Exposition of the Whole Bible

God in them; and the excellent robe of Chrift’s righteoufnefs on them; an excellent knowledge of divine and fpiritual things; an excellent {pirit of love and unity; and an excellent order and‘ difcipline maintained among them; as well as excellent truths preached, and ordinances adminiftered to them; all which fhall continue, being made clearly to appear to be their cafe: the joy of many generations; of age and age*; or, as the Targum, * the ** houfe of joy of generation and generation;” that is, the church will be the joy of God and Chrift, of the faints, and of the whole world, age after age, for a long period of time; fee ch. Ixv. 18, 19. there feems to be fome refpect to Py. xIviii. 2.

¥.16. Thou falt alfo fuck the milk of the Gentiles, &c.} Partake of their riches and wealth; fo the Targum, ‘ and ye hall be fatisfied with the “* fubftance of the people;” or drink of the fincere milk of the word of the gofpel, which Gentiles have been favoured with for many ages; for this feems to have regard to Yewi/h converts, tho’ not to them only, but as they, with the converted Gentiles, will make up one church-ftate, and partake of the fame privileges: and halt fuck the breaft of kings; who fhall now be converted in various places, come into the church, and be nurfing fathers to it; help and affift the people of God with their riches to carry on divine worfhip in an honourable manner; and to protect and defend them with their power; fee Pf. Ixxii. 9, 10. J/. xlix. 23. and Ix. 11. The Yargum is, “ in the fpoil of ‘¢ kings ye fhall delight yourfelves;” and it may alfo defien the breafts of confolation, the ordinances of the gofpel, fuch as chriftian kings will fuck, and ews and Gentiles. fhall do the fame, J/ xvi. 11: and thou fhalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour, and thy Redeemer, the mighty one of Facob; the Fews being called, fhall feek the Lord their God, the true Meffiah, and fhall look unto him by. faith, whom they, have pierced; fhall know, own and acknowledge him to be their Redeemer and Saviour; who muft be fit and qualified for fuch an. office and work, and equal to it, being the mighty one of ¥acob, whom before. they and their anceftors rejected and defpifed.

¥.17. For brafs I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring filver, and for wood brafs, and for ftones iron, 8c.) By wood and ftones may be meant the Old ‘Teftament-difpenfation; by the dra/s and iron the prefent gofpel-difpenfation; and by /i/ver and gold the latter day-glory; by fiver the fpiritual reign. of Chrift in his church; and by gold his perfonal reign in the new Yeru/alem;, which is faid to be all of pure gold, and even the very ftreet of it, Rev: xxi. 18, 21. now, as far as brafs and iron exceed wood and ftones, fo far the. gofpel-difpenfation exceeds the legal one; the one being the fhadow, the other the fubftance; the one having carnal ordinances, which are done away, the other fpiritual ones which remain; and.as far as filver and. gold exceed -brafs and iron, fo far the glory of the latter day will exceed the prefent ftate of things, in clear light, in fptritual grace and ftrength, in, purity of doctrine. and worfhip, in holinefs of life, and in love, peace and unity; and as far as gold exceeds filver, fo far, and much more, will the perfonal reign of Chrift, which will be perfectly glorious, exceed the fpiritual one. There fare, having the excellent graces of the Spirit of! may be an allufion to the times of Solomon, a type GS ° of Chrift, 1 Kings x. 27. This, by fome fewifh writers ", is applied to the times of the Meffiah they yet expect. The Targum is, “* for the brafs “© which they fpoiled thee of, O Ferufalem, 1 will te’ bring “gold,” &c. I will alfo make thine officers peace; civil magiftrates fhall be men of peaceable difpofitions, who fhall promote peace and unity in kingdoms, ftates, cities, towns, and neighbourhoods; they fhall be properly juftices of peace; they will anfwer to their office, and the title of it. Church-officers or minifters of the word fhall publith the gofpel of peace in the cleareft manner; and the peace of God fhall rule in the hearts of all the faints; there will be abundance of temporal - and of fpiritual peace, promoted by the feveral officers of church and ftate; fee Pf: Ixxii. 7. If li. 7. and liv. 13: and thine exaéfors righteoufnefs, even tax-gatherers, who ufed to be the worft of people for injuftice and oppreffion, thefe fhall do nothing but what is right and juft; nor will there be any reafon to complain of them. ‘The Sepfuagint render it, bifbops or overfeers *, paftors of churches, who fhall be truly minifters of righteoufnefs; preach up the doétrine of juftification by Chrift’s righteoufnefs; and inftruét perfons to live foberly, righteoufly and godly.

¥. 19. The fun foall be no more thy light by dy, &c.] Here begins the’account of the finlefs, ‘pure and perfect ftate of the church in the perfonal reign * of Chrift, even the new erufalem-church-ftate, as” appears from the ufe of thefe very words, in the defcription of that ftate, Rev. xxi. 23. where it is” read, and the city had no need of the jun, neit er of the moon to foine in it: for the glory of God did ighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof} and in ” like manner the Targum renders thefe words! “and * ‘* ye fhall have no need any more of the light of” ‘* the fun by day, nor even of the light of the” ‘* moon by night;” and fo both 4sen Ezra’and Far * cz interpret it, ** ye fhall have no need of the light” ‘* of the fun; and the former adds, becaufe ‘of the light of the Shekinah; and which féems’ to be’ the meaning of the next Claufe: esther for bright-° ae/s hall the moon give light unto thee, that is, be>~ caufe of the exceeding brightnefs, fplendor’ and luftre of the divine’ majefty of Chrift, who will appear perfonally among his people; neither fan nor moon will be able to give any light: ‘as’ the” light of a candle is made ufelefs and unneceffary by the light of the fun, fo the light of the fun and moon will be made ufelefs and unneceffary ‘by ‘the vaftly fuperior light and glory of Chrift; fee J, xxiv. 23. and xxx. 26, tho’ the fun and moon’ may - be underftood here myftically, not of civil magiftrates, who are fometimes fignified by thefe luminaries; and who alfo will be no more ufed when this difpenfation or perfonal reign of Chrift fhail_ y¥. 18. Violence fhall no more be beard in thy land, &c.] It fhall be no more commited; no inftances of it will be heard of; or any complaints concerning it; neither public nor private oppreffion: antichriftian perfecution will now be at an end;

thofe that deftroyed the earth with violence and take place; fee J/ xiii. 10. Rev, vi. 12. 1 Cor. xv. oppreffion fhall be no more; there will be none 24. but rather of the gofpel and gofpel-ordinances, to hurt in al] the holy mountain, // xi. 9: wafting which the church will no more ftand in need of to nor deftruiion within thy borders; no more wars, enlighten, teach and inftruct them, refrefh and ~ nor rumours of wars; no more blood fhed; no comfort them, having the immediate prefencé of more depopulation of cities, nor deftruction of the lives of men; the whore of Rome will have drank up her full cup; and the vials of wrath being poured out upon the antichriftian ftates, there will be a profound peace, and the greateft profperity every where; efpecially in ‘all thofe places where the churches of Chrift will be, who will no more _ be expofed to the cruelty of their enemies: dy thou Jhalt call thy walls falvation, and thy gates, praife; or, call falvation thy walls, and praijé thy gates*; having no need of any other walls, but the falvation of God, temporal and fpiritual; nor of any other gates, but the praife that will be in the hearts and mouths of the faints, on account of it; tho’ temporal falvation may be included, which will be for walls and bulwarks to the church; yet {piricual and eternal falvation is chiefly meant, which flows from the invariable’ love of God; is. founded upon his unalterable purpofe; Chrift with them, as follows: but the Lord fball be unto thee an everlafting light; that is, the Lord Jefus Chrift, the Lamb of God, as it is interpreted in the above-cited place in the Revelation; who, as he is the author of the light of nature, and of the — light. of grace, fo of the light of glory in ‘this ftate, and to all eternity; then will the faints in — this light behold the face of God, which is not to be feen now; they fhall fee Chrift in all’his’ glory, in the glory of his Father, and of his holy angels; all the glorious forms, the angels of heaven, and all the faints, thofe fpirits of juft men made perfect, that fhall come with Chrift, and be clothed ~ with glorious bodies; even the new Ferufalem defcending from heaven, having the glory of God upon her; likewife all the doctrines of grace, now not fo clearly underftood; and all the myfteries of — providence, which will be laid open, and made manifeft; and this clear’ light will continue fo fecured in the a&t of electing grace; eftablifhed in one € ever; there will be no more night, ‘but onee\ the covenant; and completely wrought out by lafting day: and thy God thy glory; it is the fain

Chrift, who has vanquifhed every enemy, procured glory that God is their God; and it will be every bleffing; and whofe almighty power; as well glory in this ftate to have the God-man Jefus as his divine Father’s, is, and will’ be concerned perfonally with them; the tabernacle of G for the fafety‘of his people; who will ‘now be in great numbers'in the gates of Zion; praifing the be among them; God himfelf fhall be with the and be their God; and his glory fhall lighte

P them, Rev. xxi. 3, 23. ‘ and juftifying grace; and for the privileges of the houfe of the Lord they are’ admitted to Sai for y¥.20. Thy fun Jhall no more go down, 8 is.

is a- different fun from the former: this is the communion.they have with him there; fee ch. xxvi. 1,2. The Targum is, ** and they fhall *¢ proclaim falvation on thy’ walls, and on thy “< gates there fhall be they that praife,” people: church’s fun, and no other than the fum< oufnefs, Chrift Jefus; who has his’ rifings’an fettings now, at leaft, in the apprehenfions oi his he fometimes withdraws himfelf, and is gone; and. then, returns again: but fo it will not be in. this ftate; the faints fhall be for ever with him, and. he fhall be for ever with them; who will always behold his glory, and be enlightened by him; fee 1, Thef. iv..16, 17, 18: neither shall thy moon withdraw itfelf, or, foall not be gathered ', under a cloud; or fai/ *, as the Septuagint verfion; or, /uffer a defect, as the Arabic verfion; as the moon does when inthe wane, or is eclipfed. This may refer to this then prefent ftate of the church, which fhall not fail; and to the bleffings and comforts of it from Chrift the fun, which will not ceafe, nor the enjoyment of them be ever interrupted. The Targum is, * thy kingdom fhall ceafe no ** more, and thy glory fhall not be removed;” and fo Maimonides’ interprets it of the kingdom of the Meffiah that fhall endure for ever: for the Lord foall be thine everlafting light, this is repeated for the confirmation of it: gnd the days of thy mourning foall be ended™ ox compleated; fhall be fully up, and fo at an end: or, fhall be recompenfed *; with an everlafting day of joy and pleafure; there will now be no more fin to diftrefs the faints; no more temptations of fatan to annoy them; no more afflictions either of body or mind to trouble them; no more pain, or crying, or death; and fo no more mourning; forrow and fighing will flee away; all tears will be wiped from their eyes; and everlafting joy be upon their heads; fee Rev. xxi, 4. J/. xxxv. 10.

¥.21, Thy people alfo thall be all righteous, &c.] That is, the church’s people, or the members of the church; otherwife the Lord’s people, who are truly fo, always were, and ever will be, all righteous; but fo have not always been the members of the churches; when J/rael. was the church of God, they were not all righteous; there was only a remnant among them, according to the election of grace, that were fo; nor in the firft chriftian churches were they all fuch, there was a fudas among Chrift’s difciples; Ananias and Sapphira in the church at eru/alem, and many in the church of Corinth, very diforderly and irregular; and fo in all others; and in all ages fince, there are foolith virgins among the wife, tares among the wheat, and chaff among the corn on the floor; yea even in the {piritual reign of Chrift they will not be all truly gracious; fome that will have only a form of godlinefs, and who, at the clofe of it, will be the greater number, and will form the lukewarm Laodicean ftate; but in the perfonal reign of Chrift, all the members of the church will be righteous, thro’ the righteoufnefs of Chrift imputed to them: it will be a congregation of righteous perfons, and not one finner fhall ftand in it; yea they fhall be inherently righteous, perfectly holy, and free from fin; none fhall enter into this ftate that defiles; every pot and veffel in Feru/alem fhall be holinefs to the Lord, P/i. 5. [i iv. 3. Zech. xiv. 20, 21. Rev, xxi. 27. The Fews ° have a faying, that the fon of David comes not but in an age in which men will be all righteous, or all wicked; in an age in which they will be all righteous, according to J/- Ix. 21, but this defigns not his firft, but his fecond coming: they fhall inherit the land for ever; not the land of Canaan only; tho’ perhaps that may be the {pot on which, Chrift will defcend, and where he will refide; where he was treated with contempt and crucified, hete he’ll reign, and reign glorioufly; and the rather, fince when he comes with all his faints, his feet will ftand upon the mount of Olives, Zach. xiv. 4, 5. but the new earth is meant, which Fohn faw, and Peter fays, the faints expect according to promife, in which tighteoufnefs, men perfectly ee teks fhall dwe!!, and none but they, Rev. xxi. 1, 2 Pet. i. 3. 13. as alfo it may include a better country, the land afar off, the heavenly glory, which will be the inheritance of the faints to all eternity: the branch of my planting; in Chrift by election-grace; in the likenefs of his death and refurrection by redemption grace; and as branches in him, the vine, by effectual calling-grace; and in his church, thro’ the miniftry of the word; all which will appear true and real; and that they are plants of the Lord’s planting, by their being in this churchftate, even in the paradife of God, near to the tree of life, the fruit of which they will always partake of: the work of my bands; the workmanthip of God, curioufly wrought by him; the effect of his mighty power; wholly his own work, and not. another’s; and entirely owing to his great love, abundant mercy, and rich grace; as will be evident in this ftate; this being the day of the Lord unto which it is performed, and become perfect; and there will be no more doubts of that matter: that I may be glorified; as he will be then in all them that believe; and by thefe characters which they bear, and are to be afcribed to his power, grace and righteoufnefs; Chrift, and he alone, - will be exalted; he will reign before his ancients glorioufly, until he delivers up the kingdom; and then God, Father, Son and Spirit will be all in all.

¥.22. A little one fhall become a thoufand, &c.} A fmall family, a little handful of people in all ages, fcattered up and down in the world, of no efteem and account in it, being all gathered together, that ever were in the world, will appear to be thoufands and millions, and fuch a number as no man can number, Kev. vil. g: aud a jimall one a ftrong nation; a company of weak perfons, perfecuted by their enemies, and unable to refift them, as in the prefent ftate: now there will be a nation of them ftrong and mighty; the feeble among them fhall be as David, and the houfe of David as God, as the angel of the Lord, Zech. xii. 8: I the Lord will hajften it in bis time; as there was a fixed, appointed time for Chrift’s firft coming, fo there is for his fecon¢ coming, when this ftate and. difpenfation of things will commence; and when that time comes, it will be deferred no longer; as foon as ever it is up, the Lord will haften the accomplifhment of what he has promifed, and who is able alfo to perform; fee 1 Tim. vi. 15.

N this chapter both Chrift and the church are introduced fpeaking, in their turns. | It begins with the words of Chrift, defcribing his work and office; his qualifications for it; the feveral parts and branches of it; and the ends to be anfwered by it, ¥. 1, 2, 3. the reparation of the church; the feeding it by ftrangers; its being an holy priefthood; its enjoying the riches of the Gentiles, its haying honour and joy, inftead of fhame and confufion; its profperity in the work of the Lord, and the continuance of its fpiritual offspring among the Gentiles, are prophefied of in ¥. 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9. and then the church is reprefented as rejoicing in the Lord, on account of her being clothed with his righteoufnefs, fo ornamental to her, ¥. 10. and the chapter is concluded with a promife of her righteouinefs and glory, appearing before all the nations of the world; of which the following chapter is an illuftrious prophecy, y. 11.

¥.1. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,, &cc.} According to the Zargum, thefe are the words of the prophet concerning himfelf; and fo fay Aben Ezra and Kimchi, but the latter elfewhere fays », they, are the words of the Meffiah, who fhould fay, becaufe the Lord hath anointed me, &c. and:another of their writers is in a doubt about them; either, fays he, they are the words of the prophet with refpect to the Meffiah, or the words of the prophet concerning himfelf; but there is no doubt but the Meffiah himielf is the perfon fpeaking, 4s appears from Luke iv. 17—2r. on whom the Spirit of God was not his grace and gifts only, but the perfon of the Spirit, the third Perfon in the Tri-| nity, equal with the Father and the Son; to whom feveral divine actions are afcribed, and to whom many things. relating to Chrift are attributed, and who is defcribed as-refiding on him, and who, by | the Baptift, was. feen upon him, J/- xi. 2. Fobm i. 2,.33.. the phrafe denotes his continuance with him, whereby he was qualified, as man and Mediator, for his office: decaufe ihe Lord bath anointed me to preach good tidings to the meck; not the Lord, the Spirit that was. upon, him, for Chrift was anointed «with. the Holy Ghoft; but Jehovah the Father, he was the anointer of Chrift, by whom he_was anointed in fome fenfe from. everlatting, being invefted by him with the office of Mediator, Prov. viii. 21. and in’ the, fulnefs of time, in the human. nature, at his birth and baptifm with the holy. Spirit, his. gifts and grace, ‘without meafure, P/-xly.n7,;-4as x. 38, hence he has the name. of Meffiah, or anointed, and from him his people have.the anointing which; teacheth all things: and hereby he was qualified as.a prophet,. te preach good sidings to the meek {uch as are fenfible of fin, and ~humbled for it; fubmit to the righteoufnefs of Chrift; afcribe all they ‘have to the grace of God; and have a mean opinion of themfelves, and patiently bear-every afflictidn? or poor, asin Luke iv. x8» the poor of this world, -and* as to»their-intellectuals,~and in {pirit'; Who are fenfible of théir’ fpiritual poverty, and feek the true riches, to thefe the gofpel is good tidings; and to fuch Chrift preached, good tidings thease the love grace iit metey Ings, 1S. ovis ’ of God; concerning ‘peace, pardon, Pigkrestiiaes, life and falvation, by himfelf;, concerning the kingdom of God, and the things. ‘appertaining ‘to’ it: he hath fent. me to bind up the broken hearted, whole hearts are fmitten, and made contrite by the Spirit }and word of God, and are truly humbled under a fenfe of fin; who are cut to the heart, have wounded fpirits, and in great pain; thefé Chrift binds up, by {peaking comfortably to them; by applying his blood; by:difcovering the free and full pardon of theirfins; and for this, as Media; tor, he had a miffion and commiffion from his Father; he came not of himfelf, but he fent him: to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of “the prifon to.them that are bound; to fach who were captives to fin, fatan, and the law, and as it were prifoners to them, fhut up by them, and in them, and held faft there;. but, Chrift, as he is the author of liberty, obtains it for his people, and makes them free with it, fo he proclaims it in the gofpel; a liberty from fin,. from the damning and governing power of it; a freedom from the curfe and condemnation of the law; a deliverance from fatan, as of a prey from the mighty, or as of prifoners from the prifon-houfe. The allufion is to the proclamation of liberty, in the year of jubilee, Lev, xxv. 10. fee J/. xlix. 9, The Targum. is, ‘“* to the prifoners appear in light.” It may be rendered, open clear and full light to the prifoners *. fo Aben Ezra interprets it; fee the note on Luke iv. 18. pay 9 ¥..2. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, &c.] Not an exact year, but time in general; for fuch are.wrong, who from hence conclude’ that Chrift’s public miniftry lafted but # year, fince it is certain, by the pafiovers he kept, that it mui be at leaft three or four years; the whole time of Chrift on earth was an acceptable and defirable time, what many great perfonages defired to fee, and did.not: this time may take in the whole gofpel-difpenfation, which was ufhered in by Chrift = the allufion, as before obferved, is to the year of jubilee, when there was a proclamation of liberty; of releafe of debts of reftoration of inheritances, and of ceffation from work; all which muft make it an acceptable year: and this proclamation was made on the day of atonement; and’ Yarch7 inter, prets the phrafe here, of a year of reconciliation; or the year of atonement to the Lord, as it may be rendered *; this was made by the facrifice of Chi and is proclaimed in the gofpel, and makes a m confiderable: part of it. It may be.rendered, zé year of the good will of the Lord*; a ch w the time of Chrift’s coming on earth, to fave me and) make peace and reconciliation for ther i, 14. and was an acsepiable time indeed; ac ep able to the Lord himfelf; as were the incarna' of Chrift, his obedience and righte -fufferings and death, his facrifice’z eA TND, & vind vif mo-mpp toon coer

‘made, pardon procured, righteoufnefs brought in, and falvation wrought out; all which muft be acteptable to fuch who are loft, and know it, and are fenfible that nothing of their own can fave them; fee 1 Tim. i. 15: the day of vengeance of our God; when vengeance was taken on fin, in the perfon of Chrift,; when he deftroyed the works of the devil, the devil himfelf, and fpoiled principalities and powers; when he abolifhed death, and was the plague and deftruction of that and the grave; when he brought wrath to the uttermoft on the ews for their rejection of him, who would not have him to reign over them; and who will take vengeance on antichrift at his fpiritual coming, and upon all the wicked at the day of judgment. Kimchi underftands this of the day when God fhall take vengeance’ on Gog and Magog. Zo comfort all that mourn; that are under afflictions, and mourn for them; and under a fenfe of fin, and mourn for that; who mourn for their own fins, indwelling fin, and their many actual tranfgreffions; and for the fins of others, of prophane perfons, and efpecially profeffors of religion; thefe Chrift comforts by his Spirit, by his word and minifters, by his promifes, by his ordinances, and by the difcoveries of pardoning grace and mercy. ¥. 3. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, &c.] Or, to the mourners of Zion“; fach who are of Zion, belong to the church of God, and mourn for the corruptions in Zion’s doctrines; for the perverfion, abufe, and neglect of Zion’s ordinances; ‘for the diforders and divifions in Zion; for the declenfions there, as to the exercife of grace, and the power of godlinefs; for the few inftances of ‘converfions there, or few additions to it; for the ‘earelefihefs, eafe, and Jukewarmnefs of many pro- '. feflors in Zion; and for their unbecoming lives and converfations. Now one part of Chrift’s work is to appoint comfort to fuch; he has appointed it in counfel and covenant from eternity; made provifion for it in the bleflings and promifes of his grace; he has fet “ or put it in the miniftry of the word; he has ordered his miniftring fervants to fpeak comfortably to his people; yea, by his Spirit he puts comfort into the hearts of them, who thro’ their unbelief refufe to be comforted; ‘and he has fixed a time when he will arife and have mercy on Zion, and bring her into a better’ ftate than fhe is now in, when there will be none of thefe caufes of complaint and mourning: to give -unto them beauty for afbes; in the Hebrew text there is a beautiful paronomafia, which can’t be fo well exprefled in our language, to give peer for epher*; in times of mourning, it was ufual to put on fackcloth and afhes, Eth. iv. 1, 3. Fob ii. 8, 12. Fon. iii. 5, 6. inftead of this, Chrift gives his mourners the beautiful garments of falvation, and the robe of his righteoufnefs, and the graces of his Spirit, and his gracious prefence, together with his word and ordinances, and fometimes a large number. of converts; all which, as they are ornamental to his and this is 4 beauty that is not natural to them, but is of grace; not acquired, but given; not fic+ titious, but real; is perfect and compleat, lafting and durable, and defired by Chrift himfelf, who gives it: the oil of joy for mourning; oil ufed to be poured on the heads of perfons at entertainments and feftivals, and at times of rejoicing; and fo is oppofed to the ftate of mourners, who might not be anointed, as the Fewi/fh commentators obferve; fee Pf. xxiii. 5. Eccl. ix. 7, Matt. vi. 17. the grace of the Spirit without meafure, with which Chrift was anointed, is called the oil of gladnefs, Pf. xlv. 7. and of the fame nature, tho’ not of the fame meafure, is the grace which faints have from Chrift; the effect of which is joy and gladnefs, even joy unfpeakable, and full of glory; which is had in believing in Chrift, and thro’ an hope of eternal life by him; hence we read of the joy of faith, and of the rejoicing of hope: this oil is Chrift’s gift, and not to be bought with money; this holy unction comes from him; this golden oil is conveyed from him, thro’ the golden pipes of the word and ordinances; is very valuable, of great price, and to be defired; and being had, cannot be loft, it is the anointing that abides; ¢he garment.of praife for the fpirit of beavinefs; fach as is in perfons under afflictions, or under a fenfe of fin, a load of guilt, and expectation of wrath; fuch as have heavy hearts, contrite and contracted ¥ ones, as the word is obferved to fignify; for as joy enlarges the heart, forrow contracts it; inftead of which, a garment of praife, or an honourable one is given; alluding to perfons putting on of raiment fuitable to their characters and circumftances, at feafons of rejoicing, fuch as weddings, and the like, Zec. ix.

7, 8. Matt, xxii. 11, 12. by which may be meant here, the robe of Chrift’s righteoufnefs after-mentioned, ¥. 10. fo called, becaufe worthy of praife, for the preferablenefs of it to all others, being the beft robe; for its perfeétion and purity; for the fragrancy and acceptablenefs of it to God, and for its eternal duration; alfo, becaufe it occafions and excites praife in fuch on whom it is put; and fuch likewife fhall have praife of God hereafter, when on account of it they fhall be received into his kingdom and glory: that they might be called trees of righteoufnefs; that is, that the mourners in Zion, having all thefe things done for them, and beftowed on them, might be called, or be, or appear to be, like ¢rees that are well planted, whofe root is in Chrift, whofe fap is the Spirit and his

| grace, and whofe fruit are good works; and that they might appear to be good trees, and of a good growth and ftature, and be laden with the fruits of righteoufnefs, and be truly righteous perfons, made fo by the imputation of Chrift’s righteoufnefs to them: the planting of the Lord; planted by — him in Chrift, and in his church, and fo never to be rooted out: that be might be glorified, by their fruitfulnefs and good works, Fobu xv. 8. Matt. v. 16. or that he might glorify himfelf, or get himfelf glory by them;° fee the note on ch. Ix. 21.

sw ad ponendum, 5, the Targum and Vulgate Latin verfion render it, a crown for ofes; and the word is ufed for the tire of the head in Ezek. xxiv..17. ‘The Syriac and. Arabic verfions read, for ofbes frscet ointment, or oil of gladnefi, joining it to the next clapfe; and mention bein ’ Seacchus thinks the allufion is to Crowns of rofes and lilies moiftened with ointment of made of oil or ointment there, Fortunatus myrrh, and fuch like ointment, which ufed

“to be wore at nuptial folemnities; and fo oppofed to afhes put on.the head in times of mourning, which Py! from thence, and with tears on the cheeks, were clotted there, and fo expreffed the miferable condition they were in;

ut thefe things the YPIND MI ANN pro fpiritu trike,

¥. 4. And they hall build the old wajtes, Sic. ] ‘The captives fet at liberty, and who are called trees of righteoufnefs, and the planting of the Lord; righteous ané good men, who fhall be employed in the fpiritual building of the church in -gofpeltimes, and efpecially in the latter day; for here begins an account of the benefits and bleffings the church of Chrift fhould partake of, particularly at the time of the calling and converfion of the Fews: after having defcribed the work and office of the Meffiah, and his fitnefs for it, the Holy Ghoft returns to the fame fubjeét with the preceding chapter, and which is carried on in the next. What is here faid was literally true, when the Yews. returned from Babylon, and built their ruined houfes and cities; or, at leaft, there is an allufion to it: but it refpects either the fetting up of the intereft of Chrift, and forming churches in the Gentile world, where nothing but blindnefs and ignorance reigned; where there were no preaching nor ordinances, but all things were in ruin and confufion; as they were before the miniftry of the gofpel by the apoftles, who were wife mafter-builders, and inftruments of converting multitudes, and of raifing churches to the honour of the great Redeemer there: or rather it refpects the building up of the tabernacle of David, that is fallen down, or the church of God among the Yews, which will be in the latter day, when they are turned to the Lord, wos ix. 11. and the fame fenfe have all the following expreffions, they fhall raife up the former defolations, and they foall repair the wafte cities, the defolations of many generations; fetting forth the defolate ftate and condition of the ews; their long continuance in it, age after age; and their recovery and re- {toration, when they fhall become a flourifhing people again, both in civil and fpiritual things. ¥. 5. And ftrangers fhall fiand and feed your flocks, &c.] The feveral congregated churches of Chrift, which fhall be fet up among them, compared to flocks of fheep, as they often are; and which fhall be fed with knowledge and underftanding, with the words of faith and found doétrine,. by paftors of the Gentile race; who fhall be raifed up by Chrift, and fhall freely, and faithfully, and conftantly perform the office.they are called unto’; fee dis xx. 28: and the fons of the alien foall be-your plow-men,.and your vine-dreffers; the fons of Gentiles, who were aliens from the commonwealth of

I/rael, and ftrangers to the covenants of promife, Epb. ii. 12. but now being converted and brought to the knowledge of, Chrift, and gifted by.-him, will be of eminent fervice in -his church;,.which, as it is 'God’s bu/bandry, 1 Cor. iii. 9. fhall be tilled and cultivated by them; the fallow-ground: of mens hearts fhall be ploughed up by them, ‘with the plough of the gofpel, the Lord fucceeding their labours; and the feed of the word fown jin ‘them, which, by the blefling of God, fhall take, root, {pring up, and bring forth fruit. And. whereas the church of God is compared to a vineyard, and particular churches of Chrift to vines;.fuch men as are called by grace from among’ the Gentiles, and have received gifts from Chrift, fhall be the’ keepers and dreffers of thefe vines, plant, and “prune, and water them, and do every thing requifite unto themr; fee Cant. ii. 15, and vil. 12. and-vili..11, 12. d ccusiaeoas:

they have fuffered reproach, fhall Lie 3

¥. 6, But ye fhall be named the priefts of the Lordy

&c.] Or, and ye fall be named, &c, which Ferm underftands of the builders of cities, paftors of flocks, the plowmen and vine-dreflérs, the ftrans) ° gers and the fons of the alien, that the alfo~ fhould be called priefts: but rather it defigns the “Fews, when they fhall be called and converted, » and-when there will be no more the diftin€tion of) priefts and common people, but they fhall all be» kings and priefts unto God, a royal priefthood, te; offer fpiritual facrifices to him, all ceremonial ones = being at an end: men fhall call you the minifters of our God; chriftian men fhall call, own, and ace:

knowledge you to be the fervants of Chrift, ofa. manuel, God with us, having profefied faith in, him, and fubmitted to his ordinances: ye /balleat.

the riches of the Gentiles; converted Gentiles, who fhall join themfelves with Few converts in the, fame church-ftate; who fhall bring their wealth with them, and with it fupport the intereft /of, be underftood of their {piritual riches, the unfearchable riches of Chrift revealed in the gofpel, which the Genziles have long pofiefied, but now the ews fhall have a fhare with them:. amd.in their glory fball you boaft yourfelves, notin being the feed of Abraham, as formerly; in birth-privileges, in carnal rites and ceremonies, fuch as circumcifion and others; but in what is the glory of ‘the Gentiles, Chrift himfelf, who is their glory, and of whom they glory; as alfo his: gofpel, and |the ordinances of it, which are’ the glory of every-nation poffefied of them: or, ye fpall delight yourfelves* 5 in the Lord; ia communion:and converfation with his people, and in the enjoyment of the privileges of his houfe with them ory ye shail lift up or exalt yourfelves, or be exalted*; to the fame degree of honour and glory, being all kings, and priefts unto God.; Os y. 7. For your foame you fhall have double, &c,] Or, for your double foame 5 inftead of being,areproach, a proverb, a taunt, and a curfe, as the Fews now are every where; being converted, they'll have double honour, both in things civil and religious, be in great efteem with Chrift, and-all his people: and for confufion they fhall rejoice in their portion; inftead of the confufion and reproach they have long lain under; or of that they thall~be thrown into, when firft awakened and convinced of their fin, of unbelief and rejection of the Meffiah,; they. fhall rejoice in Chrift their portion, and:in all thofe fpiritual bleffings they will fee themfelves bleffed with in -him; they’ll now have the double por-

-tion of the firft-born, they once were, and to which there may be an allufion, as fome think;.0r, as others,: to the double portion of the fpirit of E/- jab on Elifoa; they fhall now have the fpirit of grace and fupplication poured upon them, andeall the gifts and graces of the Spirit beftowed /on them, all which will be caufe of joy and rejoice to them: <¢herefore in their land they foall pof double; not only in the land of the Gens honour; but in their own land, the land to which they fhall be reftored; they £ great plenty of all kind of bleffings,

{piritual: everlafting joy fhall be unt after this they fhall no be carried ca te >, Laan. Aone ae He 2 Summe efferetis vos, Junius & Tremellius, Pifcator, or be difpofiefied either of their civil or religious privileges 5: fee chy xxxv. 10, y. 8. For I the: Lord love judgment, &c.].To do that-which is right and juft himfelf, and to fee itdone by others, and therefore he will right the wrongs of his people; and-whereas the Fews, tho’ they have juftly fuffered his vengeance for their fins, yet being reproached and abufed beyond meafure by the Gentiles, among whom they are. difperfed; the Lord will look in mercy upon them, and will deliver and fave them, and beftow favours plentifully on them, as in the preceding verfe: or the Lord loves ftrict juftice and real righteoufnefs, and will not be put off with an impertect rightenefs in the room of a perfect one, and much lefs ait infincere and hypocritical one, fuch as that of the unbelieving Fews, the pharifaical fect of them; nothing lefs is acceptable to God, than a. perfect righteoufnels, which is adequate to the.demands of law and juftice; and fuch a righteoufnefs is not to be found among men, only in his Son Jefus Chrift, and with which he is well pleafed, J. xlii.

a1: I bate robbery for burnt-offering; that which is ftolen, tho’ ic be converted into a burnt-offering: or, with a burnt-offering *; all immorality, this being put for the whole, along with ceremonial facrifices; as if it could be atoned for by them, or would be connived at on account of them: or, by burnt-offering; expiation of theft, or any other fin, by the facrifices of the law, being offered up without faith in Chrift; and efpecially fince the great facrifice, the antitype of them, is offered up; and therefore God will have no more offered up, they are difpleafing and hateful to him, J/ i. 12, 13. Heb. x.+55 65:7, 8: and I will direé? their werk in truth; appoint them work and fervice.of a. fpiritual nature, and direét them, and enable them

‘ to perform it, in {pirit and in truth, in oppofition to the carnal and fhadowy ordinances of the ceremionial law; fee Fobn iv. 23,24: and I will make an everlafting covenant with them, that is, renew the everlaiting covenant of grace with them, make it manifeft unto them; apply the grace, and beftow the bleffings of it to, and on them, Rom. xi. 2552651275

¥. g. Aud their feed foall be known among. the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people, &c.

‘Not only the Yews will be converted as a body in the Jatter day, but there. will be a fucceffion of converts among them in after-ages, and, will be known among chriftian Gentiles by their faith, and love, and good works, and holy converfation; and will be:taken notice of, and acknowledged by them, as brethren,» and willbe famous: among them. for religion and godlinefs: all that fee them Jfhall acknowledge them, that they are the feed which the Lord hath bleffed;: that they are the. fpiritual feed of Abraham, as. well.as his carnal feed, and are blefled with. him;) bleffed with all {piritual bleffings in Chrift, with faith in him, and with every "other grace.

y.10. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, &c.] Thefe are not the-words of the, prophet {fpoken: in his own. perfon, rejoicing in the goodne(s of the ‘Lord, to his people and countrymen; nor of Chrift;

-expreffing her joy. for benefits received, as declared in the preceding verfes. » The Targum is, ‘* Ferufalem faid, rejoicing I will rejoice.in the word of *¢ the Lord;” not in his word of promife, but in his effential word, his Séri the Mefiahs in his perfon, offices, fulnefs, righteoufnefs, and falva-. tion: my foul foall be joyful in my God; in Chritt, in that he is God, and fo able to fave to the uttermoft, and keep from a final and total falling, and to preferve fafe to his kingdom and glory: hence his perfon is excellent; his blood precious; his righteoufnefs valuable; and his facrifice efficacious; and all matter of joy to the believer: and who alfo rejoices in that he is his God, my God; God in our nature; Jmmanuel, God with us; the Godman and Mediator, thro’ whom there is accefs to God, and acceptance with him; and who ftands in near relation to his people, and has.all fulnefs to fupply their wants, and makes al! he has theirs; fo that they have great reafon to rejoice in him in-: deed. The Targum is, ‘* my foul fhall rejoice in ‘< the falvation of my God;” the nature of this joy may be collected from the text itfelf: it is not a carnal one, or the joy of a carnal man in carnal things, it is fpiritual; nor a pharifaical joy, a re-

Joicing in a man’s felf, in his own works of righteoufnefs, for this is iz the Lord; nor is it an hypocritical one, or only externally, for it is the oul that rejoices; and it is the joy of faith, or in the Lord, as my God; and avery great one it is, joy unfpeakable, and full of glory; and is what continues, as the matter and ground of it always does, as follows: for be hath clothed me with the garments of falvation; with falvation as garments; the falvation of Chrift, which, like garments is without men, being wrought out by Chrift; and is brought near, and applied by the Spirit of Chrift; and is all around, and encompafies the faints as fuch, and like them beautifies and adorns them, and keeps them warm and comfortable, when they have the joys of it; and which fecures them from the ftorms of divine wrath and vengeance; and the plural number being ufed, may denote the fulnefs and compleatnefs of this falvation, from all fin, from wrath, hell and damnation, and from every enemy: and this is matter of joy to the believer interefted in it, and clothed with it; fince it is a falvation fo great; a garment fo fitting and fuitable, and had at free coft; and in which the glory of all the divine perfections is fo confpicuous, as well as it being fo full, compleat and perfect, and an everlafting one: he hath covered me with the robe of righteoufnefs,; not with her own, thatis a rag, and not a robe, and a filthy one too, ch, Ixiv. 6. and no covering, and is indeed no righteoufnefs, properly fpeaking; but the righteoufnefs of Chrift, the beft robe, the wedding garment, and change of raiment, which, like a robe, is upon believers, but not in them; it is in Chrift, and imputed to them; it covers their perfons, and their nakednefs, and all their fins, fo as not to be feen with the eye of avenging juftice: to clothe and cover with it is God’s aét of imputation, and Chrift’s application of it by his Spirit, Zach. iii.4. which, perceived by the believer, caufes great joy; it being all of a piece, like Chrift’s feamlefs robe, and fo pure and fpotlefs, fo perfect and compleat, and fo rich and glorious: as a bridegroom decketh himfelf with ornaments; or, adorns himfelf in a princely or prieftly manner *; for the word ufed fignifies both. The fenfe is, as a bridegroom puts on the beft clothes he has on his wedding-day, and makes the appearance of a prince in his richeft robes, or as the high-prieft when he had on all his facerdotal garments; the Targum, <‘ as @ bridegroom that “ flourifhes in his bride-chamber, and as the high- “ prieft who is adorned with his garments 2” and as a bride adorneth herfelf with ber jewels, or implements *; and makes herfelf as fine as fhe can, to recommend herfelf to her fpoufe and her friends: thus richly and magnificently arrayed is the church ‘of Chrift, and every believer being clothed with his righteoufnefs; he and they are in the fame re- Jation; he’s the bridegroom, they the bride; and they are clothed alike with the garment down to the foot; and are righteous as he is righteous; and are herewith as a bride adorned and made ready for her hufband; and the joy at fuch a folemnity fitly expreffes the mutual joy of Chrift and his church; fee Rev. xix. 7,8. and xxi. 2. If Iki. 5. fo Chrift’s righteoufnefs is compared to a weddinggarment, Matt. XXii: 12.

y. 11. For as the earth bringeth forth ber bud, &c.] Of tender grafs in the {pring of the year, after a long and cold winter, being well manured: gnd as the garden caufeth the things that are fown in it to fpring forth, being inclofed, and better taken care of, and well watered, and dunged, and cultivated; feeds fown in fuch a rich foil {pring freely, flrongly and conftantly: jo the Lord God will caufe righteoufne/s and praife to {pring forth b - fore all the nations, that is, the righteoufhefs and ~ falvation of his people thro’ Chrift, by which they — fhall be juftified and faved; and on account of — which they fhall praife the Lord, and thall be to honour and praife themfelves, being interefted in thofe bleffings in the fight of all the chriftian nations around them. It refpeéts the converfion of the ews, and their juftification and falvation, and the fuddennefs of it, and the large numt £ them converted, who fhould rife up at once

‘the buds of grafs out of the earth; and denotes — the flourifhing condition in which they thall be, like a garden abounding with all manner of flowers and fruit; and fuggefts how full of joy, thankfulnefs and praife to God they fhould be, and how honourable in the fight of men; and all this will be the Lord’s doing, and owing to his efficacious grace. The Targum is, ‘* fo the Lord God will ** reveal the righteoufneis and praile of Feru alem, r i \HIS chapter is a continuation of the prophecy of the glory of the church in the latter day. The prophet expreffes his earneft defire for it, and his full affurance of it, y. 1, 2. which fhould lie in a new name, by which fhe fhould be called, and in her being a glorious crown and diadem in the hand of the Lord, y. 2, 3, 4. in having her fons with her, and the Lord rejoicing over her, ¥. 5. in having watchmen on her walls, and fuch as are the Lord’s remembrancers in the midft of her, ¥. 6,7. in plenty of food, y¥. 8,9. in the coming of the Saviour, and in the gathering of elect Geniiles, both to him and her, VEO, Vy b2.

y. t. For Zions fake will I not hold my peace, and Sor Ferufalems fake I will not reff, &c.] By Zion and Ferufalem, the church in gofpel-times is, meant, as it often is in this book, and elfewhere; fee Hed. xii. 22. for whofe glory, profperity and fafety a concern is here exprefled. Some take them to be the words of God himfelf, as the Targum and Kimchit; who feems to be filent and at reft, and even as it were afleep, when he does not arife and exert himfelf on the behalf of his people; but here he declares he would not be as one filent and at reft, nor let the kingdoms and nations of the world be at reft, until the deliverer of his people was come, either Cyrus the type, or Chrift the antitype: others take them to be the words of J/rael in captivity, as Aben Ezra; tho’ he afterwards obferves, they are the words of God, or of the church of God, foliciting her own reftoration, profperity and glory: but they are the words of the prophet,.expreffing his great love and affection for the church, and his importunate defire of her happinefs, intimating that he would never leave off praying for it till it was compleated; fot that he expected to live till the Meffiah came, or to fee the glory of the latter day, and of the church in it; but the fenfe is, that he would continue praying for it without ceafing as long as he lived, and he knew his prayers and his prophecies would live after he was dead; and that there would be perfons raifed up in the church that would fucceed him in this work, till all the glorious things promifed and prophefied of fhould be accomplithed: umtil the righteoufne/s thereof go forth as brighinefs; meaning either till the church’s innocence is made as clear as the brightnefs of the fun at noon-day, and fhe is vindicated from the calumnies and reproaches caft upon her, and open vengeance is taken on her enemies by the Lord, from whom her righteoufnefs is, and by whom her wrongs will be righted; or until the righteoufhefs of Chrift, which is by imputation her righteoufnefs, is wrought out by him, and revealed in the gofpel, and fhe appears to all _ to be clothed with it, as with the fun, Rev. xii. 1. which will be the cafe when to her fhall be given. to be arrayed openly with that fine linen, clean and white, which is the righteoufnefs of the faints, and will be the time of heropen marriage to the Lamb, Rev. xix..7, 8, 9: and the falvation thereof as a lamp that burneth; which gives light, and is feen afar off; her open deliverance from all her enemies, pagan, papal and mahometan; and her falvation. by Jefus Chrift, which will be more clearly publifhed in the gofpel-miniftry in ‘the latter-day, and more openly jeen and enjoyed in the effeéts of it. The Vulgate Latin verfion of this and the preceding claufe is, ‘¢ until her.righteous one goes forth as “ brightnefs, and her Saviour as a 1 that “¢ burneth;” meaning Chrift the righteous, and the Saviour of his body the church, who in his firft coming was as a burning and. fhining light, even like the fun, the light of the world whofe {piritual coming will be in fuch a gloriou manner, that he will deftroy antichrift vy ith th ¥ brightnefs of it, and is therefore v efirable. 2Theff. ii. 8. The Targum of the ane! “ J work falvation for Zion, I wil ‘* the people; and till confolation ¢ * falem, 1 will not let the kingdom: “ light is revealed as the morning

¥.2. And the Gentiles hall fee thy righteou/nefs, &c.] The innocence of her cafe, and the juftnefs of her caufe, and the vengeance took on her enemies, all being fo clear as before declared;: as well as her juftifying righteoufnefs, which being publifthed in the gofpel to the Gentiles, they fhall fee it, embrace it, and fhall be juftified by it, Rom. i. 17. and ili. 30. or, thy righteous one, as the Vulgate Latin verfion, Chrift: and all kings thy glory; or, thy glorious one, as the fame verfion; her Lord in whom fhe glories, and who is a glory to her, whom kings fhall fall down before. and worfhip, Pf, \xxii. 10, 11. or the glorious ftate of the church, which fhall draw the eyes of kings unto it, and who fhall promote it by bringing their glory into it, I ix. 1,2, 3. and xlix. 23. Rev. xxi. 24. Vitringa thinks all this refers to the times of Con tantine, before which kings had not feen the glory of the church, nor had fhe feen kings fubject to her; but now they began to fee the glory of the kingdom of Chrift: but it is better to interpret it of the latter day, when not only kings fhall begin to fee, not a few of them, but all in general fhall fee it: and thou foalt be called by anew name, which the mouth of the Lord fhall name, either Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there; his prefence being among his church and people at this time in a remarkable manner, Ezek. xlviii. 35. or Jehovah our righteoufnefs; this being moft clearly revealed as before obferved, Fer. xxiii. 16. or Chrift, to whom the is fo clofely united, and fo nearly allied, as to have his name on her, 1 Cor. xii. 12. or the church, and church of God, and of Chrift, names only to be met with in the New Teftament, and under the gofpel-difpenfation; or the name of chriftians from Chrift, As xi. 26. or, as is more commonly: recéived, the name of the fons of God, which the church of converted “fews fhall have in the latter day, when the name of Lo-ammi is taken off from them, Hof.i. 10. and to this paffage there may be an allufion in Rev. ii. 17. and iii. 12. This name is a new name; a renewed one, at the time of regeneration and faith, which was anciently provided in predeftination, and beftowed in the covenant of grace; a renowned one, better than that of fons and daughters of the greateft potentates, and attended with various privileges; a wonderful name, an inftance of marvellous grace in God, who ftood jn no need of adopted ones, and to them fo unworthy of it; and which is ever new, and will always continue; this blefling of grace is of God, and not of men, and is to be afcribed to the grace of God, Father, Son and Spirit. Kimchi makes this new name to be Hephzibab, ¥. 4. not amifs.

¥. 3. Thou foalt alfo be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, &c.] ‘The church and her members are glorious in themfelves, thro’ the righteoufnefs of Chrift put upon them; thro’ the grace of Chrift wrought in them; and thro’ the honour they are raifed unto,. being made kings and priefts unto God, all which will be more manifeft in the latter day: and they are a glory to the Lord; there’s a glory arifes to him. from their election, redemption, fanctification, and glorification, and from the afcriptions of glory made unto him; and they are regarded by him as a crown is by a ince; as a crown of maffy gold, ftuck with jewels, is rich and valuable, fo are they in the eyes of Chrift; they are dear and precious to him; high in his efteem; which he won’t fuffer to be trampled-upoh, or to be taken away from him, no more than a prince will fuffer his ¢rown to be fo ufed or Joft: and thefe are iz his band as fuch;

which!he holds: in his hand; and looks at with pleafure and delight, and which he: preferves’ and keeps fafe and fecure: or, by she band of the Lord's and then the fenfe is, that the church and its members fhould become fo glorious, thro’ his hand com municating grace and glory to them, thro’ the operations of his hand, and the wonderful effects of his power on them: and a royal diadem in the band of thy God; the fame’ thing expreffed in different wen for the further confirmation and illuftration.

¥. 4. Chou foalt no more be termed, forfaken, &c.]

That is, of the Lord her God, as fhe had feemed to be to others, and thought to be fo by herfelf,

I. xlix. 14, not having is much of his gracious prefence as is defirable; fenfible communion with him being withheld; the word and ordinances not owned and blefled, or very little; and few fouls converted; and the intereft of Chrift, labouring under many difficulties and difcouragements, under the reproaches and perfecutions of men, and fo looked as if forfaken of God; but in the Jatter day all thefe complaints fliall be removed; and the prefence of God will be very manifeft in his. churches, and among his people; and they’ll ap+ pear to be his care and charges; fee ch. lx. 15: neither fhall thy land any. more be termed, defolate; as the Gewtile world was before the preaching of the gofpel in it; and as the land of [raed now is; and the Fewi/h people are, having rejected the Meffiah, and continuing in impenitence and unbelief; and as the church of Chrift is, when the word and ordinances are neglected, or little fuccefs attends them; but now more fhall be the children of the defolate, than of the married wife; many fouls fhall be born again in Zion, and many fons and. daughters brought there, and brought up there, and therefore fhall not be called defolate, J xlix.:

19, 20, 21. and liv. 1: but thou fhalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land, Beulah; the former of thefe was the name of Hezekiah’s mother, 2 Kings Xxi. 1. and a-fit name for the church of Chrift, who is pleafant to him for delights, Cant. vii. 6. and the latter well agrees with her being married to Chrift. The meaning of thefe names is explained in the next claufe; or the reafon of their being given: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land is married; the former explains Hephzibah, which fignifies, my delight is in her, Chrift delighted in his church from everlafting, as they were the objects of his own, and his Father’s love; as chofen in him, and given to him as his fpoufe and bride, Prov. viii: 31. and he delights in them in. time, as clothed with his righteoufneis, wafhed in’

his blood, and adorned with the graces of his Spirit;.

he delights in their company, to hear their voice, and fee their countenance; they are the excellent in the earth, in whom is all his delight, P/ xvi. 2. and he will delight, in them hereafter, in the fpiritual reign, when he will glorify and beautify them, and make them an eternal excellency, ch. Ix., 13,15. and in the; nal reign, when the fad bene a bride ae ie hufband, aan his’ tabernacle fhall be among them, and he'll reign with them, and they with him; during which time he?ll be prefenting them to himfelf, and delighting in them, as a glorious church, without fpot or wrinkle, or any fuch thing, Rev. xxi. 2, 3. Eph. v.. 27. and in heaven to all eternity. The latter claufe explains Beulah, which fignifies married, as the church fecretly was to Chrift from all eternity; in the latter day the efpoufals of her to him will be more open and manifeft; then the marriage of the Lamb will be come, and_ it will more clearly appear that fhe is in fuch a flate, by the numerous converts in her, or fons and daughters that will be born in her to Chrift, both of ews and Gentiles, Rev, xix. 7, 8. Jf Ixvi. 8... ¥.5. For as a young man marrieth a virgin, fo frail thy fons marry thee, &c.] As a young, man, having married a virgin, poffefles and enjoys her, and lives and dwells with her in great. harmony and love, having a delight and complacency in her, there being a fuitablenefs in her perfon and age; fo thofe that are born in Zion, and brought up there, have communion with the church, and enjoy the ordinances of it; dwell and continue with her, and delight in her fellowfhip, ways and worfhip; and have their hearts knit in love to her, profefling the fame faith, joining in the fame worfhip, and walking with her in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. So the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin verfions render it *, as a young man dwells with a virgin, fo ihy fons fhall dwell in thee; as does the Targum in like manner; and fo ‘farchi interprets it; for it feems exceeding difagreeable for fons to marry their mother; nor can there be an allufion to fuch an inceftuous practice; rather it fhould be rendered, @s a young man hath a virgin, thy fons foall have thee"; have union to, and communion with the church, and fhare in all the pleafures, privileges and immunities of it: aud as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, fo fhall thy God rejoice over thee, Chrift is the Lord God of his church and people; Jmmanuel, God with us; and he ftands in the relation ef a bridegroom to them, and they in the relation of a bride to him; and as fuch he rejoices over them with exceeding great joy, and that to do them good; fo he rejoiced over them from all eternity, when firft betrothed to him; and fohe does in time, in redemption: this was the joy fet before him, which animated him to bear the crofs, and defpife the fhame of it; namely, that thofe would be redeemed, and faved by him, and brought to glory; he rejoices at the converfion of them, and will prefent them to himfelf with joy in the fpiritual and perfonal reign, and to his Father at the laft day; and particularly, what is meant here, there will be fuch a profufion of bleffings on the church in the latter day, as will abundantly fhew the joy of Chrift in his people. _ ¥. 6.1 have fet watchmen upon thy walls, O Ferufalem, &c.] Not angels, as arch:; nor kings, as Kimchi; nor princes and civil magiftrates, as others; nor the mourners in Ziou, as Aben Ezra; but miniflers of the gofpel; as the prophets of the Old Teftament are called watchmen, Jf xxi. 11, 12. Ezek. iii. 17, fo minifters of the New, J/. lii. 8. who are to watch in all things over themfelves, and for the fouls of men; for their good, and to guard them againft that which is evil, pernicious and dangerous, both in. principle and practice, 2 Tim. iv. 5. Heb, xiii. 17. The allufion is to watchmen on the walls of cities, whofe bufinels is to keep their place and ftand, and not move from it; to look