were ditated to him, 1 Pef. t: 11, and unto whoa alone they be- long, as we ſhal ſce So this Chapter 1s a Prophecy of Chriſt, which alſois very proper and ſcaſonable in this place, TheProphet having at large propheſied of the Deliverance of the Jews out of Babylon ; he now proceeds further, and propheſieth of the Redemption of the World by Chriſt, of which tha' deliverance out of 2abylon was a Type and Forerunner. c Which live in Countries far from 7udea, now the only Place of God's ſpecial Preſence and Worſhip. It is evident from the foregoing Clauſe, and many ether Paſſages following, that he ſpeaks of diſtance of Place, notof Time &d& This or the like ex- preffion is uſed of Jeremy, chap, 1. 5, and of Paul, Gal. 1, 15. but it was far more ©::-inently true of Chrifi, who, as he was choſen to this great office of Redemption from Eternity, ſo he was ſepara- ted and called to it betore he was born, being both conceived and ſanRified by the Holv Ghoſt in his Mothers Womb, and ſent into the World upon this Errand 3 of which fee Mat. 1. 21, and Lake 1.31, &c, and 2, It, &c, e Called by 'my Namie, and by ſuch a Name as ſignified my Office and Work, in the Places now mentioned,
2 And he hath made my mouth like a ſharp ſword f, in the ſhadow of his hand hath he hid meg, and made me a poliſhed ſbaft b,in his quiver ; he hath
hid me. ; F As he made me the great Teacher of his Church,and of the World,
{ſo he aſfiſted me by his Spirit, and made -»y Word or Dorine
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Quick and powerful Cfharper than any two-edged-ſword,&c. as it is ſaid | to be, Heb. 4. 12. killing Men's i uſts, convincing, humbling, and | converting their Souls 3 3 Mighty to the pulling down of rong holds, And ' every high thing that exalterh it jelf again the knowledge of Ged, and | bringing into Gaptivity everythought to the obedience of Chriſt, as we read, 2 Cor. 10: 4+ $. £ He will Protedt mc by his Power from all mine | Enemies, untill I have finiſhed the Work, for whick he ſent me. h Like av Arrow, whole point is bright and poliſhed; which theres | fore pierceth deeper. It the former, Chriſt*s piercing ol Men s Heart by his Word and Spirit. ' 5 Where Arrows are hid and kept. The Yuiver ſignifies the ſame thing with the ſhadow in the foregoing Clauſe, even God's powertul and gracious ProteRion of him from Dangers and Miſchiefs.
rhis Metaphor figaifies the fame thin? with .
— —
2 And ſaid unto me ; Thou art my ſervant, O Iſrael k, in whom I will be giorified.
þ &s the name of David is ſometimes given to his Succeſſers, x Kings 12. +6, and particularly to Chriſt Jer. 30, 9g. Ezek, 34. 23 Heſ. 3, 5 and Jacvh is called, as many think, by the name of his Grand-#ather, Abraham, 4s 7- 16, and the name of Iſaxc is gi- ven to his Poſterity, Amos 7. 9» So here the name of Iſrael ma not unfitly be given to Chriſt, not only becauſe he deſcended from his Loins ; but alſo becauſe he was the true and the great 1ſael, who in a more cminent manner, prevailed with God, as that Name. ſignifies, of whom Jacob, who was firſt called 1ſrael, :was but a Type: And &. the name of Chriſt, the Head 15 ſometimes given to the Body, the Church, as 1 Co. 12. 12. S9 it is not ſtrange if, onthe contrary, the name of Jjrazl, which properly belongs to the Church. be given to Chriſt the Head of it But this Word may be otherwilc rendreds being joyned, Either, 1. with the foregoing words; Thou art my ſervant, unto, or in or for Iſrael, 7, ec, to bring them back unto me, from whom they have revoltes ; Or 3 with the following words; it 15 Iſracl is whow I will glorifie my ſelf by thee.
Then I ſaid 1, ' I have laboured in vain, T have
ſpent my ftrengch for noughtm, andinvain ; yet ſure- ly my judgment « #s with the LORD, and|| my work with my God, L
or; ; "ward,
| 24, 25.0 22 21, and being treated by the Rulers both of the Fews.,
' ad:inira'1on and reverences b From their ſeats in token | as was uſual, Levi, 19. 32. Judges 3.
' braiſm.
Y ' although thou ſhalt be reje&ed by thine own People, ; their Builders or Rulers, as was Propheiied P/al. 118.
Chap, XLI
1 By way of Qbje&tion, Lord, thou ſayeſt thou wilft be elorifi + | ed by my Miniſtry , butT find it otherwiſe, 9m Without any Con {RITTER fiderable Fruit of my Word and Works among the Iſraelites n My Wt right, the reward which by his Promiſe, and my Purchaſe is my " right, Fudgment is oft put for #hat which is ju# or rizht, as Exod. If 23, 6, Job. 8. 3, and in many other places. And fo this Clauſe agrees | with the next ; and the Senſe of both is this : Though I (ee no fruit of my Labour among the Jews, and meet with nothing but contempt and reproach, and ill ufage from them 3 yet God fſces my fidelity and diligence in my Work, and he will give Judgment for me, and | my reward 1s laid up with and by him, which he will give me in it due time. | | q'
5 And now, faith the LORD that formed me lll yl
from the womb to be his ſervant, to bring Jacob a- || Or; tha
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gain to him 9, Though Iſrael be [|not gathered p, yet ney | thal I be glerious in the eyes of the LORD q, and my ,;4, God (hal be my ſtrength r. | ;
0 To Convert the Wicked and Apoſtate 1ſraelites unto God. þ Not EM PH brought home to God by my Miniſtry. This Word infylics, That | the I/raclites were divided and ſcattered from God, and divided a- © mong themſelves, 25 they were in a high degree when Chrift came into the World, and Turned every one to his own way, as is ſaid; laiab
$3+ 6. and therefore needed to be gatherede Either it is a Meta- phor from wandering Sheep, which the good Shepherd diligently ſceketh, and bringeth home to the Fold; Or, it is an Allvſion to the ſtate of the 1/raelites, who: either now were, or ſhortly were to
be diſperſed into ſeveral parts of the World. from whence God had promiſed to gather them, and bring them into their Land, and un-
to his Temple, 1/aiah 43. 5, 6. and elſ-where. The Senſe is Though Iſrael. God's own and only People, reje& me, which will be an oc- cation of great wonder and ſcandal. q God will not deſpiſe me for the uniucceſsfulneſs of my Labours, but will honour and glcrifie me, both with himſelf and in the face of the World, in crowning my In- deavours with glorious Succeſs among other People. r To ſupport and ſtrengthen me under this, and all otherdiſcouragements and dif- ficulties in the diſcharge of mine Office.