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…

A most pregnant testimony; and yet notwithstanding, as I shall elsewhere manifest, the Trinity itself, in that one divine essence is here asserted. (Isaiah 44:6, 8) Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts, I am the first, and I am the last, an…

Quest. 20. By what means do persons so called become a Church of Christ? Answ. They are constituted a Church, and interested in the rights, power, and priviledges of a Gospel-Church, by the will, promise, authority, and law of Jesus Christ, upon their own voluntary consent and e…

Q. How many Gods are there? A. No more but one (Deuteronomy 4:39 & 6:4; Isaiah 44:6, 8 & 45:5, 18; 1 Corinthians 8:4, 6; Ephesians 4:6). Q. Why may there not be more Gods than one?

Q. Who was it that created the world? A. God that is without beginning, and has his being of himself, he it was who gave beginning, and being to the world (Genesis 1:1; Acts 17:24; Isaiah 40:28; Isaiah 44:24). Q. Whether was this the work of the Father, or of the Son, or of the…

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…

In brief, this title is ascribed to God principally on two accounts. (1.) By way of opposition to all dead and dumb idols, those whom the Heathen worshipped; and which are graphically described by the Psalmist (Psalms 115:4, 5, 6, 7, 8), as also by the Prophet (Isaiah 44:9, 10,…

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…

I answer, the expression does not exclude either of the Persons of the Godhead, the Father or the Son; but only the creatures, and feigned Gods, especially those feigned Rulers and Governors of the world, which the School of Simon, and the Nicolaitans introduced under the horrid…

They have not known nor understood, for he has shut their eyes that they cannot see, and their hearts that they cannot understand, and none considers in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burnt part of it in the fire, yes, also I have baked br…

2. His ends are of a higher strain than the aims of men — who would have thought that the forces Cyrus raised against Babylon to satisfy his own ambition, should be a means to deliver the Israelites and restore the worship of God in the Temple? God had this end, which Isaiah pro…

For, 1. the Prophets do foretell it (Isaiah 56:6, 7 and 44:5, and Jeremiah 50:5, Ezekiel 20:37, and in sundry other places), to omit the rest at this time, because some of them have been spoken of before. Only let those words of Isaiah 44:5 be well considered, and see if they do…

And the very fields, trees and mountains shall then as it were rejoice, and break forth into singing; Isaiah 55:12, "You shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shal…

And 'tis very manifest, that here is in the prophecy of this Vial an allusion to that by which the way was prepared for the destruction of Babylon by Cyrus; which was by turning the channel of the River Euphrates, which ran through the midst of the city, whereby the way of the k…

LXIII. Those who think Nero deserves to be counted among human beings should see in Suetonius how he treated the gods. Nor without cause did Seneca ascribe to him that utterance which, as the prophet testifies (Isaiah 44), would well suit all idolaters, in the Tragedies, Octavia…

For they are themselves lies, that is, they speak falsely, since they delude their worshipers — or rather delude themselves — with vain hope; and those who weary themselves in any superstitious worship will obtain nothing at all beyond vanity and misery. V. For the same reasons,…

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,…

God had appointed them to be his witnesses in the world, that he was God, and that there was none other. Isaiah 44:8, 9, 10: "You are my witnesses, is there a God besides me, there is no God, I know not any." As also chapter 43:10–11, 12: "You are my witnesses, that before me th…

Besides this Decree of Cyrus, although foretold long before, and made famous because it was the entrance into the peoples return and settlement, yet it took effect for so short a space of time, being obstructed within less then three years, and utterly frustrated within four or…

The word is used to express the eternity of God. [illegible] (Isaiah 44:6), I am the first, and I am the last; so Chapter 48:11. From where Ralbag before mentioned, interprets this expression, with respect to the works that God shall do in the earth in the latter days.

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…

Some are influences for the habit, others for the act of grace. Influences for the habit, as (Isaiah 44:3): I will pour water on him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground. I will pour my spirit upon your seed, and my blessing upon your offspring.

Ass. 3. It must be holden that duty as duty is a moral motive we are to be led withal, and we to look with fear and trembling to the command, whatever withdrawing of the Spirit or of his influences there be. It is true, what promises of a richer dispensation of grace are made in…

Isaiah 29:11, I cannot read the book, that is, I am sinfully ignorant of prophecy. Isaiah 44:18, They cannot understand, no more than blind men. Jeremiah 6, Their ear is uncircumcised, they cannot hearken.

But it is a wicked doctrine of some Anabaptists, and others, that all desertions are, under the New Testament cried down and gone; and it is our legal mistake, say they, that works trouble of conscience, under the New Testament, and an exercise of such as are under the Covenant…

2. It is a fixed quality different from a spiritual disposition, as (Psalms 57:7) "My heart is fixed or disposed, O God, or prepared"; but his heart was not ever and always fixed and prepared to praise, though he had ever the habit and seed of God in him after his conversion. 3.…

If God first, before we stir and bow our souls, as ethical, moral, knowing, and considering causes, must move, stir and determine our souls to good, then are all influences of grace above our reach absolutely, and then farewell free-will; there is no necessity of the one connexi…

Otherwise the Lord bestows that habit of grace in vain, which we are not to imagine of the only wise Lord (Psalms 89:47). If the Lord pour water upon the thirsty ground, and his Spirit upon the seed of Jacob, the nature of husbandry, which joins end and means, requires that he j…