_AN EXHORTATION, AFTER THE PATTERN OF ABRAHAM, TO TRUST IN CHRIST, BY REASON OF HIS COMFORTABLE PROMISES, OF HIS RIGHTEOUS SALVATION, AND MAN'S MORTALITY. CHRIST, BY HIS SANCTIFIED ARM, DEFENDETH HIS PEOPLE FROM THE FEAR OF MAN: HE BEWAILETH THE AFFLICTIONS OF JERUSALEM, AND PROMISETH DELIVERANCE._... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARKEN TO ME, &C.— The Messiah, about to comfort the true church remaining in the land of Judea, which consisted of a small number, called by him a little flock, and whom he had just before marked out as a small company _fearing the Lord,_—begins with a gracious address, calling them a company _fol... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARKEN, &C.— The prophet, continuing the discourse of the Messiah, explains particularly what he had expressed in general, and shews that the first benefit prepared for the comfort of the afflicted church is, the faith of the Gentiles, who were to be brought by the doctrine of the Gospel to the kno... [ Continue Reading ]
LIFT UP YOUR EYES, &C.— The prophet here, as a second argument of consolation, foretels the abolition of the old oeconomy, and the establishment of the new. He speaks of the old oeconomy, or politico-ecclesiastical, under the figurative ideas of heaven and earth, so usual with the prophets, which ar... [ Continue Reading ]
AWAKE, &C.— _Rouse, rouse,_ &c. _Rouse,—art thou not that which hewed down Egypt, which mortally wounded the crocodile_ or _dragon?_ Isaiah 51:11. _And the redeemed,_ &c. _upon their head: joy and gladness shall attend them: sorrow and sighing shall flee away._ Thus far the Messiah had addressed his... [ Continue Reading ]
I, EVEN I, AM HE THAT COMFORTETH, &C.— The apostrophe being finished, wherein the foundation of this consolation was laid; the thread of the discourse is resumed, and the consolation is continued, which seems more properly to belong to the Father in this place than to the Son; and the sum of the dis... [ Continue Reading ]
_ISAIAH 51:17_.— From hence to the 61st chapter, follows the third and most extensive discourse, in which the state of the church, from the times of the Maccabees, but particularly of Jesus Christ and his kingdom, is foretold, to the end of the world; yet so, that in describing the corrupt times of... [ Continue Reading ]
AWAKE, &C.— _Rouse, rouse,—cup of reeling, and drained them out:_ Isaiah 51:18. _There is none to lead her along among all the sons,_ &c.: Isaiah 51:19. _Those two things are come unto thee,_ (_who can sufficiently lament thee?_) _desolation and destruction; even famine and sword: How shall I comfor... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE HEAR NOT, &C.— To the church, lying in the condition above described, but soon to rise, soon to emerge from her afflictions, to be avenged of her enemies, and to be clothed with honour, the consolation in these verses is addressed, which have nothing difficult in them. We may just observe,... [ Continue Reading ]