Isaiah 61

Fruit 4. Growth of Grace.] True grace is progressive, of a spreading growing nature; it is with grace as with the light, first there is the Crepusculum or day-break; then it shines brighter to the full meridian: A good Christian is like the Crocodile, Quam diu vivit, crescit, he…

Rejoice in the Lord always. Why was Christ anointed, but to give the oil of joy for mourning (Isaiah 61:1)? Joy is as well a fruit of the Spirit as faith (Galatians 5:22).

As every one has not skill to play on the viol and organ, so every one cannot rightly sound forth God's harmonious praises; only the saints can do it; they only can make their tongue and heart join in consort (Psalm 111:1): I will bless you, O Lord, with my whole heart; and (Psa…

13. Where God pardons sins he bestows righteousness. With remission of sin goes imputation of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10): I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness. If a Christian can take any comfort in his inherent righteousness, wh…

Q. How was he furnished with gifts and abilities for discharge of this office? A. As God never calls any to any office, but he gives them gifts requisite thereto: so Christ was furnished with all wisdom and knowledge, and other gifts of the Spirit, that might fully fit him for h…

Q. What follows hereupon? A. Hereby the soul feeling itself to be utterly lost is further and more kindly broken and humbled (Luke 19:10; Isaiah 61:1, 2, 3; Matthew 11:20; Zechariah 12:10). Q. What else is done by the Gospel in the working of faith?

The first reason is because it is the office of Christ so to do. The Spirit is upon him on purpose (Isaiah 61:1-3) to open the prison to them that are bound, shut up in this dungeon; to appoint to them that mourn, beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, garments of praise…

The proposition is clear of itself, that we cannot bring forth good fruit, until we be good trees (Matthew 7:18): a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit. Nor can we become the good trees of righteousness, of the Lord's plantation (Isaiah 61:3), until we be grafted into Chr…

And therefore would not God make use of any outward means in the call or the separation of the Lord Christ to his offices or any of them, because there was none in Heaven or Earth greater than he, or nearer to God to be employed therein. Angels and men might bear witness as they…

There is such a thing as a broken heart; though few ever feel it, and but a few understand what it is. Isaiah 61:1. And this sight breaks the heart; it does not only ashame, and abase a man, but breaks the heart, or does give a great stroke towards it; and this is a great thing.…

The second is, to be without offense: that is, innocent, giving no occasion of evil to any, and not taking them offered by others: and the continuance of those is noted to the day of Christ; which is the time in which he comes to us, either by our death, or by the last judgment.…

The Scripture puts them together, Micah 6. 8. To do justice, to love mercy, we must not make ex rapina holocaustum, a sacrifice of sacrilege. Isaiah 61. 8. For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt-offering. He that shall build an Hospital with goods ill-gotten, dis…

I answer: they are spiritual chains, suitable to the spiritual nature of angels: such as these, 1. Guilt of conscience, which binds them over to judgement; the consciences of wicked angels know that they are adjudged to damnation for their sin; this is a sure chain, for it faste…

It was the bitten Israelite that looked to the brazen serpent. It is the stung and wounded sinner, that will look in earnest to Christ Jesus (Matthew 9:12-13; Isaiah 61:1-3). There must be a closing with a Savior from sin, as precious (1 Peter 2:7).

He bore our infirmities, even natural as well as moral ones, in the days of his flesh; and though he be now exalted to the highest glory, yet still he continues as merciful as ever, and as apt to be touched with the sense of our miseries (Hebrews 4:15). Lastly, The counsel itsel…

Now where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (1 Corinthians 3:17). This liberty Christ proclaims in the Gospel to all that do believe (Isaiah 61:1). Hereon they who hear and receive the joyful sound, are discharged from all debts, bonds, accounts, rights and titles, and…

We shall close this with the consideration of our Lord Jesus, who was an incomparable preacher, of whom it is said (Matthew 7:29) that He spoke with power and not as the scribes. And in Luke 4, when He is opening that sweet text (Isaiah 61:1-3), it is said, "They all wondered at…

If you think Christ real in His commands, is He not as real in His offers? 2. He has so ordered the administration of this Gospel, as He has purposely prevented any ground that folks may have of being deterred to close with Christ; He has so qualified the object of this grace in…

It is but a delusion. 1. Because (Isaiah 61:1), no whole-hearted sinners meet with Christ; none come at first laughing to Christ; all that come to Jesus for help come with the tear in their eye. 2. To come dry and withered to the waters (Isaiah 55:1) is the required preparation.

Nor need we flee to that exposition ever and anon, that Christ died for all, that is, all ranks of men. For "all" is put in Scripture ordinarily for many; as (Deuteronomy 1:21; Psalm 71:18; Jeremiah 15:10; Jeremiah 19:9; Jeremiah 20:7; Jeremiah 23:30; Jeremiah 49:17; Ezekiel 16:…

Every one is to do the proper duty of his place, and exactly to see to that And therefore the Apostle Romans 12. exhorting to the discharge of the duties of each office in the Church, verse 7. he says, Let him that has a Ministry committed to him, wait on his ministry; and (amon…

It is said the Lord turned the captivity of Job, because he had been delivered to Satan's power, till the Lord set him at liberty again, and then all his friends had compassion on him, even those that had despised him before relieved him. So (Isaiah 61:7): "For your shame you sh…

Cor 3:9. that believers are trees of righteousnes. Isa 61:3. that the spirit of God is the sappe and life of them: and good workes and vertues, are the fruits which they beare. In that the works of the spirit, are called fruits therof, hence it followes, that there are no true v…

This question is answered by a passage of the prophet Isaiah, which will be handled in another place. "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord God has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted," (Isaiah 61:1.)…

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken Heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite Spirit. Isaiah 61. 1, 2. The Lord hath anointed me to bind up the Broken-hearted, to comfort all that mourn.

From hence was he habitually Holy, and from hence did he exercise Holiness entirely and universally in all things. Sect. 4 Fourthly; The Holy Spirit in a peculiar manner anointed him with all those extraordinary Powers and Gifts which were necessary for the Exercise and Discharg…

It was to bind up the broken in heart, and to comfort those that mourn. So (Isaiah 61:1-3): to those that mourn, he should preach comfort, and bind up the brokenhearted. When the Lord has broken you under sin, and humbled you under the sight of your evils, then is the time when…

2. To the especial use of it in the unction of kings, priests and prophets (Exodus 30). That the ceremony was typical, is evident from Isaiah 61:1, and it denoted the collation of the gifts of the Holy Ghost, whereby the person anointed was enabled for the discharge of the offic…

For the former, they declare that he was to be the Son of God, God and Man in one Person (Psalm 2:7; Psalm 110:1; Isaiah 9:6, 7; Jeremiah 23:5, 6; Zechariah 2:8, 9, 10), and in sundry other places is the same mystery intimated, whereby the Church was farther instructed how God w…

As Homer reports of Ulysses after a shipwreck, and of others, whom Drusius has observed on this text. (Isaiah 61:3) the promise is, that God will give beauty for ashes, that is, they that humble themselves and lie in ashes, shall have a happy and comfortable restoration. So that…

Ointment makes men's face to shine, and the house where it is, to savor, when it is precious and good (John 12:3). Men in vanity use sweet powders, and such things as these, which can but little commend them; But Christ's ointments are his graces (Psalm 45:2), wherewith he is an…

The tears of a saint (says Bernard) have more true joy in them, than all worldly delight. The oil of joy is for mourners (Isaiah 61:3). 4. I would use this violence for Heaven, but I shall expose myself to the censure and scorn of others.

"Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." Isaiah 61:10. "He hath covered me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels."

He has ways enough to do it; if he does but unveil his blessed face and make it shine again upon you, you are saved (Psalm 80:3). The manifestations of his love will be to your soul as showers to the parched grass; your soul that now droops, and hangs the wing, shall then revive…

O what rare actings upon the Son, (Psalms 45:2) "Grace is poured in your lips." v. 7. "God your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness." "The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek; he has sent me to bind up…

3. Christ, God-man, is anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows (Psalm 45:7), without measure (John 3:34). The fulness of anointing is upon him (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18). His name is as a precious ointment poured out (Canticles 1:3).

Low valleys lying toward the Sun kindly receive dew and rain, mountains not so. 3. If the bones be of new broken and hot, and the wound green, the tender hand of Christ lovingly and compassionately binds up such broken ones (Isaiah 61:1; Psalm 147:3). He heals the broken in hear…

2. A meek quiet spirit, like that of Christ's, is the fittest work-house of heavenly influences. Christ the most lovely and meek of men, and an infallible copy thereof (Matthew 11:29; Isaiah 53:6; Isaiah 40:11; Isaiah 42:2, 3), had the most frequent influences of the in-dwelling…

And 2. The Lord's influences were evident in disputing with the doctors in the Temple, when he was but twelve years of age, in silencing the learned enemies in strongly convincing parables. 3. God was mighty in miracles of all sorts, in casting out devils, healing all manner of…

That companion lay with you in your mother's womb and was as early friends with you as the breath of life, and Christ will not have it otherwise, for he delights to take up fallen children and to mend broken brows. Binding up of wounds is his office (Isaiah 61). First, I am glad…

The promise of teaching is made to the meek, because they are disposed to learn; the meek will he teach his way (Psalm 25:8-9). The word of God is gospel indeed, good tidings to the meek (Isaiah 61:1); they will entertain it and bid it welcome; the poor in spirit are evangelized…

These are the four things in reference to the family of the adopted person, that he does receive by his adoption, wherein he holds communion with the Lord Jesus. 1. Liberty: The Spirit of the Lord, that was upon the Lord Jesus did anoint him to proclaim liberty to the captive (I…

It was therein that he was able to do all that he did. So himself lays down the presence of the Spirit with him as the foundation of his going forth to his work, Isaiah 61:1. Second, he could not have been a complete and perfect sacrifice without habitual righteousness.

Hence the Father became his God — which is a covenant expression, Psalm 89:26, Hebrews 1:5, Psalm 22:1, Psalm 40:8, Psalm 45:7. So was he by his Father designed to this work, Isaiah 42:1, Isaiah 61:1, Isaiah 49:9, Malachi 3:1, Zechariah 13:7, John 3:16, 1 Timothy 1:15. Thus the…

3. Joy also is of this number. The Spirit, as was showed, is called the oil of gladness (Hebrews 1:10); his anointing brings gladness with it (Isaiah 61:3), the oil of joy for mourning. The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17).

Neither has he only nourished and cherished her with temporal blessings, but also with all needful spiritual blessings: his word and sacraments, his Spirit and the graces thereof has he in all ages given her for that purpose. Indeed, with his own flesh and blood has he fed her (…

The promises made to Christ upon his undertaking this work, doubtless do hold out all that he effected by his Death. Of what nature they are, and what is the main tendance of them I have elsewhere discovered, from the first to the last, they are restrained to distinguishing merc…

He that is redeemed from destruction by the blood of Christ, is likewise redeemed from that vain, and unholy conversation that leads to it. So (Titus 2:14), our Redeemer was anointed for this purpose, not to free the captives from the sentence of death, and yet leave them still…

Sufficient not only for general courses but particular actions. 2. The effectual direction is by the Holy Ghost applying the Word, and bending the hearts to the obedience of it (Isaiah 61:8): I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. T…

Oh, I am punished, it is for sin; now this stops his mouth: Man has no reason to enter into judgment with God, when God enters into judgment with man: O what a wicked thing is sin, that has brought man into such a condition, that he cannot speak one word for himself; if he shoul…