people, and do honour to their Father in heaven. This is one of the peculiar defignations whereby they fhall be known and acknowledged by the world around them.-The redeemed of the Lord, that he hath ranfomed from the ignominious flavery wherein they had been detained, the complicated mifery in which they were involved, and the vain conversation wherein they had indulged.-Not with corruptible things, fuch as filver and gold, but by the precious blood of Chrift, as of a lamb without spot and blemish. And by the out-ftretched arm of Jehovah they were actually delivered from the hands of their enemies, that they may ferve him in holiness and righteousness, and that he may be celebrated and extolled as the author of their redemption.-Sought out, a city not forfaken. The Church of God is fpoken of, with great propriety, by the fimilitude of a city, which contains a large number of inhabitants, collected from different places, of various conditions, among whom good order is maintained by wholesome laws, and by whom important privileges are enjoyed. In like manner, the Church, the city of the Lord of hofts, contains an immenfe multitude of people, gathered from north, fouth, eaft, and weft, whofe circumstances are greatly deverfified, who are governed by laws that are holy, juft, and good, bleffed with the ordinances and promifes of the gofpel, and the peculiar care of Providence.-This city is fought out, and fearched for with great induftry, like that which we bestow in inveftigating fome obfcure or difficult matter. In times of affliction and perfecution, this facred community had been neglected and overlooked; whereas, at the period to which this prophecy looked forward, this city was to be inquired for by many, with perfevering diligence, who were defirous to participate in the felicity and glory to which the people of God were advanced. Hence forward they are affured that they fhall not be deferted by Jehovah as in times paft, but continue to be favoured with his protection, prefence, and bleffing.-From this com

bination

bination of honourable epithets, beftowed on the Church of God, we are taught how precious they are in his fight, and how highly they ought to be refpected by all nations. The peculiar people of the Moft High poffefs internal, fpiritual excellence and glory, in confequence of union to the Son of God, and the participation of his righteoufnefs, prefence, and Spirit, manifefted by cheerful obedience to the will of God, and cordial fubmiffion to his difpenfations. Deeply fenfible that the world is greatly indebted to their piety, prudence, probity, and prayers, let us highly esteem them in love, on account of the endowments and prerogatives wherewith it pleases God to honour them. Let us pray for the peace of Jerufalem, and the prosperity of them that love her. Peace be within thy walls-because of the house of the Lord our God, I will feek thy good *.

* Pfal. cxxii. 6. et feq.

VOL. IV.

31

PRELI

7E

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.

WE proceed to the expolition of the fifth discourse,

contained in the fifth part of Ifaiah's prophecies, which feems intended to explain and illuftrate fome of the preceding predictions. Our prophet having introduced the Son of God*, in the character of a mighty hero, clothed with armour, going forth to vindicate his Church from the power of their adverfaries, and to inflict righteous vengeance on those whe had afflicted and oppreffed them. This triumphant conqueror is here brought into view, returning from victory, having his raiment ftained with the blood of his enemies, that he had vanquished in a foreign land. The extraordinary appearance of this great perfonage gave rife to enquiries concerning him, and the reasons why he fhewed himself in a manner fo very different from the afpect he affumed on former occafions. To thefe queftions, fatisfying replies are made in ver. 1-6.—Ifaiah then proceeds to commemorate the ineftimable benefits, which God had conferred of old on the pofterity of Ifrael, especially the great deliverance wrought by the angel of the Lord, when he rescued them from bondage in Egypt, and conducted them in the way of falvation, ver. 7, 8.After which he reprefents the ungrateful behaviour of that people, in their obftinate rejection of his counfels, whereby they grieved and provoked him to become their enemy, ver. 9. 10. This is followed with a graphical defcription of the miferable ftate to which they were reduced, and the terrible calamities they fuftained after the Moft High had forfaken them, which are aggravated by contrafting them with the favours they had enjoyed in ancient times, ver. 11-14-At the remembrance of these things, the upright fervants of God addrefs fervent fupplications to the throne of grace, humbly request

Chap. lix. 16.

ing that Jehovah would be pleased to extend mercy to them, and deliver them from under the preffure of affliction, for which they were encouraged to hope by the contemplation of his glorious perfections, and the confidence they repofed in his goodness, ver. 15. 16.

To their prayers are fubjoined earnest expostula tions, that the Almighty would interpofe for theis falvation, and humble acknowledgments, that the enormous fins they had committed, were the causes of the fevere judgments whereof they complained, ver. 17-19.

WH

CHAP. LXIII.

HO is this that cometh from Edom, with died garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatnefs of his ftrength? I that speak in righteoufnefs, mighty to fave.

Isaiah having exhibited to his contemplation, in a prophetic vifion, an illuftrious warrior, clothed with armour, having his garments fprinkled with blood, naturally enquires, Who is this? hefitate not to reply, that this is the glorious perfonage who is celebrated in the book of Revelation, by the auguft title of the Word of God *, all whose words, commands, and actions, are accompanied with power; that this is he who is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. He appeared to the apoftle John, when he beheld him in vifion, having his eyes bright and penetrating as a flame of fire; on his head were many crowns, intimating his large empire and nume zous conquefts; he had alfo a name written that no

Chap. xix. 13.

man

man knew but he himself, in allufion probably to the fublime defcriptions given of him in the prophetic fcriptures. When the beloved difciple faw him, he was clothed in a vefture dipt in blood, indicating that he is the person who voluntarily fubmitted to have his blood fhed upon the cross, where, by his irrefiftible power, he triumphed over his enemies, and made expiation for the fins of his people. He is farther defcribed by the apostle, as treading the wine-press of the fiercenefs and wrath of Almighty God, having on his vefture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS, fignifying his univerfal empire over all the potentates and princes that are in the world.

The remarkable appearance of this magnanimous conqueror attracted our prophet's attention and curiofity, and rendered acquaintance with him, and the arduous enterprise wherein he had been employed, truly defirable. Similar enquiries respecting this very perfon were made on other occafions, as when he afcended into the celeftial temple with immenfe pomp and fplendor. Who is this King of Glory? faid the admiring poet. To this question the answer is given, The Lord ftrong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Ifaiah had been favoured with a view of the Meffiah in his glory, fitting on his throne, high and lifted up t. He had feen him when, having no form or comeliness, he was despised and rejected of men, a man of forrows and acquainted with grief t. And now he contemplates him as a glorious victor, returning from the conqueft of his own and his people's enemies. Struck with his dignified, martial aspect,

he asks,

Who is this that cometh from Edom? Edom, or Idumea, were the names of a country fituated to the fouthward of Judea, occupied by the pofterity of Efau, who was also called Edom, one of the fons of Ifaac, and elder brother of Jacob.-Bozrah, which fignifies a fortified city, was anciently the name of the Chap. liii. 2, 3.

Pfal. xxiv. 8.

+ Chap. vi.