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me; God is at hand to vindicate my innocence; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who [is] mine adversary? let him come near to me; I challenge him to a judicial process.* 9 Behold, the Lord GoD will help me; who [is] he [that] shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up; Herod, Pilate and the wicked Jews, the persecutors of Christ, shall be destroyed. The following verse is addressed to every humble christian.

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Who [is] among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh [in] darkness, and hath no light? though he suffers hardships, and is exercised with afflictions, and doubts, and fears, let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God; upon the goodness of God, and his faithfulness to his covenant. On the other hand, confusion and destruc11 tion are threatened to proud sinners. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass [yourselves] about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks [that] ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow; an allusion to a benighted traveller, who lights a little fire to warm himself by, and thereat kindles a torch to proceed on his journey; but it goes out, leaves him in darkness, and exposed to many dangers; so those who seek their happiness in worldly comforts, and neglect God, or trust in the merits of their own righteousness, shall be disappointed.

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REFLECTIONS.

E are here taught that it is men's own sin that undoes them. This the Jews are reminded of in the beginning of the chapter; their own iniquities brought their calamities upon them. When sinners are destroyed by acts of divine justice, it is owing to their own wickedness. God takes no pleasure in their destruction; he is as ready to pity and help as ever he was : but if they will not regard the message of his Son, and comply with the demands of his gospel, their destruction will be upon their own heads; they might have been saved, but would not.

2. It is the duty of christians, like their Master, to be willing to learn and to suffer. It is especially the duty of ministers to seek of God the tongue of the learned; that rich experience of divine things, and ability to speak comfortably to mourning souls, which is a better qualification than the largest store of human learning and philosophy. Let christians in private stations of life learn from their Master to apply their minds to understand divine things, and the will of God; to read his word, and attend upon his ministers, as men awake, and willing to learn, shaking off drowsiness, and taking pains to understand and remember. And let us earnestly pray against a drowsy distracted mind; and that God would awaken us

This was literally fulfilled in Christ, who by signs and wonders, and a voice from heaven, and especially by his resurrection from the dead, was vindicated from all accusations.

and keep us attentive. So likewise we should be willing to suffer whatever Providence calls us to; setting our faces like a flint, as Christ did; being bold, resolute, and undaunted in the work of religion; and by divine help we shall not be borne down by opposition, but God will justify and accept us. The apostle probably refers to verse 8, when he says, (Rom. viii. 32.) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth?

3. Let us carefully observe the difference between a humble trusting in God, and a vain confidence in ourselves. Those who fear God, and obey the voice of Christ, his servant, and who comply. with the terms of his gospel, may walk in darkness and have no light; they may have many doubts and fears, and want spiritual peace and joy. But let them trust in a good and faithful God, and he will at length restore them to light and joy, which shall endure for ever. On the other hand, those who walk in the light of their own fire, seek their happiness in earthly things, trust to their own righteousness, or some sudden flashes of zeal and affection, may amuse themselves for a while, and seem full of light, hope, and joy, but will soon lie down in sorrow. The darkest state of a saint is therefore infinitely preferable to the brightest state of a sinner.

CHAP. LI.

The design of this chapter is to encourage the Jewish captives to trust in God's promises; especially in those relating to Christ; assuring them that he would pity their misery and help them; having given sufficient proofs of his power in his former dealings with that

nation.

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EARKEN to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock [whence] ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit [whence] ye are digged; re2 member your small beginning and low estate. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah [that] bare you: for I called him alone, when a single person, who had no family, and blessed him, and increased him; therefore am able to do great things for 3 you still. For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of 4 melody. Hearken unto me, my people, and give ear unto me, O my nation, or, O ye nations, that is, ye Gentiles: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest, or 5 rather, to break forth for a light of the people. My righteousness [is] near my salvation is gone forth, the time is at hand when I will perform my promises, and mine arms, that is, my power, shall judge the people: the isles shall wait upon me,

and on mine arm shall they trust; I will reward my faithful 6 subjects, and punish my enemies. Lift up your eyes to the heav

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ens, and look upon the earth beneath for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart [is] my law, who love it and obey it; fear ye not the reproach of men, of wretched men, neither be ye afraid of their 8 revilings. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool, or, a woollen garment: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.

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Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. [Art] thou not it that hath cut Rahab, that is, Egypt, [and] wounded the drag10 on, that is, destroyed Pharaoh? [Art] thou not it which hath

dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? 11 (Exod. xiv. 21.) Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy [shall be] upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; [and] sorrow and mourning shall flee away; the captives shall return to Canaan, and a church of God be gathered out of Jews and Gentiles.

12 I, [even] I, [am] he that comforteth you: who [art] thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of a man [that] shall die, and of 13 the son of man [which] shall be made [as] grass; and forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where [is] the fury of the oppres 14 sor? it is ineffectual, vanished, and gone at once. The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail; he shall quickly be loosed and not die; neither shall his bread fail; and the reason 15 follows; But I [am] the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, 16 whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts [is] his name. And

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I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou [art] my people; that I may disperse the clouds which hinder the light of the sun, moon, and stars, or even produce new constellations, or a new world. Grand and beautiful figures, to express a wonderful scene opening, and great prosperity to be restored!

Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs, the most bitter and nauseous part, of the cup of trem18 bling, [and] wrung [them] out. [There is] none to guide her

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among all the sons [whom] she hath brought forth: neither [is there any] that taketh her by the hand of all the sons [that] she hath brought up; no human power can restore her prosperity. 19 These two [things] are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword; that is, desolation by famine, and destruction by the sword : by whom shall I comfort thee? who shall lament for thee in such 20 pathetic strains as thy case requires? Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net : they are full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God; they are languishing, and yet are quite furious and desperate; as was 21 the case when the city was taken and destroyed. Therefore hear 22 now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine: Thus

saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God [that] pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, [even] the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt 23 no more drink it again; thou shalt drink of it no longer: But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over; it shall be given to the Chaldeans, who tyrannized over thee, oppressed thy conscience, and to whose insults thou hast too tamely submitted.

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REFLECTIONS.

E are taught how useful it is to look back, and contemplate our original, v. 1. We are born of the dust, (what an humble origin !) are in a feeble, helpless state, descended from degenerate parents, and have many corruptions and sinful propensities. Let us often think of this, that we may be humble, adore the divine goodness in our formation and preservation, and espe* cially his love to such mean and sinful creatures in their redemption; that we may draw encouragement from hence to trust in him to fulfil all his promises, whatever difficulties may be in the way.

2. We see the character and happiness of God's people, v. 7, 8. They know righteousness, have their minds enlightened, understand what is good, and what the will of the Lord is; they have his law in their hearts; take pains to study and remember it, to feel its power, and obey its commands. They may be reproached and reviled, even for their piety and steadfastness; but these reproaches are not to be regarded. God will defend his cause, and those who adhere to it; it shall prosper, and they shall be happy; while scoffers and revilers shall waste away, and be covered with everlasting shame and reproach.

3. We should learn, from former experiences of God's power and goodness, to trust in him for futurity, as they are a great encouragement to our faith. God often reminds his people of this; and particularly in this chapter. It shows the advantage of scrip ture histories, and the importance of recording past appearances f

Providence for us. It would encourage our prayers in seasons of danger, and tend to silence that fear of man which bringeth a snare, which is often groundless, and always unbecoming. Our remembering the power, faithfulness, and goodness of God, would prevent any inordinate fear of what frail, dying man can do unto us. Let us then think less highly of man, and more highly of God, if we desire to be easy and happy.

4. We see that God easily can, and at length certainly will, change the afflicted condition of his people. He is the Lord, and their covenant God; who will plead their cause, vindicate their character, confound their enemies, and show that his cause was a righteous one. He may put a cup of affliction into their hands, and it becomes them to drink it with all submission; sensible, that though it is not pleasant, it is wholesome, and will be exchanged for a cup of blessings. But those who are enemies to God's ways and people, shall drink the very dregs, and have no alleviation of their misery.

CHAP. LII.

This chapter refers to the happy change made in the state of the Jews by their return from their captivity, as illustrating the more impor tant deliverance by the gospel.

WAKE, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; resume thy former strength and dignity: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean; 2 there shall be no more idolatry within thee. Shake thyself from the dust, where thou hast sat as a mourner; arise, [and] sit down on thy throne, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion; take all prudent methods to 3 recover thy liberty, and gain the favour of thy conquerors. For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; you have parted with your liberty only to enjoy your sins, and have got nothing by it; and ye shall be redeemed without money; Cyrus 4 shall deliver you freely. For thus saith the Lord God, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause, and I delivered them 5 from both. Now therefore what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? what claim have the Chaldeans to keep my people in bondage, whom they have taken away without cause? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day [is] blasphemed; they are cruelly used, and God is blasphemed, as if 6 he had cast them off, or was unable to help them. Therefore my people shall know my name, my power, therefore [they shal

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