Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc24/v25600

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 11KB | 185 lines

25603
 #5-7 The Jewish church came up from the wilderness, supported by
 Divine power and favour. The Christian church was raised from a
 low, desolate condition, by the grace of Christ relied on.
 Believers, by the power of grace, are brought up from the
 wilderness. A sinful state is a wilderness in which there is no
 true comfort; it is a wandering, wanting state: There is no
 coming out of this wilderness, but leaning on Christ as our
 Beloved, by faith; not leaning to our own understanding, nor
 trusting in any righteousness of our own; but in the strength of
 him, who is the Lord our Righteousness. The words of the church
 to Christ which follow, entreat an abiding place in his love,
 and protection by his power. Set me as a seal upon thine heart;
 let me always have a place in thine heart; let me have an
 impression of love upon thine heart. Of this the soul would be
 assured, and without a sense thereof no rest is to be found.
 Those who truly love Christ, are jealous of every thing that
 would draw them from him; especially of themselves, lest they
 should do any thing to provoke him to withdraw from them. If we
 love Christ, the fear of coming short of his love, or the
 temptations to forsake him, will be most painful to us. No
 waters can quench Christ's love to us, nor any floods drown it.
 Let nothing abate our love to him. Nor will life, and all its
 comforts, entice a believer from loving Christ. Love of Christ,
 will enable us to repel and triumph over temptations from the
 smiles of the world, as well as from its frowns.

25606
 #8-12 The church pleads for the Gentiles, who then had not the
 word of God, nor the means of grace. Those who are brought to
 Christ themselves, should contrive what they may do to help
 others to him. Babes in Christ are always seen among Christians,
 and the welfare of their weak brethren is an object of continual
 prayer with the stronger believers. If the beginning of this
 work were likened to a wall built upon Him the precious
 Foundation and Corner-stone, then the Gentile church would
 become as a palace for the great King, built of solid silver. If
 the first preaching of the gospel were as the making a door
 through the wall of partition, that door should be lasting, as
 cased with boards of durable cedar. She shall be carefully and
 effectually protected, enclosed so as to receive no damage. The
 church is full of care for those yet uncalled. Christ says, I
 will do all that is necessary to be done for them. See with what
 satisfaction we should look back upon the times and seasons,
 when we were in his eyes as those that find favour. Our hearts
 are our vineyards, which we must keep with all diligence. To
 Christ, and to his praise, all our fruits must be dedicated. All
 that work for Christ, work for themselves, and shall be
 unspeakable gainers by it.

25611
 #13,14 These verses close the conference between Christ and his
 church. He first addresses her as dwelling in the gardens, the
 assemblies and ordinances of his saints. He exhorts her to be
 constant and frequent in prayers, supplications, and praises, in
 which he delights. She replies, craving his speedy return to
 take her to be wholly with Him. The heavens, those high
 mountains of sweet spices, must contain Christ, till the times
 come, when every eye shall see him, in all the glory of the
 better world. True believers as they are looking for, so they
 are hastening to the coming of that day of the Lord. Let every
 Christian endeavour to perform the duties of his station, that
 men may see his good works, and glorify his heavenly Father.
 Continuing earnest in prayer for what we want, our thanksgivings
 will abound, and our joy will be full; our souls will be
 enriched, and our labours prospered. We shall be enabled to look
 forward to death and judgment without fear. Even so, come, Lord
 Jesus.
25613
 ** Isaiah prophesied in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and
 Hezekiah. He has been well called the evangelical prophet, on
 account of his numerous and full prophesies concerning the
 coming and character, the ministry and preaching, the sufferings
 and death of the Messiah, and the extent and continuance of his
 kingdom. Under the veil of the deliverance from Babylon, Isaiah
 points to a much greater deliverance, which was to be effected
 by the Messiah; and seldom does he mention the one, without
 alluding at the same time to the other; nay, he is often so much
 enraptured with the prospect of the more distant deliverance, as
 to lose sight of that which was nearer, and to dwell on the
 Messiah's person, office, character, and kingdom.

 * The corruptions prevailing among the Jews. (1-9) Severe
 censures. (10-15) Exhortations to repentance. (16-20) The state
 of Judah is lamented; with gracious promises of the gospel
 times. (21-31)

 #1-9 Isaiah signifies, "The salvation of the Lord;" a very
 suitable name for this prophet, who prophesies so much of Jesus
 the Saviour, and his salvation. God's professing people did not
 know or consider that they owed their lives and comforts to
 God's fatherly care and kindness. How many are very careless in
 the affairs of their souls! Not considering what we do know in
 religion, does us as much harm, as ignorance of what we should
 know. The wickedness was universal. Here is a comparison taken
 from a sick and diseased body. The distemper threatens to be
 mortal. From the sole of the foot even to the head; from the
 meanest peasant to the greatest peer, there is no soundness, no
 good principle, no religion, for that is the health of the soul.
 Nothing but guilt and corruption; the sad effects of Adam's
 fall. This passage declares the total depravity of human nature.
 While sin remains unrepented, nothing is done toward healing
 these wounds, and preventing fatal effects. Jerusalem was
 exposed and unprotected, like the huts or sheds built up to
 guard ripening fruits. These are still to be seen in the East,
 where fruits form a large part of the summer food of the people.
 But the Lord had a small remnant of pious servants at Jerusalem.
 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. The evil
 nature is in every one of us; only Jesus and his sanctifying
 Spirit can restore us to spiritual health.
25622
 #10-15 Judea was desolate, and their cities burned. This
 awakened them to bring sacrifices and offerings, as if they
 would bribe God to remove the punishment, and give them leave to
 go on in their sin. Many who will readily part with their
 sacrifices, will not be persuaded to part with their sins. They
 relied on the mere form as a service deserving a reward. The
 most costly devotions of wicked people, without thorough
 reformation of heart and life, cannot be acceptable to God. He
 not only did not accept them, but he abhorred them. All this
 shows that sin is very hateful to God. If we allow ourselves in
 secret sin, or forbidden indulgences; if we reject the salvation
 of Christ, our very prayers will become abomination.

25628
 #16-20 Not only feel sorrow for the sin committed, but break off
 the practice. We must be doing, not stand idle. We must be doing
 the good the Lord our God requires. It is plain that the
 sacrifices of the law could not atone, even for outward national
 crimes. But, blessed be God, there is a Fountain opened, in
 which sinners of every age and rank may be cleansed. Though our
 sins have been as scarlet and crimson, a deep dye, a double dye,
 first in the wool of original corruption, and afterwards in the
 many threads of actual transgression; though we have often
 dipped into sin, by many backslidings; yet pardoning mercy will
 take out the stain, #Ps 51:7|. They should have all the
 happiness and comfort they could desire. Life and death, good
 and evil, are set before us. O Lord, incline all of us to live
 to thy glory.

25633
 #21-31 Neither holy cities nor royal ones are faithful to their
 trust, if religion does not dwell in them. Dross may shine like
 silver, and the wine that is mixed with water may still have the
 colour of wine. Those have a great deal to answer for, who do
 not help the oppressed, but oppress them. Men may do much by
 outward restraints; but only God works effectually by the
 influences of his Spirit, as a Spirit of Judgment. Sin is the
 worst captivity, the worst slavery. The redemption of the
 spiritual Zion, by the righteousness and death of Christ, and by
 his powerful grace, most fully accord with what is here meant.
 Utter ruin is threatened. The Jews should become as a tree when
 blasted by heat; as a garden without water, which in those hot
 countries would soon be burned up. Thus shall they be that trust
 in idols, or in an arm of flesh. Even the strong man shall be as
 tow; not only soon broken, and pulled to pieces, but easily
 catching fire. When the sinner has made himself as tow and
 stubble, and God makes himself as a consuming fire, what can
 prevent the utter ruin of the sinner?
25644
 * The conversion of the Gentiles, Description of the sinfulness
 of Israel. (1-9) The awful punishment of unbelievers. (10-22)

 #1-9 The calling of the Gentiles, the spread of the gospel, and
 that far more extensive preaching of it yet to come, are
 foretold. Let Christians strengthen one another, and support one
 another. It is God who teaches his people, by his word and
 Spirit. Christ promotes peace, as well as holiness. If all men
 were real Christians, there could be no war; but nothing
 answering to these expressions has yet taken place on the earth.
 Whatever others do, let us walk in the light of this peace. Let
 us remember that when true religion flourishes, men delight in
 going up to the house of the Lord, and in urging others to
 accompany them. Those are in danger who please themselves with
 strangers to God; for we soon learn to follow the ways of
 persons whose company we keep. It is not having silver and gold,
 horses and chariots, that displeases God, but depending upon
 them, as if we could not be safe, and easy, and happy without
 them, and could not but be so with them. Sin is a disgrace to
 the poorest and the lowest. And though lands called Christian
 are not full of idols, in the literal sense, are they not full
 of idolized riches? and are not men so busy about their gains
 and indulgences, that the Lord, his truths, and precepts, are
 forgotten or despised?