over, For there ſhall be peace and truth in my days. The Hiſtory contained in this Chapter is related in the ſame words, 2 Kings 20.12, &c, only he who here is called Xrodach is there called Berodach, meerly by the change of one Lerter, which is very uſual in the Hebrew Language, eſpecially in propzr Names. as Dimon +s pur for Dibon, Iſa. 15. 9 and the ſame man is called Ncbu- chadnietſar, Nebuchadretſar. * This King is called; Merodach from the I dol ſo called, Fer. 5o. 2. and Baladan from his fathers Name. Bur whether this man was an A4ſſjrian or a M:de or a Babylonian it is not eaſie to determine nor worth whileto enquire. Bur thisis certain that abour this time there were Wars between the Hjſprians, and the Babylonians, the ulue whereof was, that the latter tubdued the for-
mer. ©2 Og 0 CHAP, XL.
The Prophet having now foretold the Babyoniſh Captivity, chap. 39. 6, 7+ doth here aras his People againſt it by rhe contideration of their cerrain deliverance our of it, and their bletled condition after. ir, 2S ia «rher things lo eſpecia)ly in the coming of tle 3/25, and
che great and glorious priviledges conferred upon Goa's Church and People in his days, y X
2 Kings
8 | 2, Vc.
The
), XL
The Preaching of the Golp:! by Toln Baptiff ard the Apoſiles, 1 ſ F. The Power and W. ſaom of God ia governing the World, 12 17. The felly.of laolatry, 18———26. God knowerl) the flaze of his People : and beth can and will protett them, 27 31.
| Exp ye, comfort ye my people ay faith your God
a Ye Prophets and Miniſters of the Lord, which now are, or hereafcer ſhal be, deliver this comfortable meſſage from me to my People, that they may not ſink under their burdens.
2 Speak ye comfortably to Jeruſalem, and cry un- beare. to her b, that her || warfare c is accomplithed, that her dr, #- iniquity is pardoned 4 : for ſhe hath received of the
LORD'S hand * double for all e her {ins.
b. Proclaim it in my name. & The time of her ſervitude, and captivitys and miſery. I am reconciled to her ; I will nor 1m- 4 ——— ſin to her, to puniſh ber any longer for ir. e Not rwice as » Dan. 9* nuch as her fins deſerved, for ſhe her ſelf confeſſed. the contrary, 1 Ezra 9+ 13+ Lam. 3- 22+ but aboundantly enough to anſwer God's deſign in this chaſtiſement, which was ro humble and reform them, and to warn others by their example,Dowbleis oft pur for abundant]y, a$'1ſs. 61. 7. Jer. I6. 18. and 17. 18. God here ſpeaks of himſelf after the manner of men, and compareth himſelf to a tender-hearted Farther, who when he hath corre&ed his Child for his miſdemean- our relenteth and repenteth of his ſeverity, and caſteth his Rod a-
Way. . : 7 C * The voice f of him that criethin the wilder- Mal. 4.t. nels g, Prepare ye the the way þ of the LORD 5, make
er. 3-3- ſtraight & in the deſert a high way for our God. | ark 1 3+ F An abrupt and imperfe& ſpeech, ſuch as there are many in the e 3- 4+ Hibrew Language. Methinks I hear a voice: Or, a voice ſhal be WI. 23- jeard: g Which words declare the place either, 1» Where the cry was made : Or, 2. Where the way was to be prepared, as It 15 expreſſed in the following Clauſe, which is added to explain this. And ſuch places being commonly path-leſs, and many ways 1ncom- modious to paſſengers, it was the more neceflary to prepare a Way there. But both come to one thing, for the cry was to be 1n that place Which was to be prepared. This place ſeems to be under- ſtood immediately of the deliverance of the Jews out of Babylon, and of ſmoothing their paſſage from thence ro Judes, which lay through a'great Wilderneſs; but ultimately and principally concerning their Redemption by the Meſſiah, whoſe coming is uſhered in by the Cry of John the Baptiſt, who did both cry and prepare the way ia the Wilderneſs, as we read, Mat. 3+ 1, &c: Where this Text is dire- Qaly expounded of him. | But withal the terms of Wilderneſs and Deſert, ſeem to be here chiefly u{cd in a metaphorical ſenſe, to ex- preſs the deſolate and forlorn condition of the Jewilh Nation, and eſpecially of the Gentile-world, when Chriſt came to redeem them; for ſo theſe words are frequently uſed in Prophetical Writings, as hath been noted in divers places. þ You to whom this work be- Imgs. He alludes to the cuſtom of Princes who ſend Pioneers be- fore them to prepare the way through which they intend to paſs. The meaning is only chis, That God ſhal by his Spirit ſo ditpoſe mens hearts, and by his Providence ſo order rhe Empires and affairs of the World, as to make way for the accompliſhment of this Pro- miſe. #5 For the Lord, as ir is expounded in the next Claule, that the Lord may walk in it : Which though it may be underſtood of their " coming out of Babylor, when God might in ſome ſorr be ſaid ro march in the head of them, condutting and preſerving them, yet it was much more evidently and eminenty fulfilled, whea Chriſt who was and is God bleſſed for ever, came into the World in a vilible man- ner. & Either gire#, in oppoſition to crooked, or even and level, In oppoſition to the Mountains and Valleys mentioncd in the nexe verſe. 4 Every valley ſhall be exalted, and every mountain and hill ſhall be brought low : and the crooked ſhall be
made || ſtraight, and the rough places || plain 7,
Braight . T This is only a more particular explication of that which was place, generally expreſſcd, wvirſe 3. The ſenſe is, All obſtruftions ſhal be 1 Or,e plainremoved, and the way made in all reipeQts convenient and eaſic for
F the paſſenger. 5 And the glory of the LORD ſhall be revealed »,
and all fleſh » [ball ſee ir together ; tor the mouth of che LORD hath ſpoken 3: o.
» $0 it was in ſome ſort, when God brought them out of Baby- lon, which was a glorious'work of God, but far more properly and eminently, when Chriſt who was the glorious God, was manifeſt ed in the fleſh, and gave much clearer and fuller diſcoveries of God's glorious wiſdom, and holineſs, and goodneſs, and other divine perfe&ions than ever yet bad been imparted to mankind and to the Ehurch. z All Nations, both Jews and Gentiles. o Though this mayſcem\ incredible, yer God is able to accompliſh ir.
OY The voice ſaid p, Cry. And he ſaid q, What ſhall
I cry ? * All flehh is graſs,and all the goodlineſs thereof
-o 52.1, #5 as the flower of the field r.