Isaiah 28

Others teach with difficulty. Difficulty in finding out a truth, and in inculcating it (Isaiah 28:10): Precept must be upon precept, line upon line; some may teach all their lives, and the word take no impression. They complain as (Isaiah 49:4): I have spent my labour in vain.

2. If you want Assurance wait for it; if the figures are graven on the dial, it is but waiting a while and the sun shines: When grace is engraven in the heart, it is but waiting a while and we shall have the sunshine of Assurance. He that believes makes not haste, (Isaiah 28:16)…

6. God's Justice is such, that it is not fit for any man or angel to expostulate with God, or demand a reason of his actions. God has not only authority on his side, but equity: he lays judgment to the line, and righteousness to the plummet, (Isaiah 28:17) and it is below him to…

God is represented with a rainbow round about him (Revelation 4:3), an emblem of his mercy. Acts of severity are rather forced from God; justice is his strange work (Isaiah 28:21). Therefore the disciples, who are not said to wonder at other miracles of Christ, yet did wonder wh…

It could not be a nesciency that God was ignorant, because there is mention made of a cry; but the Lord speaks there [illegible], after the manner of a judge, who will first examine the cause before he passes the sentence. God when he is upon a work of justice, is not in a riot,…

The drunkard is seldom reclaimed by repentance; and the ground of it is, partly, because by this sin the senses are so enchanted, reason so impaired, and lust so inflamed; and, partly, it is judicial, the drunkard being so besotted with this sin, God says of him as of Ephraim (H…

Those who are poor in the world, yet as soon as they come into this kingdom, grow rich, as rich as the angels: Other kingdoms are enriched with gold, this is enriched with the Deity. 4. The kingdom of heaven excels all other kingdoms in holiness: Kingdoms on earth are for the mo…

Mercy is God's right hand, that he is most used to. Inflicting of punishment is called God's strange work (Isaiah 28:21); he is not used to it. And when the Lord would shave off the pride of a nation, he is said to hire a razor, as if he had none of his own (Isaiah 7:20): "He sh…

Every good gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights. Wisdom is the gift of God (Isaiah 28:26). His God does instruct him to discretion.

In Isaiah 57:17, if lesser crosses would do it, he would not bring out the great rod. If a rod will thresh out the cummin, he is not accustomed to run the wheel over it or use a flail to do it (Isaiah 28:27). Now lesser afflictions work with most of his, through his blessing — m…

1. As it makes the report of Christ, and brings the tidings of such things, as that He is born, and that He has suffered, and for such an end, and that we may partake of the benefit of them on such terms; it makes the proclamation narratively, and tells what He did, what good ma…

May we not then say, O sinners, if you will believe that you have a good resting place, a sure foundation, a tried cornerstone? As it is (Isaiah 28), cited (Romans 9), where the Apostle has it, He that believes on Him shall never be ashamed; there is a sufficient surety, a full…

Isaiah preached long in many kings' reigns, and yet all along his prophecy he complains of it, as in Isaiah 6:11: "How long, Lord, shall their eyes be blind, and their ears heavy, etc." And in Isaiah 28:9: "Whom shall I teach doctrine? Those that are weaned from the milk, and dr…

Thus also we prescribe means and time to God, take upon us to set rules to him, how he should govern the world. And one usual way of tempting God now is, when we will not go fair and softly in the path and pace of God's appointing, but are offended at the tediousness thereof, an…

Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us, and what then can hinder? 2. Patience, we must be contented with the Son of God to tarry his leisure, and undergo our course of trial; as Christ patiently continued till enough was done to instruct the Church (Isaiah 28:16). He that b…

Again in our afflictions and temptations we may not make haste, for help and deliverance before the time, but wait the leisure of God, who has decreed the time of deliverance. He that believes makes no haste (Isaiah 28:16). Habakkuk must wait because the vision is for a time app…

And because they profess Christian religion, and sometimes come to the church, and to the Lord's table, they think all is well, and they suppose there is no danger. Thus they make a covenant with hell and death (Isaiah 28). But they deceive themselves: for God is unchangeable, a…

For as he will deny anything in justice that denied to Dives a drop of water to cool his tongue (Luke 16:24-25), so he will recompense anything in mercy, that will recompense a cup of cold water (Matthew 10:42). This integrity in judgment without partiality is signified by the w…

Wherefore also it is contained in Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion the head-stone of the corner, elect, precious, and he that believes in him shall not be confounded. Unto you, therefore, which believe, he is precious: but unto them who are disobedient, the stone which the build…

Sometimes he states, in a dark manner, what might be more clearly expressed; and sometimes he explains his mind fully, without ambiguity and without metaphor, but strikes their senses with dullness and their minds with stupidity, so that they are blind amidst bright sunshine. Su…

Lo, I lay in Zion a foundation-stone, a precious and elect stone, against which both houses of Israel shall stumble! (Isaiah 28:16.) The same mode of expression frequently occurs in the New Testament.

He threatens, therefore, that he will come as their Judge, and that he will make them forget those luxurious enjoyments to which they are now so entirely devoted; not that the coming of Christ will strike them with terror—for they think that they have made a covenant with death,…

Ungodly men feel trouble, before they see it, and are often past all hope, before they have had any fear; when they have a good day, they think their day will be an eternity, and last for ever; Those in Amos, (Amos 6:3) were merry, they were singing and feasting, eating the fat,…

This discovery of forgiveness in God with the effects of it before mentioned, will produce a Resolution of waiting on God for peace and consolation, in his own time and way. He that believs will not make haste, Isaiah 28:16. not make haste; to what? not to the enjoyment of the t…

This ruines and disappoints many a soul in its attempts for forgiveness. The prophet speaking of this matter, tells us, that He that believs shall not, nor will not make haste, Isaiah 28:16. Which words the apostle twice making use of, Romansans 9:33, chap.

The evil servant said in his heart, my master does deferre his comming, and thereupon he takes occasion to smi[]e his fellowes, and to live lewdly. Isa. 28. 15. The wicked say, they have made a couenant with hell and death, and though a scourge runne ouer, and passe through, yet…

Where, first we may note what is the faith of worldlings: they doe not trust in God for foode, raiment, and other temporal blessings; how then can we say that their faith is sound for eternal mercies? Isa. 28. 16. He that beleeus will not make hast, but will stay Gods leasure, w…

And indeede herein doe we show forth faith when we referre the time and manner of receiving our request, to the good pleasure of God: for he that beleeus will not make hast. Isa. 28. 16. The second rule to be here remembred concerning prayer, is: That these promises are not made…

Observation 1. Christ is an active husband, having hands, and working with them for the good of his Bride: a piece of his work we heard of, chapter 3:9, in that noble Chariot: he is no idle spectator; he works hitherto (John 5:17). 2. All our Lord Jesus his works, are exceeding…

The plow must neither go too shallow nor too deep in the earth; it must not indent the ground by making crooked furrows, nor leap and make baulks in good ground; but be guided as to a just depth of earth, so to cast the furrow in a straight line, that the floor or surface of the…

OBSERVATION. Husbandmen are very careful and curious about their seed-corn, that it may not only be clean and pure, but the best and most excellent in its kind (Isaiah 28:25). He casts in the principal wheat.

This being your desire, remember that a poor prisoner of Christ said it to you: that miscarried journey is pregnant with mercy and consolation for you, and shall bring forth a fair birth, and the Lord shall be midwife to the birth. Wait on; he that believes does not make haste —…

Meekness qualifies and disposes us to hear and receive the Word: when malice and envy are laid aside, and we are like new-born babes, for innocency and inoffensiveness, then we are most fit to receive the sincere milk of the Word, and are most likely to grow thereby (1 Peter 2:1…

Let us but keep the peace within, by the governing of our own passions, and then whatever assaults may be made upon us, we may therein, with the daughter of Zion, despise them, and laugh them to scorn, and shake our head at them (Isaiah 37:22). Let us believe, that in hurrying a…

The word of the Lord is to them a reproach, as the prophet complains (Jeremiah 6:10). And another prophet found it so, whose serious word of the necessity, of precept upon precept was turned into an idle song (as Grotius understands it, Isaiah 28:13): the word of the Lord was to…

They that spurn at the rock of salvation, will not only be unable to remove it, but will find it a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense (1 Peter 2:8). And we find those who ridiculed the word of the Lord, broken, and snared, and taken (Isaiah 28:13). Let all those therefore…

And we have the Church complaining in Lam. 3:30 He gives his cheek to him that smiteth him, he is filled full of reproach. So all the Prophets that were the most eminent were reproached, as Isaiah; in Isa. 28. Precept upon precept, line upon line, that was a scoff they put upon…

In wisdom has he made all his creatures; how manifold are his works! the earth is full of his riches (Psalm 104:24). So in his providence, his sustaining and guidance of all things in order to one another and his own glory unto the ends appointed for them; for all these things c…

That which is daily done is in Scripture said to be done continually: as the sacrifice which was daily offered was called a continual offering. Here let this caution be noted, that in giving this spiritual food, parents deal with their children as skillful nurses and mothers do…

God will have his children lie a while at his door, when they have run from his house, and not instantly rush in upon him; unless he take them by the hand, and draw them in, when they are so ashamed that they dare not come to him. Now self-healers, or men that speak peace to the…

The former verses 6, 7, 8. The latter verse 9. These places that he cites, touching this building are most pertinent, for they have clearly in them, all that he spoke of it, both concerning the foundation, and the edifice, as the first in these words of Isaiah 28:16. Behold I la…

And a Crown that fades not, of such a flower as withers not, not a temporary garland of fading flowers, such as all here are? Woe to the crown of pride (Isaiah 28:1). Though it is made of flowers growing in a fat valley, yet their glorious beauty is a fading flower, but this fre…

God delights in himself, and all his attributes, and the manifestation of them in the world; but above all in his mercy. Justice is his strange act (Isaiah 28:21). There is not anything more pleasing to him.

Though the duties of the first table neither begin nor end in us, yet the whole law of charity begins at home. 3. For our own vindication: Thus Hezekiah (Isaiah 28:3), Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you with a perfect heart. This was his plea; but I suppose it was no…

As the Gentiles that have not a revelation (Ephesians 4:18): Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. Or rude and ignorant Christians, that have not the advantage of…

Who is a God like to you, that pardons iniquity and passes by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage, he retains not his anger forever because he delights in mercy. Judgment is called his strange work (Isaiah 28:21). That he may do his work, his strange work, and bring…

At your command, when we cannot apply the promise, venture for the command's sake, see what God will do for you and what believing comes to. 2. The waiting of faith — when expectation is not answered, and you find not at first what you wait for, yet do not give God the lie, but…

Abraham was seventy-five years old when the promise was made, a hundred years old when Isaac was born; when Jacob went into Egypt they were but seventy souls, but at their coming forth they were 603,950. Now if faith wait (Isaiah 28:16), 'He that believes makes not haste.' (Lame…

2. By using indirect means to get off the trouble; this is making too much haste. (Isaiah 28:16) "He that believes shall not make haste." Ravishing the blessing, rather than waiting for the issues of God's providence.

(Hebrews 11:1) Faith is the substance of things hoped for: the evidence of things not seen. It is said, (Isaiah 28:16) He that believes shall not make haste. Sense and carnal confidence must have present satisfaction, but faith contents itself with promises.