[2.] He is able and mighty, so as he must needs eiFectuate the will of God : Ps. Ixxxix. 19, ' I have laid help upon one that is mighty.' It is an able Christ that the work is committed to, that can break through discouragements, overcome difficulties, remove lets. Alas ! there is no mountain that is anything before this Zerubbabel : Col. i. 19, ' It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.' He wanteth nothing for the accomplishment of tliis work, there is a ful- ness and supply of all things : Col. ii. 3, ' In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.' There is an unexhausted trea- sury of grace and knowledge to be found in Christ ; it was hid, the world does not easily see it, but there is a lich magazine of grace, and sufficiency to effect all the will of God ; but oin- weakness measureth things by appearance, and till God bringeth us within the veil we can- not see it.
But you will say. What is this pleasure of the Lord ?
I answer— It is the whole decree of God about the good of the creatures ; more especially, that I may open your hearts to the view
ISA. LIII. 10.] THE FIFTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. 399
of some cases, these comforts work best when they are drawn forth into j)articulars.
1. There are some more general, that concern the universality and body of men ; and so the pleasure of the Lord is that Christ should gather churches out of the world, out of all kindreds and nations in the Avorld ; and then give them his laws ; and this Christ will do, notwithstanding the rage of tyrants, and the malice of evil men : 'The isles shall wait for his law.' And it is said, Isa. ix. 7, 'The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.' The Lord hath sworn he will maintain him against all the attempts of the world ; that the gospel shall get ground and prosper. Now, see if Christ's hand mis- carried in tliese general works : Acts ii. 4, three thousand were converted by one sermon ; one apostle preached the gospel from Jerusalem to Illyricum, and that was some thousands of miles, Rom. XV. 19. These general works prospered by the good pleasure of the Lord.
2. Some more special, as the reconciliation of sinners to God. This will thrive in Christ's hands, for it is God's pleasure : Luke iv. 18, ' The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, and sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives ; ' Col. i. 20, ' It pleased the Father that in him all fulness should dwell ; and having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things to him- self.' The conversion of a sinner is the will of God : James i. 18, ' Of his own will begat he us, by the word of truth.' Do not doubt, then ; there may be discouragements, but the will of God is for your regeneration. So the sanctification of the creatures : 1 Thes. iv. 3, ' This is the will of God, even your sanctification.' This is one of the wills that shall prosper in the hands of Christ, your preservation and keeping in a state of grace: John vi. 34, 'And this is the Father's Avill, who hath sent me, that of all which lie hath given me I should lose nothing.' You may have many assaults, but it is God's will you should be kept. Nay, it is his will to glorify you : Luke xii. 32, ' It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.'
Use. What an abundance of encouragement to faith is there from every word that is here used !
1. That all the work of Christ for your good is called chephets, the Lord's pleasure. We may come to men for things with greater con- fidence when we know it is their pleasure to give them to us. It was an encouragement to Joab to set the woman of Tekoah at work to bring home Absalom, because the thing was pleasing to the king: 2 Sam. xiv. 1, 'When he perceived the king's heart was towards Absalom.' So when we perceive God's heart towards a thing, we may tlie better urge him to it. Among men we easily speed in an errand that is pleasing to him to whom we go : Ps. xxxv. 27, ' The Lord hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servants.' All that can make for good to you, it is the Lord's pleasure ; your welfare is his delight ; nay, to those that are without, for them to come in to be recovered and accepted to mercy, it is the Lord's pleasure. So it is in prayer, when you come with such requests to the throne of grace ; you speak to God's bowels when you ask for such things as are
400 A TRACTICAL EXPOSITION LTON [IsA. LIII. 11.
acceptable to him as they can be to yourselves. We have two hints of God's })1 ensure — chaphcts, it pleased the Lord to bruise him ; and cJiepItetti, his pleasure iu Christ's bruises was our j^ood.