Isaiah 30

It makes the soul red with guilt, and black with filth. Sin in Scripture is compared to a menstruous cloth (Isaiah 30:22), to a plague sore (1 Kings 8:38). Joshua's filthy garments, in which he stood before the Angel (Zechariah 3:3), were nothing but a type and hieroglyphic of s…

Better have been a toad, a serpent, any thing, if not a new creature. The old sinner must go into old Tophet (Isaiah 30:33). Damned caitiffs will have nothing to ease their torments; not one drop of honey in all their gall.

1. Without intermission; their pains shall be acute and sharp, and no relaxation; the fire shall not be slackened, or abated (Revelation 4:11): They have no rest day nor night: like one that has his joints stretched continually on the rack, and has no ease. Therefore the wrath o…

God has bound himself to us by his promises. The Bible is bespangled with promises made to prayer, (Isaiah 30:19) "He will be very gracious to you at the voice of your cry." "The Lord is rich to all that call upon him" (Romans 10:12).

Partiality in hearing is, when we like to hear some truths preached, but not all. We love to hear of heaven, but not of self-denial; of reigning with Christ, but not of suffering; of the more facile duties of religion, but not them which are more knotty and difficult, as mortifi…

Some have an antipathy against God because of his purity. Isaiah 30:11: Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. Sinners, if it lay in their power, would not only unthrone God, but un-be God.

The remembrance of this, that God's will is a sovereign will, to do with us what he pleases, may silence all discontents, and charm down all unruly passions, we are not to dispute but submit. (2.) God's will is a wise will; he knows what is conducive to the good of his people, t…

He keeps the keys of the dungeon, and you must wait his leisure. He waits but for a fit time to let you out (Isaiah 30:18): 'He will wait to be gracious to you, for he is a God of judgment' — a wise and judicious God who knows the fittest times and seasons. And that he stays so…

Seeing then, God has consecrated it, and our Elders have trod this way before us, let us follow them; that so we may attain that kingdom whereto it has brought them. If any yet doubt whether this be the way or no: the spirit of God puts it out of doubt, Isaiah 30:21; First, affi…

Hence we learn, that when God lays upon us any hard commandment, we must not plead the case with God, or murmur against him; but with all quietness and meekness obey. This is a notable grace of God commended unto us by God himself: In rest and quietness (saith God, Isaiah 30:15)…

He is the shepherd of his church, which guides his flock in and out, and therefore Paul says, They that are Christ's, are guided by his Spirit (Romans 8:14). And by Isaiah the Lord says, those his servants which are turned from idolatry, he will guide in the way, and their ears…

How easily can God check the pride, and break the power, and infatuate the councels of the wicked? He can destroy his enemies with the turning of an hand, Psal. 81. 14. with a word, Psal. 2. 5. with a breath, Isa. 30. 28, with a look, Exod. 14. 24. It needs cost God no more to d…

The saving knowledge of God under the Kingdom of the Messiah (Isaiah 11:9) fills the earth, as the Sea is covered with waters. A Sea of Faith, and an Earthful of the grace of saving light, and a Sun sevenfold, as the light of seven days (Isaiah 30:26) hold forth to us a large me…

Thus David says that his reins did teach him in the night season (Psalm 16). And the prophet Isaiah says, your ear shall hear a voice saying, here is the way walk in it when you turn to the right hand, or to the left (Isaiah 30:21). And this voice, (no doubt) is not only the voi…

So we must sow our seed, and sow plentifully, still expecting the fruit of our labor with patience, till the great harvest come, the great day of retribution, in which God will separate the wheat from the chaff; gathering the one into his garners, and burning up the other with u…

For, if we must believe that it is real, or what they call material fire, we must also believe that the brimstone and the fan are material, both of them being mentioned by Isaiah. "For Tophet is ordained of old; the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, lik…

fire for their worm shall not die, either shall their fire be quenched, (Isaiah 66:24.) Besides, the same prophet shows plainly enough in another passage that the expression is metaphorical; for he compares the Spirit of God to a blast by which the fire is kindled, and adds a mi…

The Lord by his prophets in sundry places has promised that he will create new Heavens and a new Earth, as Isaiah 65: "Behold, I will create new Heavens and a new Earth, and the former shall not be remembered nor come into your mind." Again: Isaiah 30: "The light of the Moon sha…

(3.) Providence blasts and frustrates all sinful projects to the people of God: whoever thrives in them, they shall not. Isaiah 30. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. And this also convinces them of the folly that is in sin, and makes them cleave to the way of simplicity and integrity. Holiness is…

Now the season of mercy is a very great circumstance that adds much to the value of it. God judges not as we do; we are all in haste, and will have it now, Numb. 12:13 But he is a God of judgement, and blessed are they that wait for him, Isaiah 30:18 (2.) Afflictive Providences…

Consider how many Promises are made in the Word to waiting souls. One Scripture calls them blessed that wait for him, Isaiah 30:18 Another tells us, none that wait for him shall be ashamed, Psalm 25:3 (that is, ) they shall not be finally disappointed, but at last be partakers o…

But further, take it improperly, then, let not the light shine upon it, has this voice in it, Let there be no comfort, no joy, no good thing in the compass of that day. Light in Scripture expresses all good; as darkness all evil; That great blessing which was promised to the Chu…

The Enmity began on your part, the danger is on your part only; and he might justly expect that the message for peace should begin on your part also; But he begins with you; and shall he be rejected? The prophet well expresss this, Isaiah 30:15. Thus says the Lord God, the holy…

And this God in an especial manner calls souls unto in straights and distresses. In quietness and confidence, says he, shall be your strength, Isaiah 30:15. And the effect of the righteousness of God by Christ, is said to be Quietness and assurance for ever, Isaiah 32:17.

I should have beene dumb and not have opened my mouth, because you Lord diddest it. Excellent is that saying of the Lord, Isa. 30. 15. In rest and quietnesse shall y[] be saved, in quietnesse and confidence shall be your strength: meaning, that by patience and contentation a man…

London's fire was dreadful, but the fire of Hell will be a thousand-fold more dreadful. The fire of London was kindled by man; be sure some second cause was made use of herein; but the fire of Hell will be kindled by God himself (Isaiah 30:33). Tophet is ordained of old, for the…

That is the Church of God, where were the visible signs of God's presence: he estranged himself from God as much as he could: he [reconstructed: fell to building], thereby thinking to drown the noise of his conscience, as the Italians of old were wont to drown the noise of thund…

Isaiah 11. 17. Every one is an Hypocrite and an Evil-Doer. So they are called lying Children, Isaiah 30. 9. and Chapter 59. 13. and are represented as Lying in pretending to be of the Temple or Church of God. Jeremiah 7. 2, 4. Hear the Word of the Lord, all you of Judah that ent…

And doubtless when a spiritual famine shall pinch hard, those that have been close-handed to maintain a Gospel ministry, will account it a choice mercy to enjoy them again at any rate. Though the Lord feed you with the bread of affliction, and give you the waters of adversity, y…

And by the promises that are made to such (Psalm 138:5): Indeed, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. And again, You shall have a song as in the night, when a holy solemnity is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one goes with a pipe, to…

It is for this that they break their sleep, and spend their spirits, and raise so great a dust: now it will be hard to convince such, that really there is more to be gotten by meekness and quietness of spirit, than by all this hurry and ado. They readily believe, that in all lab…

Lastly, let none of us ever think the worse of the way of religion and godliness for its being everywhere spoken against, nor be frightened hereby from walking in that way. The contempt cast upon the practice of piety is with many, an invincible objection against it; their good…

To them are committed the Oracles of God, as the Apostle reasons for the Church of the Jews; So to every Church of God, is committed the Oracles and the Ordinances of God, and those Offices for the dispensation of the mysteries of God; which were the great gift, that Christ triu…

That which lies hid in Christ, and is revealed from him, is full of love, sweetness, tenderness, kindness, grace. It is the Lord's waiting to be gracious to sinners: waiting for an advantage to show love and kindness for the most eminent endearing of a soul unto himself (Isaiah…

We can never walk in God's way, without the conduct of God's Spirit. We must not only have a way, but a voice to direct us when we are wandering, (Isaiah 30:21) And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it. Sheep have a shepherd as well as a fo…

2. That there is usually some time of delay between making the promise, and fulfilling the promise: For therefore God promises, because he means to do us good, but not presently: And this delay is not for want of kindness, or out of any backwardness to our good; for so it is sai…

The Scriptures are sufficient to make us wise, but without the light of the Spirit how do we grope at noonday! 2. The forgetfulness of our memories: We need a monitor to stir up in us diligence, watchfulness, and earnest endeavors (Isaiah 30:21): And your ears shall hear a word…

(Psalm 62:1) "Truly my soul waits upon God: from him comes my salvation." (Isaiah 30:18) "God is a God of judgment. Blessed are they that wait for him."

3. God is a God of judgment. Isaiah 30:18. "And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious to you; and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment. Blessed are all they that wait for him."

1. That the patience of God with, and the long-suffering of God towards sinners, is wonderful; if sin be so exceeding sinful, that is, contrary to and displeasing to God, then surely his patience is exceeding great, his goodness exceeding rich, his long-suffering exceeding marve…

If men carry themselves so when they are sick, we say it is a frenzy. Thus (Isaiah 30:10-11): they say to the seers, "See not"; to the prophets, "Prophesy not, [illegible] not, counsel not, but cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from us." This is the temper of every natural m…

He did not suit his humor, nor please his palate, therefore he was not willing to hear that from him, that perhaps he should be unwilling to do. So they in Isaiah's time, they would give the prophet his text, and tell him what points he should handle also; they said to the seers…

A carnal heart is unwilling to make out after the discovery of the truth, and like bats, live most at ease when they have least light, fly abroad in the night: the less knowledge they have, the less trouble they find, and therefore they are willing to make no inquiry to know tha…

If yet the sinner will not come away but stays still, and clings to his darling lusts, the Lord leaves the record of these his kindnesses upon his heart, and still out of his long sufferance waits for his amendment and repentance, puts him in mind, and lies pulling at him with t…

Tenth, if all that has been said will not serve to master this bedlam disposition of wrath and anger, let me tell you — you are the persons whom God speaks of, who hate to be reformed; you are rebels against the word. Read and tremble (Isaiah 30:8-9): Now go, write it before the…

We are a lump of clay and sin mingled together. Sin does not only blind us but defile us; it is called 'filthiness' (James 1:21), and is compared to a plague-sore (1 Kings 8:38), to spots (Deuteronomy 32:5), to vomit (2 Peter 2:22), to an infant tumbling in blood (Ezekiel 16:6),…

The Lord would have men make their peace with him (Isaiah 27:5). God is not like a hasty creditor that requires the debt and will give no time for payment; he is not only gracious, but waits to be gracious (Isaiah 30:18). God by his patience would draw sinners to repentance.

5. The pouring out of the vial (Psalm 75:8): For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red, it is full of mixture, and he pours out of the same. This is the sad execution: hell is set out by Tophet (Isaiah 30:33), which was a place situated near Jerusalem, wher…

(4.) There is a more numerous company of these who have not loved their lives to the death, and the martyrs that suffered more exquisite torments for Christ, under the persecuting Emperors and reign of Antichrist, than ever before; the constraining love of Christ, which is stron…

Answer. The word of the Gospel, therefore before Adam could have the Gospel-spirit, the Lord must reveal the doctrine of the Gospel, the seed of the woman must tread down the head of the serpent (Genesis 3). So the word and the spirit are promised together (Isaiah 59:21; Isaiah…