who can behold thee ? whether it be done ag'ainll a nation, or a perfon only. This mournful truth is confirmed by the concurring teliimony of the faithful in every generation ; and perhaps, in few ages hath this characler of Jehovah been more fully verified than in the prefent. Let us then try to difcover the caufes of this aiteding difpen- fation, and diligently endeavour to have them remov- ed, whilfh, in the mean time, we itudy to comply with the gracious defigns that God may have in view to promote, by acting toward us in this manner. 18 Behold I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for iigns, and for wonders in Ifrael ; from the Lord of holts, who dwelleth in mount Zion. The firfl part of this verfe being exprefsly applied to Jeius Chrifl, by the writer of the Epid'e to the Llebrews, I fliall confider the words as proceeding from the Meffiah, who is introduced, exhibit- ing himfelf, and his difciples, as the objects of ad- miring contemplaiion. In obedience to this call, turn your attention from every other object, elevate your thoughts, awaken all the powers of your fouls, fteadily to contemplate, with, wonder, love, and gra- titude, the iiludrious Perfon, who juftly claims your mofl intenfe meditation. Behold him, with veneration and reverence, to whom God hath given a name above every name. Behold him, with penicence and contri- tion of heart, who was pierced for your iniquities. Behold him, with thankfulnefs and praife, who re- deemed you to God by his own blood. Behold him, with aiiedion and hope, who will itablifli your hearts unblame- 474 LECTURES on the Chap.VIIL unbbmeable in holinefs, before God., at his coming. Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the fons of men. Ye covetous, avaricious fons of men, behold Immanuel, with boundlefs liberality, debafmg liim- felf, and becoming poor, that he might make many rich. Ye proud and ambitious, behold the Son of ,God humbling himfelf, and becoming obediem to the death of the crofs, that he might hide pride from our eyes, and exalt the lowly to the moil diftinguiflied honours. Ye lenfual and voluptuous, behold Jelus Chriit covered with flrlpes, bruifes, and blood, fudain- ing, with invincible patience and magnanimity, the moll complicated fufierings, that he might atone for your fenfuality, and love of fmful plealure. Ye peni- tent and faithful, turn your eyes from your iniquities, with which you are aillided, and dired: them to the Lamb of God, who prefented himfelf an expiatory facrifice for your fins. Contemplate this glorious Per- fon, going about continually doing good ; with unre- mitting aftivity, inilructing and healing the people ; and fetting you an examiple, that ye might follow his fteps. Refleft on his ignominious crown of thorn?, by wdiich he acquired for you a never-fading crown of glory : and furvey his wonderful condelcenfion, in wearing, as an objeft of ridicule, a purple robe, by which he obtained for you the robe of righteoufnefs, and garment of falvation. Confider, with tender fym- pathy, his wounds and fhripes, as the precious reme- dy by which your fpiritual dileafes mud be healed ; and his agonizing death, to which he fubmitted, to deliver you from death, and to raife you to immortal life. And then extend your view to that happy day, when he will prefent you all ^^orious, not having fpot, or wrinkle, or any fuch thing, fault lefs before the prefence of his glory, with exceeding joy. No fight fo inftruftive, and fo ufeful to the faith- ful, as the bleffed Redeemer, bearing our fins, and accomplilhing our falvation. Though to vain de- luded men, this is an object of difgull and horror, thole i Ver. 1 8. PROPl^ECIES OF ISAIAH. 475 thofe who are fenfihle of their fin and danger, and have their eyes illuminated, are healed by the pro- fpeft, as the difeaied IlVaelitet; who looked upon the brazen ferpent : their whole hearts are mollified, changed, and comforted. And the children ivhom the Lord hath given me» The difciples of the Melliah, on whom the law of God is fealed, are doubtlefs the children whom Jehovah hath given him. The defcription is emphatic, juft, and inftructive, highly worthy of our ferious atten- tion. They are me children of Immanuel, who, in the following chapter, is called the everlafting Fa- ther ; and, in the fifty-third chapter of this pro- phecy-j they are fpoken of as his feed and pofterity. They are begotten again by the incorruptible feed of his word ; they are born from above, of his fpirit j they bear his mod amiable image ; they are adopted into his divine family ; they are the objeds of his tender affedlion;, and paternal care ; they enjoy his fatherly prote6;ion ; they are nourifhed and fupported by his provifions ; they are inftrufted by him, fo as to become wife unto falvation ; they are admitted in- to his fellowfliip, and conflituted heirs of his eternal kingdom. On thefe and fimilar accounts, the dif- ciples of Immanuel are, with great propriety, called his children, whom the Lord hath given him. 1 pretend not to explain the tranfaftion mentioned in this laft claufe, which ought rather to be conndered with admiration and gratitude, than inveftigated with culpable curiofity, and critical nicety. It is frequently- alluded to in fcripture, particularly in the feventeenth chapter of John, where our blefled Saviour, in his in- tercefibry prayer, feveral times repeats this expre/Iion : • Thine they were (faith he to his heavenly Father), • atid thou gaveffc them me ;* and again, ' Father, I * will that they whom thou haft given me be with me * where I am, that they may behold my glory *.' All * John xvi. 6i 24. 3 O things A7^ LECTURES on the CHAp.VIIt. things are of God, who gives children ilnto men ao cording to his good pleafure. He hath givei| hisT Son Jefus Chrifl unto the world, as a glorious de- monflration of his love, and the unfpeakable gift of his grace. He hath given to Jefus Chrill men out of the world, as the important charge with which he is intrufted, that he might redeem them from all . evil by his precious blood, that he may govern them as the fubjects of his kingdom, that he may inftrucl them as difciples in his fchool, that he may conftitute them members of his family and* eirs of his glory, whilil he looks upon them as the rich rewards of his obedience even unto death. With this divine gift, the great Mefliah is here introduced as highly well pleafed, and triumphing in the view of the glorious retinue with which he ihall be attended.— — Would you, my brethren, participate in the blefled privi- lege of being prefented at lafl among the children of Jefus Chrifl, and entertain upon good grounds this defu'able profped ? The folemn deed here men- tioned, mull be ratified by your confent. Impreifed with a deep fenfe of your danger, fohcitoufly concern- ed for your falvation, and firmly perfuaded of the all- fufRciency of Jefus Chrift, you mufl commit your- felves to him, who is able to keep you againfl that day ; and repofe your confidence upon his omnipo- tent arm, that he may preferve you to his heavenly kingdom. Befought by the mercies of God, pre- fent your bodies- a living facrifice, holy and accept- able to him, which is your reafonable fervice* The unreferved furrender of yourfelves to the Lord, to be wholly at his difpofal, and to afl: entirely for his ho- nour, will make good his grant of you to Jefus Chriftr Though this facrifice is your folemn deed, yet, pro- perly ipeaking, it is the gift of God, who furnifhea not only the facrific'e, but the altar, and fends down fire to enliven it from heaven. Are for figns and ^ivondcrs in Ifrad. Signs are fome uncommon appearances, which excite attention and Ver. i8. prophecies of ISAIAH, 477 and furprife, that cannot be accounted for by the laws of nature ; and, therefore, remind the fpectators of the power and prefence of God. Of this fort were the figns performed by Mofes, in the prefence of Pha^ raoh. A woPxder is fome extraordinary phenomenon, that exceeds the expectations of thofe who behold it : fuch was bringing water from the rock, by Mofes j and the raifmg of the dead, by Jefus Chriil. The words are often promifcuoufly ul'ed ; and when join- ed, as in this verfe, the latter feems intended to ex- plain and illulfrate the former ; and both are defigned to foretel, that the MelBah, and his followers, were to be exceedingly remarkable on account of fome pe- culiar, furprifing circumftances with which they were to be attended. Jefus Chriil is indeed altogether a moil fmgular and wonderful Perfon, in whom is united not a corruptible and immortal nature, as in mankind, but the divine and human nature, which gives him infinitely the pre-eminence of all the fons of men. The circumftances which accompanied his nativity, the vifible defcent of the Holy Ghofl upon him at baptifm, the public teflimonies he received from heaven to his divine milTion and authority, the miraculous works that he performed, the fublimity and efficacy of his doctrine, the complicated, unparal- leled fuiferings he fuflained, the ignominious and ac* curfed death by which he made atonement for our fins, his triumphant refurredion from the dead, and glorious afcenfion into heaven, with their aftonifhing effects, exhibit to view the mod ftupendous wonders that ever were contemplated. You cannot be fur- prifed that thofe who beheld thefe marvellous things were obliged to exclaim-^-Who is this ? — Surely this ivas the fon of God. — It was never fo feen in Ifrael. With the Melliah are here joined his children, who, like him, are alfo for figns and wonders. Though^ in themfelves, plain, illlteiate men, remarkable neither for natural or acquired endowments, neither for high rank or diilinguilh^d reputation, they were pitched upoxs, 478 LECTURES on the Chap. VIII, vpon by their great Eord, to be his adopted, renewed children : they were invefted in the moft honourable charader, elevated to the moft eminent ftation, pof- feffed of the moil excellent fpirit, furnifhed with the moft noble powers, enabled to perform the moil wonderful works, and to execute the greatefl defigns. Notwithftanding, they were made a fpedacle unto the world : they were made a gazing flock, by re- proaches and afflidions : they were treated in the moft contemptible manner, as the filth and oifscour- ing of all things : they wf re defpifed, and efteemed fools, for Chrifl's fake. They were thought to be prodigies of wreichednefs, and figns that were every where fpoken againft. The people of Ifrael, unable to refill the wifdom by which they fpake, and the power by which they performed the mofl aflonifhing miracles, were all amazed and marvelled : they were filled with wonder, and took knowledge of them that they had been with Jefus. Such was the opinion formed of the firfl difciples of the Meffiah, with which correfpond the fentiments entertained concerning their followers, in fucceeding ages, by thofe among whom they have lived. Though the excellent ones of the earth, diflinguiflied by being blamelefs and harmlefs as the fons of God, yet, by a crooked and perverfe generation, they have been charged with the mofl odious principles and pradices : they have been mif- reprefented as dangerous perfons, and treated as the vilefl mifcreants ; and thus have been exhibited as figns and v>/onders. And at the final judgment, when they fhall appear with their Lord in the higheft honour and glory, they fhall be viewed as figns and wonders; of the Redeemer's power and grace. All that ap- pears marvellous in Jefus Chrift, and his fpiritual children, we are here taught to confider as proceed- ing From the Lord of hojls, ivho divdlcth m movnt Zion, The defcription given in thefe words of Jehovah, is ihort and fuhlime; the Lord of hefts, who doth whatfoever Ver. i8. prophecies of ISAIAH. 479 whatfoever pleaCeth him in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, whofe pecuHar refidence is in mount Zion. Under the former dif- perilaiion, God is faid to have dwelt in the literal Zion, which was therefore called his Holy hill ; and in the earthlv Jerufalem, honoured with the nam.e of the City of the Lord. That highly favoured moun- tain was remarkable for its beautiful fituation: it wJls the deUght of the nations, the joy of the whole earth : on its fummit was built the temple of the Lord, in which were the ark and glory of the Lord, and where the difplays of his gracious prefence were enjoyed by his peopL. In thefe and other refptds, it afforded an inftrudive type of the Zion that is above, which, in a fpecial manner, is the habitation of the Lord, wherein he richly manifefts his prefence and glo- ry. All things are of God, from whom originated the plan, and from whom proceeded the predidion, of what we are here called to contemplate. From his wife counfel and determined purpofe, from his Sovereign will and good pleafure, from his faithful word and promife, from his divine power and ef- feftual operation, proceed the interefting fcene pre- fented to view in this verfe, which I have illuflrated at confiderable length. If you have received fpiritual advantage from the confideration of this paffage, corre- fponding to the attention that you have now given me, neither my labour, nor your attendance, fliall be in vain. -This fubjed reminds you who are the dif- ciples of Jefus Chrift, that you mull lay your account with being confidered as wonders and prodigies, even among thofe who profefs to be the people of God. It is enough that the diiciple be as his mailer, and the fervant as his Lord. As Jefus Chrift was, fo ought you to be in the world, gloryin^ in your conformity to him in his fulferings, as your diitinguifhed honour and fehcity. Viewing your refemblance to your gracious Redeemer, as proceeding from the di- vine love and appointmentj you may rejoice in the uxCutQ. 4So LECTURES on the Chap.VIIL blefled profped of being acknowledged by him, in the prefence of an aiTembled world, as the children whom God hath given him. Let every one that hath this hope in him purify himfelf, even as he is pure, knowing that when he (hall appear, we fliall be like him, for we fhall fee him as he is *. 19 ^ And when they fhall fay unto you. Seek unto them that have familiar fpirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter : fhould not a people feek unto their God ? for the liv- ing, to the dead ? This and the following verfe, contains an exhorta- tion deduced from the foregoing prediction, addreffed to the Jews, and all thofe who might be in fimilar circumflances with them, in which they are admo- nifiied, as they would efcape the jull judgments of Heaven, to receive the inftrudtions of their divine Teacher, and not to regard the divination and profane rites of the nations around them. The perfons againft whom the c-ution is given, are thofe who hiive familiar fpirits ; who were intimately acquainted with fome demon or evil fpirit, vvith whom they pre- tended frequently to converfe, and to hold clofe cor- refpondence : wizards, forcerers, or enchanters, who perform magical tricks, and ufe witchcraft, by the affiflance of the powers of darknefs. They are farther defcribed, by their peeping and miitter- ing, becaufe they commonly delivered anfwers to thofe who confulted them, with a ihrill, fqueaking voice, or with a low, hoarfe tone, which for certain purpofes they affumed. Shewing refpe6t to thefe people, and afldng their advice, was exprefsly prohi- bited in the law of the Lord ; where it is thus writ- ten : ' Regard not them that have famihar fpirits, *• neither feek after wizards, to be defiled by them : * I Juhn ill. 2j 3. ' I am Ver* 19. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 481 « I am the Lord *.' And to deter all from this for- bidden praftice, this awful threatening is fubjoined : ' The loul that turneth after fuch as have familiar fpi- ' rits, and after wizards, to go a-whoring after them, I * will even fet my face againfl that foul, and will cut * him off from among his people -f-.' Notv/ithftanding this drift charge, and denunciation of divine judg- ments, there were not a few in Ifrael and Judah, who not only difcovered a flrong propenfity to depart from the law and teftimony of God, into the mod abominable fuperflition, but, by their example and influence, folicited others to join them in thefe wic- ked pradices. A remarkable inftance of this occurs in the hiftory of Saul, the fon of Killi ; who difguifed himfelf, and went by night to a woman that had a familiar fpirit at Endor ; and faid, ' I pray thee di- * vine unto me by the familiar fpirit, and bring me ' up whom I fhall name unto thee }/ To this foolilh fuperflition many among the Jews were much ad- dicted, in the reign of 'Manaifeh ; concerning whom it is recorded, that ' he made his fon to pafs through * the fire, and obferved times, and ufed enchant- * ments, and dealt v/ith familiar fpirits, and wizards jj.* In the days of good king Jofiah, all thefe abomina- tions which were obferved in the land of Judsh, and in Jerufalem, that prince did put away, that he might perform the words of the law §. After all the care and pains that had been employed to extirpate this deteftable praftice, ftill it was revived ; of which a new proof occurs in the Acls of the ApofUes, where we read of a certain damfel, poffelTed with a fpirit of divination, who brought her mafters much gain by foothfaying ^. —The inhabitants of this country, in former times, are well known to have been greatly addicted to this fooliih fuperflition ; and frequently to have confulted with thofe who were fuppofed to * Lev. xlx. 31. f Lev. xx. 6. X ^ Sam. xxviii. 8. H 2, Kings xxl. 6. §2 Kings xxiii, 24, ^ Ads xvi. i6. have 48i LECTURES on the Chap.VHL have familiar fpirits, called Fortune-tellers, in order to acquire the knowledge of fecret, future events, by invoking fome demon, or ghods of dead men, or by ufmg fome kind of conjuration. When at any time the difciples of Jefus are foiicited or enticed to a(k counfel or advice of fuch as ufe enchantments, and pretend to be endowed with fupernatural power and knowledge, they ought with firmnefs to rejed the temptation, and carefully avoid all fuch criminal conduft. Should not a people feek unto their God? for the liv-^ ing, to the dead? To feek unto God, includes a heart- felt conviQiion that v/e have loft his favour, image, and feliowfliip, with all right to the everlafling enjoyment of his prefence and glory : — a firm perluafion that, through the tender mercies of the Moll High, means are devifed, and a way appointed, through the inter- vention of Immanuel, by which we may recover the vmfpeakable lofs we have fuftained : — a deep fenfe of our infinite need of being reftored to the divine love, lefemblance, communion, and enjoyment, and the poiTeffion of every other bleffing connected with thefe ineftimable prerogatives : — and a high cfteem of God's fupreme excellence, and adorable condefcenfion, ex- prelfed in ardent defires of participating in all the blefTmgs of his falvation, accompanied with the dihgent ufe of the means inftituted for our aiTiftance, in thus feeking the Lord. In this manner a people fhould feek unto God, v/hofe ccnfummate goodnefs can relieve all their neceflities, whofe irrefiftible power can be their fure defence from all evil, and whofe compaiTions are fo great that he will not fuffer them to lack any good thing. And they ought to feek him as their God, who hath affumed them to be his people ; whom they have chofen to be their God, on whom they depend for proteQ:ion, direftion, and affiftance, and to whofe honour and fervice they are entirely devoted. Say, then, is not this employment highly Ver. 19. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 483 highly becoming ? and is not every pradice inconfift- ent with it abfurd and criminal ? For the livings to the dead. The expreffion is in- complete, and leems to require to be filled up in this manner : Why would ye inquire concerning the liv- ing at the dead ? By whom may be meant the depart- ed fpirits of thofe illuftrious heroes, who were fup- pofed, after death, to be allied to the gods, to be well acquainted with human affairs, and the tranfadions of prefent and future times. In this fenfe the dead are fometimes mentioned in the books of Mofes, as in the following remarkable ftatute: * There fhall not * be found among you one that ufeth divination, or * an obferver of times, or an inchanter, or a witch, ' or a charmer, or a confulter with familiar fpirits, ' or a necromancer *.' And in the folemn confefiion that was made by the children of Ifrael, over the firft- fruits and tithes that they prefented before the Lord, the perfon v/ho brought them was appointed to ac- knowledge : * I have not eaten thereof in my mourn- * ing, neither have I taken thereof for any unclean * ufe, nor given thereof for the dead f / Notwith- ftanding thefe neceflary precautions to preferve the Ifraelites from this abfurd practice, it is acknowledged, that ' they did eat the facrifices of the dead {.' No- thing can be more foolifh and inconfiftent in a people, who ought to feek unto their God in all their per- plexities and diflreffes, than to forfake him, and in- quire concerning their prefent circumftances, or fu- ture fortunes, at the dead, who have gone from this world, and are unable to give either counfel or de- liverance ; — to prefer the fpeculations and traditions of thofe who are dead in trefpafTes and fins, to the word and counfels of the living God, as did the Pharifees. Abhorring fuch wicked pradices, do you feek unto your God, with importunity and dili- gence, for direction, afliftance, and every blefiing that * Deat. X7iii. lO, ii, f Deut. xxvi. 14. % Pfal. cvi. 28. 3 P you 4«4 LECTURES on the Chap.VIIL you need, animated by the comfortable affurance, that If you truly feek the Lord, you fhall not lack any good thing : you fliall not want fuitable provifion, continual proteftion, feafonable deliverance, divine conduft, and neceffary fupport. 20 To the law and to the teftimony : if they fpeak not according to this word, it is becaufe there is no light in them. Thefe words point to an unerring ftandard, by which all pretenfions to truth and holinefs ought to be carefully examined. By the law, is here meant the perfeft law of God, ftamped with the fupreme authority of the one great Lawgiver, who is able to fave and to dellroy, containing a full and explicit de- claration of his bleffed will, which is the infallible rule to which the temper and condud of men ought to be conformed. By this law is the knowledge of fm : it difcovers every counterfeit grace, every devia- tion from duty, and that pretended holinefs by which the many are apt to be deluded. It teacheth what the Lord God requireth, and points out that ac- ceptable obedience, which lies at an equal diftance from fuperitition on the one hand, and formality on the other. By the teflimony, is intended the doc- trines and promifes that God hath revealed in his bleffed word, wherein he hath declared in what man- ner the tranfgreilbrs of his law may obtain the par- don of fm, the fandification of their perfons, and eter- nal life. He hath not left thofe to whom he hath committed his lively oracles at uncertainty, with re- fped to thefe important fubjecls ; but hath clearly made known the way of falvation, and marked out the path of life. If the teilimony of men, who are faUible, is credited ; if by two or three witneffes every thing is eilabiiflied ; then, certainly, the tefli- mony of God, w^ho is infinitely greater than man, which comes attefied by witneffes in heaven and earth, Ver.so. prophecies of ISAIAH. 485 earth, ought to be firmly believed, and faithfully im« proved. To this law and teftimony the people of God mufl: have continual recourfe ; and, by this per- feft ftandard, examine every doctrine, principle, and pradice. Every other teft befide this is infufficient. If we have recourfe to the laws of men, they are fluc- tuating and variable ; they reach not to the heart ; they cannot convert the foul, or form the temper and fentiments of which we ought to be poiTeffed. If we are influenced and guided by cuflom and example, we fhall encer into the broad way that leadeth to de- ftruclion, and follow a multitude to do evil. If we effimate objefts, and purfue them, according to the didates of our own corrupt minds, we will aft mod inconfiifently ; we will join the ungodly, who fpeak againfl the truth, and walk after their own lulls. If we exped any extraordinary, new revelation, or ad: under the influence of imprefTions that are not agree- able to fcripture, we may become vifionaries and en- thufiafts of the worfl kind. To the law and to the teftimony of the Lord, which is fure, making wife the fimple; to the ftatutes of the Lord, which are right,, rejoicing the heart ; to the commandment of the Lord, which is pure, enlightening the eyes * : — there you will find a perfeft rule of conduct in every con- dition, a fovereign antidote to preferve you from fm, and a reviving cordial to fupport you under affiidtion. If they fpeak not according to this word., it is be- caufe there is no light in them. The opinions of all, efpecially the pretenfions of thofe who alfume any ex- traordinary charatler, and publifli uncommon doc- trines, ought to be carefully examined by the word of God ; and if found inconfiftent with divine truth, they are to be rejedted as hurtful and dangerous. Thofe who receive for truth what they never examin- ed by the fcriptures, cannot have a proper convidion of its certainty and importance, and therefore cannot rely upon it with fafety and confidence. The mod * Pfal. x.'x. 7, 8. that a 486 LECTURES ON the Chap.VIII, that can be faid of religious fentiments received upon truft, depending upon the authority of thofe by whoni they were conveyed, is what the man faid of old of the head of the axe, when it fell into the water : * Alas ! mafler, it was borrowed.' There is equal danger of rejecting, and of acknowledging for truth, what we have not impartially examined and compar- ed with the word of God. If men, whofoever they be, fpeak not according to this rule, it is becaufe there is no light in them. This laii: claufe is differently rendered by the Bifliop of London, in his new tranf- lation, which runs thus : " If they will not fpeak ac- cording to this word, in which there is no obfcu-r rity." According to this interpretation, the w^ords exprefs the fuperior excellence of the law and tefti- mony of God beyond every other difcovery of the mind of the Lord that men can enjoy. The know- ledge they convey is clear and perfpicuous, and far tranfcends that which is communicated by thofe who have claimed connexion with familiar fpirits. I fhall not endeavour farther to elucidate this obfcure paffage, nor pretend to determine which of the two transla- tions ought to be preferred.— —That ye may fland perfeft and complete in all the will of God, fearch the fcriptures, after the laudable example of the Be- reans, to fee if thofe things which we teach, and which you hear, are founded upon them. ' Prove all things, * and hold faft that which is good *.* 21 And they fhall pafs through it, hardly beflead and hungry : and it fliall come to pafs, that when they fhall be hungry, they (hall fret themfelves, and curfe their king, and their God, an4 look upward. In this and the following verfe, awful threatenings are denounced againft thofe who rejecl: the law and, * 1 Theff. V. 2 J. teftimony VER.ai. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 4S7 teftimony cf God. They who are guilty of this atrocious crime, fhali pafs through it ; namely, through the earth, mentioned in the next verle, wandering to and fro, in a Itate of uneafinefs and uncertainty. — >■ Hardly hejiead ; embarraffed with difficulties, oppreiT- jsd with anxieties, diftrefled with bitter refietlions and defponding thoughts, not knowing what to do, or whither to go. Hungry ; deftitute not only of neceifary proviiion for their perfonal fupport, but of the word of the Lord, which is the food and nourifh- ment of the foul, experiencing the accompiilliraent of the terrible calamity predicted by the prophet Amos : ' Behold, the days come, faith the Lord ' God, that I will fend a famine in the land, not a ' famine of bread, nor a thirfl for water, but of ^ hearing the words of the Lord. And they fhall ' wander from fea to fea, and from the north even ' to the eaft, they fhall run to and fro to feek the ^ word of the Lord, and ihall not find it *.' In this deplorable condition // Jhall come to pafs, that when they Jhall be hungry, dellitute of neceflary pro. vifion for their fubfiflence, oppreifed with poverty and want, and deprived of that fpiritual food which is more to be defired than daily bread, their foul fhall be ready to faint within them. In this forlorn flate -They Jhall Jret themjelves ; murmuring and repining at the difpenfations of divine providence, and their own extreme poverty and mifery. Full of impatience under the evils that they feel and fear, they fhall be as much, or more diftrefied with their own peevifhnefs, and other bad difpofitions, as with the hunger and want to which they were to be ex- pofed. Though hunger and poverty is indeed a great calamity, yet fretfulnels of Ipirit is a flill greater one ; and when both are united, it is evident, that the mind is as empty of fpiritual good as the body is of neceifary pro vifion. It is added And curfe * Amos tiii, 1 1, 12, their 488 LECTURES ON THE Chap.VIH, their kitig, and their God, and look upivard. ThiSfe is little doubt but that Immanuel, who is the King and God of Ifrael, is the perfon here intended. Him they were taught to confider as the objed of their worftiip, and to him they were directed to look for afiiftance in all their ftraits and difficulties. At the time, however, to which this prophecy refers, that people, perceiving the terrible effeds of the divine difpleafure which they had incurred, were enra»• Z^- God, 514 LECTURES ON THE " CuApAti God, Jefus Chrift h the word and wifdom of God, his only begotten and well-beloved Son, the bright- nefs of his glory, and the exprefs image of his per- fon ; poffeiling with him the fame divine nature, the fame glorious titles, and ineffable perfections ; per- forming with him the fame ftupendous works, and re- ceiving the fame divine honours and worlliip. This illullrious Perfon is here affirmed to be given. The language exaftly accords with what is faid con- cerning him in the New Teflament, v»'here our Sa- viour gives this fliort abridgment of the gofpel, ' God ' fo loved the world that he gave his only begotten ' Son *,* ^c. Jefus Chrift was given to us in the eternal purpofe of God : he was actually conferred, when he cams into this world, and was delivered unto death, as the facrihces of old ; which, being typical of this unfpeakable donation, were therefore called gifts. No prefent that the moft high God ever made to mankind is fo precious, and necelfary to our felicity, as the gift of Jefus Chrift ; who is the light and life of the v/orld, the Teacher of the church, the Author of falvation, the High-priefl of our profeffion, the Governor among the nations, the righteoufnefs, the flrength, and glory of the faints. The Almighty made a noble prefent to man, when he gave him the luminaries of heaven to enlighten his habitation, and rain from heaven to fruftify the earth ; but thefe im- portant favours are not worthy to be compared to the iramenfe benefit he confers upon thofe who, with hu* mility and gratitude, accept of his Son as ^heir Sa- viour, Inftruftor, and Lord. He is therefore em- phatically flyled, God's unfpeakable gift; conferred upon us v/ho were altogether unworthy of this rich donation, as plainly appears by attending to our cir- cumltances, charader, and condufl:. — — Notwith- itanding, unto us he is given : unto the prophet Jfaiah, and his countrymen, and to all in every age * John iii, l6. and 1^ER.6. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 515 land nation, whom God hath inflrufted not to walk in the way of this people ; who fanftify the Lord of hods in their hearts^ and make him their fear and dread ; who wait upon him that hideth his face frorr> the houfe of Jacob, and look for him *. Jefus Chrifl is given for the good and benefit of all, efpecially for the falvation of them that believe, that he might ob- tain for them remiffion of fnis, and eternal life ; that he might teach them the way of truth ; that he might break the yoke of the ceremonial law; take away the burden of fm, deftroy the works of the devil, and the power of death. .^^ Let us cordially i-eceive the Son of God, who is given for thefe bene- volent purpofes, that, being intimately united to the blefled Author of falvation, we may participate in all 'the ineftimable bleflings with which the thankful ac- ceptance of him is accompanied. And the goveniinent JJjall be upon his Jhoulder. Thefe Words are defcriptive of the important office with which the illuflrious Perfon, here fpoken of, was to be inverted. The Meffiah was anciently foretold to be a Ruler, who was to arife from among the ftandards of Ifrael ; and, in the fulnefs of time, he actually appear- ed, fuftainlng this high charader. The dominion of Jefus Chrift is often mentioned in the fcriptures both of the Old and New Teftament : his regal character lesms to be that in which he glories ; and in perform- ing the offices connected with it, confifts much of his mediatorial excellence. All the prophets unite in ex- hibiting him in this view : the greateft monarchs of the Jewifii nation typified him in this refped : he himlelf claimed univerfal dominion : the apoftles re- prefent him poUeHing fupreme authority ; and even Pilate, the Roman governor, acknowledged his fove- reignty, and publiflied it to iht nations, by the in- fcription he put upon his crofs. The term govcr?i- ment^ when applied to the Mefliah, is metaphorical ; ■* ILiah vili. ii. et feq. 3 T for 51-6 LECTURES ot^ tm Chap. 12!* for all that Is comprehended in it among menj the greateft royal magnificence and power, afford only a faint and imperfetl emblem of the regal dominion of Jefus Chrifl. There is nothing fufficiently noble in the characters of the greated monarchs, nothing wife enough in their maxims, nothing gentle enough in their adminiftration, nothing fufficiently glorious in their courts or exploits, fully to reprefent the gran- deur and glory of Meiliah's government. All power in heaven and in earth is committed into his hands : all things are delivered unto him by the Father. His kingdom includes not only his willing fubjects, who yield unconftrained obedience to his authority, but extends to all nations over the whole world. He is Lord of all, and his dominion is over all. The Hea- then are his inheritance, the utm.oft ends of the earth are his poffeffion : angels, principalities, and powers, are fubje£t to his abfolute control : every creature in heaven and on earth does him homage : by him kings reign, and princes decree juflice; and at lad all his enemies fhall be made his footftool. All judgment is intruded to him : the whole of the divine judicial procedure is committed to the Son of God: the power of life and death, of abfolution and condemna- tion, is put into his hands. This government is faid to be upo?t bis Jhoulder, The exprelllon may al- lude to the general opinion of mankind, who confi- der government as a burden, becaufe its adminidra- tion is attended with much labour, care, and folici- tude. The {lioulder being that part of the human body upon which heavy loads are commonly placed, the weight of government is faid to be on the dioulder of Jefus Chrid ; who, with infinite eafe, rules the uni- verfe, prefides over the church, and exerts his power for the fafety and happinefs of his people, to the ter- ror and dedrudion of all his incorrigible enemies. Or it may allude to the ancient pradice of thofe in- veded with authority, who put upon their fliouldcr, from wliich it hung down, the enfign of their office, a fceptre Ver.6. prophecies of ISAIAH. 517 a fceptre, a fword, or a key. In allufion to this cuftom, our Lord thus fpeaks of himfelf, as ' having the key * of David *, or of his houfe ; in which words he ajf- ferts his powerful rule over his church (of which the houfe of David was an eminent type), to admit and exclude from it whomfoever he pleafeth. With humility and reverence, let us fubmit to this Governor among the nations, and ftudy to demean ourfelves as his loyal and dutiful fubjefts, making the fervice he demands the bufmefs of our lives. Then may we hope to enjoy the feHcity of his people, to fmile at the approach of calamity, and to rejoice that he reign- eth, amid all the confufions that arife in the world. The prophet proceeds to mention fome of the mag- nificent titles by which he fhould be diftinguiflied. And his na7iie Jhall be called. Names are fometimes employed to exprefs the peculiar nature and excel- lence of the perfon to whom they are given. Thus when the blefled God was gracioufly pleafed to pro- claim his name from heaven, in the audience of his fervant Mofes, he clearly intimated the divine excel- lencies of his own nature and character. At other times, names are ufed to fignify the honour, re- putation, and glory, whereby one perfon is diftin- guiilied from others. The legillator of Ifrael, intend- ing to celebrate the confummate rip^hteoufnefs, and awful majefty of the Lord, thus begins his triumph- ant fong : ' Becaufe I will publifli the name of the ' Lord : afcribe ye greatnefs unto our God |.* The following names, by which the Meffiah was charac- terized, may be confidered in both thefe fenfes ; for vi'hiUl they defcribe his infinite grandeur, and divine perfettions, they announce the unrivalled glory of his dominion, which is fuitable to the incomparable qualifications he poifeiTes. In this view, we proceed to confider the augull titles attributed to our glorious Redeemer, which he mofl juilly deferves ; and by * Rev, iii. 7, -f Deut. xxxii. 5^. which 5i8 LECTURES ON THE Chap. IX, which we are inflrufted in the fupreme excellence of his perfonal charader, and extenfive government.- ; The name firft afcribed to him, is, Wonderful. The conftitution of our Mediator's per-? fon is truly wonderful, in which are un;ted the Crea^ tor and the creature, the infinite God and finite hur man nature. In him we behold the mod furprifing paradox, the greatefl myflery, God manifell in the liefli, which will for ever employ the admiring con- templation, and grateful praifes, of all the redeemed from among men, We pretend not to explain the impenetrable myllery of his eternal Godhead, and his intimate relation to the Father as a Son. This is a fubjcft by far too fublime for finite minds to under-^ fland and comprehend ; and, therefore, the fcripture teacheth us to reprefs vain curiofity refpeding this matter. When, as a prelude to his future manifefla- tion in human nature, the Son of God appeared to Mauoah, who inquired of him, ' What is thy name ;' he received for anfwer, 'AVhy alkeft thou after my ^ name, feeing it is fecret*,* or wonderful. And when the apoftle John beheld him in vifion, he af- firmsj- that ' he had a name written which no man ' knew but he himfelf-f-.'- All his works are won- derful in their contrivance, execution, connection, and defign ; efpecially the work of man's redemp- tion, v/hereby God is highly glorified, fin is deitroyT ed, and finners are faved. In the contemplation of thefe things, we may adopt the words of the wife man, ' I beheld all the works of God — though a wife man ' think to know it, yet fhall he not be able to find ' it j ;' and then exclaim, in the words of the apollle Paul, ' O t.ie depth of the riches both of the wifdom ' and knowledge of God j] !' Of the works of the Al- mighty men are often obliged to acknowledge their ignorance, whilft Jefus Chrift gives to his difciples * Judges xiii. i8. f Rev. xix. I2. ± Ecclef. viii. 17, II Rom. xi. 33. the Ver. 6. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 519 the moft pleafmg encouragement, by afluring them, that what they know not now, they ihall know here- after. Nor is his word.lefs wonderful than his works. Admiring multitudes, in the days of our Lord's hu- jniHation, wondered at the gracious words that pro- ceeded out of his mouth : they were aftoniihed at the fublime truths he inculcated, the excellent privileges he defcribed, the perfeft rules which he delivered, the exceeding great and precious promifcs that he utter- ed. All thefe he (lamped with his high authority : he connected them together, fo as to form one com- plete fyllem of divine truth ; and accompanied them with aftoniihing energy and power, for accomplilhing the moll falutary purpofes. ^With humble admira- tion, let us frequently contemplate the glory of Jefus Chrift exhibited in the gofpel ; let us meditate upon his works, and talk of his doings ; ^md diligently fearch the fcriptures, wherein the wonders of his alto- nifliing grace are recorded. Another name where- by the Meffiah was to be called, is, Counjellor. The Hebrew word fignifies not one who takes counfel or advice, but one who gives counfel to others, and prudently points out what is proper to be done. The Son of God, the great Teacher and King of his church, confults not with any refpefting his operations and defigns. Who hath known his mind, or, being his counfellor, hath in- truded him ? He is a molt able and faithful Coun- fellor, in all the affairs relative to his extenfive em- pire : ' Counfel, faith he, is mine, and found wifdom : ' I am underftanding, I have ftrength *. The fpirit ^ of the Lord,' as preditted, ' rcfled upon him, the ' fpirit of wifdom and underftanding, the fpirit of ^ counfel and might, the fpirit of knowledge, and of ' the fear of the Lordf.' His abilities to fupport this character are unqueflionable ; and were acknow- ledged by multitudes, during his refidence upon * Prov. viii. 14, -J- Ifaiah xi. 2. ^arth. 520 LECTURES ON THE * Chap. IX. earth, who reforted to hhn for advice, on very dif- ficult and momentous points, in deciding of which he difplayed the mofl exquifite (kill, and conveyed the moll fatisfying inflruftion. On two very im- portant and intereiting fubjeds, as to which, of all others, mankind mod needed information, hath the wifdoni of God been pleafed to give all neceflary di- redion : the one refpefts eternal life and falvation ; the other relates to prefent temper and conduft. He hath declared, that men rnull come to him for life and felicity; and to encourage us to refort to him, he invites us to him with the utmoll tendernefs, he laments our averfion to comply, and kindly aflures us of the mod welcome -reception. To correct the miftakes, and remove the wrong apprehenfions, which even his profeffing people are apt to form of their fpi- ritual condition, he who is faithful in the execution of his office, gives the good counfel which you read. Rev. iii, 18. With regard to our prefent temper and conduct, he hath prefcribed the mod excellent rules, which approve themfelves to men of good underiland- ings, ancl new hearts, and claim their approbation : he hath clearly pointed out the paths of righteoufnefs and peace, which form the temper, and regulate the condu6l of his difciples. ■ If you w^ant advice and direction, go to him in whom dwellc-th all the trea- fures of wiidom and knowledge, that he may acquaint you wdth God and yourielves ; that he may open to vou the fource of all thofe diforders that appear in the world ; that he may difclole the fecret Ipring from "which flow all the bleffings you receive, and the ai- fiidions with which you are diftrefled ; that he may explain to you all the profptcts whereby you are re- vived, guide you by his counfel, and afterward re- ceive you to glory. The third defignatiun given to this illudrious Perfon, is. The mi^bfy God. This glorious character hath a direct reference to the divine nature of the MelTiah, to. whom it judly belongs, notwdthltanding he was a child Yek.6, prophecies of ISAIAH. 521 child born. He is the mighty One, upon whom our help is laid ; the King of glory ; the Lord of hofb, ftrong in battle; the Almighty, without whom no- thing was made that is made, and ,who upholdeth all things in exiftence. When he dwelt among men, he performed the mod aftonifliing wonders : being put to death in the flefh, he was declared to be the Son of God with power, by his refurreftion from the dead ; and now, in his exalted flate, he exercifes do- minion over heaven and earth. Efpecially hath he difplayed the high character here afcribed to him, by his conqueft of all his own and his peoples enemies ; who are fo very numerous, that they are compared to bees ; fo very ftrong, that they are fpoken of as fierce lions ; and fo very fubtile, that they are likened to cunning ferpents. He hath overcome Satan, our great adverfary ; deprived him of his dominion, over- turned the foundations of his kingdom, releafed thofe whom he had taken captive, and delivered the prey out of the hand of the mighty. He hath fuLdued the (trength of fin, by perfeftly obeying the law of God in our nature, and fuftaining the punilliment due to our tranfgreflions. He hath fpoiled principalities and powers, and made a fliew of them openly, triumphing over them on his crofs : and vanquiiliing, in all his fubjecls, thofe corrupt lults that war againlt the foul, he brings down, in their hearts, every high thing that exalteth itfelf againfl: him, and fruilrates all the at- tempts of their enemies to injure them. Having con- quered for them, he will make them more than con- querors, in due time, by his blood, and the word of his teftiaiony. Indeed he is eminently poiTelTed of all thofe noble qualifications requifiie to form a mighty- hero, an illullrious warrior ; fuch as greatnefs of mind, exquifite ikill, undaunted fortitude, invincible ftrength, and innumerable triumphs over the mighty and terrible; in all which, as a mxan of war, he is mod confpicuous. Jefus Chrifl being the mighty God, affords the Itrongelt evidence, that he is able to five 522 LECTURES ON THE Chap, it^ faVe to the uttermoft. Did we found our expefla* tions, and repofe our confidence, on created power, we (liould juflly dread the awful curfe denounced againfl thofe who truil in man, and make flelh their arm, which you find written, Jeremiah xvii. 5, 6. : whereas contemplating our Saviour as the mighty God, how cheerfully may we confide in his atone- ment, grace, and government ! Mofl juflly, therefore, does it become us to magnify the Lord, and with our fpirits to rejoice in God our Saviour. The fourth charader mentioned, is. The c-vcrhijiing Father. The name of Father Is fometimes ufed in fcripture to denote the author or caufe from which any thing proceeds. Thus the Al- mighty, to convince Job of his imbecility and igno- tance, inquires, among other things, ' Hath the rain * a father * ? The obvious meaning of the queftion is ^ By what caufe or principle in nature is it produced ? In this fenfe, Jefus Chrill is the Father of all his fpi* ritua! pofterity, in as much as he is the Author of their eternal falvation, and from him they derive everlafl- ing lifci Through his favour and appointment, they enjoy the means whereby eternal life is attained : he, grants them right to it, in their juftification to life by his righteoufnefs : he conveys the foretalles of it, in thofe blefled difcoveries which are the objects of their faith and hope : he gives them the earnefts of his Spi- rit ; and, in due time, the full and undillurbed pof- feffion. Though there are both external and internal means whereby men become partakers of his redemp- tion, his atonement and intercelhon are the only me- ritorious caufe whereby it was obtained ; h.vs Holy Spirit, and glorious power, are the alone efficient caufe by which it is communicated. From the Son of God proceeds all that light and Hfe, wifdom and Arength, peace and joy, of which his children parti- cipate. He makgs them partakers of a divine nature ; ■■* Job xxxviii. 28. he Ver. 6, PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 523 he renews them after his irnage ; he introduces them into the fpiritual world ; he writes upon them the name of his God ; he takes care of their interefls ; he fupplies their wants ; he inftruds them in the moft excellent knowledge ; he preferves them from evil, and trains them up for an eternal inheritance ; per- forming toward them, in every refped, the part of an affeaionate and faithful parent. Of Mefliah the prophet affirms, that he i^s an everlnjling Father. He is the fame yefterday, to-day, and for ever, without beginning of days, or end of life. He was, he is, and he is to come, the firil and the laft. Concerning himfelf he thus fpeaks, ' Before Abraham wa^, I am *. * The Lord poffell'ed him in the beginning of his way, * before his works of old. He was fet up from ever- ' lading, from the beginning, or ever the earth v/as -|-.' Juflly, therefore, did the prophet Micah affirm, ' that ' his going forth hath been of old, from everlalting ].' or from the days of eternity. He is alfo an everlall- ing Father, who never dies, over whom death hath not dominion ; who never ceafes to (land in this en- dearing relation to all his children ; and who never leaves them deftitute of his paternal cjire, and com- fortable prefence. The happy number of his jpiritual oiispring are always increafmg : his family is con- tinually enlarging : in confequence of which, race un- to race ffiall praiie his name, which fnall be gratefully remembered throughout all generations.- From the eternity of Jefus Chrift as a Father, we joyfully infer the perpetuity of his children. This agreeable conclufion we are taught by the prophet Habakkuk, * Art not thou from everlafting, O Lord my God^ * mine holy One? we iliall not die j|.' Thy fpiritual pofterity fliall continue for ever upon earth (we exult in the profpecl). ' Indead of thy fathers fliall be thy ' children, whom thou mayed make princes in all the * earth 5. The children of thy fervants Ihall conti'- * John viil. 58. t Prov. viil. 22, 23. % Micali v. 2. ;i riab. i. II, (i Plal. xlv. 16. 3 U * nuQ^ 524 LECTURES on the Ciup.IX. * nue, and their feed fhall be eflabliflied before thee *.' One generation fliall arife after another, while the fun and the moon endure : and when we retire from this world, if we belong to thy divine family, we fhali eternally live with God, in the enjoyment of ineflable glory and felicity.- The laft tifl'c here aicribed to Jefus Chrifl, is, The Prince of peace. Li both the Old and New Teftaments the Meffiah is frequently fpoken of as a Prince, a name which jultly belongs to him, on ac- count of the royal majefly in which he is inverted, and the fnpreme dignity and authority to which he is exalted. Under this defcription he was an- ciently foretold by the prophet Ezckicl, in thefe words : ' I the Lord will be their God, and my fervant ' David a prince among themf.' I'his prcdid,ion relates not to David, the Son of JelTc, but to Jefus Chrilt, who is fometimes called by the name of that- patriarch, as will be evident by comparing the paflage cited, with Chap, xxxvii. 25. of the fame prophecy, where God promifes that his fervant David Ihall be prince of Ifrael for ever, The prophet Daniel fpcaks of him in the character of IVIeffiah the Erince, and the Prince of God's people, - In the New Teltament he is called ' the Prhice of life \ ;' the Prince of the l?:ings of the earth, from whom all the potentates of the world receive their crowns and their kingdoms, by whofe permiffion they govern their fubjedls, and to whqm they are accountable for the exercife;of their regal power. In this exalted charaiSter he fhines with unrivalled glory. Having afcended his celefllal throne, and being crowned with glory and honour, he Is pro- claimed King of kings, and Lord of lords ; invefted with the enfigns of royalty, and princely dominion, he obtains the molt wonderful conquefts, he confers the moll; liberal donations, he ena^ls the moft excel- lent laws, and at lalt he will execute judgment upon * I'ful cii. 2S„ f Ezck. xxxiv. 24. X A whom he delivered from impending dehruction. Fev/ ox 550 LECTURES ON THE Chap. IX. or no exceptions were to be made, of the weakeil, the tendered, and moil helplcfs among the people: alf •were to ihare in the common defoiation, and to parti- cipate in thofe fevere judgments in which the nation at large was to be involved. Both thefe expreilions ferve to (hew the univerfal extent of the punifjiment threatened againft Ephraim, which was executed by Tiglath-piiezer, whom God employed for this pui- pofe. For every one is a hypocrite. This exprefiion muft be underftood not in its ftrifteft fenfe, but with fome limitation, as fimilar phrafes muft often be interpret- ed in fcripture. It plainly denotes, that though there were fome upright people in Ifrael, yet hypocrify was among them an abounding and reigning iniquity. In this manner alfo we explain the words of the apoftle Paul, who fays, ' All feek their own, not the things ' that are Jefus Chrifl's*.' This he affirms was the general practice ; and thofe who were exceptions to this remark were very few, and in fome meafure in- feded with the prevailing fm of the times. A hypo- crite affum.es a charaQ:er of which he is not poffeffed, and to which he hath no juft pretenfions : he endea- vours to conceal what he is, and to appear what he is not. In external conduft he feems to be religious ; in his inward difpofitions he is like a fepulchre, full of putrefaclion and rottennefs. He profeffcth to know God, but in works denies him, being abominable and difobedient, and to every good work reprobate. With ' a double mind, and deceived heart, he afts a feigned part in the fervice of God; and, under the cloak of pretended zeal for the Lord, he artfully conceals his enmity to thofe very duties of which he maintains the external form. — — After the hypocrite, is mentioned the evil-doer, I fnppofe the character is defcriptive of thofe who profefi'edly and induftriouily do all man- ner of evil againft God and man. Indeed one act of * Philip, lu 21. evil- Ver. 17. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 551 evil-doing is fufficient to incur this chara£ter, and the puniihment annexed to it, as exemplified in the firft tranfgreffion of angels and oi man. The evil- doer here intended, is he that doth every kind of evil, who pm"fues it with avidity as his employment, embracing every opportunity to engage in this prac- tice, in open contempt of the facred authority of God, and his own befl interefts. ^72d every mouth fpeaketh folly. The common to- pics of their converfation were fooiidi and villanous, as the ?Iebrew word denotes ; and the difcuffion of the fubjefts of which they difcouried, ferved only to poffefs the minds of the hearers with levity and folly. They verified the proverb which faith, ' The mouth ' of fools feedeth on fooliili'nefs *,' which proved to them a mod delicious morfel. Perfons of this de- fcription treat the mofl ferious and important fubjeds in a frivolous, ludicrous manner, and relifh mod that kind of talk wherein facred things are fo repre- fented as to excite profane mirth and jollity. 1 hey prefume to fpeak of things of which they are incom- petent judges, underflanding neither what they fay, nor whereof they affirm.- Such were the prevailing charaders, and fuch were the finful pratlices a- mong the people, whom God threatens to cut off. Take heed, then, and beware of hypocrify : avoid the praftice of evil-doing, and fhun foolilh converfa- tion. Aim at uprightnefs of heart, and fincerity ia conduft : endeavour after patient continuance in well- doing, and let your converfation be managed with meeknefs of wifdom. The awful words with which the 1 2th verfe was concluded are again repeated : For all this his anger is not turned aivay^ but his hand is fir etched out fiill. The execution of the judgments already threatened, were not fufficient to difplay the righteous difpleafure of the Almighty againd the ag- gravated tranfgreffions of a finfui people. His anger * Prov. XV. 14. waa 552 LECTURES ON the Chap. IX. was not to be averted from them, when they had fuf- tained the predicted calamities ; but was to wax hot- ter, on account of their fruftrating, by impenitence, the gracious defign of his judgments, which were in- tended to lead them to repentance. Therefore his mighty arm, which fcrctched out the heavens, and fliaketh the foundations of the world, continued ftill to be lifted up : his incenfed juftice, and his untaint- ed holinefs, called for vengeance upon thofe who had offered the moil daring affronts to the honour of his government, and poured contempt upon his au- thority and admonitions, i8 ^ For wickedneis burnetii as the fire: it {hall devour the briers and thorns, and fhall kindle in the thickets of the foreft, and they fliall mount up like the lifting up of fmoke. The third article in the charge brought againft the Ephraimites, is, wickednefs and profligacy of man- ners, which had arrived at a great height, and threat- ened to confume them.- The wickednefs fpoken of, may denote the moft flagrant crimes, and pre- fumptuous tranfgreflions, proceeding from pride and obduracy of heart, and committed with a high hand, in open defiance ofthe authority and difpleafure of the Moft High. Of this wickednefs there are divers forts, each of which may be diflinguifhed by the ob- jects on which it terminates. When immediately di- refted againil God, it is difcovered by an abfurd con- tempt of his providences and ordinances, his com- mandments, promifes, and thrcatenings, and a viru- lent oppofition to the interelts of his kingdom and glory. When its operations are aimed againfl men, it is perpetrated by harafling, opprefnng, and perle- cuting thofe who are entitled to acts of juftice, bene- ficence, and charity, and by diilurbing the peace and good order of human fociety. When it chiefly re- fpecls the perfons themfelves by whom it is acted, the moll V-R. i8. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. S53 mofl daring iniquities are committed, forbidden by the law of nature, the law of nations, and the law of God, in order to gratify their ungovernable defires, and to promote their intereft, honour, or pleafure. If you wifn to know more particularly wherein wic- kednefs confifts, I refer you to a long lift of crimes comprehended under this defcription, mentioned by the apoftle Paul as works of the fleih. Gal. v. 19, 20, 21. There you will find, idolatry, adultery, murder, drunkennefs, fedition, ftrife, and fuch like. Of wickednefs it is affirmed, // buni€th as the fire, which confumeth all the com- buftible materials that are within its reach. The fire of wickednefs is kindled in the heart of man, which, according to the apoftle James, is fet on fire of hell, and inflameth the courfe of nature, blazing forth in the life and converfation. Such a fire it is, that, unlefs the fewel is withdrawn that feeds it, and it be timeoufly extinguiflied by fomewhat of an oppofite quality, it will confume the perfon in whom it burns, with all his property. The amiable endowments of which he is poflefTed, the good difpofitions and laud- able defires with which his mind were furnilhed, will fall a facrifice to its rage. It will enfeeble the un- derftanding ; it will harden the confclence, deprave the heart, hurt the memory, weaken the fenfes, de- bilitate the whole frame ; it will entirely eat away peace of mind, and lead on to contention, confii- fion, and every evil work. It will devour the ftrength and vigour of the body, bring on untimely old age, and fliorten the now ftiort life of man. It will con- fume his honour and reputation, and leave behind it indelible marks of difgrace and reproach, that ihall not be wiped away. It will burn up his riches and poiTeffions ; for by means of it a man is often brought to a piece of bread, and a nation involved in irremediable deftruttion. — —Can a man take fire into his bofom, and not be burnt ? No perfon will be fo fuel-hard V us to make the experiment with mate- rial 554 LECTURES ON THE Chap.IX. rial fire. Why then will you take wickednefs into your bofcms, which burneth like fire, which kindleth the wrath of God, and brings down terrible cala- mities upon individuals and focieties ? Ah ! my bre- thren, this fire is already kindled among us ; it feems to burn with increafmg vehemence, and to bear a thj-eatening afpeft. I would have you immediately do what lies in your power, in dependence upon God, to flop its progrefs, and to allay, if you cannot ex- tinguifh, its flames. ' Avoid the appearance of evil, * and follow after rightecufasfs, godlinefs, faith, * love, patience, meeknefs *.* It jhall devour the briers and thorns. You know briers and thorns too well to require any defcription of them : they are mentioned here, as in other paiTages of fcripture, in a figurative fenfe, denoting the wicked and ungodly, to whom they bear an inflruc- tive refemblance. Unlefs for making a fence around your fields, briers and thorns are worthlefs and un- profitable. The heart of the wicked, faith Solomon, is little worth, though by far the mofl valuable part of the man : when inflamed by wickednefs, it is of no real worth or value. His lands, his poffefTions, his clothes, and jewels, m.ay amount to a confiderable fum ; but his heart, which fhould be elteemed be- yond them all, is worth nothing. In the words of up- right Job, ' They are viler than the earth |.* Like briers and thorns, the wicked are hurtful and dan- gerous. On this account the wicked inhabitants of Canaan, who remained among the Ifraelites, were foretold ' to be pricks in their eyes, and thorns in ' their fides.' In allafion to this circumflance, God prom.ifes by the prophet Ezekiel, ' There fkall be no ' more a pricking brier unto the houfe of Ifrael, nor * any grieving thorn of r.ll that are round about them ' that defpifed them, and they fliall know that I am * the Lord God t.' The fharpnefs of their words, * I Tim. vi. II. -j- Job xxx. 8. i Ezck. xxvili. 24. and Ver. i8. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. ^ ^^^ and their pronenefs to catch hold of men and Injure them, fully vindicate the figurative language before us, though we could trace no other refemblance. It de- ferves, hov^'ever, farther to be remarked, that briers and thorns never change their nature, though they may be cultivated with the greatell care, and their fituation altered. In like manner, wdcked men, wherever they are placed, in the city or in the coun- try, in the court or in the church, Hill retain their wickednefs, and difcover the depravity of their na- ture. Once more, as thorns and briers ferve for fewel to the fire, fo our Lord hath inflructed us, that thofe who abide not in him, fnall be cail forth as branches, and thrown into the fire, where they are burnt. ' The wicked fliall be turned into hell, and ' all the nations that forget God *.' Thus the fire of wickednefs fliall devour thofe who are figuratively fpoken of as briers and thorns. j^nd /hall kindle in the thickets of the forejl^ and they fl: all mount up like the lifting up of fmoke. The people of Ephraim are here reprefented by the beauti- ful figure of a forefl, on account of their vail num- bers, and gre^t variety of conditions, fome of them being elevated to diflinguiflied eminence, whilft others were lefs confpicuous, and loft as it were. among the multitude. By the thickets of the foreft, may be meant the moft populous parts of the kingdom, that abounded with Inhabitants of every defcriptlon. There probably the fire of wickednefs had burnt with the greateft vehemence, and there its direful cftetls w'ere to be felt in the higheft: degree. The idolatry and contempt of the word of the Lord, the rapine and oppreffion, and fimilar complicated crimes, which prevailed among all ranks of men, fhould kindle among them a prodigious flame, from which fmoke ftiould arlfe that might be feen far and near. The expreffion feems intended to exhibit an affeding re- * Pfal. ix. 17. 4 A prefentation SS(^ LECTURES on the Chap. Ix, prefentatlon of the difpleafure of almighty God, the general devaflation which fliould be made among the people, and the confequent darknefs that was there- upon to enfue. 1 conclude this article with the words of the apoftle Paul, writing to the churches of Galatia : ' If ye bite and devour one another, take * heed that ye be not confumed one of another. * This I fay then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye fliail not ' fulfil the lulls of the flelh*/ 19 Through the wrath of the Lord of hofts is the land darkened, and the people fhall be as the fewel of the lire : no man Ihall fpare his brother. The punifhment which was foon to follow the \C'ickednefs committed by the people of Ephraim is here denounced. Wrath is not a paflion in God as in man ; who is thereby greatly agitated, and apt to aft improperly, through the influence of the emotions which he feels : it only denotes, that whilfl the Mod High poifeifeth the mod perfett ferenity, in his dif- penfations toward men, he, in fbme meafure, acts like a perfon highly difpleafed with the infults he hath received from thofe who ought to have honour- ed and obeyed him. On this account, and in accom- modation to the weaknefs of our capacities, wrath is often afcribed to God in fcripture, and particularly in this verfe, fignifying the awful eii'eds of the divine righteoufnei's and juflice, when employed in vindi- cating the glory of his name, and the honour of his government; in difplaying his indignation againft fin, and punifhing tranfgrefibrs. By the abounding wickednefs of Ephraim, and the terrible effefts of the divine difpleafure manifefled againll them, the light they formerly enjoyed was to be greatly obfcured ; their minds darkened through ignorance, prejudice, * Gal. V. 15, 16, and Ver. 19. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 55? and vice ; and their land to become a dreadful fcene of calamity and diftrefs, in which the inhabitants were to be involved. In the prophetic writings, light is often ufed in a metaphorical fenfe, to denote a profperoijs condition ; and darknefs, to fet forth a ftate of pfiiiclion and mifery. Accordingly the pro- phet Joel thus defcribes the day of the Lord, which he declared was nigh at hand : ' A day of darknefs ' and of gloominefs, a day of clouds and of thick ' darknefs *.' In this figurative fenfe, I apprehend, the darknefs fpoken of in this pafiage is to be under- ftood, fignifying the great adverfity, trouble, and perplexity, with which tlie land of the ten tribes ihould be filled. jind the people Jloall be as the fe-iuel of the fire. Fewel, you know, is the combuftible materials v/hich are laid upon the fire to keep it burning, whilft at the fame time they are confumed. The wicked and ungodly Ephraimites were to be as fewel to the wrath of the Lord of hofts, which they were the inflruments of kindling and increafing : they were thereby to be confumed and deitroyed. In the execution of this threatening, the law of retahation was flriftly ob- ferved. According to the rules of juftice and equi- ty, the fubjecls of this predidlion, who, in open de- fiance of the authority and judgments of God, had lighted up the fire of wickednefs, fliould be made fewel to the fire of divine wrath. No man fhall fpare his brother. One gracious defign of the great Creator in conne6ring mankind together, by the in- timate relation of brethren and friends, feems to have been, to induce them to aliift and relieve each other in times of danger and diftrefs. How deplorable then the condition of the Ephraimites, when no man was. to fpare his brother ; when thofe who were nearly related-, and ought to have helped each other, laying; afide natural affeftion, to gratify their hatred, re- * Joel ii. 2. vengca S5^ LECTURES ON THE Chap. IX. veiige, and other malevolent paflions, facrlficed their brother to their malice and rage ! Permit me, from this fubject, to inculcate brotherly kindnefs up- on you, my friends. Be not like the men of Ephraim : fpare your brother; not only thofe to whom yon are related, and with whom you live in fociety, but all thofe with whom you are partakers of the fame hu- man nature. Spare your brother : fpare his reputa- tion, liis liberty and property, and lend him your friendly aid as his neceffities require. Be kindly af- fectionate one to another, in honour preferring one another. If this is not a natural inference, it is a fa- lutary advice. 20 And he fhall fnatch on the right hand, and be hungry ; and he fhall eat on the left hand, and they Ihall not be fatisfied : they ihall eat every man the fieih of his own arm. In this and the following verfe, the fubjeft which was introduced in the preceding one is continued and illuftrated. For this purpofe, the prophet gives a figurative defcription of the famifhing condition to which the people of Ephraim Ihould be reduced by the horrors of war. Diltrelfed with want of the ne- celfaries of hfe, every one fliould greedily grafp on the right hand at fuch provifions as he could lay hold on, to be the means of his fupport. Having done this, ftill he was to reniain hungry, deflitute of what was fufllcient to allay the cravings of nature. ylnd heJJoall eat on the left hand. His urgent neceifities not being fupplied, he (hould devour with eagernefs whatever food he could get from any quarter, on the left as well as the riglit hand. Notwithllanding his repeated efforts, they pall not he fathjied. This difa- greeable circumftance may be confidered both as their fm and their puniihment. Their defires were infatiable; and the confequence was, that the defires which they felt could not be gratified. ' The righteous (faith ' Solomon) Ver. 20. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 559 ' Solomon) eateth to the fatisfyfng of his foul*/ Though fometimes they may not have enough to fill their appetite, they are content with what divine providence hath allotted them, and blefs God for what they enjoy. Whereas ' the belly of the wicked ft all ' want:' his defire fhall not be fatisfied ; nor the necefiities of which he complaineth relieved, fo as to afford him contentment. If you would eat and be fatisfied with the meek of the earth, look upon the pro- vifion you receive as the gift of a kind Father, as pro- cured for you by the mediation of your Saviour, as the happy etfe6l of your honell indultry, and be folici- tous to enjoy with it the divine favour and bleHing. They fhall eat every man the flejh of his ozun arm, I fuppofe thefe words are not to be literally explained. To underftand their meaning, you mull recollect, that a nation is fometimes fpoken oi as a perfon conftituted of a foul, and the various parts of a human body. The fpirit by wliich the nation is actuated, and the maxims by which their conduct is governed, is to be confidered as the foul, and the people at large as the body. In this political body there are thofe who ad the part of the arms, by whom its ftrength is exerted, and its fafety preferved. On this principle I explain this prediction, they fliall eat every man the flelh of his own arm. Every one almoit was to be employed in cruelly haraffmg and devouring thofe whofe bufi- nefs it was to fupport and defend the interefts of the nation. Unmindful of the laws of nature, the ties of friendfhip and gratitude, they would vex and deftroy thofe ufeful members of the community with whom they were nearly conneded, and to whom they were obliged for their efforts in their behalf. This expofition 1 have adopted, that you might not injurioully imagine that the Ephraimites were men-eaters, and adually de- voured their own fleih in time of fcarcity and famine ; and I doubt not but I have given you the true in- terpretation 560 LECTURES ON THE Chap. IX. terpretatlon of the prophecy. Knowhig the ter- ror of the Lord, difplayed in the terrible judgments he hath executed, we perfuade you to remember what God hath threatened to inflift upon tranf- greffbrs, as well as to believe what he hath promifed to beftow upon the faithful. Meditation upon the treafures of his wrath is no lefs neceffary and ufeful than the contemplation of the riches of his mercy and grace. Serioully confider, then, not only what God can do for you, and beftow upon you, but what he can do againft you, and take away from you. 2 1 Manafleh, Ephraim ; and Ephraim, Ma- nafl'eh : and they X.o^^\\\tx Jfjall be againft Judah : For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand u ftretched out ftill. Thefe words foretel the difcord and confufion which was to be every where confpicuous among the polterity of Abraham at the time to which this predic- tion refers.— Manafleh, you know, was the name that the patriarch Jofeph gave to his eldeft fon, and Ephraim was the name he gave to the younger ; up- on whom, before his death, he laid his right hand, and thereby gave him precedence to Manafleh. Thefe names were afterward given to two of the tribes of Ifrael, whofe pofleflions lay contiguous to each other ; and whofe numbers were very confiderable, when the fum was taken of all the congregation of Ifrael, from twenty years old and upward. In the tribe of Ma- nafleh were found above thirty- tv/o thoufand, and in Ephraim more than forty thoufand. Between thefe two neighbouring tribes, and between them and their brethren in Judah, there were to arife thofe dangerous animofities, and that bitter contention and lirife, which are a great calamity, and a great curfe. Ac- cording to the maxim of Jefus Chrift:, the greatefl and mod powerful kingdoms when divided againft themfelves cannot ftand. Read with attention the aphorifn^ Ver.21. prophecies of ISAIAH. 561 aphorlfm itfelf, recorded Mark Hi. 24. * If a kingdom ' be divided againft itfeif, that kingdom cannot lland.' Union gives llrength and firmnefs to thofe focieties which, viewed individually, are but weak in theni- felves : it communicates order and {lability to things which, feparately confidered, are deftitute of thefe advantages : it eftablifiies harmony and peace among thofe who are connected together by the ftrongell ties. But when union and good agreement among kingdoms are interrupted, one nation injures and afliils in deflroying another. Manaffeh envies and de- vours Ephraim ; Ephraim envies and confumes Manaf- feh ; and both rife up in hollihty againft Judah. Such unnatural contention and difcord were to prevail among the divided pofteriry of Ifrael, as the jull pu- nilliment of their many atrocious tranfgreffions com- mitted againft the Lord. This predidion feems to have been fulfilled about the time that Hoftiea, the fon of Elah, formed a confpiracy againft Pekah, the king of Ifrael, whom he flew, and reigned in his ftead ; of which you read in 2 Kings xv. 30. Not- withftanding thefe heavy judgments were inflided upon the Ephraimites, our prophet again repeats the awful declaration. For all this bis anger is ?iot turned away, but his band is Jir etched out Jlill ; and, there- fore, more and greater calamities were yet to be ex- pected. Since difcord, and acts of hoftility, among the tribes of Jacob, are here foretold as fevere judg- ments, fulTer me to recommend to you the cultiva- tion of unity, love, and peace among yourfelves. Divifions and contentions, with their fatal attendants, confume the very vitals of Chriftianity, blaft its pre- cious fruits, and counterad its benevolent defigns ; whereas union of affedion, good agreement, and mutual kind offices, will pave the way for you to behold and experience how good and pleaiant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Then, com- forrable thought ! the God of peace iliall be with you. PRELIMI- C 5^2 ]• PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. THE prophet, after finifliing the fecllon of his dif- courfe, which comprehends the firfl four verfes of this chapter, wherein he charges the Ephraimites with iniquity and injuftice, and reprefents the pu- nifliment which on that account was to be inflict- ed upon them — proceeds, at the 5th verfe, to fcretel the remarkable judgment whereby the Ahnighty had determined to punilh the pride and arrogance of the king of Aflyria, who, having vanquilhed the Ephraimites, thought of invading Judea and Jerufa- lera, and extirpating the religion of the Jews, as he had done that of the other nations whom he conquered. To chaftize that haughty monarch for this infolent projecl, and to comfort the dejeded minds of the godly, who were greatly alarmed at the growing empire of Aflyria, Ifaiah is direfted to declare, that that powerful kingdom fliould be overthrown by the immediate hand of God, v/ithout human aid, and the people of the Mofl: High fliould juftly afcribe the praifes of that great event to a wonderful divine in- terpofition. The Jewifli nation, however, having become very corrupt, were not to pafs unpuniflied for their fms, though the feveriiy of the calamities to which they were to be fubjected, was to be mixed with much mercy and favour. This prophetical difcourfe begins with fetting forth the reafons for which God permitted the Aflyrians to aft in hoflillty againfl; his people ; namely, that he might punifli their hypocrify, that he might purify his church, and afterward punifli the kings of Aflyria for the crimes they committed in the execution of this work, ver. 5. — 13. It then exhibits fome ftrong proofs of the pride of Aflyria, which required to be checked ; with a more full defcriptlon of the divine judg- ments which were to be executed upon them, ver. 13. — 20. After which is reprefcnted the more im- proved Ver. I, LECTURES, &c. 5^3 proved (late of the church of God among the Jews, in confequence of the various afflictions brought upon them by means of the AlTyrians, ver. 20. — 24. The prophet next proceeds to apply the above prediction, concerning the downfal of Ailyria, for the confola- tion of the people of God, ver. 24.-28. He then concludes with a particular defcription of fome cir- cumltances with which the expedition of the Allyrian monarch againfl Judea was to be attended, ver. 28. to the end of the chapter. C H x\ P. X. w O unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievoufnefs 'which they have prelcribed. The charge of iniquity and injuflice is here laid againil the Ephraimites upon a double account. Firft, They decreed unrighteous decrees. The word tranflated decree^ is derived from one that fignifies to write or engrave ; and ilatutes being commonly writ- ten, it is ufed to exprefs a decree which hath the authority of a law, and is therefore engroffed for prefervation in fome permanent record. The de- crees here mentioned were unrighteous. The per- fons who enaded them had arrived at fuch audacity in the practice of injuflice, that they not only gave orders to thofe over whom they had influence to do things that were Vv'icked, but, eftablifliing ini- quity by law, they caufed iheir edids to be recorded as pubhc evidences of their violence and oppreflion. The princes exacted of the people the moll unjull and intolerable burdens, to which they had no right ; and, therefore, God gave them this falutary advice, 4B by £54 LECTURES on the Cha?. t* by the prophet Ezekiel : ' Thus faith the Lord God, * Let it fuffice you, O princes of Ifrael : remove vio- * lence and fpoil, and execute judgment and juftice, ' take away your exadions from my people, faith the * Lord God *.' The rich and the great injured the poor and needy ; and, on that account, God thus ad- drefled them by the prophet Micah : ' For the rich * men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants ^ thereof hiive fpoken lies, and their tongue is deceit- * ful in their mouth f .' The priefts alfo framed un- righteous decrees, which, with their fooHfh inven- tions and vain traditions, they fubflituted in the room of the law of God, which they corrupted by their falfe gloffes and forced interpretations. Hence the heavy charge contained in Zeph. iii. 4. ' Her prophets are light and treacherous perfons : ' her priefts have polluted the fanftuary, they hrve ' done violence to the law.' Thus unrighteoufnefs filled the land, the city, and the fanftuary : it re- ceived the fandion of thofe in authority, and pervad- ed all ranks of the people. -Secondly, Their fin alfo confifteu in this. They ivrite grie-voiifnefs which they have prcfcribed* The fins of Ephraim, which received countenance and fupport from thofe in power, and abounded among the people, included in this article of the charge, feem to have been fuch as the following : They oVer-reached and took advantage of one ano- ther in their daily intercourfe and tranfaclions in bufinefs : they withheld from others what was their un- quePrionable right ; fuch as the wages of the hireling, and that which belonged to the poor and ftranger : they impofed upon the lower ranks of the people thofe heavy burdens which they were unable to fuf- tain : they delayed and perverted the execution of juftice and judgment in thofe initances wherein the poor and the helplefs were concerned. By pre- * Ezek. xlv. 9. -j- Micah vi. 12. fcribing Ver. 2. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 565 fcrilDlng and pradifmg thefe and the like enormous fins, they clearly fhewed, that they were deftiiuie of the fear of God, that they had no regard to righ- teoufnefs, and were indifferent to the divine difplea- fure which they had awakened. The commifiion of fuch crimes is truly grievous ; but the wriiing and prefcribing of them, by which they acquired a kind of fanction from abufed authority, is indeed grievoui- nefs itfelf. Againfl perfons guilty of fuch flagrant ad:s of wickednefs, wo, or complicated mifery, is denounced. Thofe who enad unrighteous de- crees, and require what is truly opprclTive and griev- ous, however elevated their llation, and fanguine their hopes of impunity, fliall affuredly know, that he who loveth righteoufnefs, and hateth iniquity, will recompenfe them according to their works. What the apoftle Paul faith with refped to fome other fins, I fay to you in reference to thofe now mentioned, * Let them not be once named among you, as be- * cometh faints *.' 2 To turn afide the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherlefs. The wicked defign of thefe unrighteous decrees is particularly fpecified in this verfe. =-The poor and needy of God's people w^ere maltreated by "thofe who ought to have vindicated and fupported them. Among perfons of this defcription, there are fome who are fo very poor, that they have nothing to lofe, and fo very needy, that they have hardly any thing of which injullice can lay hold. They have neither bread to eat, nor raiment to put on. There are others who have fome Httle property, and who enjoy fo much as ferves merely to preferve them from abjed poverty, ■* E|)h. V. 3. and ^66 LECTURES on the Chap. X. and to fupply prefent urgent neceffities. Both thefe con- ditions give rile oft-times to folicitud'e and dejedion ; and, therefore, people of this fort fliould be the ob- jefts of fympathy and compafTion to thofe who are in any meafure able to aiiilt and relieve them. They are weak and helplefs, and often with great difficulty procure affiftance in the extremity of their need ; and, therefore, they are defcribed as thofe ' who have no * help *.' On this account, among others, God, who is gracious, hath 'recommended them to the care and patronage of thofe who are in opulence and power, whilft he hath taken them in a fpecial manner into his own protedion, and engaged himfelf to be their defence. The poor, of the laft mentioned clafs, feem here to be chiefly intended, whom thofe inveited with authority among the Ephraimites, are faid to turn afide from judgment, and to take away the right. Both exprefiions feem to be of the fame im- port, the one ferving to illuftrate and explain the other. The judgment which was perverted, confided of the right which, according to the rule of equity, thofe that were in indigent circumflances had ac- quired to their polfeffions, in which they juflly ex- pected they fhould have been protecled by thofe .in fuperior (tation. This judgment, however, was turn-r ed afide from its proper channel : its courfe was retarded or flopped ; and thus the poor were either deprived of their right, or the determination of the caufes wherein they were concerned were unnecef- farily delayed, which is fometimes no lefs a hard- fhip than unjuft decifions. This is indeed a very great and aggravated crime. To turn afide the rich from judgment, and to take away the right of thofe who are in affluence, is a fin of very confiderable magnitude ; but to aft in this manner toward the poor, is ftill a greater tranfgreffion. To deprive of judgment and right thofe to whom wc are obliged not * Ffal. Ixxii. i2„ only Ver.2. prophecies of ISAIAH. s^7 only to do juflice, but to give liberally for their fiip- port ; to refufe to do juflice to thofe to whom we , are commanded to be charitable, to take away from him who is in want, to trample upon the rights of thofe who with difficulty can obtain redrcfs, and to injure thofe who are unable to refill, yea, perhaps, dare not complain, muil be the mod complicated wickednefs : cfpecially if we confider, that by taking away the right of the poor, God himfelf is deprived of the grateful homage and praife which is due to him by people of this deicription, for the feafonable affiil- ance they receive, by the faithful performance of the promifes which are the ground of their hope and trull. That ividou's may be their prey, ajid that they may rob the fdtherlefs. The widow and the fatherlefs are commonly the mod friendlefs and helplefs clafs of mankind, and being molt expofed to injuries and oppreffion, their interefls, with thofe of the poor and needy, ought to be patronifed and fupported by per- fons in authority. How odious and enormous the crime of the rulers of Ephraim, who aded toward the Vv'idows as the rapacious beafiis of the field to- ward thofe that are weak and defencelefs, feizing up- on them, and greedily devouring them as their prey, fsafling upon their fpoils, rejoicing in their mifery, making themfelves merry with their forrow, and rich with their property ! And that they may rob the fatherlefs, by violently depriving them of their juil rights, whom they ought carefully to have proteded in the enjoyment of them. How daring is this ini- quity, impudently committed in open defiance of thefe and fimilar divine prohibitions ! ' Enter not in- ' to the fields of the fatherlefs.' Enter them not in a forcible manner, to take from them with violence that which is their right and property. Do you in- quire, Is it more dangerous to enter their fields than the fields of other perfons ? By this order the lead permifiion is not given to injurs the grounds of any perlbn ^68 LECTURES ON THE Cfiap. X. perfon whatever ; but a fpecial caution is adminifter- ed, to beware of hurting thofe whom God hath en- gaged to reheve and prote£l. The reafon is fubjoined in thefe words : ' For their Redeemer is mighty ; he ' fliall plead their caufe with thee *.* Though the widow and the fatherlefs may be unable to plead their own caufe, and to vindicate their own rights, and though they may be deflitute of friends to patronife them, the almighty Redeemer will fupport their in^ terefts, and effedually plead againft thofe who wic- kedly injure them. ' Ye fhall not afflid any widow, ' or fatherlefs child. If thou afflict them in any wife, ' and they cry at all unto me : 1 will furely hear their ' cry ; and my wrath fliall wax hot, and I will kill ' you with the fword ; and your wives (hall be * widows, and your children fatherlefs f .' Notwith- ftanding the many in(lruQ:ive admonitions which God hath delivered upon this fubject, perfons in power among the Ephraimites perpetrated the mofl flagi- tious crimes, in their conduft toward the widow and fatherlefs, with which they are here charged. To what I have faid on this head upon former oc- cafions, I hope I Aeed add nothing farther at pre- fent. 3 An4 what will ye do in the day of vifita- tion, and in the defolation which Ihall come from far ? to whom will ye fice for help ? and where will ye leave your glory ? The righteous judgment which God was about to in- flift, on account of the above-mentioned wickednefs, is reprefented in this and the following verfe, wherein the condition of thefe tranfgrelTors is defcrifced as truly helplefs and deplorable. As they had taken pleafure in trampling upon the facred rights of the weak and de- fencelefs among their brethren, fo God, in punifhing * Prov. xxiii. iio f Exod. xxii. 12, 23, 24. them Ver. 3. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 569 them for their fins, would lay them defolate, and they, in their turn, fhould have none to defend them from the hoftile attacks to which they were to be expofed. In fcripture-ftyle, the feafon in which God is pleafed to draw near to a perfon or people, that he may accom- plifh various important purpofes, is called a Day of vifitation. Sometimes his vifitation is intended to afford deliverance and confolation to the opprefl'ed, by extricating them from fervitude and mifery, and introducing them into a happy and comfortable con- dition. In this fenfe the Lord is faid to have vifited his people Ifrael, when he delivered them from Egyp- tian bondage * ; and to have vifited and redeemed his people, when he bellowed upon them the greateft mercy -]-. Sometimes it is defigned to manifeft his tender care and conftant infpeftion of his people, over whom he exercifeth the moft vigilant attention, that he may effeftually promote their beft interefts. With this view, he declafes, that ' if his children ' Ihall break his ftatutes, and keep not his command- * ments, then will he vifit their tranlgreifion with the * rod, and their iniquity with (Iripes |.' Such times are indeed days of vifitation, wherein God fenfibly drav/s near with the proofs of his kindnefs and fa- vour, which he mofl undefervedly confers ; and in which he appears with his rod of correction, that he may adminifter neceffary chaftifements, and refi:ore thofe who had forfaken his law from their wander- ings. At other times, God vifits thofe who have not profited by the many warnings they have received, nor repented of the fins they have committed, notwithfi:anding the repeated corrections that he hath adminifliered, to execute upon them delb- lating judgments and terrible vengeance. Hence he thus fpeaks, by the prophet Jeremiah : ' Shall I * not vifit for thefe things ? faith the Lord : and * iliall not my foul be avenged on fuch a nation as * Exod. iv. 3T. f Luke i. 68, * Pfal. Ixxxix. 32. ' this ?' 'I 570 LECTURES ON the Chap. X. ' this * ?' In this Ir.ft fenfe, I fuppofe, the day of vi- fitation is here meant, denoting that awful period wherein God was about to punifli the prefumptuous finners of Ephraim, when he would appear in the molt formidable manner, to avenge their unrighteous decrees, and unmerciful dealings with the poor and helplefs.^ In fuch a feafon, the prophet inquires. What will ye do ? 'Permit me to piit this queftion to you, my brethren. What will ye do in the day of vifitation ? It is of much higher importance to have a proper anfwer prepared to this jnquiry, than to have the queftion itfelf illuftrated. The eventful day- is faft approaching, when God will vifit you not with mercies. J and gentle corrections, as he is now doing, but with terrible things in righteoufnefs, which it may be you look not for. What v*'ill ye then do ? What bitter anguifti, and confufed horror, will then feize upon multitudes ! You may flatter yourfelves now in your iniquities, and endeavour to palliate your fms by various excufes. But then, O man! thou wilt be inexcufable, and ftalt not efcape the righteous judg- ment of God. If you are fo fooliili as rejeft the re- lief offered you in the gofpel, and negled to flee to the hiding-place which infinite mercy hath provided, like the man in the parable, you fliall be fpeechlci's and confounded. And in the defolation that Jhall come from far. The Hebrew word tranfiated defolation^ fignifies fuch a terrible commotion as is fuddeniy ralfed in the fea by a great ftorm, when the waves dafli violently againll one another with a hideous noife. This aflbrds a juft emblem of the diilurbance and confufion w hich was to be excited, by the report of a powerful enemy rapidly advancing with a view to invade and defolate the country of Ephraim, by whom the cities were to be laid walle, the houfes demoliihed, the fields and vineyards laid open, and the inhabitants * Jer. V. 9. killed Ver. 3. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 571 killed or flripped of their moft valuable efFecls. In room of the greateft affluence, fcarcity and -want were to prevail ; in place of tranquillity and fecurity, dread and terror vi^ere to be experienced ; and inflead of the wine of grapes, and the oil of olives, the people were to drink the wine of aflonifhment. -This dreadful dorm, which was to be attended vv'ith general defolation, was to come from far. It would not take rife from any of the neighbouring nations with whom Ephraim was furrounded ; for being in league with Syria, which was one of their moll: powerful neigh- bours, they had nothing to fear from the kingdoms that were fituated near them. The prophet therefore informs them, that the aiTault by which they were to be laid wafle, was to come from a great diilance, from Alfyria and Babylon, though for wife reafons their names were not now mentioned. Thefe king- doms lay far to the northward of the land of lirael : for when Ifaiah inquired of Hezekiah, king of Ju- dah, From whence came thefe men, who brought him letters, and a prefent, on his recovery from ficknefs, he received for anfwer, ' They are come ' from a far country unto me, even from Baby- ' Ion *.' In the certain profpecl of the threatened defolation, the prophet very properly inquires, To who?}! will ye flee for help ? and where will ye ka'ue your glory? Alliftance you will then greatly need ; and, therefore, you ought timeouily to confi- der to whom you may apply Vvith hopes of fuccefs. In vain fliall you look for fafety to the hills and the multitude of mountains ; in vain Ihall you feek help from men, if God be your enemy j in vain fliall you invoke the aid of the Egyptians ; in vain fnall you trull to your own (trength as means of defence ; in vain fliall you expect the divine interpofition and de- liverance, without which your whole country and poileiHons ihall becojne a prey to the hoflile attacks * Ifaiah xxxix. 3, 4 C of S^ji LECTURES ON THE Chap. X. of your enemies. Where then will ye fiee for help ? 1 lom what quarter can you hope to obtain rehef, in the time of the approaching defolation, and threatened ftorm of divine wrath ? As the indigent and helplefs implored your affiftance in vain, fo you fhall feek that help and relief from others which you fliall not obtain ; in confequence of which you fliall be covered with fliame and difappointraent, and lie at the mercy of your conquering enemies. -r And ivhcre zvill ye leave your glory ? The glory of- Ephraim confifted of their religion and liberty, their property and Orength as a nation, with all thofe privileges which added to their fplendour and importance, whereof people are prone to boafl and triumph. In fuch things as thefe, men are apt to confide and glory : hence thefe memorable words delivered by the pro- phet Jeremiah ; ' Thus faith the Lord, Let not the ^ wife man glory in his wifdom, neither let the mighty ' man glory in his might, let not the rich man glo- ' ry in his riches. But let him that glorieth, glory ' in this, that he underflandeth and knov/eth me, that * I am the Lord v/hich exercife loving-kindnefs, judg- ' micnt, and righteoufnefs in the earth : for in thefe * things I delight, faith the Lord *.' The glory con- cerning which our prophet inquires, might alfo com- prehend in it the children of Ephraim, who were the crown and glory of their fathers. According to the faithful promife of God, that people were exceedingly fruitful, and their children were greatly multiplied ; and, in the profpeft of defolation, it became them fe- rioufly to confider where they would leave their chil- dren, and all thofe prerogatives of which they gloried. As the prophet Hofea foretold, ' Their glory Ihall flee * away as a bird,' v.'hen God would vifit their fms ; yea, he adds, ' Wo unto them when I depart from ' them |.' TranfgreiTors ought ferioufly to cate- chife themfelves on the fubjefts here mentioned, in the * Jcr. ix. 23, 24. I Hofea ix. i;, 12. profpef: Ver. 4. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 57^^ profpeft of the day of 'vifitation, and the defolation that Ihall come from far. What will ye do, when God will call you to account for the improvement you have made of the talents with vv^hich you are intrulled? Where will ye flee, when God fhall arifc to judgment, and his wrath fhall be revealed againft all unrighteoufnefs and ungodlinefs of men ? Where will ye flee for help, when God will lay judgment to the line, and righteoufnefs to the plummet, and the hail fliall fweep away the refuge of lies, and the wa- ters fliall overflow the hiding-place ? Where will ye leave your glory, when the day of the Lord, that you have put far away, fliall overtake you as a thief in the night ? Make anfwer to thefe inquiries at the tribu- nal of confcience, as you would not be afiiamed at the coming of the Son of God. 4 Without me they fliall bow down under the prifoner.s, and they fliall fall under the flain : For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is flretched out ftill. In thefe words the Lord, by our prophet, repre- fents the deplorable condition to which thofe guilty of the crimes above mentioned fliould be reduced. — Almighty God, in whofe name Ifaiah delivered this prediftion, is doubtlefs the Perfon without whom, defl:itute of v/hofe merciful interpofition and pre- fence, what is foretold in the following words fliould certainly come to pafs. Without his neceflary aid and prote6lion, they fliall be taken captive by thofe who are themfelves in captivity ; they fliall be fub- dued by thofe who are themfelves vanquiflied. Tbsy JJdall bow down under the prifoners. Bound with chains, and fent into places of confinement, they fliall be obliged to bow down among their fellow- prifoners, through the weight of the fetters where- with they were faftened, or the low roof of the place in which they were to be confined. Or the expref- fion 574 LECTURES on the Chap. S:. fion may refer to the hard bondage in which they ihould be employed during their captivity, when they were to be compelled to bow down to the yoke of^ their opprefibrs like beafts of burden. And they Jhall fall under the Jlain^ or among the flain, who were to be killed, in the day of vifitation, by the powerful nation who was to invade and defolate the land of Ifrael. Either a miferable captivity, or a violent death, fnould be the punifliment of thofe pre- fumptuous tranfgrelTors to whom this prediction was delivered. For all this his anger is not turned azc-ay, but his hand is Jhetched out Jiill. Notwithftanding thefe dreadful threatenings of divine judgments to be executed upon this treacherous people, ftill greater calamities awaited them, which God, whom they had grievoully offended, would afterward inflicl upon them as the juft puniiliment of their crimes. This prophecy feems to have been accompliflied by the ca- lamities inflifted upon the Ephraimites by Tiglath- pilezer, when many of them were flain in battle, and great numbers were taken captive into foreign coun- tries, where they were employed in the moft wretch- ed fervitude. Hence we learn what we ought ne- ver to forget, that there is no Saviour befide God ; no deliverance to be obtained without him, who commandeth deliverance for Jacob ; no fafety to be enjoyed but in the care and proteftion of his divine providence. Convinced of this important truth, let us take heed that we live not without him in the world, deflitute of his fear and love, indifferent to his favour and approbation, without whom we muff be miferable, and by whom alone we can be preferved in peace and fafety. 5^0 Aflyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the ftafF in their hand is mine indignation. Here begins the fourth feclion of our prophet's dif- courfe, which contains a new and diftind prophecv. — The Ver. 5. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 575 The prophet, having denounced the righteous judg- ments of God againfl Ephraim and Syria, who in- tended, with their united ftrength, to attack Judea, proceeds to addrefs the Aflyrians, who were to be in- ftruments of executing the divine vengeance upon thefe confederate nations. He introduces the Alfy- rian monarch glorying in his former victories, boait- ing of his power and forces, and elated with pride, in the profpeu; he entertained of vanquifliing Judah, and occupying the city of Jerufalem, in open defiance of the God of IfraeL lie therefore reproves his teme- rity and folly, repreiTes the daring infolence of this haughty prince, informing him, that however often- tatioully he boafted of his armies and fucceffes, he could neither move nor ad: unlefs by the direction of divine providence, nor execute any defign in oppofi- tion to the purpofes and counfels of God. The AiTyrian to whom our prophet efpecially diredls his difcourfe, was the monarch of that great empire, par- ticularly Sennacherib, that powerful, ambitious, and haughty prince, as will more fully appear in our pro- grefs through this prophetic oration. Of this great king, Ifaiah gives no flattering defcription, nor does he afcribe to him eminent abilities ; but reprefents him merely as the rod of Qod^s anger ^ the imlrument v/herewith the Almighty, who was highly offended at his people, would chaftize and punifh them, all whofe motions depended entirely upon his pleafure, were the effect of his power, and directed by his wifdom. By this figure the Affyrian is exhibited in a juil point of view, utterly incapable, without God, of doing any thing, much lefs of performing the work in which he was to be employed, of chaftizing a hypocritical nation for their fins. He is therefore emphatically defigned the rod of God's anger ; who being greatly incenfed againit Ephraim, on account of their many aggravated iniquities, was about to correct them fe- vercly in his jull difpleafure. In the following claufe of the verfe, the fame fentiment is illuflrat- ed 575 LECTURES on the Chap. X. ed and explained, where the Afl^/rian Is thus de- fcribed : And thejloff in their hand is mine indignation ; or^ according to the Biiliop of London's new tranflation, " The itafF in whofe hand is the inftrument of mine " indignation." The difficulty that occurs here does not feem to be fo great as fome have imagined. The former verfion, in our Bibles, reprefents the di- vine indignation as the ftaff which fupported Aflyria in performing the work affigned them, whilfl the lat- ter verfion exhibits them as the ftaff v»/hich God would employ to exprefs his indignation againft Ifrael. The flaff here mentioned may allude to the inftrument called by that name, ufed by the officers of juftice, for punifhing tranfgreffors of the laws, according to the appointment of the judges, who, in this manner, teftify their jufl difplcafure againft the criminal, and their abhorrence of his crime. In allufion to this practice, Aflyria is called the ftaff of God's indigna- tion, whereby he was to puniffi thofe who, by their complicated wickednefs, had incurred his difpleafure, whom he was about to chaftize not merely as a fa- ther, but as a judge. They were to experience the painful effeds of the fevere, though neceffary correc- tion of the indignant Sovereign of the Univerfe, whom they had highly oftendcd by their egregious folly, and perverfe obftinacy. What a grand idea does the reprefentation here given of Affyria convey of the power and glory of Jehovah, the fupreme Ruler and righteous Governor of the world ! He difpofeth of the kingdoms of this earth as feemeth good in his fight : the moft powerful princes are fubjed to his authority : all of them are his fervants : to one he faith, Come, and he cometh ; to another, Go, and he goeth. In the words of our prophet, he hiff- eth for the fly of Egypt, and the bee of Aflyria ; and, by a fecret impulfe, and invifible power, he eftedually determines them to execute his pleafure. The king of Affyria, though a great potentate among men, the terror V£R. 6. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. ^^^ terror and fcourge of neighbouring nations, in the hand of the Ahnighty, was nothing more than a rod or ftalT. With what profound veneration and re- verence then ought we to ferve this mighty Lord, whofe kingdom ruleth over all. 6 I will fend him againft an hypocritical na- tion ; and againft the people of my wrath will 1 give him a charge to take the fpoil, Jind to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the ftreets. Thefe words mark the cccafion on which the AiTy- rian monarch would iignally difplay his pride, arro- gance, and ambition ; namely, when he had in pro- fpeft the conqueic of Ephraim, in the view of which he feems to have greatly exulted. / zuiUfend him (faith God) ; / ivill give him a charge. This declara-^ tion, the meaning of which it is eafy to underftand, muft be explained jn confiflency with the pure and perfe£l nature of Jehovah, who can never require of men any thing that is fmful or unjuft. Though pride, and the luft of power and conquefl, may dire6t the counfels and eiforts of princes, who have in view no higher end than to gratify their own corrupt difpofi- tions, yet there is not any thing more clear and cer- tain, than that all their wicked defigns proceed wholly from themfelves, and not from God^ who, by the powerful influence of his providence, over-rules their arrogance and ambition, fo as to fubferve his "own wife and gracious purpofes. He fo directs their en- terprifes, and orders events, that they ihall be the in- ftruments of executing determined judgments upon the wicked, and of manifefting the divine glory iu their punilhment. When, therefore, the prophet af- firms, in the name of the Mofl High, I will fend him, I will give him a charge, he plainly declares, that God, in perfect confiflency with the holinefs of his nature. 578 LECTURES on the Chap. X. ^ nature, and the re£titude of his adminiftration, would effeclually difpofe the king of Aflyria fully to execute the work which he was about to affign him. Againji a hypocritical natio7i, and againji the people of 7ny ivrath. The nation intended was Ephraim, which, in the preceding prophetical difcourfe, was charged with hypocrify, and againft whom was kin- dled the anger of the Lord, who was foon to punifli them by means of the Aifyrian. Though that highly favoured people profeffed to know God, in works they denied him, having become abominable, and to every good work reprobate. With the inftituted worftiip of the true God, they mixed the idolatrous rites of furrounding nations, the foolifh fuperditions of human invention, and the vain traditions of el- ders. Their affedions were divided between God and the world : their hearts were not right with God, nor found in his ftatutes : their religion was a hetero- geneous mixture of what is true and falfe : their pro- fefTion was contradided by their practice : in this manner they endeavoured to deceive themfelves and others ; and provoked the indignation of that God who will not be mocked, and who hates deceitful as well as bloody men. ^On this account they are far- ther defcribed as the people of God's wrath, againft whom his jufl difpleafure was to be directed, and on whom it fhould fall with a crufning weight. Their multiplied tranfgreffions, in which they obflinately perfiiled, rendered them the juil objeds of God's wrath and righteous vengeance. Therefore he was, to fend the Affyvian, To take the fpoil, and to take the prey. The fpoil and the prey may include all the portable and va- luable effects that belonged t\3 the people of Ephraim ; fuch as their corn, wine, and oil, their jewels, fur- niture, and Clothes, v/ith various articles of mer- chandife. All thefe the Aifyrian, with his army, were greedily to feize, and to carry away with them.. As for their houfes, eftates, and cities, which were not Ver. 6. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. s7<> not moveable, thefe they would demolifli and deflroy to the utmoft of their power. The expreflion being repeated with little variation, feems to intimate, that the Alfyrian (liould certainly and thoroughly perform this fervice upon which he was to be fent. And to tread them down like the mire of the Jireets. Thefe words exprefs the Ibvereign contempt with which the enemies of Ephraim Ihould treat them, and the com- plete conqueft they were to obtain over them, with their utter inability to make any effeftual refiilance to their power and progrefs. They intimate the igno- miny and difgraceful condition to which the Ephraim- ites were to be reduced, when they themfelves, with all that they efteemed dear and valuable, were to be trampled upon as the mire of the (Ireets. Let us hearken to the voice of the rod of God's anger, and receive inllruftion from the ftalf of his indignation, with which he chaftized a hypocritical nation. Though the words here recorded were fpoken by Ifaiah, the voice is the Lord's, and the language is that of the rod. It loudly proclaims the power, righteoufnefs, and holinefs of Jehovah : it plainly declares the folly, wickednefs, treachery, and in- gratitude of men ; and clearly announces their confe- quent danger, guilt, and mifery. The rod cries to us. Repent^ as it did of old in the gates of Nineveh, whofe inhabitants hearkened to the admonition, underftood its meaning, and repented in dull and alhes. It cries to us alfo for that righteoufnefs and mercy which ex- alteth a nation, and preferves them from ruin, when the judgments of God are abroad in the earth. We do not learn unlefs we are taught : and the rod is fent to teach us thofe leflbns to which we are inat- tentive in profperity ; fuch as to fear God whom we have offended, to worlhip him whom we iKive ne- glefted, to be obedient to his laws which we have contemned, to make reilitution to thofe we have in- jured, to be charitable to thofe we have cenfured and defpifed. From the rod of God's anger, let us learn 4 D thefe 58o LECTURES ON THE Chap.X. thefe falutary inftrudions ; and then fliall we have caufe to fay, with the royal poet, ' Blelled is the man ' whom thou chafleneft, O Lord, and teacheft him ' out of thy law *.' 7 Howbeit, he meaneth not fo, neither doth his heart think fo ; but It is in hiis heart to de- flroy, and cut off nations not a few. The prophet here fiiows that the Afiyrian fhould entertain very different defigns, in his expedition againfl Ephraim, from thofe which God had in view in fending him againfl that hypocritical nation. The Aifyrian meant to gratify his boundlefs ambition, and hifl of exorbitant pov/er and conquefl ; and, there- fore, laying afide all regard to humanity and equity, he implicitly followed the diftates of that intolerable pride and arrogance which feem to have been the predominant difpofitions under which he a6led. The defign for which God employed him to take the fpoil of Ifrael, and to reduce them to a ftate of abjecl fervi- tude and captivity, was to difplay his own glory, to punifh the aggravated fms of his people, that they might feel what an evil and bitter thing it is to depart from the Lord, that, under a humbling fenfe of their guilt and danger, a remnant of them might be en- gaged to return to the true God, their duty, and hap- pinefs. The Aifyrian had not the lead intention of promoting thefe important purpofes which the God of the fpirits of all flefa had in view to accomplilh. — But it h in his heart to dcjlroy^ and cut off nations not a fezv. He meditated the execution of defigns fuggeft- ed by infatiable ambition, avarice, and cruelty, and the other bad difpofitions whereby his mind was agi- tated 2fnd diftracled. He thought of enlarging his do- minions, and extending his conquefts, not by huma- nity, clemency, and equity, which might have in- * Pfal. xciv. 12. duccd Ver. 8. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 581 duced neighbouring nations to refort to his flan- dard, and fubmit to his government; but, in open, contempt of thefe virtues, by which human fo- ciety is preferved, he meant to effectuate his plan of operation by inhumanity, rapacity, and cruelty. His heart was bent upon the deftruftion of nations, that, upon their ruins, he might enlarge his own empire. His mind was fet upon plundering them of their riches, laying wafte their fields, burjiing their ci- ties, and fpreading among the vanquifhed, ilaughter, captivity, and bondage, with every other mifery man- kind are capable of fuftaining, that, in this manner, he might extend the terror of his arms, and the great- nefs of his power. The truth contained in this verfe is often exemplified by thofe whom God em- ploys to execute his purpofes, who, in many inilances, form to themfelves defigns very different from thofe intended by divine wifdom. Thus it was with Cy- rus, who did not know God, though he furnamed, and ftrengthened him to fubdue nations before him ; and thus it is with thole powers whofe hearts God hath inclined to fulfil his will, and to agree, to give their kingdom unto the beaft , until the words of God fnall be fulfilled*. Than this, however, there is not any thing that they lefs meditated and intended. Aware then of the fin and danger of afting for other ends than thofe God hath required us to keep in view, and folicitous to attain the high honour of being- workers together with him, let us diligently ftudy the mind of the Lord, and uniformly endeavour to ad- vance the great purpofes he employs us to promote. 8 For he faith, Are not my princes altogether kings ? The king of /j.fTyria is here introduced elated with pride, vainly bouiiing of the greatnefs of his majelly, * Rev. xvil. 17. and 582 LECTURES ON the Chap. X. and the extent of his empire. Having conquered various kingdoms that poiTeffed regal power, fuch as Media, Babylon, and Syria, he divided them into provinces, and committed the adminiflration of the government to thofe who were called Princes, whofe office it was to prefide over the affairs of the diftrift committed to their care, under the fuprerae authority of the AfTyrian monarch, who was therefore called the Great King. Of theie princes he boafls, that they •were altogether kings. Certainly that perfon is not altogether a king, who hath an earthly fuperior, to whom he is obliged to fubmit, and to whom he is amenable for his conduft. If then the prinres, of whom the Aflyrian exultingly fpeaks, were obliged to obey him, and to render an account of their admini- ftration when required, it is obvious that he fooHihly attributed too much to them, and magnified their grandeur far beyond the truth. Thus it often hap- pens to proud ambitious men, when extolling their imaginary greatnefs, they difcover the moft ridiculous vanity, and fall into downright abfurdities. By the inftance before us, you ought to be warned to avoid extravagant oflentatious boafting, which cannot pof- fibly ferve any good purpofe, remembering, that he that is lifted up, his fouV is not upright in him. They "who fpeak highly of themfelves, commonly think themfelves to be much higher than indeed they are. Let us adopt the wife refolution of the apoflle Paul, •which is thus expreffed : ' We will not boaft of things ' without meafure, but according to the meafure of ' the rule which God hath diffributed to us, a meafure ' to reach even unto you *.' 9 Is not Calno, as Carchemifh ? is not Ha- math, as Arpad ? is not Samaria, as Damalcus. In this verfe, the Affyrian glories in the great fuc- cefs that had attended his arms in his various martial * 2 Cor. X. 13. enterprifes. VER.io,ir. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. ^^^ enterprifes. None of the cities againft which he had direded his arms, had been able to refill the forces fent againft them ; but all of them had yielded to his vidorious armies, fome of which are here mfcu- tioned. Calno was a very ancient city, probably built in the days of Nimrod, the mighty hunter, near to the river Tigris, to the eaftward of Babel *.* Carchemifh Vv'as a town built on the Euphrates, not far from which Pharaoh-necho, king of Egypt, fought with the king of AiTyria, when Jofiah, king of Judah, was flain in battle f . In ancient times, Hamath was a famous city, poffefTed by the pofterity of Canaan, lying to the weftward of Damafcus, near the bounda- ries of the land of Canaan, and frequently mentioned in the Old Teftament. Arpad was probably a city "to the northward of Damafcus : it was like Hamath, a royal city, and once belonged to Syria, whofe inha- bitants were confounded at the Affyrian invafion ;|;, Samaria and Damafcus having been already repeated- ly mentioned in this prophecy, I fliall not here add any thing to what I have formerly faid of them. Thefe cities the king of AfTyria had conquered, and placed them nearly on a level with refpeft to the pri- vileges they were allowed to enjoy, as is plainly inti- mated in the words before us, on which it is unne- ceifary to fay any thing farther, 10 As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whofe graven images did excel them of Jerufalem and of Samaria : 1 1 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, fo do to Jerufalem and her idols ? The haughty Affyrian monarch expreffes, in thefe verfes, his proud contempt of the God of Ifrael^ by the favour of whofe providence he was exalted to the throne of Affyria. The kingdoms of the idols, of * See Gen. x, lo. j 2 Chron. xxxv. ■\o.etfeq. J Jer. xlix. -» which 584 LECTURES ON the Chap. X. which he here fpeaks, were the nations who imagined that they were indebted to them for protedion and defence, and who were devoted to their worfhip and fervice. In the ftyle of fcripture, an idol is nothing in the world, and confequently is no god. In allu- fion to this defcription of the Heathen deities, the fa- cred poet thus invites us to fuig unto Jehovah : ' The * Lord is great, and greatly to be praifed : he is to be ' feared above all gods. For all the gods of the na- * tions are idols : but the Lord made the heavens *.* They are not what their deluded votaries fuppofe them to be, nor are they at all poifefled of thofe qua- lities which are vainly afcribed to them by thofe who do them homage. Of thefe idolatrous nations the king of Affyria boafts, that his hand had found them. He laid hold of them as a prey to his unbounded am- bition and rapacity : by his victorious arms he obtain- ed over them complete conquefc, and rendered them provinces of his extenfive empire. On comparifon, it appeared to him, that the graven images of thefe nations far excelled, in value, fculpture, and magnifi- cence, thofe of Samaria and Jerufalem. You are fur- prifed at the comparifon. Indeed it is truly aftonifn- ing to hear, that, notwithftanding the many flritt pro- hibitions which the true God delivered to his people Ifrael againfh every fpecies of idolatry, there were among them graven images. As idolatry was for- bidden the Ifraelites under the fevered penalties, it was for mod part fecretly committed ; and, therefore, as may naturally be fuppofed, their images were not fo elegant and coftly as were thofe made by the people among whom idolatry was pubhcly authorized and pradifed. Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, fo do to 'Jerufalem and her idols ? The vaunting monarch here animates himfclf to proceed in hoflile attempts againil Judea, by the fuccefs that attended ^ Pfal, xcvi. .\, 5. hi. Ver. 12. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 585 his arms when direfted againfl other nations. The language is fimilar to that ufed by the meffenger fent to Hezekiah, king of Judah, whole words are record- ed, 2 Kings xix. 1 1, 12, 13. By fpeaking in this in- folent manner, this proud ambitious prince vilified and blafphemed the true God, who was worfliipped at Jerufalem, as the king of Judah acknowledged in his prayer, after he received the meffage above refer- red to. By this daring conduct, which he purfued in open defiance of the omnipotent Jehovah, he expofed himfelf to the divine vengeance, which afterward fell. with a crufliing v/eight upon his guilty liead. God, mv brethren, may pafs over many fms of igno- rance and weaknefs, which men daily commit ; but when they prefume to profane his great name, and to infult his glorious majefly, they fliall not efcape his righteous judgment. 1 2 Wherefore it fliall come to pafs, that when the Lord hath performed his v/hole work upon mount Zion, and on Jerufalem, I Vv'ill pimifli the fruit of the ftout heart of the king of Affy- ria, and the glory of his high looks. The prophet now foretels the certain punifliment of the king of AiTyria, whole enormous crimes called aloud for vengeance. The time which infinite wifdom had fixed for abafmg the pride of Afiyria is marked by thefe words : When the Lord hath per- formed his to bole work upon ?nount Zion, and on Je- rufalem. This expreflion, as the -learned Vitringa obferves, muH be underftood not abfolutely, but with confiderable reftriclions ; not as comprehend- ing all the works of judgment which God v^as about to execute upon Zion and Jerufalem for their fms, and the great work of redemption which v/as there to be confummatcd in the lafl days, but the whole work of God which was immediately to pre- cede and introduce the fall of the AlTvrian empire. This 586 ■ LECTURES on the Chap. X. This limited fenfe of the words is quite confiflent with the rules neceflfary to be obferved in the interpreta- tion of the prophetic fcriptures, in which the begin- ning and the completion of the work of God, which is always perfedt, are indifTolubly conneded, and a part is often fubitituted to exprefs the whole. In this manner the words of Jefus Chrill may be explained, which you read, Matth. xxiv. 34. ' Verily I fay unto ' vou, This generation fnail not pafs, till all thefe * things be fulfilled ;' where he affirms, that feeing the predidiions he had delivered begun to be accom- plished, was in effed beholding their full completion. Agreeable to this remark, the judgments executed by Sennacherib upon the pofterity of Ifrael, on the one hand, may be viewed as the certain prelude of all the calamities afterward infiided upon them by the kings of AiTyria ; and, on the other, the flaughter of Sen- nacherib's army may be confidered as introductory to the fall and deftrudlion of the Affyrian empire. Ac- cording to this principle, the import of the words be- fore us is fhortly this : After God halh feverely cha- ftened his people with the rod of his anger, for their hypocrify and wickednefs, which was the beginning of the work of judgment, which he afterward com- pleted by the Romans, he would then punifh the intolerable pride and blafphemy of the Affyrian monarch. I will puniJJj the fruit of the Jioiit heart of the kin^ of Affyria^ and the glory of his high looks. The ftout heart here threatened is entirely different from true magnanimity or greatnefs of mind, arifmg from good principles, and accompanied with other virtues, which excites to the mod laudable and renowned ac- tions. It is an odious ftubborn difpofition, which afts in dired; contrariety to lovvUnefs of mind and poverty of fplrit, whereby people are inclined to think modeit- ly of their abilities and performances: it proceeds from pride, is llrengthened by external grandeur and dig- nity, and difcovered by vain felf-conceit, and foolilh boaltin.tr Ver. 13. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 587 boafting of pad exertions and fucceffes, and future in- tended enterprifes. The fruit of the king of AlTyria's flout heart, was a daring expedition againfl Jerufalem, undertaken in proud contempt of the true God, and accompanied with blafphemous infults, repeatedly of- fered to the Mod High over all the earth. The glory of his high looks fignificantly expreifes the felf- fufficiency, the vain glory, and the fupercilious dif- dain wfierewith he treated his inferiors, which were mod confpicuous in the countenance and condudt of the Affyrian prince. The Lord, therefore, who hateth a proud look, declares, that he was determined to pu- nifli his arrogance ; who was among the chief of the generation of thofe concerning whom Agur thus ipeaks: ' How lofty are their eyes ! and their eye-lids * are lifted up*.' The fulfilment of this predic- tion you may read in the thirty-feventh chapter of this prophecy, 36th and following verfes. Thus we fee the proverb v^ified, which faith, ' Pride goeth ' before deftrudlion, and a haughty fpirit before a ' fall f .' Righteous vengeance belongeth unto the Lord, who never fails to punifli the pride and haugh- tinefs of men in the mod proper feafon. After the prince of Tyrus was lifted up, God fent drangers upon him, to bring him down to the pit J : when the heart of Edom was become proud, the Lord threw him down || : and when the heart of the king of AlTy- ria had waxed dout, the Lord declared he would pu- nidi the glory of his high looks. Let us then, with Nebuchadnezzar, after his experience of this truth, and reuoration to his kingdom, ' praife, extol, and * honour the King of heaven, all whofe works are ' truth, and his ways judgment; and thofe that walk ' in pride he is able to abafe §.' 13 For he faith. By the ftrength of my hand I have done it, rnd by my wifdora ; for I am * Prov, XXX. 13. f Prov. xvi. i8. :}; Ezek. xxviii. 6, 7, 8. !! Obad. 3, 4. § Dan. iv. 37. 4 E prudent : 588 LECTURES o^' the Chap. X. prudent : and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treafures, and I have put down the hihabitants like a valiant This and the following verfe contain the iiluftra- tlon and proof of what hath been already faid re- fpecting the king of Aflyria, of whofe arrogancy and vain glory a farther dt^fcripticn is given. To his own ftrength, wifdom, and prudence, and not to God, whom he refufed to acknowledge, he inlolently afcribes all his great exploits, the profperity that attended his martial enterprifes, the victories of his armies, *the grandeur and extent of his empire. To the ftrength and valour of his troops, to his political wifdom and difcernment, to his difcretion and prudence, he attri- butes the honour and glory of all the defired fuccefs that crowned his military operations, which corre- fponded with his higheft expectations. To thefe caufes he prefumptuoufly afligns the following effeds of power and conqueft : — — / have removed the bounds of the people. The people here intended were; I fup- pofe, thofe who belonged to the Aifyrian empire, and to the feveral neighbouring nations with whom the Affyrian monarch had fuccefsfully contended in battle. The boundaries of his own dominions he had greatly enlarged by conqueft, and extended his fovereignty over great part of the earth ; and thus the limits of other nations were much changed and contracted. — And have robbed their treafures. The treafures of the people fpoken of, comprehended their liberty and property, their hlver and gold, and other valuable effects, which they moft efteemed, and gave up with the greatcft reludance. Thefe treafures he vauntingly boafts that he had robbed, either by concealed fraud and fecret deceit, under the pretext cf ading with jaftice and equity, or by open force and violence, con- fuming, fpoiling, and deibroying all that lay within his reach. And I have put down the inhabitants like a 'valiant Ver. 14. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 589 a valiant man. The inhabitants of the dififerent dates which the kinj^ of Affyria had conquered, he deprived of their former importance, with the prerogatives they had enjoyed, and reduced them to an abjefl: and def- picable condition. Ading in this arbitrary manner, he vainly compares himfelf to a vahant man, a firong courageous perfon, who, according to his pleafure, difpofes of thofe who are weak, and unable to make any efteftual refiif ance. From the ftriking inftance of pride, felf-coRceit, and contempt of God, here re- corded for our inftrudion, let us beware of vainly at- tributing our fuccelies to our own abilities, and ne- glefting to acknovv'ledge the fupreme Difpofer of all events, left we dafii upon that dangerous rock which proved the ruin of the AiTyrian. The prophet Habak- kuk fpeaks of thofe v/hofe portion is fat, and their meat plenteous, who fiicriliced to their own net, and burnt incenfe to their own drag. They afcribed the honour and praife of all their affluence and enjoy- ments to fecond caufes, and thus put them in the place of God. Aware of the fm and folly of fuch conduct, * give unto the Lord glory and ftrength : ' give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name*.* 14 And my hand hath found as a neO; the riches of the people : and as one gathereth egg^ that are left, have I gathered all the earth, and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. The king of Affvria is here reprefented as glorying in another difplay of his ftrength and v/ifdom. I The metaphor employed in this defcription is finiplc and beautiful, and alludes to the well-known practice of birds, who having depofited their eggs in their nefts, with the utmoft attention and diligence, take care for their fcifety : if, through fear of being catchcd, they * Pr^l. xcvi'. 7, 8. ara 590 LECTURES ON THE Chap. X. are obliged to leave them, and quit their nefls, they flee about, moving their wingo, and peeping, in this manner exprefiing fomewhat refembling grief and concern for the lofs they are obliged to.fuftain. By this figurative language, the great fuccefs that attend- ed the Aflyrian monarch, in collefting, with the ut- moft avidity, the riches of the nations he had con- quered, and fubjeifted to his power, is fignificantly re- prefented. The firft folicitude of. this avaricious ty- rant would be, to find out whereof their riches and treafures confifted, and where they were laid up : having made this difcovery, he poffefTed himfelf of them by fraud or extortion, by grievous impofitions and exorbitant taxes, that he might employ rhem in gratifying his covetous defires, and vain glorious de- figns. Thefe acts of injufl:ice and rapacity reached not only to the people of fome few countries which were fituated in his neighbourhood, but, if we believe this vaunting prince, to all the earth, where his con- quefts had extended far and wide. By this infatiable covetoufnefs and cruelty, he would no doubt oblige many of the inhabitants to defert their habitations, and flee away to other countries : whilll he counter- acted the great ends of good government, inftead of being a father to the people under his dominion, and a6ling toward them with moderation and equity, he deprived them of their liberty, efiates, and poflef- fions, and obliged them to fubmit to the greatefl hardfhips. Such, however, was the power of this great prince, or rather oppreffive tyrant, that none of thofe whom he fpoiled of their wealth durft refifl his power, defend themfelves or their property from his encroachments, or com.plain of the injuftice and hardfhips which they i^uff'ered. Scnfible of their own inability to oppofe force to force, and overwhelmed with the dread of flill greater evils than thofe which they felt, they quietly, though reludlantly, fubmitted to that oppreflion which they could not avoid.' — • — The charader of Sennacherib, king of Aflyria, is here juflly Ver. 15. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 591 juftly delineated, in fo far as we can judge from other concurring teflimonies of fcripture and ancient hiPLo- ry, which attribute to him the pride, rapacity, and conqueft whereof he now boafts. You who are fond of amaffing wealth, beware of increafmg your riches by fraud, injuftice, and extortion, and of add- ing to your own pofleffions by encroaching on tha property of other people. To augment your enjoy^ ments, and to gratify your avarice and vanity, at the expence of others, efpecially of thofe who dare not complain of your conduft, is not only iniquitous, but highly criminal in a peafant as well as a prince, and a praftice always dangerous in the extreme, 15 Shall the axe boaft itfelf againft him that heweth therewith ? or fhall the faw magnify it- felf againft him that fhaketh it ? as if the rod fliculd fhake itfelf againft them that lift it up, cr as if the ftaff ihould lift up if elf as fit were no wood. The prophet, in this verfe, fhews the abfurdity of the fentiments above delivered, and reprehends the pride of the Affyrian monarch by two apt fimili- tudes, in which he again reminds him of his entire de- pendence upon God, and that he a<5led continually un- der his direction and control. The haughty prince is informed, that his vain glory was no lefs abfurd than if the axe, with which the proprietor or tradefraan cuts dov/n and fquares the timber, fhould vaunt- ingly boaft, that it, and not the artificer by whom it was ufed, performed the work, for executing which it was employed as an inftrument. That his felf- importance and felf-conceit were as ridiculous as if the> faw, ufed in cutting wood (fuppofing it end£)wed with the faculty of fpeech), fhould prefumptuoufly magnify its own powers, and fet at nought the workman, whofe fliill and ability gave it the direction and force that enabled it to perform the purpofcs to which it ' was 592 LECTURES ON THE Chap.X. was applied. That fpeaking and a6llng in Vne manner he had done were as inconfident with the de- pendent condition of a creature, as if the rod or ftaff, that is no more than a bit of wood, deftitute of life and activity, fhould be fuppofed to lift upitfelf againfl: the perfon who moved it, and to refifl that agency, without which it could do nothing. What inftruc- tions are thefe fmiilitudes defigned to inculcate ? They clearly teach, that nothing can be more impious and abfurd than that men, however eminent their liation, and great their power, afcribe to themfelves, independent of God, the direction and government of the affairs of this world. The invifible things of God, even his eternal pov/er and Godhead, are as confpicuous in the things that are done, as in the things that are made. True, indeed, God is pleafed to ule inftruments for executing his purpofes, not bc- caufe he cannot, with equal eafe and fuccefs, work without them ; but that, by their means, he may more illuftrioufly difplay his own glory, that he may employ every creature in his fervice, and difpofe of it according to his pleafurc.- They plainly inform us, that the king of Affyria entirely depended upon God in all his motions and enterprifes, notwithfland- ing he was infenfible of this dependence. All the powers he polTeffed, of dehberating upon public af- fairs, of forming plans of operation, and carrying them into execution, proceeded from God, without whom he could do nothing ; and who, when he pleafed, could have deprived him of his abilities. The exercife of all his faculties were fo limited and circumfcribed by divine providence, that he could not do more or lefs, or acl otherwife, than to fulfil the counfel of the Mod High. This doctrine is founded upon fcripture, where we are taught, that the great Lord of the univerfe, though infinitely holy in all his operations, fo prefides over the a«5lions of men, that nothing can happen contrary to his decree, and that even their criminal conduct he renders fub«» fervient Ver. i6 prophecies of ISAIAH. 59J fervient to the purpofes whereby his own glory is manifefted. Of this truth a remarkable proof is ad- duced by the apoftle Peter, who affirms, that the cru- cifixion of Jefus Chriil, by wicked hands, was by the determinate counfel and foreknowledge of God *. I attempt not to explain the manner of the divine ope- ration, nor to fhew the confiflency of this doctrine with the perfed purity and reditude of Jehovah, which is perhaps too profound a fubjeft to be invefti- gated by human underdanding in its prefent enfeebled and corrupted (late ; and, therefore, this matter ought always to be treated with the greateft modefty and delicacy. What is man, in his bed eftate, that he ihould be proud and vain glorious ? Whatever prerogatives we enjoy, it becomes us often to re- mem.ber, and humbly to acknowledge, that we are dull and afhes, a fhadow, a vapour, a flower in the field, and altogether vanity ; and that, as inftruments in the hand of God, we are no more than the axe and the faw in the hand of the artificer. Deeply con^ vinced that all the gifts and pov/ers with which we are furnilhed proceed from God, let us bcv/are of em- ploying them as weapons of rebellion againft him, and of becoming proud and vain of what v/e have re- ceived from him. 1 6 Therefore fliall the Lord, the Lord of hofis, lend among his fat ones leannefs, and un- der his glory he iliall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. In this and the following verfes, the punidiment hinted at in the 12th verfe is more particularly re- prefented, which God determined to infiid upon the AlTyrian monarch, on account of his pride and rapa- city. The author of the following judgments is the Lord, the Lord of hods, who is holy in all his ways, jult and true in all his works j v/ho, by the fulfilment * A6ls ii. 23. of 594 LECTURES ON THE' Chap. X, of this predidlon, was to afford an eminent difplay of his majefly, omnipotence, and tender care of his people. The inftruments of divine vengeance being frequently vifible and felt, we are too apt to negled to inquire into the caufes from which it proceeds, to overlook the appointment of the Lord of hofls, to difquiet ourfelves, and to fret againft thofe who have been the means of our punifhment ; and, therefore, the fcripture often leads up our thoughts to him who corredeth the nations. Let us attend to the various inflruftive emblems by which our prophet defcribes the judgments to be executed upon Aflyria. The firft metaphor is taken from a confumption, which wades the flefli and fatnefs, and impairs the beauty and vigour of health and profperity. By the fat ones of the king of AiTyria, may be meant his numerous, weil-difciplined, flout, good-looking foldiers, who were much admired by thofe who beheld them on account of their appearance: or by them might be intended his nobles, governors, and chief officers, with other great men who were his attendants. Among thefe God declares he would fend leannefs, which being often the eifed of diflrefs, is accompa- nied with great weaknefs, and a mean appearance. The expreflion may denote, that the Aflyrian army was to be deprived of its befl troops by a fudden mortal diflemper, which was to make fad ravages among the principal officers, whilit thofe who re- mained were to look ill, pale, and lean. A predic- tion very fmiilar to this was afterward delivered by the prophet Zephaniah, againd the children of Moab and Amnion, who reproached the people of God, and magnified themfelves againfl them : ' This fhall ' they have for their pride, becaufe they have re- * proached and magnified themfelves againft the ' people of the Lord of hofts. The Lord will be * terrible unto them : for he will famifli all the gods * of the earth *'.' * Zeph. ii. 10, II. Arid Ver. i6. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 595 Jnd under bis glory he Jhall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. The metaphor here ufed alludes to the fire, which, in a very fliort time, reduces to aflies the combuilible matter that lies within its reach. Fire is frequently mentioned in fcripture, as the in- flrument which God employs in executing righteous judgment upon fmners. The Lord rained upon So- dom, and Gomorrah, brimftone and fire from the Lord out of heaven *. Among the wonderful plagues fent upon the Egyptians, was fire mingled with hail |. When the anger of the Lord was kindled againll the Ifraelites, on account of their murmuring, we read, that the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and confumed them who were in the uttermoft parts of the camp}. At the requefl of the prophet Elijah, fire came down from heaven, and confumed the cap- tain, and his fifty men, that were fent to apprehend himj|. In thefe and other inftances, the fire fpoken of was extraordinary and miraculous, as was that which is threatened to confume the glory of AiTyria, confiding in the well-furnifhed powerful army of that empire, which conftituted its ftrength and de- fence. Under this glory the Lord was to kindle a burning, whereby it fliould fuddenly and Irrefiftibly be devoured. The prophecy, when compared with the accomplilliment, which you read, 2 Kings xix. 35. et feq. is eafy to be underflood, and therefore requires little illuftration. By this fire, Sennache- rib, king of Affyria, loft, in one night, of his vail army lying before Jerufalem, one hundred and eighty-five thoufand men ; after which, with the re- mainder, he was obliged to return to his own coun- try, where not long after he was put to death by his fons. In this manner was the predidion before us moft remarkably verified j and the event is record- * Gen. xix. 24, f Exod. ix. 23, 24. % Numb, xl, i. et feq, li 2 Kings i. 10. 3? e^ 596 LECTURES ON THE Chap. 1. ed for our admonitionj upon whom the ends of the world iire come. ly. And the light of Ifrael fliall be for a fire, and his holy One for a flame : and it ihali burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day. The judgment threatened in the preceding verfe is in thefe words farther defcribed and explained. 1 fuppofe the Son of God, the Angel of the divine prefence, to whom is committed the adminiftration of all the affairs relative to the church of God, is the Perfon intended by the light of Ifrael, and his ho- ly One. This charafter juftly belongs to him who is light, and in whom is no darknefs at all ; who Is the true light, prefigured by the typical lamps hung out to alleviate the darknefs of the former difpenfation ; and who, by this defignation, is diftingulfhed from thofe dangerous falfe lights that have appeared in the world. ' He is the light of the world, who fpake na- tural light into exigence, who lighted up all the great luminaries of heaven, and enlighteneth every man that Cometh into the world with the light of reafon and underftanding. This defcriptlon may have a fpe- cial reference to the very confpicuous part which this illuflrlous Perfon aifled toward Ifrael, v/hen he con- ducted them out of Egypt, through the wildernefs, to- ward the promifed land of relt. By a pillar of fire, he illuminated their camp, and direded their marches through the defert, during the darknefs of the night ; and afforded them all that typical light which they enjoyed from the inftitutlons of the law. Efpecially is he the light of Ifrael, as he enlightens them with the knowledge of the truths and ways of God ; and whiifl he confumes their enen'ies, he purifies them from corruption to be a peculiar people, zealous of good works. With equal propriety is the Son of God called his holy One. In his divine nature, he is glorious in holinefs j in his human nature, he is holy, harmlefs, Ver. 17. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 597 harmlefs and undefiled ; in all his offices, operations, and inih-uclions, he difplays the moil conlummate ,^ighteoufnefs, rectitude, and purity ; and from him proceed all thofe beauties of holinefs with which his people are adorned, and in which they diine forth before men, to the glory of their heavenly Father. — Concerning this glorious Perfon the prophet de- clares, that, in the deftru6lion of Affyria, He JIdall be for afire^ and for a flame : and it f}:; all hum and devour his thorns and briers in one day. De- vouring fire and flame make a terrible appearance in the view of fpe£tators. What a dreadful fight to be- hold a large (hip of war on fire, or a great city in flames ! Fire and flame not only flrike the beholders with terror, but alfo give occafion to great pain and agony to thofe on whom they lay hold ; and, there» fore, when the judgments of God were abroad on the earth, our prophet thus defcribes his own condition, and that of his devout countrymen : ' As a woman- ' with child that draweth near the time of her delivery, ' is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs ; fo have we ' been in thy fight, O Lord */ To this I add, that" fire and flame defliroy all that lie within their reach : hence the royal poet thus fpeaks of defolating, j'-^clg- ments : ' Thou flialt make them ^as a fiery oven in the ' time of thine anger : the Lord (liall fwallow them ' up in his wrath, and the fire fliall devour themf.* On thefe and fimilar accounts, the light, and holy One of Ifrael is here foretold to be for a- fire and flame. How formy^ie, how terrible would be his appearance at the^Me to which this prediction re- fers, when his kindled wrath was quickly to confume- the glory of one of the greateft empires in the world ! How acute the pain, how great the diftrefs, which would be felt by thofe w^ho were confuined by this fire and flame, and how dreadful the confumption that. was to attend the acccmplifliment of the event * Ifaiahxxvi. 17. f Pfal. xxi. 9, here 593 LECTURES ON THE Chap. X. here foretold ! and, therefore, with great prgprlety, the judgment, to be executed by the Son of God, is exprefled by fire and flame, which were to devour the briers and thorns in one day. The Affyrian forces, compofed of the common people of that extenfive empire, are doubtlefs intended by the figurative de- fcription of briers and thorns. Like thefe kinds of bufhes, they were exceeding numerous, clofely inter- woven and connefted with one another : none could touch them, far lefs break through them, without being much hurt ; and, like combuftible fluff, they were ready to be confumed by fire and fiame. So ra- pid was to be the progrefs of divine judgment, that they were to be devoured in one day, in a very fhort fpace of time, alluding probably to the fudden over- throw of Sennacherib's arm.y in one night* 1 8 And fhall confume the glory of his forefl, and of his fruitful field, both foul and body : and they ihall be as when a ftandard-bearer fainteth. The dreadful progrefs of the above-mentioned de- vouring fire and flame is here marked, and its direful effedls upon Affyria are more fully delineated. The forefl of the king of Afliyria, the glory of which was to be confumed, is not to be literally explained, of the royal foreft that contained all forts of game be- longing to the king ; but muft be figuratively under- flood, either as denoting ihofc-^iarge and populous cities, in which v/ere built magnificent palaces and temples, with other public edifices, and vail numbers of houfes, fome of which contained the mofl eminent people in the empire ; or rather, as fignifying the principal viceroys, the richeft nobles, the mofl power- ful rulers, and valiant commanders, v/ho were renown- ed for the dignity of their rank, the fplendour of their condition, and their courage in the time of dan- ger, The glory of his fruitful field, may either de- note Ver. 19. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH, S99. note the plentiful produdions of the fertile lands be-» longing to Affyria, fuch as corn, M'ine, and oil, the deUcious fruits with v/hich their country abounded, with the prodigious quantities of cattle which attend- ed the AiTyrian prince at the time to which this pre- didion refers ; or rather, thofe (tout young men who had entered into the army, or in various capacities at- tended it, who were the beauty and glory of the fruit- ful country in which they were born and brought up. Both foul and body. A proverbial expreffion, which clearly intimates the complete deflruction of thofe who are here intended : the chief fenators and counfellors, with their bed officers, who were the foul whereby the nation was animated and directed ; thefe were to fall, with the great body of the army, who were to be cut off in one night. The few who were to be exempted from the common calamity, overwhelmed with confternation and dread, fhould be obliged precipitantly to flee for fafety. And they jh all be as when a Jlandard-bearer fainteth. The comparlfon ufed to illuftrate the timid, diforderly condition of the remains of the AiTyrian army is jufl and beautiful. When the ofncer who bears the ftandard or enfign belonging to a regiment of foldiers faints, becomes feeble, languid, and deje£ted, through fear, fatigue, or the wounds he hath received, and the (landard drops to the ground, or is fnatched away by the enemy, the band of union is broken, confufion arifes, timidity prevails, and the men make a hafly retreat. Thefe circumftances afford a (triking re- prefentation of the condition of the Affyrian army, after the threatened judgment was executed. Their hearts became feeble and faint ; they were filled with difmay and perplexity, and fled with the greateft pre- cipitation for fafety, like a man when his houfe is in imminent danger of being confumed by fire. 1 9 And the reft of the trees of his foreft fhall be few, that a child may write them. So 6oo LECTURES ON THE Chap. X» So very great was to be the predided flaughter among the Affyrian troops, which, prior to this event, were exceeding numerous, that few perfons of rank and eminence were to remain : their number fliould be fo very fmall, that a child, Vv'ho hath made very little progrefs in arithmetic, was to be able to reckon and write them. The event exactly correfponded with this prophecy. The Lord of hofts, as here foretold, kindled a fire under the glory of the king of Aflyria, which devoured the greateft part of his army, and flruck with a panic the few that were left, as vou read in the hiflory of this overthrow, recorded c Kings xix. 31;. and following verfes. From this predidion, compared with its accomplifhment, we learn this important leflbn. That when princes become proud and haughty, however tiourilhing their condi- tion, however powerful their armies, however exten- five their dominions, and fuccefsful their enterpriTes, the moil high God will certainly abafe and punifu them. We know the Lord is greater than all gods ; for in the thing wherein they deal proudly, he is above them. Pharaoh king of Egypt boaded, that he would purfue and overtake, divide the fpoil of If- rael, and that his hand ihould deflroy them. What followed this vaunting declaration ? God did blow with his wind, the fea covered them, and he and his hoft funk like lead in the mighty waters. Zedekiah king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and Sennacherib king of Aflyria, with many others who walked in pride, have all been humbled and laid lov/, by him who refifteth the proud. ' Be v/ife now * therefore, O ye kings : be inllrufted, ye judges of ' the earth. Serve the Lord v/ith fear, and rejoice ^ with trembling *.' And ye, my brethren, ' talk * no more fo exceeding proudly, let not arrogancy ^ come out of your mouth : for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him aClions are weighed f .* •* Pfal ii. 10. II. t I Snm. ii. -?. 20 U And Ver. 20. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 66i 20 ^ And it fliall come to pafs in that day, that the remnant of Ifrael, and fuch as are efcaped of the hoiife of Jacob, fhall no more again ftay upon him that fmote them : but fhall ftay upon the LoRD, the holy One of Ifrael, in truth. In this and the following verfe, are defcribed the happy confequences of the awful judgment above foretold, refpeding the ftate of the church of God. — After this memorable deliverance wrought for the people of God, they fhould withdraw their dependence from human aid, and place unfufpeding confidence upon his grace, power, and faithfulnefs, who had miraculoully faved them from impending deflruftion. The feafon marked out for this event is thus exprelTed : jlnd it Jhall come to pafs in that day, or in thofe days, or after that day, in which the foregoing predidlion fhould be fulfilled. Whether we confider the period of time here intended, as very near to, or more re- mote from the calamity it was to fucceed, the words muil be underflood in one or other of the above fenfes. Immediately after the deftruclion of the Affyrlan army, the prediction before us was partially fulfilled in the reign of Hezekiah, when the remnant of Ifrael, contemplating the wonderful interpofition of Jehovah in their favour, would no more truft in Aflyria for afFiflance, but flayed upon God alone, who faved them when they were in the molt perilous circumflances. It received a more full completion long afterward, when the New Teflament diipenfa- tion commenced, at the period to which the apoftle Paul exprefsiy applies this pafTage, in the ninth chap- ter of his epiftle to the Romans, ver. 27, 28. To both thefe periods, though very diifant from each other, this prophecy doubtlefs refers. The former, which was at no great diflance from the time in which it was delivered, might chiefly engrofs the prophet's attention j and the literal accomplifhment which it then 6o2 LFXTURES ON THE Chai^.X. then received, ferved as a fpecimen and proof of its progreffive and more perfect completion, chiefly and ultimately intended by its divine Author. May this prophecy be fulfilled this day, not only in your ears, but in your hearts and lives, by your renouncing all confidence in an arm of flefh, vv^hich expofes to the curfe of God, and trufting with all your heart on the Lord ; then fhall you never be difappointed of your hope, nor afhamed of your expectation of mercy, of feafonable deliverance, and eternal falvation.- The fubjecls of this prophecy are thus defcribed : The remnant of Ifrael, and fuch as are efcaped of the houfe of Jacob. After God hath punifned, in perfed: xighteoufnefs, the enemies of his glory and the feli- city of his people, he always referves to himfelf a remnant, who, having efcaped abounding iniquity and defolating judgments, place their truft in him, and return unto him. In that day, at the time his juflice puniihed the Egyptians, his mercy was extended un- to Ifrael. When the idolatrous worlhip of Baal pre- vailed through the land of Ifrael, God was pleafed to referve to himfelf a remnant of feven thoufand, who bowed not the knee to that Idol. After the AfTyrians were overthrov/n, the houfe of Jacob efcaped. Af- ter the Medes and Perfians laid Babylon and her land defolate, ' In thofe days, and at that time, faith * the Lord, the children of Ifrael Ihall come, they and * the children of Jndah together, and feek the Lord * their God : they fhall afk the way to Zion with their * faces thitherward**.* After the commencement of the New Teftament difpenfation, and the enemies of the Son of God were overwhelmed by defolating calamities, a remnant, a few remaining of a great number, were faved, as the apollle Paul declares, in the paifage above mentioned: ' Though, the num- ' ber of the children of Ifrael be as the fand of the * fea, a remnant fliall be faved f .* In the execution of * Jer. 1. 4. f Rom. ix, 27. the Ver.20. prophecies of ISAIAH. 605 the moft terrible judgments, God always remembers mercy. Amidft the deflruclion of the old world, Noah and his family were faved : amidft the over- throw of Sodom, Lot and his family were delivered : amidft the unbelieving, impenitent Ifraelites, a rem- nant was to ftay upon God. The apoitle of the Gen- tiles, fpeaking of this fubjed, affirms, That this refi- due, which God referves, proceeds from the eleftion of grace, the fovereign good pleafure of God ; and if by grace, then it is no more of works, otherwife grace is no more grace. The perfons fpoken of in this verfe, are likewife defcribed as the efcaped of the houfe of Jacob, who happily avoiding the prevail- ing corruptions of the times, and the delblating judg- ments whereby their enemies were deftroyed, fhould be confidered as a firebrand plucked out of the fire *. Aware of the imminent danger to which they were expofed, through abounding infidelity and wicked- nefs, they cautioufly fhunned the general contagion, and were fafely preferved from defolating calami- ties. Concerning fuch it is foretold, They Jhall no more again Jiay upon him that fmote them: but pall Jiay upon the Lcrd^ the Holy One of Ifrael, in truth. Being convinced of the extreme folly of leaning upon a ftay which, inftead of fup- porting, had fmitten them, they w^ere to truft no more to the power of AfTyria for afTiftance and de- fence. In this condition, they fhould adopt the lan- guage recorded Hofea xiv. 3. ' Aflmr Ihall not fave ' us, we will not ride upon horfes, neither will we ' fay any more to the work of our hands, Ye are * our gods : for in thee the fatherlefs findeth mercy.* Heartily renouncing all vain fuperftitious confidences, and all dependence on confederacy with the enemies of God, for which Ahaz and his people were diftrelT- ed, all their hopes of deliverance and fafety fhould be founded upon God. ' Truly in vain is falvation hoped * Amoa iv. II, 3 G * for 6o4 LECTURES on the Chap. X. * for from the hills, and the multitude of mountains : ' truly in the Lord our God is the falvation of ^ Ifrael */ This remnant was no longer to depend upon foreign connections, national riches, or fuper- Ititious devotions, for public or private fafety ; but to truft in the Lord, that he might remove the evils they fiilt or feared, and feafonably to confer upon them all the bleilings fuited to their circumllances, firmly per- fuaded of his intimate acquaintance with their necefli- ties, of his faithfulnefs in pcrfornfing hii promifes, of his tender compaHion and infinite ability to affifl and deliver. In this manner fhould the remnapt of Ifrael jtay upon their holy One, in truth and fincerity, without dilllmulation ; not merely in pretence or pro- fclTion, but in reality. The expreffion denotes uprightnefs and integrity, in oppcfition to all guile and hypocrify, either in principle or defign, and this fmcerity verified by a correfponding converfation and conduft. Perm.it me to recommend to you, my friends, this humble dependence upon God, which is at once your indifpenfable duty and real felicity. Truft in him at all times, ye people. Bleilcd is the man who trufteth in the Lord. Though you may not poil'efsthe accompliflrments, and enjoy the advantages of feme others of your brethren, yet, by {faying upon God, you fhall have inward peace and comfort ; and, in every condition, he will be your fupport, who will never fail you. If your burdens are heavy, you are required to caft them upon the Lord, who will fuitain them. In the greateit dangers, you may make a fafe retreat ; when you hear evil tidings, you ihall not be afraid ; and when others are afham- ed of their confidence, you Ihall never be confound- ed. Stay then upon the holy One of Ifrael, in truth and fincerity. 2 1 The remnant Ihall return, eveti tlie rem- nant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. * Ter. iii. 2^. The Ver.21. prophecies of ISAIAH. 6o«f The pcrfons primarily intended in this prediction, were the remnant which God referved to himfelf from among the natural pofterlty of Jacob, who was furnamed Ifrael, typical of all thofe who formed the remnant according to the eleftion of grace, and con- ftitute the fpiritual pofterity of that great patriarch. — The exprelhon may comprehend all the chofen of God, in every age, and of every nation, even all Ifrael who fliall be faved ; v/ho, renouncing confi- dence in human aid, depend upon the kind provi- dence and faithful promifes of their holy One, for protection and deliverance from alfevil. All thefe fliall return unto the mighty God. Man, in his pri- mitive (late, v/as admitted into the divine prefence, and enjoyed intimate communion with God : his image was his glory, his favour was his life, his will was his rule, his glory was his aim, and his approba- tion the joy of his heart. Being in honour, however, man continued not long in this happy flate ; but, for- faking the fountain of living water, he hewed out to himfelf broken cifterns that could hold no water. He departed from God, and turned afide to go after lying vanities. Notv/ithllandlng their ingratitude, fm, and folly, fuch are the tender mercies of God, that, having opened a new and living'way of accefs into his prefence, he gracloufly invites m.en to return to him from whom they deeply revolted, that iniquity may not prove their ruin ; he directs in what manner this exercife ought to be performed ; and animates to this neceifary duty, by the moil reviving profpeds, and gracious alTurances. And that no en- couragement may be v/anting, he declares, in the words before us, that a remnant fhall return to the mighty God, who can eafily remove every ob- ifacle that lies in the way ; who can fubdue all our iniquities, vanquifh our fpiritual enemiec, flrengthen and do exceeding abundantly above what we can t, with oiherSj alk or thuik. You mufc acknowledg^e, that, with 6o6 LECTURES on the Chap. X. others, you have ^one far from God, that your minds have been alienated from him, that you have not fought his favour, that you have not kept his commands, that you have not gratefully acknow- ledged his mercies, nor properly efleemed his fal- vation. What iniquity have you found in God that you have gone thus far from him * ? Is not he infinitely amiable, and perfectly good ? Did he ever falfify to you any of his promifes ? did he ever delude you with vain hopes ? did he ever treat you with fe- verity and rigour ? did he ever enjoin you any unjuft commands ? did he ever fail to be the fource of per^ manent fatisfaftion and joy ? and hath not all his dif- penfations been marked with confummate goodnefs and benignity ? Could you ever difcover any ble- mifli or deficiency in the Moft High, any thing that could in reafon juftify you in forfaking him? if you cannot plead fufFicient grounds why you have de- parted from the Almighty, permit me, though I fhouid deviate a little from the plan of thefe Eeftures, to requed you to return to the Lord. If you cannot excufe your fm and folly in departing from him, furely you cannot have any good reafon for refufmg to return to him, who thus addrelfeth you ; ' Yet le- * turn again unto me, faith the Lord f .' Abandon your tranfgrefTions, which, if perfifted in, will cer- tainly prove your ruin : renounce thofe other lords who have had dominion over you, and forfake thofe refuges of lies in which you have taken fhelter. Convinced of your fm and guilt, humbly and penitent- ly acknowledge your horrid ingratitude and extreme folly, the difgrace and ruin to which you ftand ex- pofed. With the ardour of divine affedion, returri to him who is infinitely worthy of your higheft love and confidence, thofe hearts which you have facrile- gioufly alienated from him : confecrate to him thofe lives which have been unjuflly ellranged from his fervice by wicked works, that henceforth they may * Jero ii. 5. f Ter. ii;. l. bp Ver. 22. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 607^ employed to his honour. In this manner return to the mighty God, from whom you have departed; and I am verily perfuaded, that you will not think me culpable for. ieizing this precious moment to prefs upon you this reafonable fervice, to which I pray you may be diredted and afiifted by him who v/orketh all in all. This prediction, which was in part ful- jfilled in the days of Hezekiah, and aftervv'ard when, the podcrity of Ifrael returned from captivity at Ba^ bylon, will then receive a more full accompliihraent. 2 2 For though thy people Ifrael be as the fand of the fea, yet a remnant of them fhall re- turn: the confumption decreed fiiail overflow with righteoufnefs. In this verfe, affurance is given, that, as im- menfe numbers of the pofterity of Ifrael would not return to the Lord, the determined defolatioii fliould certainly take an equitable courfe, and be exadlly proportioned by him v/ho is righteous in all his ways. The people of Ifrael are compared to the fand of the fea, on the following accounts, which fully juilifies the refemblance here ftated. Like the fand of the fea, they were barren and unpro- fitable : they did not yield fruit unto God correfpond- ing to the many important advantages which, through the mercy of the Almighty, they enjoyed. Like the fame fand, which, though compofed of innumerable fmall particles, yet, by reafon of the moiflure derived from the fea, are fo clofely united as to form one compact body, the pofterity of Ifrael v/ere intimately united together by one common faith and law, by means of which the whole nation formed one great compad fociety. Efpecially v.-ere they like the fand of the fea for multitude, which it is impoffible either to meafure or number. This laft, I fuppofe, is the refemblance which is chiefly intended in the expref- fipn before us, and in fome other paffages of fcrip- ture 6o8 LECTURES on the Chap. X, ture, where, on this very account, the comparifon Is iiiftituted and repeated. The promife which God gave to Abraham, that he would greatly multiply his pofterity, w^as expreifed in thefe words : ' In blefiing ' I will blefs thee, and multiply thy feed as the ilars, ' and as the fand which is on the fea-fhore*.* This was the promife which Jacob pleaded with God, when afraid of the approach of his brother Efau, left he would fmite the mother with the children: ' Thou ' faidfl, I will furely do thee good, and make thy ' feed as the fand of the fea, which cannot be num- ' bcred for multitude f.' By the renewal of this promife, God was pleafed to adminifter comfort to his people in after-times, by the prophet HofeaJ.* And Ifaiah here declares, that though the alTurance given to the father of the faithful, rel'pecling the in- numerable multitude of his pollerity, ihould be fully accomplifncd, and though only a remnant of them would ftay upon God, yet none of thefe circumftances fhould interfere with the fulfilment of the predicled calamities whereby they were to be feve'rely punifhed. The confiimption decreed Jhall overflow with r'lgh- ieoufncfs. The confumption of which our prophet here fpeaks, is that extenfive defolation whereby great numbers of the ungodly and wicked, who would not return to the Lord, were to be over- whelmed. Their deflrudion was decreed and irre- verfibly determined by the Lord, whofe counfel fliall ftand for ever, and the thourhts of his heart unto ail generations ; who doth whatever pleafeth him in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth- This decreed confumption fliall overflow. The expreffion is metaphorical ; and bears an obvious allufion to a plentiful llream, which, being greatly increafed by a heavy fhower, extends beyond its ordinary channel, and cverfpreads the neighbour- ing grounds, which foon become covered wdth wa- ■\ Gen. xxxii. 12. % IioH-a i. jo. ters* Ver. 22. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 609 ters. In like manner, the threatened confumption of Ifrael, which fliouid take its rife from the wrath of God revealed from heaven againft all unrighteoufnefs and ungodlinefs of men, was to fpread very extenfively among that people, fo that great part of the Jewifli nation was thereby to be fv/ept away. Tliis over- throw ftould be with righteoufnefs, according to the rules of perfeft equity and confummate rcditude. Whatever God hath decreed, whatever he hath de- clared, and whatever he hath done, is with infinite righteoufnefs. The Lord is upright, and in him, and his difpenfluions, there is no unrighteoufnefs. He is holy in all his works, true and righteous in all his ways aiid judgments. The Ifraelites by their mul- tiplied enormous tranfgreflions, had contemned the providence of God, corrupted his worfhip, violated his covenant, and trampled upon his authority : and, therefore, it was highly righteous that God fhould vindicate his injured honour, his neglected providence, his profaned worfliip and covenant ; and fhev/ to his people, and the world, that tranfgrelfors, however great may be their numbers, fhall certainly be pu- nifhed with ^he moft impartial equity. The con- fumptions that God hath decreed often appear to men to be a great depth, which we can neither found nor meafure : we are fometimes puzzled to account for their frequency, feverity, and continuance, and dif- ficulted to difcover the caufes from which they pro- ceed. Of this comfortable truth, however, we hav«j joyful affurance, ' That juftice and judgment are the ' habitation of God's throne : that mercy and truth ' fhall go before his face *.' When, therefore, we either fee or hear of determined confumptions over- flowing kingdoms, cities, or individuals, let us re-= member, that they are all appointed with the moft perfect righteoufnefs and equity ;. and that at all times we may take up the fong of Mofes and the Lamb, * Pfal. Ixxxfx. 14, faying, 6io LECTURES ON THE Chap. X. faying, ' Great and marvellous are thy works. Lord ' God Almighty ; jull and true are thy ways, thou * King of faints *.' 23 For the Lord God of hofis fhall make a confumption, even determined in the midft of all the land. Thefe words are fubjolned to the preceding de^ claration, in order to confirm the awful truth which it contains. The author of the predicted defola- tion was the Lord God of hofts. The Lord, who is felf-exiftent, all-fuflicient, eternal, and un- changeable— God of hofts, who is pofleifed of irre- fiflible power to accomplilh all his purpofes and de- figns of mercy and judgment; who hath all the armies of heaven and earth at his difpofal, and em- ploys them them as feemeth good in his fight. The calamity which he threatened to inflifl:, was a con- fumption, which fliould make terrible devaftation among the fmful devoted people, who were thereby to be greatly wafted. This defolating judgment was to extend not merely to the borders, but to reach even to the midft of the land. Again, it is affirmed, to have been determined: the time, the perions, ths places, the circumftances, were ail fixed in the coun- fels of the Moft High; and, therefore, whatever hurry and confufion might attend the execution, all was ordered and adjufted in the divine purpofe. Whatfoever inftruments God is pleafed to employ in executing his defigns, the work proceeds from him who is wonderful in counfel, and makes the deter- mined confumption. There is a remarkable fimila- rity between this prediftlon, and that which is re- corded in Chap, xxviii. at the 22d verfe, which is intro- duced with this falutary advice, attention to which feems to be particularly requifite when confidering this * Rev. XV. 3. fubjea: Ver.24. prophecies of ISAIAH. 6ii fubjed : * Now therefore be ye not mockers, led ' your bands be made ftronp;.' Though we may not perceive the equity and wildom with which deter- mined confumptions are made, yet, in the contempla- tion of fuch aftonifliing events, we may julHy ex- claim, ' O the depth of the riches both of the wifdoni * and knowledge of God ! how unfearchable are his ' judgments, and his ways paft finding out * 1' The prophecy we have now confidered, received a partial fulfilment in the days of Hezekiah, king of Judah, and afterward about the time of the Babylo- ni(h captivity. It was more fully accompliihed after the Son of God was manifelled in the flefli as the Sa- viour of the world, according to the promifes made to the fathers, when fome of the people of Ifrael hav- ing returned to the Lord, the reft were rejefted ; and, on account of their wicked contempt of the great Mefiiah, his Spirit, and gofpel, they were mife- rably confumed and deftroyed b^ the Romans. 24 H Therefore thus faith the Lord God of hofls, O my people that dwelleil: in Zion, be not afraid of the Aflynan : he fhall fmite thee with a rod, and Ihall lift up his ilaff againft thee, after the manner of Egypt. The prophet, having a little digrelTed from his fub- jeft, now returns to profecute the proper defign of his difcourfe, v*hich was to comfort the hearts of the godly, in the profpeft of the impending evils that threatened the deflruclion of the Jewiih nation. On this benevolent v^ork he again enters, direding them, in the facred name, and by the fupreme authority of the fame glorious and mighty Lord, who would make the determined confumption above mentioned, to lay afide their difquieting and defponding fears. With what earneftnefs and aiiedion doth the Moft High addrefs them-.?- — 0 my people. The fblio"ord is never dilpleafed with any creature, except with finners who have offended him ; and, -herefore, his anger always fuppofes, that the perfon with whom he is difpleafed, hath been a tranfgreffor, and thus expofed himfelf to the wrath of the Almighty. What a heart-affefting acknowledgment ought this to be to every man ! The Lord was angry with me, for having departed from him, and living a ftranger to his love ; for having been ungrateful for his mercies, difobe- dient to his commands, and indifferent to his promifes and threatenings. Had it been the anger of man, though the greateft earthly prince, it had been com- paratively fmall. The wrath of a king is much to be dreaded, efpecially of an abfolutc monarch, who hath the lives and properties of his fubjects at his difpofal : *• It is as the roaring of a lion (faith the wife riian) ; ^ whofo provoketh him to anger, finneth againft his * own foul,' Prov. xx. 2. I'he mightieil potentates on earth, clothed with majefly, and arrayed M^ith ter- rors, are but feeble worms of the dud, who can do but little, even when mod enraged. Before God, they are nothing ; yea, lefs than nothing, and vanity. How dreadful muil be the anger of the King of kings, of whole wrath none knoweth the power ! How^ terrible the revelations he hath given of it from heaven, againft all umighteoufnefs and ungodlinefs of men ! How aw- ful then beyoiid defcriplion ifiall it appear, when he will Ver. t. prophecies of ISAIAH. ^07 ' will come with fire, and with his chariots Hke a * whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his ' rebukes with flames of fire*.* Did upright Job earneilly requeft, that God would hide him in the grave, and keep him fecret until his wrath be pafl ? Did Mofes require to be hid in the clift of the rock, while the glory of the Lord was revealed ? Did they whofe hearts were tender, tremble at the denuncia- tions of this wrath ? were their fouls filled with trouble ? did their ears tingle ? did their lips quiver^ and rottennefs enter into their bones? for fear of the Lord, and the glory of his majcfty, did they enter into the holes of the rocks, and caves of the earth. How dreadful then beyond meafure mud be the fiercenefs and wrath of almighty God ! How (hall finners en- dure, when God fpeaketh to them in wrath, and vex- eth them in his hot difpleafure. Whofe hands can be ftrong, or whofe hearts endure, when thefe awful words of God fliall be accomplilhed : * I will tread ' them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury, * and their blood fhall be fprinkled upon my gar- ' ments, and 1 will (lain all my raiment f.' Were we fenfible as we ought, that the moil high God was thus angry with us, with what raptures of gratitude and joy would we praife the Lord, and fay, Thine anger is fumed away. Thefe words plainly Intimate, the pleafing confcioufnefs of a happy deliver- ance from guilt, and obnoxioufnefs to punifliment, with confequent freedom from the terrible effects of the divine difpleafure. They alfo import, the defirable enjoyment of thofe fatisfying proofs of the favour and lovlng-kindnefs of the Lord, from whence the mind can jullly infer the truth contained in this grateful acknowledgment ; fuch as the blelfednefs refulting from forgivenefs of fms ; fear of offending God ; in- dignation againft every fpecies of iniquity ; the fpirit of love, the law of God, and the hope of glory, occu- * Ifaiah Ixvi. 15. f Ifaiali Ixiii. 3. 4U pyiag yoX LECTURES ON the Chap. XII.' pying the heart,, and uniformly operating upon the whole temper and condad. The pofleflion of this ineftimable privilege, thus demonllrated, jiidly af- fords, in every view, the mofl: ample ground of praife and thanlifgiving, which will be exprelTed by every one participating in this felicity, in fuch language as the following : Thine anger is turned away ; who when thou looked on the earth, it trembleth ; when thou toucheth the hills, they fmoke : the effefts of thine anger are terrible, deilruclive, and everlalling. The expreffions of thine awful difpleafure are now averted, and thou adeft toward me in a manner very different from that which I experienced when thou wad angry with me. The tokens of thy wrath, which thou fliewedd me in time pad, are now happily l\Kchanged for the mod agreeable pledges of thy love. Thine anger, compared in thy word to thunder and lightning, from which I had jud reafon to dread ever- lading dedru«5lion, burd upon his head whom thou condituted our Mediator, and fet forth to be the pro- pitiation for our fms. When thy wrath, like a mighty torrent, rolled toward man with irrefidible force, ready to overwhelm him in the boundlefs abyfs of mi- fery and wo, thou, in thy wonderful grace, raifed up a mighty One, who kindly interpofed in our behalf, turned away thine anger, and caufed it to ceafe. I contemplate him with admiration and gratitude, drinking of the brook in the way, bearing the re- proach and rage of men, fudaining .rhe attacks of the powers of darknefs, enduring the curfe of the law, pouring out his precious blood upon the earth, and laying down his facred life, 'to deliver men from the wrath to come. And thou comforieJJl me. What admirable conde- fcenfion, what unfpeakable love, what tender compaf- fion, doth God manifed, in com.municatlng divine confolations into the hearts of his people ! Perfons may be liberated from flavery, by the arm of power ; they may be icfcued from oppreifion, by the exercife of Ver. I. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 709 of juftlce; they may be relieved from want, by the hand of bounty : but to pour reviving conlblation into the dejected mind, is the kind oiace of pure af/eclion and pity. God promifed of old to his church, by our prophet» ' That as one whom his mother comforteth, * fo will I comfort you : and ye fhall be comforted- ' in Jeruialem*.' By this beautiful hmilitude, God is pleafed to reprefcnt the endearing manner in which he perfornio the blefled work here thankfully acknow- ledged. One whom a tender-hearted m.oiher com- forteth, is funpofed to be in diftrefs and dejeftion, mider which the kind parent is follcitous to admini- fter reli-ef. How manifold the fears, the allliclions, the fofrows, and difcouragements, to which the people of God, from various caufes, are obnoxious m this prefent world. " Juftly may the man of God often fay. How weak hath been my faith ! how many have been myfe':rs! how pov/erful my temptations 1 how ftrong my corruptions ! how innumerable the defponden- cies wherewith I have been opprefied and dilturb- ed! Amidft all the bitternefs. and uneafmefs to which thefe things have given rife, thou, Lord, haft reftored comforts to me: thou haft revived my enfeebled mind, and conveyed refrefhment to my foul, by the facred inlluence of thy Spirit, giving me an agreeable fenfe of thy mercy, the gracious af- furance of thy favour,, and the precious faith of thy eleil, whereby 1 have joy and peace in believing thy exceeding great and precious promifes, which contain the moft enriching bleffings, to be enjoyed in due fea- fon. If the favours that God bellows upon innocent creatures, who never oflended him, excite their gra^ titude and praife, are not our obligations greatly in- creafed ? and are not we bound, by many additional ties, to praife the Lord, who extends his confolations. Hi us, who deferved his wrath, and are utterly un-. worthy of the finalleft mercy ? * Ifaiah b:vi. 13. 2 Bchokh, 710 LECTURES on the Chap. XII, 2 Belioid, God is my falvation ; I will truil, and not be afraid ; for the Lord Jehovah is my ftrength and ;;^r fong, he aho is become my iaivation. ic The prophet, in name of the church, having de clared his refolution to praife the Lord, and ti grounds on which his determination refted, exults in his intimate relation to God, as a permanent fource of confidence, gratitude, and joy. Man, in his pre- fent ilate, is expofed to innumerable evils, dangers, and miferies, of various kinds. Of all the deliver- ances he enjoys, God is the Author, who works ma- nifold falvations in all the earth. Creatures may be the inftruments of their conveyance ; but God is the Ipring from whence they all proceed. The phyfician may be the mean of reftoring to health ; but it is God who performs the cure. The counfellor may give good advice; but it is God who guides by his coun- lel, and conducts to glory. Soldiers may fight our battles ; but it is God who crowns them with vidory. Friends may try to affift, reheve, and comfort us ; but their fuccefs depends entirely upon God. From pro- vidences and ordinances we may derive much bene- fit ; but, for this purpnfe, it is abfoluteiy requifite, that they be accompanied with the divine bleiiing. In this manner we are taught, that falvation is of the Lord, when his bleffing is upon his people ; that tem- poral as well as eternal falvation proceed from the fame love, and the fame Saviour ; and that in the for- mer there is a lively reprefentation of the latter, which feems here chiefly intended. God is my falvation, faith the redeemed of the Lord : he delivers me from the guilt, the power, and the pollution of fin; from the wrath of God, and everlafting dellruc- tion ; and confers upon me abundance of grace, ever- lafling righteoufnefs, and eternal life. He removes every obilacle that lies in the way of falvation : he defeats the hollile attempts of every enemy that would oppoie Ver. 2. rROPIIECIES OF ISAIAH. 711 oppofe it : he gives an indefeafible right to its cnjov, mciit ; and aiiords the fure eaniefis of it, in grace, peace, and conrolation, as an infallible aiiarance of its full enjoyment in due feafon. Manifold were the benefits, the favioms, and deliverances, that God conr ferred upon the church under the Old Teitament : but thcfe were only types of the far more glorious falvation which is in God hinifelf. The Lord JehoT van hath refcued me, with innumerable multitudes, from the moft cruel tyranny, a-ad endlefs perdition, to form mv degenerate mind to the noblell fentimcnts, and molt exalted pleafures ; to bring me into glorious liberty, and to elevate me to the highefl honours and felicity. Though rocks fnould moulder into duit, though mountains be removed out of their place, though the fun grow dim with age, and all the lumi- naries of heaven be extinguiPned, in this will I exult and triumph, God is my falvation. / Will tniji, and not be afraid. Trufl is that excel- lent difpohtion of mind, excited by the Holy Spirit, which confilts in the lively exercife of fdidr and hope, fortifying the foul againd all oppofition and danger, and producing holy ferenity, and undaunted confi- dence. It arifes from jull apprehenfions of the dif- coveries which God hath been pleafed to afford of himf^elf, and fuch a firm perfuafion of his power and faithfulnefs as fupports the mind, and poffeiies it of fiicred compofure, and joy in God. It is not an ill- founded prefumption upon the divine goodnefs, nor a delufive hope of the divine favour and protection : it is not to blefs one's felf in heart, and to fay, I Ih.ill have peace, though I walk after the imagination of an evil heart. This is not to trufl in the Lord, but in lying vanity. To truft, in the fenfe here intended, is firmly to rely on the kindnefs of divine providence, for all necefiary provifion, protection, and deliverance : it is to place an unfhakcn dependence upon his faith- ful promlfes, for whom it is impofiible to lie, that h^ will accomplifh them in due feafon: it is to repoie ourfelves. 712 , LECTURES ON THE Chap. XII. ourfelves, and all our concerns, on his infinite good- iiefs and love, who will give grace and glory, and every good thing : it is to confide in his omnipotence, whole almighty arm firetched out the heavens as a curtain, and laid the foundations of the earth. It is to look to our Maker, and have refpect to the Holy One of Ifrael ; to lean upon him as our beloved ; to call our burden upon the Lord, when it is too heavy for us to bear; to (lay upon the Lord our God, when unable to fuftain the oppreffive weight that would crufh our fpirits ; and when we know not where to lay our heads for reil, to dwell in the fecret place of the Moft High. In one word, to truft, is confidently to rely on Jehovah, for the prevention and removal of every evil, for continuing and bellowing all that is good, fo as to have the mind elevated above difmaying fears, perplexing doubts, and embarrafling difcouragements. It is therefore added. And not be afraid. No creature, however formidable, no event, however terrifying its appearance, need alarm him that trufteth in the Lord. ' Who art thou, that thou ' fliouldeft be afraid of a man that fliall die, and of the * fon of man that ihall be made as grafs, and forget- * teft the Lord thy Maker * ?' Why fhould you be afraid of the powers of darknefs? ' Though an holl ' fliould encamp againll you, your heart lliould not ' fear: though war fliould rife againft you, in this * fliould you be confident. The Lord is my light, ' and my falvation, whom fh^ll I fear ? The Lord is * the flrength of my life, of whom fhall 1 be afraid j.'' Why fliould you be afraid of approaching calamities, like the timorous among the children of men, who are often poor, for fear of poverty ; who refufe to part with any thing, leH they fhould lofe all ; who are diflrelTed, for fear of diflreiles ; and fometimes die, for fear of dying. Bleflbd is the man whofe heart is fixed, trufling in the Lord : he is not afraid of evil * Kahh !i. 12, 13. t rfal. xxvii. i. 3. tidiuiis. Ver. 2. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH. 713 tiuings, of powerful enemies, of furrounding dangers, of defolating judgments, which are all under the di- rection and control of that mighty Lord, in whom he hath wifely placed all his confidence. The furs ground of this truft and confidence is next mention- ed: For the Lord yehovuh is my/trcn^tb and my fong^ he aJjo is become my falvation, Thele words compofed part of that fong of triumph which Mofes, and the children of Ifrael, fung in that m.agnificent concert which they performed on the fea-fhore, in the day that the Lord faved them out of the hands of the Egyptians. ' They were afterward adopted by the king of Ifrael into the grateful hymn of praife which he fung with his people, when he offered to God the facriiice of thankfgiving, for a glorious viclory he ob- tained over his enemies. They are here a third time introduced, and engroiTcd into this facred ode, in which the church of God celebrates his praifes, for a far more glorious falvation than either Ifrael or David commemorated. The Lord is my flrength, faith every one of God's fpiritual Ifrael, who funports me under the bodily infirmities wherewith I am dillreffed; who (Irengthens me with all might in the inner man, and invigorates all the powers of my foul for his fervice. ' He is the flrength of my underftanding, whereby I difcern and acknowledge the great m.yfhe- ries of falvation, and am enabled to perceive the vv^ay in which I ought to go. He is the flrength of my heart, of which he takes the diredlion, working in me to will and to do of his good pleafure ; giving the willing mind, which makes his v/ork go forward with alacrity and cheerfulnefs. He is the flrength of my affections, which he preferves from becoming languid and feeble, and fixes them upon the proper objects on which they ought to terminate. He is the (Irengih of my graces, who ellabiifheth my faith, enliveneth my love, animateth my hope and patience ; who enableth me 10 refill my foirizual enemies, to vanquifh temptations. ^14 LECTURES on the Chap.XIT. temptations, to mortify corruptions, to perform du- ties, to fullain afflidicns, and to furmount al! the ob- flacles that lie in the way to the kingdom of God. Of all my (Irength, God is the Author ; who is clothed with ftrength, wherewith he hath girded himfelf; and from whom all the power proceeds that is divided among the creatures.- The Lord is alfo jvyfong. His high charafters, his divine peifeftions, his wonderful works, and great falvation, are the chief fubjeds of which it treats \ and Jehovah himfelf is the great objeQ: whofe praifes I celebratCi No wiidom or power, no love or grace, once worthy to be compar- ed to his. He planned, arranged, and executed every thing worthy of being admired and extolled. No in- (Irument, therefore, flrall rival him in my aftedlion, or divide with him the praife in my fong. He alfo is become my fahation. When any objecl takes full polfelTion of the heart, it views it on every fjde, and returns to it again and again, never weary of con-^ teinplating it with admiring wonder and pieafare. 3 Therefore with joy fhall ye draw water out of the wells of falvation. The expreflions are evidently figurative, and highly important, meriting our ferious attention.^- 1 begin with endeavouring to difcover what is meant by the wells of falvation. Jefus Chrid, who is the Author and fource of falvation, with all the blelTings which are continually flowing from his fulnefs, for the re- frefliment of needy finners, may be here intended. From him is derived wifdom, righfeoufnefs, fanftifica- tion, and every thing necelfary to gratify the jull dc- fires of them that love him. And therefore he faith, ' If any man third, let him come unto me, and ' drink * ;' plainly intimating, that, he is the fountain which the prophet Zechariah foretold ihould be open- * John vil. 37. . ed Ver.3. prophecies of iSAlAH. 715- ed to the houfe of David, and the inhabitants of Je- rufalem. Though wells are mentioned in the plural, this circumftance does not fuggefl a fufficient objection againft this interpretation ; but ferves to (hew, that the fountain of falvation is to be found in all places, and that grace may be every where derived from its fulnefs. By the wcils of falvation may be fignified, ihe word of God, comprehending all the infpired books of holy fcripture, publillied for the benefit of the church, by the prophets, the apoftles and evan- gelifts, and chiefly by the Son of God himfelf. This word includes all the prophecie-s, the promifes, and dodrines, refpefting that great falvation which God hath prepared for them that love him, comprehend- ing remiliion of fms through faith in Jsfus Chrif!:, faudincation through the Holy Spirit, with eternal glory. Or, by the wells of falvation may be meant, the teachers and minifters of the gofpel, by whom are conveyed, to thofe who are defirous of participating ■of divine confolations, the mod neceifary falutary truths of the gofpel, with a plenitude of fpiritual blefllngs, from the fulnefs of Jefus Chrift, to fupply all their neceffiti^s. The word of God is indeed the principal mean whereby the God of all grace is pleafed, through the miniilry of hi? fervants, to im- part to his people the ineffimable benefits of his fal- vation. Similar metaphorical expreiTions are ufedby writers of different nations, and frequently occur even in the fcriptures themfelves, where teachers are com- pared to fountains, their dodtrine to Water, and their fcholars to thofe that drink for refrefhmenr. — > — Let us approach tliis pure and Open fountain, thefe wells of grace and falvation, convinced of our need of the ineflimable blcffings which are there to be obtained, that we may imbibe larger meafures of divine confola- tion, acquire new vigour in the exercife of grape, and get our holy defires fully fatisfied -From thefe wells, Te /hall drmu wafer. The water fpoken of, mufl likewife be underllcod in a figurative feufe, denoting, 4 X ■ a^ 7i6 LECTURES on the Chap. Xlt as it often doss in fcripture, the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit* ; fuch as a clear knowledge of the mynienes of the kingdom of God; a lively faith in the perfedions, providence, and record of the Moll High ; fupreme love to the Lord our God ; tranquil- lity of confcience, arifirxg from a comfortable lenfe of remiilion of fmiS, and peace with God ; accefs with confidence to his throne, the glorious Hberty of his children ; joy in the Holy Gholl ; increafe of grace, and pcrfeverance in the good ways of the Lord. Thefe valuable blefiings are poiTeiTed of fimilar properties with water ; and produce, in the fpiritual world, fimi- lar effects to thofe which that precious fluid does in the natural. Water is a necefiary element, deftitute of v.^hich, this earth would loon become a defohte wildernefs ; without it, mankind could not poiTibly fubfift. No lefs neceffary are the bleffings of the Holy Spirit to the new creation, without which, the man of God could notexill, nor could any of the chil- dren of men advance one (tep in the v>'ay of falvation. Water is almoit every where enjoyed in abundance, by the poor as well as the rich : creatures of every order commonly have it in plenty, unlefs when the fins of men provoke the fovereign Ruler of the mii- verfe to withhold this inellimable blefling. With equal abundance doth the great Lord of all afford his yplrit to his church, to whom it is conveyed, ' as fioods ' upon the dry ground,* when fin doth not prevent its liberal communication. Water, as it comes from the fountain, is exceeding fine and tranfparent, and ferves to waili away every kind of (lain and pollution. In like manner, the Spirit of God is perfectly holy and pure in himfclf ; and he it is who cleanfes the peculiar people of God from all unrighteoufnefs, and makes them partakers of that holinefs which they difplay with admirable ludre before the world. The falutary inlluence of wai:er is univerfal, diffufing itfelf throu;^h every part of nature : it enters into the food * Sie John vi:. 37, 3S, 3y. and Ver. 3, PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 717 snd fuftenance of man, and all the other creatures. The benign operation of the Holy Spirit, with his gifts and graces, is univerfally experienced in the fpi- ritual world : not a new creature, the workmanlnip of God, created in Chrift Jefus, who doth not Ihare in their beneficial effeds. There is alio a flrikincr o refeinblance between the purpofcs to which waltr is applied, and the eilecls produced by the Holy Spirit. Water is ufe-d to loften hard fubftances : it moiliiies the earth, when rendered impenetrable by frods, or {)arched by the drought of fummer. The Holy Spirit foftens the hard hearts of men, become obdurate and iiifenfibie by being withdrawn from the influence of the Sun of righteoufnefs, and the mehorating power of divine grace. Water fructifies the earth ; and to it we are indebted for the beauties which adorn the fpring, and the rich fruits which are gathered in harvell: to cover our tables. The Holy Spirit, by his gifts and graces, adorns the faithful in Chrift Jeius with the beauties of hohnefs, and renders them fruit- ful in every good work, to the glory and praife of God. Once more : As water quenches the thin'i: of the weary traveller, and refrelhcs him when his fpirits and flrength are exhaufted, fo the Holy Spirit, who j)roceeds from the fountain of life, gratifies the defires of thole who are athirli after fpirituai blefiings, reftores their fouls to health and vigour, and difpofes them to purfue their journey toward tiie Zion that is above with increafnig alacrity. Other inftances of refem- blance might be mentioned ; but enough hath been faid, to fhew the import and propriety of the beauti- ful figure here employed. — —It remains toihew whac is meant by the words, IVitb joy Jhtll ye draw zuater. . The drawing- fpoken of, mull likewife be interpreted in a meta- phorical fenfe. Drawing water is an employment which requires flrength, labour, and diligence, to which foine means or inllruments of conveyance ;ire indifpenf;ibly rcquifite. From tliefe and other circunv. 7i8 LECTURES ON THE Chai'. XIT, cii'cumftances attending this operation, \vc Icarn the import of the fpiritual cxercile here intend- ed. The blefTmgs communicated by the Holy Ghoft, are obtained by dihgent application of the mind to prayer, attentive reading, hearing, and medita- tion ; and by rightly difpofmg and digefting the fubje<51s read, heard, and contemplated, fo as believ- ingly to apply them for the great purpofes of fpiritual improvement. In this manner the peculiar people of God receive frefh communications of divine grace, fpiritual fcrength, and reviving confolation, from the inexhauflible fulnefs of Jefus Chrift, fuited to their various neceflities, whereby they are furnilhed for the performance of duty, fupported under the prelfure of affiiclion, and refrelhed in their journey toward tlie heavenly and better country. -This exercife is de- clared to be accompanied with joy ; Vv'ith the warm- eft emotions of pleafing afFedion, exquifite delight, and agreeable fatisfadion. The expreffion fecms to allude to the pleafure enjoyed by thofe travellers who, when fcorched with heat, and parched v^ith drought, quench their thirft with the cooling water of fome pure fountain. The pleafmg fenfation felt by fuch perfons, affords a faint reprefentation of the far fupe- rior pleafure and joy experienced by the faints, when, refreflred by the water of life, they look forward to the rivers of pleafures which they have in profpecl. The blelUngs which they enjoy, in frequent contenir plation, in conftant expectation, and dally experience, are exceedingly precious and excellent, procured not with fuch corruptible things as filver and gold, but by the blood of Chrift, whole purchafeand gift they are. They are perfeftly fuited to their circumlfances and condijion, conveying fight to thofe who arefpiritually blind, ftrength to the weak, relief to the diftreifed, happinefs to the miferable ; and ferving to mortify corruptions, to help infirmities, to refill temptations, and difarm death itfelf. Joy ought always to be ])ro- portioned to the intrinfic worth, and extenlive utility of Ver.4. prophecies of ISAIAH. 719 of the benefits received : and, therefore, when the fer- vants of the Lord draw water from the wells of falva-- lion, they rejoice with exceeding great joy, as one that hath obtained a glorious victory, that hath acquired immortal honour, or found great fpoil ; and that hath the delightful profpect of ceafmg from his labours, and entering into peace. ^-Let us frequently, and particularly this day, have frelli recourfe to thefe wells of falvation, that from thence we may derive living water. For your encouragement, I conclude my remarks on this verfe with the very gracious in- vitation delivered by our prophet, Chap. Iv. i. 'Ho, ' every one that thirdcth, come ye to the waters, and ' he that hath no .money ; come ye, buy and eat, yea, ' come, buy wine and miik without money, and ' without price.* 4 And in that day iliall ye fay, Praife the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. The redeemed from among men, having been reprefented as forming the noble rcfolution of pralf- ing the Lord, they are here introduced, exciting their brethren to unite with them in this becoming delightful employment. The kind affeftionfelt for thofe with whom we are intimately connected ought not to be concealed ; nor fhould the grateful fenfe entertained of mercies received be confined within the bread of the receiver, but fhould engage him to invite all with whom he hopes to fucceed, to join in -celebrating the praifes of his generous Benefador. Senfible of their inability for fliewing forth the praifes of the Lord their God, and of tMbir need of alliftance in this pleafant exercife, thofe who fmg this long of triumph, call upon others to aflifl them in magnifying the Lord. Solitary devotion, and fecret praife, have no doubt their excellencies and advantages ; but the voices 720 LECyURES ON THE Chap. XII, voices oF mviltitudes, unitinpf their hallelujahs, fwell tlie fong, ifiitil, like the fouud of many waters, it be- comes grand and awful, while each provokes another to continue with unremitting attention and fervour the celellial employment. Praife ye the Lord. The Hebrew word fignifies, acknowledge the Lord : ac- knowledge the fins you have committed againfl him, with real penitence, and contrition of heart ; acknow- ledge the glorious excellencies of which he is poiTeiT- ed, with adoration and blefiing ; acknowledge the be- nefits you have received from him, with gratitude and thankfgiving. Three v/ords are employed to exprefs this comely exercife ; namely, blefiing, giving thanks, and praifing God. Blefiing efpe'^ially refpefts the benefits received ; thankfgiving, the manner in which gratitude fliould be manifefted ; and praife hath a pe- culiar refpeft to the divine excellencies of Jehovah, difplayed in his works, and the mercies he confers. Such, however, is the connedion and refemblance fubfilling between thefe pleafing employments, that when one of them is rightly performed, the others are fuppofed and included. Praife ye the Lord, with reverence, admiration, and love ; magnify his great- nefs, righteoufnefs, and faithfulnefs ; highly extol him for the mercies and deliverances you receive, and the great falvation that he hath wrought. This is the pleafanteft and noblefl work in which you can poffibly be engaged. The duties of your calling, and diligent attention to bufmefs, often require hard labour ; and give you to experience the truth of the threatening, ' In the fweat of thy face fl"!alt thou eat bread *.' The works of righteoufnefs, whereby you give to every one his due, muii frequently be performed amid much oppofition, and are often accompanied with many dif- couragements. The works of charity and mercy, whereby you relieve the necellities of the poor and the affliclcd, are done at confidcrable expence, and, * Geii. iii, 19. fometin^xs Ver. 4. PHOPHECIES OF ISAIAH. '^it fometlmes meet with unkind returns. The fervices of divine worfiiip, in which you approach unto God through a Mediator, remind us of our conftant de- pendence upon Jehovah, of the fin and mifery in which we are involved, and our manifold neceffities. In prayer, we appear before God as humble fuppli- cants, imploring mercy and forgivenefs of fins: i;i rcadin^r and hearing the word of God, we affume the character of fcholars, who wifh to be inllruded, and made wife unto falvation : whereas in praihng the Lord, we profefs to prefent before him the beil re- turns we can make for the riches of his goodnefs and love ; we acknowled;j;e the infinite obligations he hath brought us under to his fervice, to v/hich we ought faithfully to apply ourfelves. In this manner we aim to put honour upon God, and to yield him that ho- mage which his glorious attributes, and ineftimable benefits, moil juftly demand. Call upon bis name. The name of the Lord is a Hebraifm that frequently occurs in fcripture, denot- ing tlie Lord himfelf. In this fenfe it is uied in the following refolution of the royal prophet ; ' I will call ' upon the name of the Lord * : and in the words of the apoille Peter, when ailerting the efficacy of prayer, rightly performed, for averting every evil, arid ob- taining every needful bleifing ; ' Wholbever (faid he) ' fliall call upon the name of the Lord, Ihali be faved -j-.* From thefe two palTages, calling upon God plainly ap- pears to fignify, prayer in general, whereby men pre- fent their fupplications to the Lord, and pour out their hearts before him. Calling upon God more efpecially confiits in that part of prayer properly com- prehended under the article of invocation, in which Jehovah is addreifed by thofe names, charaders, and perfeftions, afcribed to hiai in fcripture. Here, how- ever, it may be underftood in its mofl extenlive fenfe, including the whole duty of prayer, confiiling of ado- * PIU. cxvl. 17. f AasH. 21. ration. 722 LECTURES on the Chap. XIL tation, confelTion, fuppltcation, and thankfgiving. Gall upon the name of the Lord, who is become your falvation ; worfnip him in the beauties of holinefs, uho liveth for ever and ever ; and adore, with adruira=> tion and reverence, his divine excellencies, who is exalted above all bleffing and praife. Confefs, with true penitence, your trefpaffes to him, who forgiveth iniquity, tranfgreiiion, and fm; and, in this manner, give glory to the Lord your God, who waiteth to be gracious, that he may be exalted in fliewing mercy. Alk, with humility and faith, all the bleffings nectilary to your prefent and eternal felicity, and the welfare of the church of God, from him who can fupply all your wants, from his riches ill glory, through Chrift Jefus, and allows none to leek him in vain. Give thanks unto him who daily loadeth you with his be- nefits, whofe mercies endure for ever, and whofe grace faileth never. In all your ads of worfhip, ho- nour and acknowledge God as the alone Author of your falvation ; and uniformly endeavour to teftify your gratitude and obedience to him, by hving devot- ed to his fervice, and depending continually on the care of his providence, and the afTiftance of his grace. Declare bis doings among the people. The piophet had no doubt chiefly in view, the renowned ads of the Lord, which form, the principal fubjed of this facred hymn, and are included in that glorious work of divine providence and grace whereby he accom- plifiied the redemption of his people. All the works of God are truly great, and incomparably magnifi- cent : they all unite in accompliihing the purpofes of Jehovah, and difplaying his glory. This renders them ftill more iiluftrious, and worthy to be record- ed. Of all the doings of the Lord, the (tupendous work Vv'hereby he hath accompliflicd the eternal falva- tion of his church is the mod glorious, and deierving of admiration and praife. Contemplate the primary fources from which it proceeds : tPie fovereign good picafare of divhie goodnefs ^ the great love wherewith God Ver. 4. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. j^^ God loved the world, even when men were enemies to him in their minds, and by wicked works, and were dead in trefpafies and fms. Survey the procur- ing caufes whereby it was obtained, the amazing hu- miliation, the perfeft obedience, the meritorious death, with the fubfequent reftored life, exaltation, and glory, of the only begotten and well beloved Son of God. Think of the ailonifhing way by which it is communicated, by the wafting of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghoft ; who takes of the things of Chrift, and Ihews them to men ; and to whom is afcribed our participation in the inellimable benefits flowing from the love of God, and the me- diation of Jefus Chrifl. Meditate of the bleffed means employed for rendering men partakers of this great falvation ; the providences, the ordinances, the word, and fervants of God, genuine faith, and real re- pentance, with their various operations rnd infeparable concomitants, preparing for its complete and everlaft- ing enjoyment. This work, which is in a peculiar manner the doing of the Lord, ought to be marvellous in our eyes, admired in our hearts, publidied by our tongues, and magnified in our lives, that people of all ranks may become joyful in our God ; and all the world may know, love, and obey him, and rejoice in his falvation. In declaring the doings of the Al- mighty, take heed that you do not confound one thing with another, and that you do not feparate what God hath joined together. By the faithful per- formance of the exercife to which you are here invit- ed, you may hope that glory mall accrue to God in the higheft, that the conquefts obtained by the great Redeemer fliall become better known, that the fruits of hoiinefs and righteoufnefs fhail be more abundant, and that the praifes afcribed to God and the Lamb fhall be multiplied. Make mention that his name is exalted. The name of God may here denote, the glorious titles, and di- vine attributes of which he is poifeiledj that juilly 4 Y claim 724 LECTURES ON TH£ Chap.XIIo claim the higheft honour and efleem from thofe to whom they are made known. The word rendered ^AW/,fignifies to raifc to the higheft eminence, and fo to eftaLHili and confirm in that elevated condition, as no power ftjall be able to moleft or deprefs. I'he name of God is exalted, when the divine characters and perfections, of which he hath given the mod glo- rious demonflrations, are highly extolled, and cele- brated as truly great and honourable. By the falva- tion of the church, contemplated in its fources, means, and confequences, the illuftrious characters, and divine attributes of Jehovah, fuch as his wifdom, love, power, righteoufneis, and faithfulnefs, are dif- played with the brighteft luftre, and therefore ought to be often mentioned. Make mention, then, that God's name is exalted. This affords an excellent fubjeft of difcourie. People often fpeak at great length of very trifling matters that occur in the com- mon bufmeifes of life, and treat of affairs which it would be more prudent to conceal. Converfation of this fort cannot edify : it cannot make men holier, wifer, or better. Writers frequently relate the coun- fels and tranfaftions of princes and great men, though foolilh, contemptible, and wicked, and the recording oF them ferves no valuable purpofe. Ought not Ghrif- lians often to mention the wile counfels, and won- derful acls of the Lord, whereby his name is greatly exalted, that they may tranfmit with honour the me- mory of his great goodnefs to latefl pofteiity ? To this pleafant and uleful employment you are now in- vited. Engage in it with frequency and alacrity, and you Ihall certainly find it attended with the moft fa- liitary effects to yourfeives and others. No topic of converfation fo fublime as the name of Jehovah, wiiich is imprelfed upon all his works, magnified in his word, and exalted to the higheft glory and re- nown, in that great falvation which he hath wrought lor Lis people. S Sing Ver. 5. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 725 5 Sing unto the Lord ; for he hath done ex- cellent things : this is known in all the earth. To fmg unto the Lord, is to celebrate his praifes in fongs compofed of verfes, wherein his tremendous jnajelty is extolled, his mighty aQ:s are recorded, his immenfe benefits are acknowledged, and his adorable grace is magnified. This delightful exerciie, whillt it pleafes the ear, afTifts the memory, warms the afi'ec- tions, and animates devotion. In all the ages of the church, it hath been efteemed an important part of di- vine worlhip, in which the people of God have, with united hearts and harmonious voices, proclaimed the praifes oi his love, righteoui'nefs, grace, and faithful- nefs, manifefted in their faivation.— In this bleifed work, the fcriptures plainly intimate that angels and faints are employed in heaven, where they fing the Song of Mofes and the Lamb. Let it therefore be our i'o- licitous concern, to be prepared for joining thefe ce- left-ial fpirits, in celebrating the praifes of our God and Saviour. For this noble fcrvice, God hath been pleafed to furnifii us with/fuitable powers: new mat- ter of praife is continually afforded u% by the boun- ties of providence : new fongs are put into our mouths, by the proper ufe of which, we may be pre- pared for receiving new mercies ; and at laff for join- ing the church of the fnTt-born that are written in hea- ven, in thofe celefiial fongs which they fing to him that fitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever, Let us then cheerfully embrace every opportunity of performing this fublime exercife, fre- quently inculcated in the word of God.- This fub- je6t adminillers juft reproof to thofe who have not a proper fenfe of the importance a;id utility of fniging unto the Lord ; who, without fufficient reafon, appear not in the church until this part of divine fervice be' over, and retire from public worfhip before fniging the pfalm v.ith which it is concluded. ' Who is a * wife man, and endued with knov/lcdge amongfl ' vou ? 726 LECTURES on the Chap. XII. ' you ? let him (hew out of a good converfation his ' works with meeknefs of wifdom *.' Forfake not the houfe of your God ; and again, I fay, negled not any proper opportunity of fnevving forth the praifes of the Lord your God. For be bath done excellent thinp. The things here intended, are the works of creation and providence, and efpecially the great work of redemption. In the things that God hath created, he hath lefc deep im- preilions of his divine excellencies, infomuch that though they may not be efteemed excellent on their own account, they fliould be conndered as excellent becaufe he formed them. They jultly merit this defcription, in refped: of their various powers and or- ders, their quantity and quality, their matter and form, their influence and utility. The things that God hath done in the difpenfations of his providence are no lefs excellent. What wonderful order, con- nection, and defign, are confpicuous in the arrange- ments he hath made ! what noble triumphs hath he obtained over his enemies ! what equity and truth hath he m.anifefted in all his ways ! what awful majefty appears in his judgments! what mercy and goodnefs in his deliverances ! Above all, what excellent things hath been done by the Lord God Al- mighty, in the redemption of tranfgrelTors ! So great, fo excellent, are the things comprehended in this work, that we have not minds capable of conceiving them, nor words to exprefs them, nor examples to illuftrate them. This wonderful work of God, dif- tinguilhed by its fuper-eminent excellence, (lands ar- rayed with native incomparable glory. It is of fuch confummate excellence, and vail magnitude, that it cmnot be fufficiently extolled: it hath been highly celebrated through ages that are pad, and flrall con- tinue to be the fubjeft of everlafting praifes. Things are commonly elleemed excellent which are pofi'efl'ed * James Hi. 13. of Ver. 5. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 727 of every property that can render them valuable and uleful, and ferve the purpofes for which they are in- tended, efpecially when they are done in fuch a man- ner as excites admiration and dehght. The excellency here fpoken of, may refer both to the things them- felves, and the manner of their execution. The things that God hath done are poiTeffed of every qualifi- cation requifite to accomplifh the purpofes for which they are defijijned ; whillt, at the fame time, they are fo done as to excite aftonifliment and pleafure in thofe v^ho contemplate them. In this view, how eminent, for inllance, is the forgivenefs of fms, acceptance with God, introduftion into glorious li- berty, and a right to the high privileges of the fons of God, through the mediation of Jefus Chrill; the con- verfion, renovation, and exaltation, of human nature to eternal life, through the agency of the Holy Spirit ! This is know?! in all the earth. The fame of the ex- cellent things performed py the Lord, efpecially of the rencvv'ned v/ork of the lalvaticn of the church, is fpread abroad through the whole world. They were every where reported in the miniftry of the gofpel, the found whereof went throughout all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. What the royal prophet literally affirms concerning the heavens, the apoitle Paul allegorically applies to minifters of the gofpel, the luminaries of the fpiritual world ; their miniftry extended, as he affirms, to the mod diilant known regions of the inhabited earth : ' Their ' found went unto all the earth, and their v/ords unto ' the ends of the world *'.' Thus was the predidion of Jefus Chrift in part fulfilled : ' And this gofpel of ' the kingdom fliall be preached in all the v/orld, for ' a witnefs unto all nations |/ In confequence of this prophecy, the joyful tidings of thefe excellent things that God hath wrought, have reached this highly fa- voured illand which we inhabit. This happy circum- * Rom. X. 18. t Matth. xxiv. 14. ^fiance 728 LECTURES ON THE Chap.XII. jflance fuinlflies us with an agreeable proof of the truth of the aifertion contained in the words under confideration. Let us gratefully acknowledge this inftance of the divine goodnefs ; and endeavour, with fideUty and diligence, to improve this important ad- vantage. 6 Cry out and inout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the holy One of Ifrael in the midll of thee. This facred hymn of thankrgiving and prsife, con- cludes with a warm invitation to the highefl expref- fion of exultation and joy. People often cry out and fhout, when greatly elated v/ith the triumphs which they have obtained, and the agreeable profpeds that are exhibited to their view. When the ark of the covenant of the Lord was brought into the camp of Ifrael at Shiloh, we read, that all Ifrael fhouted for joy with a loud ihout, fo that the earth rang again. When the Piiarifees defired cur Lord to rebuke the multitude of his difciples, who rejoiced and praifed God with a loud voice, for all the mighty works that they had feen, he informed them. That (hould thefe hold their peace, the flones would immediately cry out, to celebrate his triumphant entry into Jerufa- lem *. Thefe pafl'ages of fcrlpture alliit us in under- flanding the import of the invitation, which is here addrefled to every inhabitant of Zion, who is called upon to join in this eflufion of triumph, to which the falvation of the Lord affords juil occafion. The naount, which was anciently called Zion, is often men- ii(med in fcripture as a figure or type of the church of Jefus Chrilt ; and fo by the inhabitant of Zion, is chiefly intendecPthe Ifrael and children o^ God, who. refide in the church under the New Teflament, and participate of the glorious privileges peculiar to this * Luke xix. 37. etfeq. honourable Ver. 6. PROPHECIES of ISAIAEI. 729 honourable fele£l fociety. Every individual of this defcription, is here invited to give the ftrongeft de- monftrations of gladnefs and gratitude of which he is capable, in celebrating the mercies of Jehovah, the victories of the Lamb, and his eternal falvation ; who, having overcome, is now conducing them to final conqueft, glory, and iilimortality. — — Let every ge- nuine member of the church of Chrift immediately comply with the call here given ; and exprefs, in the ftrongeft manner, his grateful fenfe of the greatefl of all mercies, the redemption of the world by our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. One fubltantiai reafon why we ought thus to Ihout, is here fubjoined : Far great is the holy One of Ifrael in the midji of thee. God our Saviour is certainly the perfon here intended by this defcription, and to him it eminently belongs. Lie is perfedly holy in his nature, in the works that he hath done, and in the word of his grace his purity fuines forth with the brighteit iuitre. He is the living lource of all that hollnefs of which his people are poffefTed, the complete pattern which they are called to imitate, and his holinefs is the molt powerful motive whereby refemblance to him is inculcated. Have recourfe then to this holy One, that he may make you partakers of his holinefs. Be ye holy (faith he), for I the Lord your God am holy. As the in- vifible things of God, even his eternal power and Godhead, are feen in the things that are made, fo let the other invifible things of God, even his immaculate purity and righteoufnefs, h'z feen in your temper and. conduct. Study, as dear children, to be imitators of God, in his m.ercy, faithfulnefs, companion, and pa- tience. -This holy One is afiirmed to be great. ' Behold, God is great, and we know him not. He is * a great God, and a great King above all gods.* Ilia infmite grandeur and greatnefs, in majelty and every divine attribute, is often highly celebrated in fcripturc. He is great in power, both legiflative and executive; he cominandeth whatfbevex he plcaieth, and doth whatfocver 5^30 LECTURES ON THE ^ Chap. XIL whatJToever feemeth good in his fight. He is great in goodnefs and love. How inconceivably great the goodnefs he hath laid up for them that fear him ! How wonderfully great the love wherewith he loved j^ns, when dead in trefpailes and fms ! How very great are his mercies, which are extended to the moit un- worthy, and pardon the gre:-te(t tranfgreflions 1 It is unneceffary to enlarge. This holy One declares his p-reatuefs, efpecially in the midll of his people, by the great, uArearchahle, and marvellous things, without number, that he hath done lor them, and among them. The wonderful works performed by the Lord, in all places, and in all ages, af/ord the mofl ftriking demonflrations of his excellent greatnefs. But the difpiays he gives of his grandeur to his people, in the ineilimable favours which he confers upon them, the glorious deliverances that he works for them, and the awful judgments which he inflifts upon their enemies, are truly illuftrious and magnificent.. The holy One of Ifrael is not only in the midil of his people in ge- neral, by his giiicious prefence, to blefs them, and to beautify their aiiemblies ; but he is in the midll of every inhabitant of Zion : he is formed in himx the hope of glory, dwelling in him by his vv'ord and Spirit, and abiding with him, to fanctify, ftrengthen, guide, and comfort him. The greatnefs of Jehovah demands from you great praifes, great fervices, great love, great fear, great ho- nour, great facrifices, and great fubjetlion. I'he Lord is great, and greatly to be praifcd. Give then, ye kindreds of the people,' the glory due unto his name. Take heed that you aft up to thofe principles which you profefs to believe and acknowledge. It is an eafy matter verbally to confefs the greatnefs of Jehovah, v.'hich we are invited to extol ; but it is much more difficult to acf up to this profefTion. Having acknow- ledged that the righteoufnefs of God is very great, beware of arraigning the equity and jufLice of his dlfpenfiitions. Having adored him as the only wife God, Ver. 6. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. 731 God, be fully fatisfied with the conduct and dlftribu- tions of his providence. Having praifcd the riches of his mercy and grace, bev^^are of prefuming on his mercy to 'commit fm, and of turning his grace into "wantonnefs. The celebration of the divine greatnefs is only an unmeaning compliment, if it hath not a happy influence upon practice : it is no more than empty found, if we a£t not confidently with our ac- knowledgments and praifes. Oar actions are alvsrays the belt expofition of what we l^elieve and fpeak. — Remember, Chrillians, that ye are the temple of the living God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you ; that the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Remember that nothing can be more un- feemly than to ftng, in a newfong, the praifes of God with an old heart, or even with a heart not tuned for this celefhial employment. If the voice of re- joicing and falvation be heard in the tabernacles of the righteous, how much more ought the voice of thankf- giving and praife to fill the living temples of God ! Sing ye praifes with underftanding : publilh the name of the I.ord : afcribe ye greatnefs unto our God. Sing unto the Lord a new fong, and his praife in the congregation of his faints. Let Ifrael rejoice in him that made him : let the inhabitants of Zion be joyful in their King, who taketh pleafure in his people, and will beautify the meek with falvation. Let every thing that hath breath praife the Lord. Hallelujah. Thus, my brethren, through the continued gracious afliftance of God, I have finiflied my Lectures upon the firft part of the Prophecies of Ifaiah. With what fuccefs I leave you to determine. Frequently and fcrioully recoiled what you have heard, and wherein you have profited ; and ceafe not earneftly to implore that the divine blefling may accompany my labours for your benefit. To my expofition of words, add your comment of good works. A living commentary on the Bible is infinitely preferable to the bed that ever was written or fpoken. I entreat that you will let me 4 % have 7^1 LECTURES on the Chap. XIL have the pleafure of feeing you diligently carrying on this blelTed work. 1 afk no more, and I can be fa- tisfied with no lefs than a comfortable anfwer to this reqiieft ; which may God difpofe you to grant, to his glory, and your own benefit. 1 conclude with the words of an eminent writer, which juftly deferve your attentive practical regard : " The word of God " was written to give us not merely a fpeculative ap- " prehenfion, but an experimental fenfe and feeling " of holy things, comfortable or terrifying, as our *' fpiritual flate requires. I rejoice at thy word, as " one that lindeth great fpoil, faith the pfalmlft. To '' this man will I look, faith the Lord, even to him that " is poor, and of a contrite fpirit, and that trembleth at " my word. Too many, alas ! have no conception of " this efficacy in fcripture ; and no wonder, for they " have never ferioufiy endeavoured to have any. But ^' let them try in earnefl:, and they will infaHibiy fuc- " ceed, if they ufe proper means. We read of fome, *' what will be true of all in the fame condition, that " the v.'ord did not profit them, not being mixed with " faith. God indeed can operate according to his " ovn\ pleafure ; but, humanly fpeaking, perfons will " not be influenced by what they dilbelieve, or much " by what they believe but faintly. Nay, fliould they " labour to make the Rrongefl imprefiions on their " own fouls, without applying to him v.hofe gift fav- '• ing faith is, their eflxDrts would be vain. But let any " one jointly flrive and pray, for a deep convidion " that the Bible is tlie appointed inlfrumcnt of his re- " ligious proficiency : then let him read it, not as per- " forming a tafK he knows not why,- from which he *' had rather be excufed ; not to outfliine others in " readinefs of quotation, or plaufibility of interpret- " ing, or oppofitions of fcience, falfely focalled ; not " to furnifh himfelf with weapons for debate and con- " troverfy, much lefs for uncharitablenefs and abufe ;~ " but to amend his inward fiate toward God. Let " him accordingly flop on fit occafions, and think ; " What Ver. 6. PROPHECIES of ISAIAH. ^'i,'^ " What confolations doth this paflage adminifter ta " me ? What acknowledgments to heaven doth this " declaration require from me? What fear for my- " felf doth this threatening call for ? What duty doth " this precept or pattern point out to me ? Of what " fm doth it convince me ? Againft what dangers " doth it warn me ? Is my character and behaviour " fuitable to this command or exhortation, this de- *' fcription or good example ? Or do I fee myfelf here, '• under another name, reproved, condemned, llig- *' matized ? Have I acquired that fenfe of my own " fmfulnefs and weaknefs, of God's holinefs and " juflice, of my need of the merits of Chrifl and " the grace of the divine Spirit, which the whole " tenour of fcripture inculcates ? or am I ftill inclined *"' to fcand or fall by my own righteoufnefs ? Faithful *' pains taken for fome time in fuch home queitions, " without forcing unnatural ufes out of any text, but " only dwelling on thofe that fairly prefent themfelves, " will make us experience a divine virtue in the " facred writings, piercing firR, ,and healing after- " wards ; which, provided w^e are not fatisfied with " being piouily moved at the time, and then relapfmg " into what we were before, but continue the inquiry " fleadily, and carry on every feeling into practice, " will aiTuredly transform us into what we ought to " be.*' —Let us entreat the bleffing of God on our humble endeavours to underfland the fcriptures, that receiving' the feed of the word into good and honeit Iiearts, we may bring forth fruit with patience. The grace of the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghofl", ,be with you all. Amen. FINIS. DATE DUE ^^^K? r Ml-^^^-^ api?^^ "^""^'""^ OAVLORD PKINTEOlNU.t *