3. It followeth. For heivas cut off out of the land of the living : for, or though he were cut off ; that is,' though he were by a violent death cutoff, yet he shall be taken thence and translated into glory, where he shall have a long and lasting age. Or yon may take the particl«> causally, as we render it,/o?' : here is a double reason, he was but cut off as a slip, and it was iiot for his own sins ; and therefore there is
346 A TRACTICAL EXPOSITION UPON [ISA. LIII. 8.
reason why he should not miscarry under it : tliis will appear in the exposition. 'He was cut oflf' is a metaphor taken from plants or trees, that do not fall down of their own accord, but are slipped and plucked off. The same metaphor is used, Dan. ix. 25, ' The Mes- hiah is cut off, but not for himself.' To which metaphor Christ him- self seemeth to allude, Luke xxiii. 31, ' For if they do these thin<^s in the green tree, what shall be done in a dry ? ' The meaning is, if Christ himself be taken off, who was cut off as a green tree, and not jdanted again, — was taken from the land of the living ; that is, from living and conversing here upon earth : and it is so called, both by way of opposition to the land of the dead, or the grave ; and by a condescension of the Spirit of God to our weakness, because we count that none live but those that are before us. This phrase is often used : Ps. xxvii. 13, ' I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.' So Isa. xxxviii. 11. * I shall not see the Lord, even the Lord, in the land of the living.'
4. And for the transgression of my j^eople was he stricken ; or by ike transgression, by the wickedness of Israel. He bringeth in God speaking it, as taking notice of their sin : Acts ii. 23, ' Him, being de- livered by the determinate counsel of God. have ye taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.' You may take both ; it is like this may be the scripture Paul meaneth when he saith, 1 Cor. XV. 3, ' Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures ; ' either sense is good. The sum of all is this, that though Jesus Christ was so cruelly and despitetully handled for our sins, yet at length he was taken from all this suffering, and reigneth for ever with God in glory.
Many points may be raised from these words ; but having promised only to' hint at the' main things in these following verses, I shall take notice but of these few.
Doct. 1. That by the divine appointment there was a formal process against Christ. He was made guilty, he was cast into prison, he was condemned. Sin was translated upon him in the former verses. Here God had him to prison, and let all his distresses come upon him ; and so the grave especially he was condemned to; there was judgment passed u{)on him. And therefore, the next time you see your surety without sin ; here you see him as under your sin in misery and distress: Heb. ix. 28, ' Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that look for him he shall appear the second time without sin unto salvation.'
What comfort is there for believers in this, to support and strengthen their faith ?
1. In that whatsoever should be done to them, is done to Christ in their stead. It is comfort that Clirist hath made full satisfaction, that he hath been in ])rison and under judgment lor our sakes. God will not exact twice, of Christ and you loo.
2. It yieldeth them instruction as well as comfort, not to think it much if they be imprisoned, and be under judgment for Christ's sake. Christ hath been so fur tlieirs, and you may be glad you are conformed to your head: Luke xxi. 12, Christ told the apostles, ' They shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the syna- gogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my
ISA. LIII. 8.] THE FIFTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. 347
name's sake.' So it may be with you ; but remember he was taken from prison and from judgment.
3. Christ had a long reign for a short death. Christ's glory was in the midst of his sufferings, in his humiliation, that is, when most humbled. Christ did not recover glory till in the prison of the grave. We can easily count the time of his suffering, but his generation who can declare ? 2 Cor. iv. 17, ' This light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' An hypei-bole, which is an expression greater than the truth, will not declare the glory. Hyperboles of hyperboles are not high enough ; who can declare his generation ?
4. Those that are cut off from the land of the living may live again to glory. So the church, when buried as it were under its ruins, there will be a resurrection ; and therefore the glory of the churches is called ' the first resurrection,' Rev. xx. Death is but a transplanting to glory to the godly ; they are but a slip taken off from an earthly root, that God may set them in the field of glory. Alas ! this life is nothing to the age and generation that we shall have with Christ in heaven ; a man may die, and yet be saved from death.