the Kingdom of $yria; and therefore Jeraſalem ſhal not be taken,nor become apart of Rezjnu's Dominion; but he ſhal be kept within his . ywn Bounds, and be King of Damaſcus only, and not as he hopes,
pf Feruſalem. q To be compured either, 1, from the Prophecy ,of
Amos, who propheſied in the days of Uzziah, two years before the earthquake, Amos 1. 1. which the Jews affirm to have hapned about the time of his Uſurpation of the Prieſt's Office. and being ſmitren with Leprofie, 2 Cyren, 26. 16, &c, which though it be not proved yet it may be admitted, becauſe it canriot be ditproved. And it 1s more than probable, that thar Aion and Accident was diyers years before his death, during which time Jotham ated as his Vice= roy, 2 Chron, 26. 21. And the Prophecy of Ames being expreſs and full concerning the Deſtru&ion of the People and Commone wealth of 1|rael, being alſo fieſhin the memory of many now liv- ing, the Prophet ſaiah might well have reſpe& to it. $9 the ſenſe is as if he had ſaid, There thal be bur 65 years between the Delive-
ry and the Execution of that Prophecy. And ſo the number of years may be thus maJleup. Fix the beginning of them ten years
before Uzziah's death, add the Sixteen years of Jethams Reign, and then the Sixteen years of Ahaz his Reign,and then Six of Hezek:ahs Reign, in which Jae was carried Captive, 2 Kmgs 18. 10. theſe make up 48 years : and for the 17 years, which yet remain of the
65 they may be taken out of thereſt of Hezekiahs Reign. For Al- though the Tranſportation of that People began in the Sixth year of Hezekish, yet it might be continued or repeated divers years af- ter, and compleated 17 years after, Jer. 52. 28, 29, 3o. Or rather 2, theſe years may be computed from the time of this Prophecy of Iſaiah. And whereasir may be obje&ted againſt this Opinion, That the Judgment here threatned was execured in the Sixth year of Hezekiah, as was before cored, and therefore within 18 or 19
years of this Prophecy, which was delivered in the third or fourth
year of Abaz, Two things may be anſwered, 1. That the Iſraelites were nor tranſported i: the Sixth year of Hezekiah : For alrhough
F 4-3
ned upen themſelves ; and partly becauſe this was moſt neceſſary forrhem, to affright them our of their preſent Security and Infi* delity. Os. |
io | Moreover, the LORD ſpake again unto A- haz, ſaying,
it either in the depth, orin the height above x.
delivered by me ; yet God is ſo patient and merciful to thee, that he gives thee liberty to demand ofhim any Signal or miraculous Work, whereby thou mayſt be afſured of the Truth and Certainty of this Promiſe. « Both by right of Dominion, and by verrue of his graciousCovenant made with all 7-ae),of whom thou art aM-m. ter,. and King ; and by thy own Profefſion, for he ſtill worlhipped God rogether with his Idols ; and by the continuance of his Care and Kindneſs to thee, and to thy People, notwithſtanding all your Wickedneſs; whereof this Promiſe and Offer is a clear Demonſtra= tion. x Demand ſome Prodigy to be wrought, either in Earth or in Heaven, at thy pleaſure.
12 But Ahaz ſaid, Iwill not ask y, neicher wi tempt the LORD &. | 3, neither will I
3 This Refuſal proceeded not from the ſtrength of his Faith, bur from his Contempt of God, and total diſtruſt and diſregard of his Word, and inward Reſolution to take another Courſe ; as is manj« feſt borh from the following words, and from the Hiſtory of As haz, 2 Chron. 28, 7 Either, 1. By asking a Sign, aSif hequeſtioned the Truth of his Word : So this was deep Hy pocriſte: Or, 2. By negletting any means neceſſary for my preſervation, which were indeed a tempting of God. And therefore I fhal not fit fill and rely upon God till I be deſtroyed, which will be the eff-& of thy Countel 3 but I ſhaldo as becometh a wiſe King, ſeek for Succour from Porent Allies, ſuch as the 4ſjrian is. Sg this is flat Rebellie on againſt God.
13 And hefaid, Hear ye now, O houſe of David « Is it a {mall thing for youb co weary men c, but will ye weary my God alſo 4?
4 Of whichy ſee above, v. 2: He reproveth them all, becauſe they were the King's Counſellours, and promoted the Deſign of ſcnding for the AſjrianSuccours. 6 Is not that Wickedneſs more than enough ? Muſt you add more toit? c To vex Gods Prophets and People, and the generality of your Subje&s, with your Op= preſſions and horrid Impieries, d By your curſed Ingratitude and Unbelief,and Diſobedience ro his Commands, He ſaith, my God, #,
Chap. Via
FHeb. and | | the LORD Ii 11 Ask thee a ſign ofche LORD t thy God «,|| ask _— to | [pea b |
cl ceive thou doſt not believe ( i Or,make| perceive thou doſt not believe Gods Word and Meſſ.ge now a ——_ ace. |
Samaria be ſaid ro be taken in the Sixth year of Hezekiah, 2 Kings a8. 10. and the Tranſportation of the {raelietes be mentioned imme» diately after it, w. 11. yer it doth not thence follow,that it was done immediately, and at that one time; becauſe thisis not unuſual In Scriprure, in Hiſtorical Relations to mention thoſe things toge- ther which were done ata coniiderable diſtance of time one from a-
the God whoſe Servant and Propher or MeſſengerT am; to intimate: thar this heinousOffence was not.commitred againſt a weak and fooliſh Man, fuch as they might think the Propher to be,but againſt God himſef,who ſentthe Meſſage. Compare Exod. 16, 8.
I4 Therefore e the LORD himſelf ſhal give you a * Mar. 1:
mother ; as is recorded, As 7.15, 16+ Jacob=—
in thoſe few words was done. might eaſily be produced, was not done at once, but ſucceſſively, and by degrees. certainly was in the Tranſportation of Judah, whic
ated, he and our Fathers, and were carried ever into Sychem, and laid in the Sepulchre of Abraham, &c. although it was above 200 years c'er all which is faid And other inſtances of like nature 2. That this work of Tranſportation Thus ir was begun in
fign f'; Behold g, a virgin 6ſhal conceive, and bear 5 a ſon, and || ſhal call & his name Immanuel /J.
e Becauſe you deſpiſe me, and the Sign which I now offer to you God of his own freeGrace will ſend you a more honourableMeſſn- ger, and give you a n'bler Sign, to try wherher that will cure you of your Infidelity, Or, Newerrheleſ, as this
derſtood, 1/a. 30, 18. Jer» 16. 14.and
P:riicle ſeems to be un-