Isaiah 59

The angel says it is not in me; morality says it is not in me; the ordinance says it is not in me: Christ alone is the well-spring of life, the ordinance is the conduit-pipe that conveys salvation, but Christ is the spring that feeds it, neither is there salvation in any other.…

The truth of God is an unmovable rock, we may venture our salvation here. (Isaiah 59:15) Truth fails; truth on earth does, but not truth in heaven: God can as well cease to be God, as cease to be true. Has God said he will be good to the soul that seeks him (Lamentations 3:25),…

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…

Qu. 8. How many we sanctify the name of God in the use of Gospel institutions? Answ. 1. By a holy reverence of his sovereign authority appointing of them. 2. A holy regard to his special presence in them. 3. Faith in his promises annexed to them. 4. Delight in his will, wisdom,…

Whether from outward afflictions, or inward distress of mind and conscience; or, to use Solomon's distinction, whether by reason of man's ordinary infirmities, or of a wounded spirit — that is yet in question. And first, it is not to be restrained to outward afflictions only, wh…

Because these promises being discerned in a Covenant of free grace made in Christ, by them do work (if they were not wrought before) or at least confirm such conditions in the soul. As when God promised them to send a Redeemer out of Sion, to them which turn from transgression i…

3. The constant aid they have in and for its performance if they be not wanting to themselves, does entitle it to this property. The institution of Gospel-worship is accompanied with the administration of the Spirit (Isaiah 59:21), and he [〈in non-Latin alphabet〉] helps and assi…

Therefore God prepared another nature for him, which is expressed synecdochically by the ears for the whole body; and that significantly, because as it is impossible that any one should have ears of any use, but by virtue of his having a body; so the ears are that part of the bo…

There is not one man among all Adam's posterity, that is not naturally very strongly inclined this way; but he sees now that he cannot do it; he cannot make his own way stand; he labors in vain and instead of growing better, he complains that he is worse and worse, and therefore…

And have they found the narrow way which leads to life, which few do find (Matthew 7:14)? It is the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, which showed them the way, and led them by Christ, to God, whom they had lost, and were mere strangers to, when there was no judgment, or n…

In which action of theirs we are to mark two points. First the diligence of ungodly men and the quickness of their nature to practice sin and wickedness: as it was said of the old Jews (Isaiah 59:7), their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. When the Israelites…

If therefore they have an irrevocable divine institution; if Christ be present in their administrations, as he was of old (Revelation 2:1), there can be no abatement of their efficacy to their proper ends, in the nature of instrumental causes. (3.) On the Covenant of God, which…

This is that makes the soul to prize the ordinances, because God is to be enjoyed there; and these are means of communion with him (Psalms 26:8): I have loved the place where your honor dwelleth. This maketh sin terrible, because it separateth from God (Isaiah 59:2). This maketh…

We showed previously that all true theology rests upon some divine covenant. Now, although the Hebrew word sometimes signifies a bare promise, and is used in that sense first in the Scriptures (Genesis 6:18, Exodus 34:10, Isaiah 59:21), yet, since a promise of this kind exhibits…

But they had long since fallen away from this; for the word has no longer been committed in any way to their care or faith. For by divine covenant the word had been entrusted to their fathers (Isaiah 59:21); and when they fell away from that covenant through unbelief and ceased…

Because this is the only answer adversaries can give, though it be as a parable in a fool's mouth. Let it be considered, 1. The difference between the first Covenant which was broken (Jeremiah 31:32-33-34) and the better Covenant which is everlasting and cannot be broken (Jeremi…

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; [reconstructed: Jeremiah 31:34]). Such a taking away of sins as is promised i…

Reason 4: Taken from the displeasure that God takes, if he see that we do not pray for them, when we forget to remember them before the Lord, this is ill taken. God is displeased when there is none to stand in the gap in such a case as this (Isaiah 59:15-16). God does not afflic…

Surely, that is good that sets us nearer to God, and that evil that separates us from him. Therefore sin is evil because it makes an estrangement between us and God (Isaiah 59:2): Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you.…

It is against the threatenings of the Word in all those places where God is said to be a jealous God. God is said to put on jealousy as a cloak (Isaiah 59:17). That is the upper and outermost garment.

For the scriptures in their right use (which is in reading, hearing, meditation) have the divine and supernaturall operation of the spirit ioyned with them, to comfort in all distresses, and in the very pang of death, and to conuert the heart of man, making him in respect of rig…

For say, that God suffers them for a time to consult, to imagine, and rage against us, yet in the end he will scatter all that they have rashly and proudly done, as chaff before the wind. Let us also know that this which Isaiah has prophesied against Sennacherib, does likewise a…

And the coherence of the text of this chapter with the former shows it plainly. For in (Isaiah 59:21) he said, that the covenant was enclosed in the word and spirit: from the opposition then, it is easily gathered, that the felicity promised to the Church in the beginning of thi…

The arm of God is contrasted with every other aid: as in Isaiah, "I looked, and there was none to help," (Isaiah 63:5;) "therefore," says he elsewhere, "his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him," (Isaiah 59:16.) Mary therefore means: God rested…

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…

For this is to separate the Spirit or the Dispensation of the Spirit from it, which is in Truth to destroy it. And therewith is the Covenant of God rejected, which is, that his Word and Spirit shall go together, Isa. 59. v. 20. 21. We shall therefore, God assisting manifest in o…

The Law which God by his Grace writes in our Hearts, answers to the Law that is written in the Word that is given to us; and as the first is the only Principle, so the latter is the only Rule of our Evangelical Obedience. For this End has God promised that his Word and his Spiri…

O vile and unworthy thoughts of God! proceeding from our measuring the immense and boundless power of God, by our own line and measure: because we see not which way relief should come, we conclude, none is to be expected. But all these reasonings of Unbelief are vanquisht by a s…

Our unfitness for mercy, is the reason why they are delayed so long. We put the blocks into the way of mercy, and then repine, that they make no more haste to us, Isaiah 59. 1, 2. The Lords hand is not shortned, but our iniquities have separated betwixt him and us. Consider, the…

It likes them, loves them, delights in them, which makes them easy to it. The Lord Christ rules, as we said, by his Word and Spirit, these go together in the Covenant of the Redeemer (Isaiah 59:20, 21). And their work is suited and commensurate one to the other.

This was the greatest danger that ever Jacob was in, and this he remembers in his blessing of Joseph's children, praying that they may have the presence of this Angel with them, who preserved him all his life, and delivered him from that eminent danger from his brother Esau. And…

And herein is the knowledge of their masters bounded; they go not beyond the letter, but are more blind than moles in the spiritual sense of it. And thus they continue an example of the righteous judgment of God, in giving them up to the counsels of their own hearts, and an evid…

And they variously set forth the growth of it, where it is not corrected by grace. At first they say, it is like a spider's thread, but at last like a cart-rope; from Isaiah 59 v. 5 and chap. 5 v. 18. And again, in the beginning it is like a stranger, then as a guest, but lastly…

So likewise a spirit of strength that is upon a man, is called the hand of God, 1 Kings 18, last verse, The hand of the Lord was upon Elijah and he girt up his loins and ran before Ahab. Here the hand of the Lord is put for the power of the Lord, put forth your hand, that is, pu…

Secondly, Christ saying not onely Aske, but seeke and knocke; does hereby imply what is Gods dealing many times with his own servants: namely, that he forsakes them for a time, and in part, and in some sort hides himselfe, and as it were locks himselfe from them. Now thus he dea…

So says she: though Christ now be out of sight, yet he is not far off, but as it were behind the wall; and it's called "our wall" in reference to some other she speaks with of him. And a wall, because often we build up these separations ourselves between him and us (Isaiah 59:1)…

Or, 2. this word may be derived from Salem, which properly taken, is Jerusalem (Psalm 76:1) and (Hebrews 7:1) Melchisedec was king of Salem, which signifies peace, and so, as Shunamitish comes from Shunem, so Shulamite from Salem, and so taking the derivation thus, it comes to t…

16. A sixteenth sin of London is perverting of judgment. This is a God-provoking sin: when none calls for justice, nor any pleads for truth; when men make to themselves crooked paths, and there is no judgment in their goings; indeed when judgment is turned away backward, and jus…

Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands, thy walls are continually before me." The same is promised again in Isaiah 59:21 and Isaiah 43:1, 2 and Zechariah 12:2, 3. So Christ promises the same, when he says, "On this rock will I build my church, and the gates of hel…

1. The influences by which the Lord gives a circumcised (Deut. 30:6), an one and single (Ezek. 11:19, 20), a soft and a new heart and spirit (Ezek. 36:26; Zech. 12:10; Isa. 54:13; John 6:45; Isa. 44:1, 2, 3) — these are simply necessary. 2. These influences are also fundamental,…

It speaks honest ingenuity after a man has borrowed money, and given word and writ to pay it, when he is anxious how to answer the day, and be acquit of the debt. 3. Faith should rely upon the promise of God for influences of grace, and look away from nature, and cease from the…

Hence these influences of grace are from the Spirit, not as from the third person of the blessed Trinity simply; for so the Spirit is the power of God, sometimes as Judge sitting, and by a judicial power, making tormenting convictions dreadfully effectual upon the consciences of…

Call this bowing of the heart predeterminating grace, or give it another name, I contend not, or call it an impression of strong delectation on the will, so it be invincible, insuperable, and above the power of free will to resist and oppose the call and drawing power of Christ,…

5. The spirit that is of God goes along with the word, if we 1. consider the spirit's relation to the word. My spirit and my words (Isaiah 59:21). For the Gospel is the chief chair and seat of the spirit (Romans 1:16; Isaiah 53:1).

Enthusiasts tell us of a dumb and Scriptureless persuasion by which men are persuaded they are chosen to salvation, and can know others by the face that are so chosen. The true spirit leads to all truth (John 16:13) and opens the true sense of the Scriptures, and leads no man by…

(10.) Nor shall it be in the power of the Almighty to be faithful and true in fulfilling his promise of giving a new heart to the elect (Jeremiah 31:31; Ezekiel 36:26; Hebrews 8:8-10), for though the Lord of free grace give, wicked free-will may refuse to receive the new heart.…

I say to you, if your case be the same, you shall be heard. To this end are those places: The Lord's hand is not shortened, that he cannot save, nor his ear heavy, that it cannot hear (Isaiah 59:1): This is the scope of the Prophet; as if he should say, you wonder why you are no…

It is your duty to smite upon the thigh; surely there is a cause. When there were such great distractions that they groped like a blind man, and could not find the way, they said our iniquities are with us, as for our transgressions we know them (Isaiah 59:10-12). When those tha…

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…

This commonly is the condition of the world in such a season, they are at rest and quiet, their hearts are abundantly satiated; they drink wine in bowls, and send gifts one to another. Then Christ looks to see who will come in for their succor (Isaiah 59:16-17), and finding none…