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a great prophet, who was to be filled with the Spirit of God, to bring glad tidings of salvation to men, and deliver them from the slavery of sin; and that by him God would make an everlasting covenant with them. This prophecy relates to Jesus Christ, who is that great prophet who was anointed with the Spirit of the Lord, to preach the Gospel to men, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and to publish the acceptable year of the Lord. This appears from the fourth chapter of St. Luke, where we are told, that when the Lord read in the synagogue of Nazareth this place of the prophet Isaiah, he said, that this prophecy was fulfilled in him. But this same prophecy teaches us, that these valuable blessings are only reserved for the meek and humble; for those that are broken-hearted, and earnestly desire the grace of God. of God. This must be the estate of those, who expect to share in the blessings which Jesus Christ has purchased for us, and in that joy which the church shall experience when its Redeemer cometh.

CHAPTER LXII.

THE prophet continues to foretell that God would redeem his church, which, though it seemed forsaken of God, should again be in a glorious state, and no more delivered into the hands of its enemies. He prophesies of the coming of the Redeemer, and exhorts men to prepare for his reception.

Reflections.

In this chapter we learn, I. That God's love to his church will not suffer him to forsake it; that he loveth it as the bridegroom loves his bride, and that it will ever be the object of his care and protection. II. That it is the duty of all those who are concerned for the glory of God, to pray continually for the prosperity of the church. III. God here promises to send his people a Saviour to redeem them, and place them in a glorious state on earth. The truth of these promises appeared first in the return of the

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Jews from the captivity of Babylon, when Jerusalem was rebuilt, and afterwards in the coming of Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world, and in the establishment of his church. Lastly, At the hearing of these comfortable promises we are bound to bless God, who has fulfilled them in our behalf, and to endeavour to make suitable returns for the happiness we enjoy, of being members of his church, which is his spouse, of being his people, whom he hath redeemed, and for whom he hath prepared a place of glory and happiness in his kingdom.

CHAPTER LXIII.

I. THE prophet describes, in figurative terms, the judgments God would exercise upon the enemies of the Jews, and, in particular, upon the Edomites, and upon Bozrah, one of their cities. II. He represents what God had done for his people, when he delivered them out of Egypt by Moses, and at other times; and he complains of their rebellion and ingratitude. III. He adds a prayer, imploring God's mercy on the Jews. Reflections.

I. THE destruction of the Edomites, which happened some time after Isaiah had foretold their ruin, is a proof of the truth and divinity of this prediction, as well as of the justice of God on those idolatrous nations, who had done great injuries to the kingdom of Judah. II. We must consider, that if the prophet gave thanks to God on this occasion, for the care he had always taken of his people Israel, we have still more reason to bless him for the victory which Jesus Christ has gained over our spiritual enemies, by the shedding his blood for us, and by his glorious resurrection. In this view, we may say with Isaiah: I will mention the loving-kindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, acccording to all that the Lord has bestowed on us, and the great goodness towards the house of Israel, which he had bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the

multitude of his loving-kindnesses. III. When we hear how Isaiah reproached the Jews for their ingratitude towards God, and for rebelling against him, after so many wonders he had done for them and for their fathers; we should call to mind what God hath done for us, and should give better proof of our gratitude than the Jews did. IV. There are two things to be remarked in the prayer at the end of this chapter. One is, that as Isaiah beseeched God to have compassion on Jerusalem for the glory of his name, notwithstanding the unworthiness of the Jews; so the mercy of God, and the stability of his covenant and promises, should be the foundation of all our confidence. The other remark is, that these words, O Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? do not imply, that God was the cause and author of the wickedness of the Jews; they mean only that God, seeing their obstinacy and wilful hardness of heart, had suffered them to go astray, and in just judgment upon them had left them to themselves.

CHAPTER LXIV.

A PRAYER, wherein the prophet beseeches God to manifest his glory and majesty in the sight of all men; and, for the deliverance of his people, to work miracles in their behalf, like those he had formerly wrought for them. He then intreats him not to remember their sins, and to pity the deplorable state Jerusalem and the temple were going to be reduced to by the Babylonians.

Reflections.

I. THE description in this chapter of God's sovereign power, and the proofs he formerly gave of it, should induce us to reverence and fear that Almighty Being, whose power none can resist, who has, in all ages, done so great things for the deliverance of those that trust in him, and has always made the wicked feel the effects of his justice. II. As Isaiah

formerly prayed for the deliverance of the Jews, all those who love God and his church, should, without ceasing, offer up devout prayers in its behalf, and beseech him, above all, to display his power and strength in its sanctification, to extend it throughout all the earth, and to manifest himself to those that know him not. And as the prophet, interceding for the Jews, acknowledged they were guilty and defiled, and yet besought God to pity their sad condition, and to remember they were his people, and the work of his hands; so we ought to offer up our prayers to God, with profound humility, and a sincere acknowledgment of our own sins and unworthiness, and to place all our hopes in his mercy only, in the promises he has given, and the covenant he has made with us in Jesus Christ our Lord.

CHAPTER LXV.

I. THE Lord declares, that he would call the Gentiles to the knowledge of himself, and cast of the Jews, because of their rebellion, and particularly for the idolatry with which they were defiled. II. Nevertheless, he foretells that Jerusalem should be rebuilt, that the Jews should dwell in their own land, that the cattle should feed upon Sharon and Achor, which were fruitful pastures; and that God should heap his blessings upon them, whilst the rebellious and idolatrous Jews were abandoned to his vengeance. Lastly, God promises to create new heavens and a new earth, and to cause righteousness and peace to reign among them.

Reflections.

I. GOD here promises to make himself known to those who sought him not, and to a people that did not call upon his name. This prophecy expressly denotes, that God would make himself known to the heathen; as St. Paul shows, when he cites these words in the Epistle to the Romans. II. God threatens to reject the Jews, because they had pro

voked him by their idolatry, and continual disobe dience. This threatening was put in execution, when Jerusalem fell under the power of the Babylonians, and the Jews were carried into captivity. So severe a punishment should make rebellious and ungrateful Christians dread the most severe effects of the Divine vengeance. III. This chapter instructs us, that God, in the execution of his judgments, always makes a difference between the wicked and his faithful servants; and that the wicked have nothing but shame and grief for their portion. IV. It is here foretold, that God would create new heavens, and a new earth; and that the wolf and the lamb should feed together; which signifies not only that God was going to alter the state of Jerusalem and of the Jews, by delivering them from captivity, and restoring peace; but that God would soon renew the world, and re-unite all men in his church. This renovation of all things began with the preaching of the Gospel, and will be still more fully completed in the latter days. Upon this the apostle teaches us, that since all things are become new, and we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, we ought to be new creatures, and study to be without spot, and blameless. Lastly, From hence appears, that Christ's design was to re-unite all men in his church, and to make them live in unity and concord; and therefore that his kingdom is kingdom of peace, that Christians ought not to hurt one another, and that their character should be mutual love, peace, forbearance, and charity.

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CHAPTER LXVI.

I. GOD declares in an extremely affecting manner, that he rejected the sacrifices and external worship of the Jews; and that he would soon severely punish their hypocrisy and disobedience. II. He promises to restore peace to Jerusalem, to give it many children, to heap his blessings upon it, and above

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