Isaiah 1

Did I give you wages to serve the Devil? 5. Sin is a disease (Isaiah 1:5): The whole head is sick. Some are sick of pride, others of lust, others of envy.

This is the savory meat God loves. How few mind this, worshipping him who is a Spirit in the Spirit; they give him more dregs than spirits; they think it enough to bring their duties, but not their hearts, which has made God disclaim those very services he himself appointed (Isa…

It is sad to have the Bible in one hand, and false weights in the other. Or 2. in adulterating commodities (Isaiah 1:22). Your wine is mixed with water; when they mix bad grain with good, yet sell it for pure grain.

Popish traditions which have no footing in the Word are abominable, and God will say, quis quaesivint haec? Who has required this at your hand? (Isaiah 1:12). The Apostle condemns the worshipping of angels, which had a show of humility (Colossians 2:18).

Response 1. Where has God told them to worship him by an effigies or spirit? (Isaiah 1:12) Who has required this at your hands? The Papists can't say so much as the Devil, Scriptum est, it is written.

This is in an evangelical sense to keep all the Commandments; and though it be not to satisfaction, yet it is to acceptation. 3. Our keeping God's Commandments must be willing (Isaiah 1:19): If you be willing and obedient. God was for a free will-offering (Deuteronomy 16:10).

Though God has set so many flaming swords in the way to stop men in their sin, yet they go on in sin, which all shows what a strong appetite they have to the forbidden fruit. That we may further see the nature of original sin, consider 1. The universality of it; it has, as a poi…

Vivimus in temporum faecibus — Sen. We live in the dregs of time wherein the common shore of wickedness runs; physicians call it [illegible], when there is no part of the body free from distemper. England has a cachexia, it is all over disease; the whole head is sick, the whole…

Will you disgrace your Heavenly Father? Let not God complain of the provocations of his sons and daughters; let him not cry out as Isaiah 1:2. I have brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. So much for the first: if our earthly father is to be honored, then much…

Just so some deal with God; he bestows mercy, and they plot treason against him. Isaiah 1:2: I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The Athenians, in lieu of the good service Themistocles had done them, banished him their city.

12. If you would not fall short of the kingdom of heaven, take heed of injustice in your dealings; defrauding lies in two things. First, mixing commodities; as if one mix bad wheat with good, and sell it for pure wheat, this is to defraud (Isaiah 1:22). Your wine is mixed with w…

How severely did God punish Nadab and Abihu for offering up strange fire (Leviticus 10:2), that is, such fire as God had not sanctified on the altar; whatever is not divinely appointed, is offering up strange fire: there is in many a strange itch after superstition; they love a…

We shall only hint at them, for they are directly opposite to the good that comes by the improving of Christ's Intercession. 1. It makes many prayers to be fruitless and futile — though people should weary themselves in prayer, yet it is all but lost labor, and the Lord will say…

Psalm 99:8. You were a God that pardoned, or forgave them, though you took vengeance of their inventions. The same word [in non-Latin alphabet] is given to God, when he takes vengeance on his enemies, (Numbers 31:2; Isaiah 1:24). I will be avenged of my enemies. (2 Kings 9:7). T…

Nor are men by this taught to seek righteousness in themselves; because they are commanded to try and examine themselves, as (1 Corinthians 11:28; 2 Corinthians 13:5). 4. Such souls would upon any terms be brought to reason and debate the question with Christ, that as the law ma…

So (Deuteronomy 10:20): "You shall fear the Lord your God, and serve him." Christ expounds it (Luke 4:8) exclusively: "You shall serve only the Lord," because it is the prerogative of God to be worshipped, as it is a prerogative of grace to be the ransomed and redeemed of God (D…

Secondly, consider if you have Christ, you have life, and that in abundance, and you have all the blessings of God; of all lives it is the most comfortable (2 Corinthians 1:20). If you have Christ, you have all the promises, for in him they are — indeed, and in him Amen — and th…

For Paul intended, and desired nothing in this speech, but their good and amendment. Upon like grounds Isaiah calls the Israelites, people of Sodom and Gomorrah (Isaiah 1). Christ calls the two disciples, foolish, and slow of heart to believe (Luke 24:25).

To man: for as David says, it is like a grievous burden, too heavy for him to bear (Psalm 38:4). To God: for the hypocritical and ceremonial service of the Jews, was such a burden to him, that he was weary to bear it (Isaiah 1:14). Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pr…

Even so must we follow our vocation, and constantly bear all sorts of encumbrances. Note also the circumstance of the change of Kings which are here numbered up (Isaiah 1:1). For it is impossible that in so great diversity, the State should always continue alike.

In Sodom and Gomorrah.] This example is oft alleged by the Prophets, to the end we might know that however all chastisements be not equal, yet notwithstanding inasmuch as God is impartial in his judgments, the memorable example which he showed thereof in the destruction of Sodom…

When Isaiah then gives hope of a peace near hand, he had respect to that little flock: when he proclaimed war, that was to terrify the multitude, who were revolted from God, and contemned all admonitions. For the state of the people was such that nothing was sound nor pure among…

And this is worth the noting. For he shows that the remnant shall be very small, in comparison of that great multitude which was then in the land: as we have seen in (Isaiah 1:9). Now whereas the faithful are often punished with the wicked, let us not think God does them any wro…

to seal the law of God among the disciples, (Isaiah 8:16.) Let us know then that, wherever the Scripture denounces eternal death against the Jews, it excepts a remnant, (Isaiah 1:9; Romans 11:5;) that is, those in whom the Lord preserves some seed on account of his free election…

This passage agrees with that of Isaiah: Unless the Lord had left us a small seed, we would have been as Sodom, and we would have been like Gomorrah, (Isaiah 1:9.) For it was necessary, as Paul assures us, that the vengeance of God, which had been displayed in the Babylonish cap…

For all who shall depart from his commandments, though they toil and wear themselves out in works of their own contrivance, will hear it said to them at the last day, Who hath required those things at your hands? (Isaiah 1:12.) 37. Then will the righteous answer him.

But yet, on the other Hand, Persons being disposed to abound and to be zealously engaged in the external Exercises of Religion, and to spend much Time in them, is no sure Evidence of Grace; because such a Disposition is found in many that have no Grace. So it was with the Israel…

Even there, in the Continuation of the same Invitation, the Sinners forsaking his wicked Practice is spoken of as necessary to the obtaining Mercy: Verse 7, Let the Wicked forsake his Way, and the unrighteous Man his Thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have M…

Sect. 26 (2ly,) That which is good materially and in it self, though vitiated from the Relation which it has to the Person by whom it is performed, is approved and has its Acceptation in its proper place. For Duties may be performed two wayes. (1.) In hypocrisie and pretence, so…

And (3) moreover where Sanctification is enjoyned us as our Duty it is prescribed under this Notion of cleansing our selves from sin. Wash you, make you clean, Isa. 1. 16. O Jerusalem wash your Heart from wickedness that you mayest be saved, Jer. 4. 14.

Seeing you art unholy. To pray is a good Duty; But to them that are not washed and made clean, and put not away the evil of their Doings from before his Eyes, saith God, When ye spread forth your hands I will hide mine Eyes from you, and when ye make many Prayers, I will not hea…

And so for afflictions, 'tis a great wickedness, when God's hand is listed up not to see it. Isaiah 26:11 The Ox knows his owner, and the Ass his masters crib, Isaiah 1:3 the most dull and stupid creatures know their benefactors. O look to the hand of God in all; and know, that…

It is a good sign afflictive Providences are sanctified to us, when we draw near to God under them and turn to him that smites us. A wicked man under affliction revolts more and more, Isaiah 1:5 turns not to him that smites him, Isaiah 9:13 but grows worse than before; formality…

The good Lord pardon every one that prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his Fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary: though their hearts were upright, though they had hearts rightly prepared, yet he prays that God would pardo…

But they must know, that though they should abstaine from the vices forbidden, yet they stand culpable of judgment, for want of doing the contrarie virtues; for it is not sufficient to abstaine from evil, but we must doe good, and therefore John Baptist saith, every tree that br…

The second similitude wherewith she is compared is a spring shut up: springs were of great price in these hot countries, and served much for making gardens fruitful, as is implied (Isaiah 58:11) where it is promised to the Church, you shall be as a watered garden: hence the righ…

2. God speaks to men by his works; and that either by his works of creation, or by his works of providence. 1. God speaks by his works of creation; the heavens have a voice and declare God's glory (Psalm 19:1), and the earth has not only an ear to hear (Isaiah 1:2), but also a t…

How much of the Laodicean temper have they had in all ordinances? And might not God say to London, as he did of old to Jerusalem (Isaiah 1:11-14), To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to me? etc. Such services are to no purpose; they are vain worship, and do not a…

Is it any pleasure for a man to be in debt? 2. The Scripture calls sin a disease (Isaiah 1:5). The whole head is sick.

They are called Silver-Dross, and Reprobate or refuse Silver (Ezekiel 22. 18. Jeremiah 4. 30.) which glistens and shows like true Silver, but has not its inward Worth. So they are compared to adulterated Wine, Isaiah 1, 22. and to Trees full of Leaves, bidding fair for Fruitfuln…

The chaff and wheat grow together in the same field, and upon the same root and stalk. In this, wicked men are like chaff, who not only associate with the people of God, but oftentimes spring up with them in the same families, and from the same root, or immediate Parents, Mal. 1…

Be astonished, O you heavens, at this, and be you horribly afraid. And again, Hear O heavens, and give ear O earth, Isaiah 1:2. q. d. O you innocent Creatures which inviolably observe the law of your Creation, be you all astonished and cloathed in black, to see Nature cast by si…

This in a lively manner shadows forth the infinite and incomprehensible Mercy of our God; whose Mercy is said to be over all his works, Psalm 145:9. In how many sweet Notions is the Mercy of God represented to us in the Scripture. He is said to be Plenteous, Psalm 4:5. Abundant,…

It is said of the Nazarites for their typical holiness, they were purer than snow, and whiter than milk (Lamentations 4:7). And the Prophet shows us, that scarlet, red, and crimson, are the colors of sin and guilt, whiteness of innocency (Isaiah 1:18). Our beloved was a lamb wit…

And let us not be like the ungrateful Israelites who regarded not the means of spiritual nourishment, and ascribed the means of their temporal nourishing and cherishing to their idols (Ezekiel 20:11-12; Hosea 8:12; Jeremiah 44:17; Hosea 2:5-8). In this respect the prophet makes…

He would rather choose still all the toil, and cost of the former way, if it were in his option; this was the sin of the Jews, in those times, that they leaned the soul upon the bodies service too much, and would have done enough of that to be dispensed from this spiritual servi…

How few, if any, to be found, that are but such in the lowest sense and measure, real lovers and inquirers after holiness? What are our meetings here, but assemblies of evil-doers, rebellious children, ignorant and profane persons, or dead formal professors, and so the more of u…

1. The sins of the church have their peculiar aggravations, that fall not upon others, that, which is simply a sin in strangers to God, is in his people the breach of a known and received law, and a law daily unfolded, and set before them, indeed it's against their oath of alleg…

No man can wrong us so much as we daily trespass against him, and yet God pardons us. He does not only pardon the lesser failings, some venial errors, and sins of incogitancy and sudden surreption, which creep upon us we know not how; but he pardons the greatest sins, though the…

Christians, before ever you could do anything for him, or yourselves, before you could improve his mercy, when you could not know who was your benefactor, who it was that nourished and cherished you, yet then God rocked your cradles, kept you from many dangers, nursed you, and b…