[3.] By prizing those things where they find most of Christ, viz., his ordinances and servants, judging they are the excellent ones of the earth : Ps. xvi. 3, and Ps. xxvii. 4, 'One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to in- quire in his temple.'
[4.] By their boldness in professing him. A man that is ashamed of his religion dishonoureth it: Heb. xi. 16, 'They declared plainly that they sought a country, that is an heavenly.' And St Paul saith, Kom. i. IG, ' I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.' Nature brands evil with shame. They conceive more honourably of Christ's ways, than to be afraid to be seen in them.
260 A PRACTICAL EXPOSITION UPON [ISA. LIII. 4.
[5.] By seeking liis honour and praise more than their own concern- ments. It is enongli if Christ be exalted. They woukl fain have him exalted not only in their own hearts, but in the kingdom also where they live. Men desire that what they esteem should be publicly ad- vanced : Ps. xiv. 7. ' Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion ! When will the Lord bring back the captivity of his people ?'
[G.] By avoiding all means whereby Christ may be dishonoured and disesteenied. They would have Christ held forth in their hearts, and in their ways. Christians are often pressed to live to the glory of God : Mat. V. 1(), ' Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven ;' 1 Peter ii. 12, ' Having your conversations honest among the Gentiles, that whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.' One of their questions will be, Shall I not dishonour God by this? Nathan, when he came to David, telleth him he had made the name of God to be blasphemed : 2 Sam. xii. 13, ' Nathan said unto David, Tlie Lord also hath put away thy sin ; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, be- cause b}' this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.'
[7.] By accounting those things which are dishonourable in tiie world to be honourable with Christ, such as reproaches and afflictions. It is said, Acts v. 41, ' They departed from the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for his name.' So St Paul saith, Acts xxviii. 20, ' For the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.' He holds it up in triumph.
THE FOURTH VERSE.
Surely he hath home our griefs, and carried our son-oios ; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
The prophet having given you the meanness of Christ's birth, and the manner of his appearing in the world, beginneth now to draw towards his death and passion, and in this verse entereth upon it, and doth not barely describe Christ's agonies and fears, but showeth the cause of it, confuting the folly of the Jews, who rejected Christ because he came under this disguise of meanness and sufferings, by showing it was for their sakes : ' Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our
ROlTOWS.'
This text is the rather to be prized, because as it is a clear convic- tion against the Jews, so it is a ground of all consolation to Christians. It i.s a clear demonstration against the Jews; they could never elude it, in.'-onmch that when Luther urged this place to them, they had but this ])oor shift, thai certainly the })eople of the Jews did not de- Bervc these plagues and therefore the Messiah needed not to take them
ISA. LIII. 4.] THE FIFTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. 2G1
away ; or if they did deserve them, it was because they did not perse- cute Christ enou^yh, the pretended Messiah. Thus it is usual with people to have an ill apprehension of their miseries. But other Jews left all upon the reading? of this chapter ; and being asked why ? they answered, God was stricken and smitten, they could never put by that, they said. And it isthe ground of all consolation to Christians. Luther said all St Paul's epistles were so, and those floods of consolation flowed out of this fountain : * He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.'
Therefore, let us a little look upon it. The parts are two : —
1. Christ's love.
2. Man's unthankfulness.
1. Christ's love, which is set forth in that clause, * Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.' And there consider —
[1.] The certainty of what is averred of Christ : surely. [2.] The acts of Christ's obedience, set forth in two words: he hath home, he hath carried.
[3.] The objects : they are griefs, sorroics.
2. Man's unthankfulness, in censuring Christ and despising him ; and there consider —
[1.] The persons : tve.
[2.] The guilt : esteeming Christ stricken and smitten of God. These are the parts ; and that I may open them, I shall go over them in a short comment and explication, and then clear a doubt about the quot- ing of these words by St Matthew. I shall first go over the words.