Isaiah 5

'Tis with a sinner as with a sick patient, his palate is distempered, the sweetest things taste bitter to him. The Word, which is sweeter than the honeycomb, tastes bitter to him (Isaiah 5:20); they put sweet for bitter. Thus, a disease, and nothing can cure this disease but the…

If this sin of drunkenness be not reformed, I pray God the sword be not made drunk with blood. And whereas some will go to shift off this sin from themselves that they are no drunkards, because they have not drunk away their reason and senses; they are not so far gone in drink t…

Ever since Adam did eat of the Tree of Knowledge, and his eyes were opened, we lost our eyesight. Besides ignorance in the mind, there is error and mistake, we do not judge rightly of things, we put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter (Isaiah 5:20). Besides this, there is muc…

When we give our testimony for a person that is criminal and guilty, we justify him as if he were innocent. Which justify the wicked for reward (Isaiah 5:23). He that goes to make a wicked man just, makes himself unjust.

Indeed, he derides God's threatenings. Isaiah 5:19: Let him make speed and hasten his work that we may see it. We have heard much what God intends to do, and of judgment [reconstructed: approaching], we would fain see it.

Fourth, in short, that pleasure men talk of in sin, is their disease; some take pleasure in eating chalk, or coals, this is from their disease. So when men talk of pleasure in eating the forbidden fruit, it is from the sickness and disease of their souls; they put bitter for swe…

But what can befall such men? But that that Isaiah prophesies to them, (Isaiah 5:8) Woe be unto them that join house to house, and land to land, till there be no place for the poor to dwell in. Thirdly, in that Abraham lived thus, as ready ever to depart into any other country,…

So then justification is not to be considered, as God's creating, and infusing of gracious habits in us; but the declaring of us to be free, and acquitted from the guilt of sin, upon the account of Christ's satisfying for our debt. This we will find to be very clear, if we consi…

For clearing of this a little more, consider that this resting may be looked on, either passively, or actively; passively, in respect of the believer's acquiescing in Christ, and assuring himself that all shall be well; this is not that act of faith that is called for to justifi…

And (Revelation 22:17), "Whoever will, let him come and take of the water of life freely" — it is not only, to say so with reverence, those whom He wills, but it is, whoever will; and so if you want to come, grace puts the offer into your hand, as it were, to carve on; to let us…

But we differ little in our aims from beasts, when the intention rises no higher than this side of clay and time (Psalm 49:11). That our houses may continue (Isaiah 5:8). That we may be placed, alone on the earth.

Many generations of hirelings have ended their day's task, and have now their wages, many shadows are gone down, many actors have closed their game, as it may be, and some have fulfilled their course with joy, and are now within the curtain, since the creation. 7. It is a poor n…

Just as Paul complains of the Jews (Acts 13:46), since you have put it away from you, lo, we turn to the Gentiles, we purge and cast out the motions of God's spirit, and cannot endure that any Ordinance should bring us nearer to Christ. (Acts 7:51) You have always resisted the H…

For that which is the end of God's laws, must also be the end of all good laws in all commonwealths and kingdoms, namely, to shut up the people into the unity of one faith. The Church of the Jews, is called a fountain sealed, a garden enclosed (Song of Songs 4:12), a vineyard he…

The fourth and last point, contains the remedies of this euill, which are the rather to be considered, because it is a great sinne, one of those seuen which the Lord does most of all detest, Prou. 6. 17. a dangerous sinne, hauing a heauie woe attending upon it, Woe to them that…

For how can they have the Spirit of God, which have not the Word of God? And therefore they do nothing else but call light darkness and darkness light, as it is said (Isaiah 5). This Word of God is the Gospel, whereby we are through Christ redeemed from sin, death, and Hell: he…

Be not wise in your own Conceits. And brings Men under that Woe, Isaiah 5:21. Woe unto them that are wise in their own Eyes, and prudent in their own Sight.

Hence two things do ensue: (1.) That the use of those means to Men in the state of Sin, if they are not complyed withal, is sufficient on the grounds before laid down, to leave them by whom they are rejected inexcusable; so Isa. 5. 3, 4, 5. Prov. 29. 1. 2 Chron. 36. 14, 15.

If God plant, and fence, and water you by Providence, sure he looks you should bring forth fruit. Isaiah 5. 1, 2, 3, 4. O that in return for all the benefits of Providence, you would say to God, as grateful Elisha said to the Shunamite, behold you hast been careful for us with a…

To be of an heedless inobservant temper is very displeasing to God; and so much appears by that Scripture, Isaiah 26:11 Lord when your hand is lifted up they will not see. Nay, it is a sin, which God threatens and denounces woe against in his Word, Psalm 28. 4, 5. and Isaiah 5.…

It is an elegant metaphor frequent in Scripture, showing that as when a field is well hedged, or a town well walled and entrenched, then it is safe. So when God is said to make a hedge or a wall about a man or about a nation, the safety of that man or nation is assured by it (Is…

For clearing the first; Consider, that the visible Church is often compared in Scripture to a Vineyard (Matthew 21:33). And the particular professors, especially believers, are as the vine-trees that grow in it; So (Isaiah 5:7), The Vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel, c…

3. They are furnished with many excellent graces, fruits of the Spirit, which are planted in them as flowers in a garden (Galatians 5:21). Next, this garden is enclosed: it is a special property of gardens to be so; to be enclosed is by a wall or hedge to be fenced from the tram…

4. It's not a commendable shamefastness, but must needs be a very sinful modesty, that keeps one from duty: It was indeed more shameful to lie still, than to rise. Her second ground is of the same nature, I have washed my feet: washing the feet, fitted and prepared for rest; men…

For explaining of the first, we are first to remember, that by Solomon, we are to understand Christ; for, as ever hitherto, so here, the Allegory is continued, to express and set forth Christ in his way with his Church, under that name. Next, the Vineyard here is [reconstructed:…

2. If the same allegories in other places of Scripture, will bear solid doctrines concerning Christ, his covenant, faith, etc. even such as are in plain Scriptures; then must this Song do the like, seeing it is the word of God, tending to the same scope with these. But it is cle…

What could the Lord have done more to his vineyard than he has done? Therefore then when he looked for grapes, brought it forth only leaves, or wild grapes? (Luke 13; Isaiah 5:4-6) And is it then to be wondered at, if the Lord pluck down the hedge thereof, that it might be eaten…

The Scripture compares the church to a vineyard, and particular souls to vine-trees that must bring forth grapes: and indeed a vine is good for nothing if it be not fruitful: not so much as to make a pin of, to hang a vessel upon. Now let us consider, if God have not done as muc…

And do you call this a pleasure? Surely you put bitter for sweet (Isaiah 5:20). The pleasures of sin gratify only the sensitive part of man, not the rational.

The meaning is, I will send a more fearful judgment, than that of the famine of bread; for this particle [not] is not exclusive, but excessive — implying, that a famine of bread is nothing, or but a light judgment, compared with the famine of the word. Parallel to which is that…

Surely it should be said of every soul that grows here, as the historian says of Spain, that there is nihil infructuosum, nihil sterile; nothing barren or unfruitful in it. God's vineyard is planted in a very fruitful hill (Isaiah 5:1). And surely they that are planted in the ho…

It is as good husbandry to keep what we have, as to acquire more than we had. "My well-beloved has a vineyard in a very fruitful hill and he fenced it" (Isaiah 5:1-2). No inheritance is better defended and secured than the Lord's inheritance (Psalm 125:2): "As the mountains are…

The power of religion is not only disliked and denied, but contradicted and condemned by those that rest in the form. They that call the evil, good, will call the good, evil (Isaiah 5:20); and it is not strange if they, who abandon themselves to work all uncleanness with greedin…

To the Satisfaction and refreshment of nature, you may drink; for it is a part of the Curse, to drink, and not be satisfied: but take heed you go no further, For Wine is a [mocker] strong Drink is raging, and whoever is deceived thereby is not wise, Proverbs 20:1. The Throat is…

Oh that the breathings and workings of the Spirit of all grace, might stir up all his gifts and graces in me, that the Lord Jesus the beloved of my soul may have meet and acceptable entertainment from me. God complains of want of fruit in his vineyard (Isaiah 5:3; Hosea 10:1). W…

Oh, let us take heed that the like be not upbraided to us. The Lord has not sparingly, but most liberally and bountifully nourished and cherished us in this land, and that both with temporal and spiritual blessings, so as he may justly say, what could have been done more in my v…

But on the contrary, when men cater for the flesh, provide for it, indulge carnal distempers, and feed them with that diet which they affect: these tempt themselves, and seem willing to lie under their bondage, and to be glad of it. 3. When a man is a sinner to his loss; and has…

They would have the holy God to be sanctified abroad, either by the conversion of men, or by their punishment. And so it is meant (Isaiah 5:16): God that is holy, shall be sanctified in righteousness — that is, his holiness and hatred of sin shall appear, either in the conversio…

2. Discontent. Men have not so much as their rapacious desires crave, though they are allowed moderate supplies to keep them till they go to Heaven: And therefore every thing that they get serves but as a bait to draw them on further, so they are always joining house to house, a…

Covet earnestly the best gifts, this is a holy covetousness, and a good diversion from that great sin. As the covetous learn all the arts of thriving, are always joining house to house, and field to field (Isaiah 5:8), so should we add faith to faith, and obedience to obedience.…

3. The certainty of the threatenings. God's people see wrath and judgment in the face of sin, whereas those who are drowned in sensuality and carnal delights, scoff at God's menaces, and jest at his judgments; neither crediting the one, nor expecting the other, as if it were but…

It is only because they are ashamed of it, that any body should know what they think, as (Psalm 14:1) the fool has said in his heart, there is no God: It seems he had not the hardiness nor heart to say it with his mouth; he whispered, and muttered, or wished, but was loath to be…

Secondly, I shall draw some inferences from the consideration of sin, as it is contrary to the good of man. 1. Then I infer, that they are miserably mistaken that seek for any good in sin; as sin is, so its effects are, all evil to man: there are (woe to them) that call evil goo…

That was their vanity, and they worshipped the creature in the room of God. And hence the Prophet expresses the practice of such as those who be wholly misguided in their course by reason of their mistakes (Isaiah 5:20): they call evil good and good evil, they put darkness for l…

- 4 The Reward here promised and given for their [illegible]. Under the letter or which words, this [illegible][illegible] is [illegible], [illegible] ought to be conceived. The [illegible] is the Church (Isaiah 5:7). The Master and Householder, is the Lord Christ.

The understanding is defiled (1 Corinthians 2:14); we can no more judge of spiritual objects until the Spirit anoints our eyes than a blind man can judge of colors. Our understandings are subject to mistakes; we call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20). A straight stick under…

It is good to bethink ourselves what answer we shall give to God for our barrenness. The Lord has planted us in rich soil; he may say to us as to his vineyard (Isaiah 5:1): my beloved has a vineyard in a very fruitful hill — he fenced it and planted it with the choicest vine, an…

As to the first, the less of the creature and self, and the more of God in the end, so much the more denied and spiritual is the doer, when purely for God [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] we do (1 Corinthians 10:13; Colossians 3:23), we are sick for God, and in health for God, and wake…

But in the second Adam, besides all these, we are gifted with a life of more worth than many acres of vineyards. They declare therefore that there is much of the first Adam in them, little of the second — who would reconquer again the many lands that our first father Adam sold,…

Now there are undeniable prophecies that the Gentiles from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof (Malachi 1:11) shall be, under the New Testament, the people of God by Covenant (Isaiah 19:18-25). Then must the generality and mixed multitude of the Gentiles be some othe…