Isaiah 47:7-15

I include the whole of these verses in one reading, because the one great subject is the same. The enemies of God and of his Church carry with them a general feature, namely, everything of hatred, and malignity to Christ and his Gospel. From the first forming of the Church, in Egypt, to the present hour, there is but one and the same plan manifested, and the reason is plain: the Devil's hatred to Christ and his seed is personal; so that, whatever else may mark the characters of men, the war is on this ground, universal and unceasing. It commenced at the fall, runs through all time, and will not cease as long as the world remains. I stay not to particularize the several relations, here given, of Babylon's sin and folly: the pride, and self-sufficiency against God; the confidence of never being moved; the use of enchantments and sorceries, are all so many of the characters, which in all ages mark the enemies of Jesus and his salvation. The Reader will do well, while reading this chapter, to keep in remembrance its spiritual sense; and it will much promote his improvement and apprehension of what is here said by the Prophet, if he will read with it, and compare, what the Apostle was commissioned to deliver to the Church concerning mystical Babylon, in the close of the canon of Scripture. Those portions mutually serve to illustrate each other. See Revelation 17:1; Revelation 18:1 and Revelation 19:1 to the end of verse 9.