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.

And then was glorified with that glory which he had with the Father before the world was (John 17:3). And as this dispensation was needful to the accomplishment of the whole work which as our Mediator he had undertaken, so in particular, he who was in himself the Lord of Hosts,…

And evident it is by daily experience that long discourses (sermon-wise) run over children's heads (like water over a mill, that grinds no meal at all) and pass their capacity. No way of instruction is so proper for them, as that which the prophet describes as most suitable to t…

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…

If all Churches come out of Babylon by degrees; then you condemn all Churches that are not of your judgement? We condemn no Churches that are built upon the tried stone: the precious corner stone; the sure foundation (Isaiah 28:16), Jesus the Christ. Seeing other foundation can…

But in the latter sense they cannot be so. It is Christ himself, and he only, who is so the Foundation as to bear the weight, and to support the whole Building of the Church of God (Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 3:10, 11; Ephesians 1:20, 21, 22; 1 Peter 2:4, 5). He…

But I must not too far digress. The command of God, the love and care of Christ towards his Church, the ends of God's patience and long-suffering, the future manifestation of his glory in the salvation of believers and the condemnation of those that are disobedient, the necessit…

Concerning which Sedulius observes, that the title of foundation is attributed both to Christ, and to the Apostles and Prophets. That where it is said (Isaiah 28:16), Behold, I lay in Sion a stone, &c., it is certain, that by the rock or stone Christ is signified. That, in Ephes…

Mercy is represented as his delight and pleasure: so (Micah 7:18) mercy pleaseth him: 'tis an act exercised with complacency. Judgment is called his strange work (Isaiah 28:21). God loveth to bless and protect; to destroy is not suitable to his disposition; 'tis a thing that he…

Now as Reformation, where Humiliation has not gone before, usually comes to little purpose, so Humiliation where Reformation follows not after, comes likewise to little purpose. In (Isaiah 28:24) Does the Husbandman plow all day to sow? The text is brought to note thus much, Tha…

The elder translators, the Seventy, always render that word by diatheke; Aquila and Symmachus do otherwise, using syntheke as well. Our Ballius, in his treatise De Foedere Divino, ch. i., asserts that the Seventy render the Hebrew word by syntheke at Isaiah 28:15. But the learne…

The doctrine has been written "plainly," so that "he who reads it may run" (Habakkuk 2:2). God has given His word — "precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, a little here, a little there" (Isaiah 28:10; Hebrews 5:13, 14). These propositions, t…

The giving of the admonitions is, by little and little, by often repetitions, in greatest plainness which may be, to make them understand some chief grounds and seeds of religion, of good manners, and behavior towards all, and so to begin some conscience in them. [Isaiah 28:10.…

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,…

Acts of mercy are God's proper work towards his people, which he will certainly awake, and keep alive in the saddest times. Mercy you see is his work, his proper work, as he calls judgment his strange act (Isaiah 28:21). He retains not his anger for ever, because he delights in…

Every wind that passes over it causes it to wither: this is the best of flesh; of all that in and by ourselves, we are, we do, we enjoy, or hope for. The crown of the pride of man, and his glorious beauty, is but a fading flower (Isaiah 28:1). What joy, what peace, what rest can…

Doubtless with more truth than those Christians make use of, who wrest these words also to Hezekiah. Isa. 28:5. In that day shall the Lord of Hosts be for a Crown of Glory; Targum; § 41 [in non-Latin alphabet], the Messiah of the Lord of Hosts: the Lord of Hosts, in and with the…

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…

Secondly, To trust God for protection, is to wait under discouragements, and disappointments for a desired issue, of the affairs we commit to him. He that believes will not make haste (Isaiah 28:16). This the Lord pleads for (Habakkuk 2:3, 4).

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.

It not a little concerns ministers and hearers to pray that the spirit may go along with the word: otherwise the shepherds singing through an [illegible] reed shall never feed sheep or lambs, and make them fat: and people often receive in their ears, a noise of words and syllabl…

But why does the Lord drive cart-wheels over the bones of his people? Let alone: he will not do it always, and say it were so, this comes forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working (Isaiah 28:29). A godly heart is smitten with the wisdom…

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…