Isaiah 27

That the sea should be higher than the earth, and yet not drown it, is a wonder: so that the wicked should be so much higher than the Church in power, and not devour it, is because Christ has this inscription on his vesture and his thigh, King of Kings (Psalm 124:2), If it had n…

To love God in heaven is no wonder, but to love God when he chastises us, this discovers sincerity. 2. For purgation: To purge out corruption, Ardet palea, purgatur aurum (Isaiah 27:9). And this is all the fruit to take away his sin.

When God shakes the tree of the body, he is now gathering the fruits of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11). Sickness is God's lance to let out the imposthume of sin (Isaiah 27:9). 3. In case of God's providences to his church: we wonder what God is doing with us, and are ready to kil…

The wicked dying in their sins can expect no mercy from God as a Father. Many say, he that made them will save them, but (Isaiah 27:11): It is a people of no understanding, therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them. Though God was their Father by creation, yet beca…

So it is to God to have the breasts of his mercy drawn. Isaiah 27:4: "Fury is not in me" — that is, I do not delight in it. Acts of severity are rather forced from God; he does not afflict willingly (Lamentations 3:33).

When Israel was compassed in between Pharaoh and the Red Sea, no question some of their hearts did begin to tremble, and they looked upon themselves as dead men, but providence so ordered it, that the Sea was a safe passage to Israel, and a sepulcher to Pharaoh and all his host.…

I will correct you in measure. God will in the day of his east wind stay his rough wind (Isaiah 27:8). The physician that understands the constitution and temper of the patient, will not give too strong medicine for the body nor will he give one dram or scruple too much.

Afflictions do not fall out by chance, but by counsel (Job 5:6; Ephesians 1:11). By this counsel of God they are ordained as means of much spiritual good to saints (Isaiah 27:9): 'By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged.' Hebrews 12:10: 'But he for our profit.'

God is a golden shield to his people, and a flaming sword to his enemies, Zach. 2. 5. For I saith the Lord will be unto her a wall of fire round about. A wall, That is defensive; a wall of fire that is offensive, Isa. 27. 2. In that day sing ye unto her a Vineyard, of red wine,…

The second is (Hosea 4): My people perish for want of knowledge. The third is (Isaiah 27): This is a people of no understanding, therefore he that made them, will have no mercy upon them. Think not then little of ignorance, neither think yourselves to be well, so long as you liv…

Or what just reason can there be to be dissatisfied with, or to complain of God's giving to, and ordering that for us, whereof we stand in need, and which we cannot want without being considerably prejudiced and worsted by the want? Sixthly, if it be considered, that in all your…

(Job 7:21), "And why do you not pardon my iniquity, and take away my transgression?" (Isaiah 27:9), "This is all the fruit, to take away his sin" — this cannot be the potential and ineffectual removing of sin, common to all the world, but proper to the Church, and brought to pas…

He prays like a king, who is in joint commission with God. If God puts that honor upon our prayers, that we are said to have power with God, as Jacob (Hosea 12:3) — that if God be never so angry, yet by taking hold of his strength, we hold his hands (Isaiah 27:5) — that God crie…

What punishment is sufficient for the least of our offenses, committed against his infinite Majesty? This ought therefore to be referred to the mercies of God, that he always smiting in measure, as it is in (Isaiah 27:8), will give them no more blows, neither yet continue them a…

Song of Solomon 8:11, 12. Isaiah 27:2, 3. And therefore every Thing in a true Christian is calculated to reach this End.

Your poverty does but clog your pride; reproaches clog your ambition: want prevents wantonness: sickness of body conduces to the prevention of many inward gripes of conscience, and groans under guilt. The Providences of God may be observed to conduce to our holiness, not only by…

A Well of water is discovered to Hagar, just when she had let the Child, as not able to see its death, Genesis 21. 16, 19. Rabshakh meets with a blasting Providence, hears a rumour that frustrated his design, just when ready to give the shock against Jerusalem, Isaiah 27. 7, 8.…

One Word of God can do more, than ten thousand words of men to relieve a distressed soul. If Providence have at any time directed you to such Promises, as either assure you that the Lord will be with you in trouble, Psalm 91:15 or that encourage you from inward peace, to bear ch…

If, as some expound it, the hedge be the Law of God, then the Serpent is the remorse of Conscience, and the sharp teeth of affliction, which he shall quickly feel, if he be one that belongs to God. The design and aim of these afflictive Providences, is to purge and cleanse them…

To some all Providences are over-ruled and ordered for good, according to that blessed Promise, Romans 8:28 not only things that are good in themselves, as Ordinances, Graces, Duties and Mercies; but things that are evil in themselves, as Temptations, Afflictions, and even their…

Satan has a boundless malice against the people of God. Some observe this from his name Leviathan (Isaiah 27:1). In that day the Lord with his great and strong Sword shall punish Leviathan the piercing Serpent.

It is not enough that we be prisoners of hope, but we must turn to our strong hold, Zechariah 9:12. not enough that we are weary and laden, but we must come to him, Matthew 11:27, 28. It will not suffice that we are weak, and know we are weak, but we must take hold on the streng…

Were there no more mercy, grace, Compassion, to be shewed in this case, than it is possible should be treasured up in the heart of a man, it would be impossible that Ephraim should be spared; But says he, I am God and not Man; Consider the infinite largeness, bounty, and goodnes…

All that wait on God on the account of mercy and grace shall have an undoubted Issue of peace. He shall redeem Israel; let him says God lay hold of my Arm, that he may have peace, and he shall have peace, Isaiah 27:3. Obs.

They are called so, 1. For their feebleness in themselves (Ezekiel 15:2-3, etc.), yet excelling in fruit beyond others. 2. Because of God's separating them from others, and taking pains on them above all others (Isaiah 27:2-3); for these, and other reasons, they are called the v…

Believers have a notable security and defense, Christ's bed and his guard, if he be sure, they are sure, one watch watches both him and her. The same power of God (Isaiah 27:2), the twenty thousand of Angels, which are his Chariots (Psalm 68:17), are for the believer's protectio…

Next, this garden is enclosed: it is a special property of gardens to be so; to be enclosed is by a wall or hedge to be fenced from the trampling and eating-up of beasts, and also from the hazard of winds: so (Isaiah 5:2) the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts (which is his Church) i…

O then labor to pacify his anger, you cannot fly from him, O then fly to him; you cannot stand in his sight when he is angry, O then fall down at his feet; make peace with this adversary, while you are upon the way, before he deliver you to the officer death, and cast you into t…

"Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land." The glorious times which are approaching, are as it were the church's jubilee, which shall be intr…

GOd having to do in a way of correction with divers sorts of offenders, does not use the like severity with them all, but proportions his correction to their abilities and strength, Ier. 30. 11. I will not make a full end of you, but will [correct you in measure] and will not le…

He sets a guard of angels to encamp round about them that fear him (Psalm 34:7), and will not trust them with a single guard of angels neither, though their power be great, and love to the saints as great. But he watches over them himself also (Isaiah 27:2-3): "Sing to her, a vi…

Meekness preserves the mind from being ruffled, and discomposed, and the spirit from being unhinged by the vanities and vexations of this lower world: it stills the noise of the sea, the noise of her waves, and the tumult of the soul; permits not the passions to crowd out in a d…

To be meek is to be like the greatest saints; the elders that obtained a good report, and were of renown in their generation. It is to be like the greatest angels, whose meekness in their conversation with, and ministration to the saints, is very observable in the Scriptures; or…

Eighthly, it is good being with Gods people, because there is Gods special protection; others are but as the wilderness, the Church is as a garden enclosed, Cant. 4:12 A man regards his garden that he has enclosed, and bestowed cost about, more then a wilde field; the fields hav…

Ninthly, afflictions are of great use to mortifie lusts, to purge out filth and corruption. Isa. 27:9 By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit thereof. When Physitians purge the body, they purge out that which is good, as well as that which is evi…

He sings to his church, a vineyard of red wine. I the Lord do keep it (Isaiah 27:3; Psalm 147:11; 149:4). There is rest, and complacency in his love.

Terrible Majesty, Holiness and consuming Fire are with our God; and among rebellious Creatures, his Wisdom finds proper Seasons and Objects where these must have their Exercise: And if you are Sinners, why should not his just Vengeance be let out upon you? It is a dreadful Word…

Our Salvation under this Character is called Peace, Romans 5:1. Jesus Christ himself, for this Reason, is called our Peace or Peace-maker, Ephesians 2:24 and Isaiah 27:5 where a Sinner is represented as taking hold of the Strength or Arm of the Lord, in order to make Peace with…

As you have received Christ, so walk in him. Laying hold of Christ, Isaiah 27:5. Let him take hold of my Strength that he may make Peace with me.

Salvation itself our walls and bulwarks. We ought to watch, but when we do in obedience to our Commander, the Captain of our Salvation, yet it is his own watching, who sleeps not, nor so much as slumbers, it is that preserves us, and makes ours not to be in vain (Psalm 126:1; Is…

If the faith that you have grew out of your natural heart of itself, it is but a weed, be sure; the right plant of faith is always set by God's own hand, and it is watered and preserved by him, because exposed to many hazards, he watches it night and day. (Isaiah 27:3) I the Lor…

That their prayers may ascend the more thick, that sweet incense, he kindles these fires of trial to them; for though it should not be so, yet so it is, that in times of ease they would grow readily remiss and formal that way. He is gracious and wise, knows what he does with the…

We need all kind of dispensations, and cannot well be without the many troubles that do befall us. 3. The nature and use of affliction; it is a medicine, not a poison, it works out the remainders of sin (Isaiah 27:9). By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and…

1 Corinthians 10:13. There has no temptation taken you, but such as is common to men, but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. Isaiah 27:8. In meas…

To a pruning hook, that cuts off the luxuriant branches, and makes the other that remain the more fruitful (John 15:2): Every branch in me that bears not fruit, he takes away, and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it that it may bring forth more fruit. To medicine that pu…

They prevent sin (2 Corinthians 12:7): And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelation, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. They purge out sin (Isaiah 27:9): By this…

Secondly, right as to the measure, not above the strength of the patient. In his own people's afflictions it is so; (Isaiah 27:8), In measure when it shoots forth, you will debate it; he stays his rough wind in the day of the east wind. God deals with his own with much moderatio…

(Psalm 119:71) It was good for me that I was afflicted, why? Because before I was afflicted I went astray; affliction is better than going astray: the fruit is the taking away of sin (Isaiah 27:9), indeed, to make us partakers of his holiness (Hebrews 12:10), which is the end of…

There is no mercy you can expect: and this is able to [reconstructed: sink] a man's heart and hopes in irrecoverable discouragements; for though our endeavors prevail not, means prosper not, yet mercy can outbid both, and relieve beyond both; but if mercy suffers you to be blind…

So the fire of affliction serves to burn the bonds of iniquity. "By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit, to take away his sin" (Isaiah 27:9). When affliction or death comes to a wicked man, it takes away his soul; when it comes to a go…