Isaiah 65

(2 Chronicles 11:14) The Lord saved them by a great deliverance. Sometimes Christ is said to command deliverance (Psalm 44:4), sometimes to create deliverance (Isaiah 65:18). Christ as a King commands deliverance, and as a God creates it.

God can either confine the enemies' power, or confound it: If God be for us, who can be against us? God can create Jerusalem a praise, (Isaiah 65:18). The church in Ezekiel was compared to dry bones, but God made breath to enter into them, and they lived, (Ezekiel 37:10).

Is it unclean, he can create purity; Create in me a clean heart, O God (Psalm 51:10). Is the church of God low, he can create Jerusalem a praise (Isaiah 65:18). No such golden pillar for faith to stay upon as a creating power.

Because 1. the angels pry and search into the abyss of gospel mysteries (1 Peter 1:12), which implies their nescience of some parts of Scripture; and sure they cannot be authors of that book which themselves do not fully understand. Besides, 2. what angel in Heaven dared be so a…

1. The serpent eats dust. (Isaiah 65:25) Dust shall be the Serpent's Meat: it was a curse upon the serpent. Thus we should not be like the serpent, to feed immoderately on earthly things.

If means fail, he is never at a loss, there are no impossibles with him; he can make the dry bones live (Ezekiel 37:10). As a king he can command, and as a God he can create salvation (Isaiah 65:18), I create Jerusalem a rejoicing: Let us trust all our affairs with this great ki…

But to an awakened conscience, there is no such burden as sin, when a man seriously weighs with himself the glory and purity of that majesty which sin has offended, the preciousness of that soul which sin has polluted, the loss of that happiness which sin has endangered, the gre…

Isaiah 55:5. Behold you shall call a nation, which you have not known: and nations that knew not you shall run to you. Isaiah 65:1. I have been sought of them, that asked not before, I was found of them, that sought me not. Hosea 1:10. And in the place where it was said to them,…

If Abraham was called by God, when he was an Idolater, then it is apparent he had not purchased God's favour by his works. Where we learn, that the whole work of a man's salvation, is to be ascribed to God's mere mercy: who (as the Prophet says) was found of them that sought him…

Now, this deliverance was so strange unto him, that he knew not whether it was true, but thought he had seen a vision. From hence it is that God hath made this gracious promise unto his Church, to answer before they call, and to hear while they speak, Isaiah 65.24. So endless is…

And is it not a commandement of God, that all Churches should be gathered according to the Commission of King Jesus (Matthew 28:18, 19, 20; Mark 16:15, 16)? We onely condemne those Churches (that persecute Christ in his members, from city to city, (as Saul did (Acts 26:9, 10)) f…

But there is now no more curse in the Gospel-state (Revelation 22:2). The curse abides only on the serpent and his seed (Isaiah 65:25). The blessing of the Promise does wholly possess the place of it (Galatians 3:13, 14).

And these had no respect to any legal institution, so that their practice should be thought to be reproved in those passages of the Gospel which shall be mentioned afterwards. 3. That oaths were in use and approved of under the Law and the administration thereof, is not by any d…

2 Chronicles 15:2. The Lord is with you while you be with him, and if you seek him, he will be found of you. Isaiah 65:34. Before they call I will answer, and while they speak I will hear. Matthew 7:7. Ask and it shall be given you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be…

The memory of the just is blessed. The wicked leave their name for a curse (Isaiah 65:15). How cursed is the name of Judas! what Christian would baptize his child of that name?

A draught of wine is best preserved in the hogshead, and Christians in their societies; coals lying together, keep in the heat, Apostacy began in forsaking the assemblies (Hebrews 10:23, and 25, and 1 John 2:19). Partly as to our outward peace and welfare; separation sets others…

It is observed, as the blemish of sundry reforming kings, that the high places were not removed. And those proud idolaters (Isaiah 65:4) are reproved not only for eating swine's flesh, but because the broth of such abominable things was in their vessels. And Christ from Heaven r…

So sin is a smoak that will drive God out from a people. Isa. 65. 3, 5. A people that provoketh me to anger, these are a smoak in my nose. In particular, there are Nine sins which drive God out of a Land, and when he marcheth out, judgement marcheth in.

2 Chronicles 15:2. The Lord is with you while you be with him: and if you seek him, he will be found of you. Isaiah 65:24. Before they call, I will answer, and while they speak I will hear. Matthew 7:7. Ask, and it shall be given you: seek and you shall find: knock and it shall…

Thirdly, This frustrates the Lord of all the care, and cost, and charge that he is about, if you were another plant that grew in the wilderness it were not much, but a Vine, and one in God's Vineyard, and yet fruitless, Oh this is a sore evil! Fourthly, There's no blessing upon…

And as there has been nothing as yet, with regard to the flourishing of religion, and the advancement of Christ's kingdom, of such extent as to answer the prophecies, so neither has there been any thing of that duration, that is foretold. The prophecies speak of Jerusalem's bein…

Ashtaroth — Goddess of the Sidonians — Called "God" by the Hebrews — Worshipped by the Philistines — A town of this name — Images in the shape of sheep — Groves of Ashtaroth — Astarte — Atergatis — Derceto — Concerning Queen Gatis, and the phrase "besides Gatis" — Abstinence fro…

The force of the argument is this, if you will make this gospel welcome, you may get a hearing, for now is the day of salvation, therefore do not neglect it. So (Psalm 81:10-11), (where God makes the offer of Himself, and that very largely,) Open your mouth wide and I will fill…

It is not to be lippenning to the man's good hopes, to his good prayers, or to his good meaning, but to Christ's satisfaction, and God's promise; by faith, when rightly exercised, the sinner holls and hides himself in Christ, till (to speak so) a bit of the man cannot be seen; a…

Those that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts — precept must be upon precept, and line upon line, here a little and there a little." And in Isaiah 65:2: "All day long I have stretched out my hands to a rebellious people." And here again, "Who has believed our r…

Do but hear himself crying to the cities of Judah (Isaiah 40:9): Behold your God. (Isaiah 65:1): I said to a nation that was not called by any name, Behold me, Behold me: the doubling of the word says Christ desires to [reconstructed: display] his beauty. Shall your farm, and yo…

The rain came as soon as Elijah put himself into a zealous posture to obtain it. Often success has overtaken the prayer; and the blessing has been gotten before the supplication has been ended; Isaac went out to meet with God to meditate or pray, and he espied Rebecca afar off (…

All that Christ did for our salvation did highly content and please the Father; he is satisfied with him, he can make us lovely in his sight (Ephesians 1:6): to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he has made us accepted in the beloved. And will now joy in his people (…

More particularly, God's waiting and expecting is set down in Scripture by sundry degrees. First, he waits all the day long (Isaiah 65:2): I have stretched out my hand all the day long, to a disobedient and gainsaying people. Secondly, forty days together, Yet forty days, and Ni…

From Hesychius he gives synonyms of like import, -- Φαρισαῖος, ἀφωρισμένος, μεμερισμένος, καθαρός As to the last of those terms, καθαρός, the learned Vitringa, to whom Alberti also refers, has copiously illustrated its meaning in a passage, which has been often quoted as embodyi…

And certainly nothing is here attributed to an earthly father which God does not promise with respect to himself. Before they call, says he, I will answer, (Isaiah 65:24.) That passage too of David is well known,

For though the statement—which I quoted a little ago from Moses—was always true, and though the complaints which we find in Isaiah are just, that in vain did God spread out his hands every day to embrace a hard-hearted and rebellious people, (Isaiah 65:2) that, though he rose up…

But we look for new heavens and a new earth, according to his promise, wherein dwells righteousness. The Lord by his prophets in sundry places has promised that he will create new Heavens and a new Earth, as Isaiah 65: "Behold, I will create new Heavens and a new Earth, and the…

Because this prophecy is somewhat more plain and clear, to the intent he might procure greater attention, he foreshows that it is full of boldness, as if he should say, the prophet did not speak figuratively or doubtingly, but in plain and evident words, did avouch the calling o…

Thus I have particularly and largely shown the Nature of that true Humility that attends holy Affections, as it appears in its Tendency to cause Persons to think meanly of their Attainments in Religion, as compared with the Attainments of others, and particularly, of their Attai…

Although they were never sprinkled with the pure Water of the Covenant, or cleansed by the Holy Spirit; although their Consciences were never purged from dead Works by the Blood of Christ, nor their Hearts purified by Faith, and so are no Way washed from their Filthiness; yet do…

These delayes both upon spiritual and temporal accounts are frequent, and when they befaus, we are too apt to interpret them as denyals and fall into a sinful despondency of mind, though there be no cause at all for it, Psalm 31:12 Lam. 3:8 44. It is not always that the returns…

When Nehemiah comes to build the walls of Jerusalem, it grieved the enemy exceedingly, that one was come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel (Nehemiah 4:10). This is the season of that dispensation which you have mentioned (Isaiah 65:13, 14, 15). Thus says the Lord, be…

Had not God left a handful of his elect and godly men among them, all the rest had been destroyed. So (Isaiah 65:8) and the Lord said, destroy not the people, for a blessing is among them. That is, my people is among them, and my elect is among them, therefore destroy them not.

But behold, here is mercy, and here is a ground of comfort, that though we are the first in the transgression, Christ is the first in suing out reconciliation: Jesus Christ does effectually call poor sinners, before they either call or look after Jesus Christ at all. (Isaiah 65:…

§. 7 On these suppositions we lay, and ought to lay the observation of the Lord's Day under the New Testament, according to the institution of it, or declaration of the mind of Christ, who is our Lord and Law-giver concerning it. 1. A new work of creation, or a work of a new cre…

3. By way of Reformation, when it was collapsed and decayed (Zechariah 2:8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13; Malachi 3:1, 2, 3). 4. By way of Amotion, or taking down what he himself had set up; because it was so framed and ordered as to continue only for a season (Hebrews 9:10; Deuteronomy 18…

And (Isaiah 60:7) that the Flocks of Kedar, and the Rams of Nebaioth should minister to the Church; (Isaiah 60:16) that they should suck the Milk of Kings; and (Isaiah 60:19) that the Sun should no more give light by day; and yet (Isaiah 60:20) that it should no more go down. (I…

He had missed those evils which he met with, since his coming into the world, if those doors being shut, had shut him out of the world. When sorrow is hidden from our eyes, then all evil is removed, as in that speech (Isaiah 65:16): Because the former troubles are forgotten, bec…

2. She observes the return of her prayer, and his readiness to be entreated, I prayed to him to draw (says she) and he did it effectually; he drew me, and brought me into the chambers. Here we may see, 1. Christ is easily entreated (Isaiah 65:24), before they call, I will answer…

2. That there is nothing beside him, that one can confidently boast of; for, this her boasting is so appropriate to him, as it is implied, to be utterly unsuitable that men should boast of any other thing, Let him that glories, glory in the Lord, that is, in him, and in no other…

Now to make an oath lawful, it must have these three qualifications mentioned by the prophet (Jeremiah 4:2): You shall swear, the Lord lives, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness. First, a warrantable oath must be accompanied with truth, for it is taken in the name of the…

The world was ruined, as to man, as effectually as if it had been reduced to chaos again; all heaven and earth were overthrown. But the design of God was, to restore all, and as it were to create a new heaven and a new earth: Isaiah 65:17. "Behold, I create new heavens, and a ne…

Now all the old types are fulfilled, and all the prophecies of all the prophets from the beginning of the world shall be accomplished in this period. 3. That state of things which is attained in the events of this period is called a new heaven and a new earth: Isaiah 65:17, 18.…

Not that there will be none remaining in a Christless condition; but that visible wickedness shall be suppressed everywhere, and true holiness shall become general, though not universal. It shall be a wonderful time, not only for the multitude of godly men, but for eminency of g…