g This may be underſtood ei: her, 1. Of che Converted Gentiles ; who ſhall be turned back from. their former ſinful courſe, and ſhall ſincerely grieve, and be aſhamed that they did truf, &c. as the word may be rendred; that they ſhould ever be guilty of ſuch wicked- neſs and madneſs to Worſhip and Truſt in Idols: Or, rather 2. of thoſe Gentiles who, when their Brethren embraced the true God and Chriſt, perſiſted obſtinitely in their Ido/atrous courſes, who ſhall be confounded and deſtroyed : For this Phraſe of being turned back is generally uſed in Scripture in a bad ſenſe; or cf them who are overthrown, or pur to flighr in battle, as Pſal. 9. 3. and 3s. 4. and 7©. 2, 3, ©c. And the like I may ſay of being aſhamed, or, con- founded or put t0 jhame, eſpecially where chis Phraſe is joyned with the other, as it is in the two places of the Pſalms laſt quoted.
13 Hear ye deaf,and look ye blind, that ye may ſee þ.
h O you, whoſoever you are, whether Jews or Gtntiles. which
= MY
ſhall reſiſt this clear light, and obſtinarely continue in your former |
errours, attend diligently to my words, and conſider theſe migh- ty works of God.
19 * Who 3s blind but my ſervant z, or deaf as my meſſenger & that T ſent ? who is blind as he that 3s per- fe& 1, and blind as the LORDS ſervant .
; Bur no people under Heaven are ſo blind as the Jews who call themſelves my Servants and People, who will not receive their Meſſiah, though he be recommended ro them, with ſuch evident and 11]vſtricus Signs, and miraculous Works, as force be'icf from the moſt unbelieving, and obſtinate Gentiles, k My Meflengers, the ſiogular number being pur for the plural,as it is common!y in Scrip- ture. | The Prieſts and other Teachers whom I appointed to in- 1tcuct my Peoplein the right way. m 4s the moſt eminent Teach- ers and Rulers of the Jews, whom he calleth Perfe#, either becauſe It was their duty to know anltl teach the way, and Truth of God perf=&ly ; or rather Sarcaſtically, becauſe they pretended to great perfe&tion, and proudly called themſelves Rabdics and Maſters, as our Saviourobſerved ard deſpiſed the People as curſed ard not know- ing the Law, Joh. 7.49. and derided Chriſt, for calling them Blind, Joh. 9. 49- m Which title as it was given to the Few;jb pec ple in the firſt clauſe of the Verſe ; So here it ſeems to be given to the Prieſts, becauſe they were called and obliged to be the Lords Ser- vants, in a ſpecial and eminent manner.
20 Seeing many things, * but thou obſerveſt not opening the ears, but he heareth not x.
7 Thou doſt nor ſeriouſly and impartially conſider the plain word ard tl.e wonderful Works of God, of which thine ears and eyes have been witneſſes, which are abundantly ſylicient for che Cor- vitticn of any couldering man,
-
I 4 h
Chap: XLIE- |
21 The LORD is well pleaſed 0; * for his righte- * Chap.
ouineſs fake p, he will magnitie the Law, and make || it
honeurable 4.
5 9, I6, y ll Or, hits
o To wit, with you: Or, as this word is moſt commonly uſed; -
hath 2 goed will, ro you or to this peeple :
which may be underftood
our of the following Verſe, as is very ufual in facred Scripture. ©
The meaning ſeems to be this ; Although rt ou art a wick: d peop'e chat rebeileſt againſt the cleareſt Iighr, and therefere God mig he juſtly deſtrey thee ſvddenly;. yet he is very unwilling to do ir, and
wili patiently wait for thy Repentarc: that ke may be gracious un- .
to thee, p Not for thy ſake, for thou deſerveſt noſuchthing from him; but for the glory of his own faithfu'nets, in fulfiling, rkac Promiſe ard Covenanr, which he made with thy pious Progemiters for themſe}ves, and for tl.cir Seed. q He will maintain. the ho- nour of his Law, ard therefore is not forward ro deſtroy you, who profeſs Goa's Law, and the true Religion, leſt his Law ſhould up« on that occaſion be expoſed to conrempr. OE EIS Se 22 But this 7s a people robbed and ſpoiled r, || they are all of them ſnared in holes, and they are hid in priſon-houſes s : they are for a prey, . and none delive- reth ; for a | ſpoil, and none ſaith, Reſtore z.._. _ ,. r But notwithſtanding this great reſpe& which God hath. to hjs Law, and to his pecple for the fake of his Law, it is apparent that God hath ſeverely ſcourged you for yeur fins: and therefore take heed that you do not provoke, him by ycur cbſtinate infidelity; 1:{t he caſt you cff ſor ever. 5s They are, or have beer; taken in fnares made by their own hands, and by Gods judgment delivered into
{ Or, 78 -, Inarning al? the young _ men of them.
+ Heb. a
trending.
the har:ds of their enemies, and by them caſt intoPits or Dungeons
and Priſons. : None affoid them either. pity cr help in their ex» temities. TOES FEATS Eee ons
23 Who among you will give ear to this? whe will hearken and hear + for the time to come? __.
# O that you would learn from ycur former and dear-bought ex- periences to be wiſer forthe future, znd nor to provoke Godto your own toral and final Ruine. * 7 > dex: Seen
24 Who gave Jacob for a ſpoil; and Iſrael to the robbers ? did not the LORD x, he againſt whom wa have finned ? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his laws . .
x Do nor flatter your ſelves with a conceit of impunity, becauſe you are a people whom God hath favoured and endowed with ma- ny, and great priviledges, which the Jews were very proreto do, as we ſee, Jer. 7- 4, Oc. and elſewhere ; for as God hath puniſhed you formerly, doubt not, bur if you continue to ſin, he will pro ceed in puniſhing you more and more for your fins. . --
25 Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the ſtrength of batrel j : and it hath ſet him on fire round about, yet he knew notz ; and it burned him, yer he laid jt notto hearr. Gs
y Moſt grievous Judgmen's. z They were ſecure and ſtupid une der Gods Judgments, neither fearing them when threatned, nor truly ſenſible of Gods hand in them, and ofthe cauſes of Gods dit= pleaſure againſt ckem, and of the means of cure.
CHA Þ. XLIIL Promiſes to protef® and enlarge the Church, 1——5, God appealeth T them as witneſſes of h's power and knowleage, 6 I2. He foretelleth them the defirution of Babylon : and a new deliverance of his people,
14 21. whoſe ſins, 22 : 4+ againſt God's mercies render thens
mexcuſable, 25———28,
Ur now thus faith the LORD #2 that created thee 5, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Ifrae}, Fear
» "0 Fair ; ' + Heb. fir ©! the aftere £108,