Isaiah 44

The order and harmony in the World, the constant and uniform government of all things, is a clear argument that there is but one omnipotent, one God that rules all. (Isaiah 44:6) I am the first, and I am the last, and beside me there is no God. Use 1. of Information.

They entered into covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers. And (Isaiah 44:5), One shall say, I am the Lord's: And another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord. Like soldiers that subscribe their names in the muster-roll.

1. There is really no other God. The Valentinians held there were two Gods; the Polythites that there were many. The Persians worshipped the sun, the Egyptians the ox and elephant, the Greeks Jupiter: but there is no other than the true God (Deuteronomy 4:39). Know therefore thi…

Be followers of God as dear children (Ephesians 5:1). 1. Imitate God in forgiving injuries; I have blotted out as a thick cloud your transgressions (Isaiah 44:22). As the sun scatters not only thin mists, but thick clouds, so God pardons great offenses; imitate God in this, forg…

It reproves the stupidity of sinners, who are no more affected with the curse and wrath of God which is due to them. No man considers in his heart (Isaiah 44:19). If they were in debt, and were ready to have the sergeant arrest them, they would be affected with that: but though…

Nothing can hinder action but some superior power; but there is no power above God; all power that is, is by him, therefore all power is under him: he has a mighty arm (Psalm 89:13). He sees the designs men drive on against him, and plucks off their chariot wheels; he makes divi…

So God when he forgives sin, blots out the debt, he draws the red lines of Christ's blood over our sins, and so crosses the debt book. 4. To forgive sin, is for God to scatter our sins as a cloud (Isaiah 44:22): "I have blotted out as a thick cloud your transgressions." Sin is t…

Fire is a comfortable element, having both heat and light in it, which serve and help against cold and darkness — two of the greatest evils to the senses. Heat is comfortable. Therefore in Isaiah 44:16, the prophet says: 'He warms himself and cries, Aha!' Light also is comfortab…

Therefore David says, Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputes no sin (Psalm 32:1). And in Isaiah the Lord says, I have put away your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins as a mist (Isaiah 44:22). Now we know that clouds and mists which appear for a time, are afterward…

First, the most part never seriously think on the matter whether they believe or not, or they never put their faith to a trial, if the foolish virgin lights her lamp, and never looks whether there be oil in it, and takes on a fair outward profession of religion, and never looks…

(John 16:13) He will guide you in all truth — he will show you things to come. So there is a Spirit of grace poured on the family of David (Zechariah 12:10), on the thirsty ground (Isaiah 44:3), a new heart, put in the midst of the covenanted people (Ezekiel 36:26), fear of God…

So Zephaniah wills the people to flee to God, before the decree that is with child brings forth the birth: then God must in time open and unlock free will for all its actions. Isaiah 44:7: And who, as I shall call and set it in order for me, since I appointed or decreed the anci…

The taking away of the world's sins to us is the complete pardoning of them. Remission of sins in his blood (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14); blotting out of transgressions ([reconstructed: Isaiah 43:25]) as a thick cloud (Isaiah 44:23); a not remembering of sins (Isaiah 43:25;…

And as there is no spiritual motion in him, no act of grace, so it is another act of spiritual life, for a man to feed upon Christ; but do you think a dead man is able to feed upon Christ? You know what God said of the idolatrous people in old time (Isaiah 44:11-12). The same sa…

Satan says, bow down and worship me: Christ says, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve. Under service, prayer and thanksgiving is comprehended (Isaiah 44:17). And the residue thereof he makes a god, even his graven image, and he falls down to it, and…

It is called by Paul, the itching of the ear, and it is incident to them that follow their own lusts. The remedy of this sin, is to learn the first lesson that is to be learned of them that are to be good scholars in the school of Christ: and that is to feel our poverty, and in…

The first is, what is meant by the promise? Answer: The promise of God made in the Old Testament, that he would pour out his spirit upon all flesh (Isaiah 44:3) and (Joel 2:28). And [reconstructed: he said], that this promise is fulfilled to the nations, when they believe.

Here it may be proper that we should be reminded of what I said a little before, that Christ, in arranging the prayers of his people, did not consider which was first or second in order. It is written, that our prayers are as it were a wall which hinders our approach to God, (Is…

Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, there shall be such a plentiful communication of the Spirit as that he and his work shall be made open, revealed, and plain. The Spirit abides with those unto whom he is communicated, cleaving unto them as expressed by the word us…

And I will give them an Heart to know me, that I am the Lord, and they shall be my People, and I will be their God; so they shall return to me with their whole Heart. As also Isa. 44. 3, 4, 5. I will pour Water upon him that is thirsty, and Floods upon the dry ground; I will pou…

I will be as the dew to Israel, he shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth his Roots as Lebanon, his branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the Olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon. Isa. 44. 3, 4. I will pour water on him that is thirsty and stoods upon the dry ground,…

Fourthly, faith eyes actual pardon or condonation. So God proposs it as a motive to further believing, Isaiah 44:22. I have blotted out as a thick cloud your transgressions, and as a cloud your sins; return unto me, for I have redeemed you.

We have many prophecies recorded which have already had their undoubted effects: not to instance in all, I shall only mention two; the one is that prophecy of our Lord Jesus Christ concerning the final destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:2), which received its full accomplishme…

Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord the first, and with the last, I am he. And particularly does the scripture ascribe such titles to God, where it speaks of the providence of God, as it relates to, and is summed up in the great w…

It was a remarkable instance of God's vengeance on the enemies of his redeemed church; for God brought this destruction on Babylon for the injuries they did to God's children, as is often set forth in the prophets. It also promoted the work of redemption, as thereby God's people…

This pouring out of the Spirit of God, when it is begun, shall soon bring great multitudes to forsake that vice and wickedness which now so generally prevails, and shall cause that vital religion, which is now so despised and laughed at in the world, to revive. The work of conve…

In whom they also shall be BUILDED for an Habitation of God through the Spirit. So it is foretold, that the Way of public Covenanting should be the Way of the Gentiles joining themselves to the Church in the Days of the Gospel, Isaiah 44:3, 4, 5. I will pour Water upon him that…

There are various reasons for it; I shall name 3, which may encourage hope in the saddest times. 1. God does not love to let the creature look to the end of his designs, and discern the way of his providences; therefore he will try them by casting a veil upon his work, and hidin…

First, the Saints are dear to God, therefore God will certainly take it well at the hands of such as shall join with them in their affliction, and appear for them: if any should see your childe in affliction, and danger, and hazard himself in joining with your childe, in his aff…

This then is the order whereby we are brought to acceptation with the Father, for the glory of God through Christ. First, that the Spirit may be glorified, he is given to us to quicken us, convert us, and work faith in us, Romans 8:11, Ephesians 1:19-20, according to all the pro…

Their great naturalists and philosophers not excepted, and the more they strove to play the wise men, the more they befooled themselves. Thus likewise (Ephesians 4:17), and thus the Lord complains by his prophet of the extreme folly of his people (Isaiah 44:20), and by Jeremiah…

To the blotting out of a book: (Isaiah 43:25) I, even I, am he that blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and will not remember your sins; that it may be no more remembered, or charged upon us. To the blotting out of a cloud: (Isaiah 44:22) I have blotted out as a thic…

Counsels, though never so wisely laid, yet are blasted, if we do not make this our business to approve our hearts to God in those actions. Remember in one place it is said, The counsel of the froward is carried headlong (Job 5:13); and in another place (Isaiah 44:25), The counse…

And according to this sense Augustine begs that he may neither be deceived in the Scriptures, nor deceive out of them; Nec fallar in iis, nec fallam ex iis; let me never be mistaken myself, nor cause others to mistake. Again, by a way of lying, some understand false worship, for…

The first grace is awakening, that makes way for other graces; Awake you that sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light (Ephesians 5:14). Whereas otherwise, when we consider not, we are stupid and sottish; None considers in his heart, is there not a lie in…

(1 Corinthians 6:20) "You are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body, and your spirit," which is God's by covenant. (Isaiah 44:5) "One shall say I am the Lord's, and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob, and another shall subscribe with his hand to th…

1 Idolatry is man's folly, to worship no God, or that which is not a God, but an idol, is folly; and therefore the Gentiles are called not only atheists, but a foolish people; and with this the Apostle upbraids them (Galatians 4:8; [reconstructed: Romans 1:21-25]). Man is such a…

2 After they have committed it. 1 Sinners are ashamed of sin before, and think it an ugly thing when they commit it: For first, though they are so daring and impudent as to sin, yet they have not the courage to consider what it is they are going about, or at least to speak out w…

In fact, it is the way of all the saints (Psalm 1:1-2): it is as necessary as not to sit in the seat, walk in the counsels, and stand in the way of sinners — so necessary is it to meditate in the Law of God, and that to have your set meals, your appointed times and turns for med…

The work of the Spirit goes before the seal. The graces of the Spirit are compared to water (Isaiah 44:3), and the comforts of the Spirit are compared to oil (Isaiah 61:1). First, God pours in the water of the Spirit, and then comes the oil of gladness.

Psalm 107:9; Jeremiah 41:14; Luke 6:21: Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be filled. Isaiah 44:3: I will pour water upon him that is thirsty; I will pour my Spirit upon your seed. Has the Lord spoken, and shall it not come to pass?

Now a carnal heart is clean contrary, his zeal is for the world, and his indifferency in the things of God, he prays as if he did not pray, &c. he sweats in his shop, but chills and growes cold in his closet; O how hard to pully him up to a duty of Gods worship, or to get him ou…

3. A Covenant of Grace, with a promise of pardon and life to all that believe and repent, to all mankind. But he denies: 1. all infused habits, contrary to (Isaiah 44:1-3; Isaiah 59:20-21; Zechariah 12:10; John 4:14; John 7:37; John 16:7-8; 1 John 3:9); he says that 2. all comma…

Now the people and Levites, and house of David were never so multiplied in the Jews, after the deliverance from Babylon, and therefore must be extended to the New Testament. And if God establish David's seed forever (Psalm 89:4) and the seed of his people shall possess the gates…

Unbelief is more contrary to the Spirit, than carnal sins, being most contrary to the flower and bloomings of the Spirit in his sweetest operations, and most against the Mediator-love of Christ. For as by the fall, Christ has a new office to redeem us (Matthew 1:21; 1 Timothy 1:…

Ans. There's more of being ashamed before men, it being a carnal sort of passion, than of being ashamed before God, and falsehood and lying to men are fleshly evils against common honesty, but pride is a more angel-sin, or a more God-like sin, a spiritual sin, and pride is a sor…

It is comfortable talking that Christ says to us, I and you believers are the children of the same Father, and have one covenant-relation to one God: though, as is said, Christ bears the relation of a surety-covenant to God, and we of a covenant of mediation; and notwithstanding…

Yet may it be disputable to some, whether grace by which one is effectually drawn to Christ, rather than another, be the grace of predestination continued and so before Christ's death, or a fruit of Christ's death and so after. But it may well be said that every created saving g…

The Lord Jesus Christ has sent and commanded his servants to preach the Gospel to all nations and to every creature, and to tell them that whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16), and his servants have so preached to all (2 Corinthians 5…

Psalm 51:9. Isaiah 44:22. Jeremiah 18:23.