_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 ]