Isaiah 65:8

These words must be conceived as a gracious answer from God to the prophet, saying as Abraham, Genesis 18:23,25, or as Moses, Exodus 32:11, pleading God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. To this God replieth that he intended no such severity, the unfaithfulness of men should not make his promise of no effect, Romans 3:3. His threatening should be made good upon the generality of this people, whose vine was of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah, Deuteronomy 32:32. But yet, as in a vineyard which is generally unfruitful, there may be some particular vine that brings forth fruit; or, as in a vine which is full of luxuriant branches that bring forth no fruit, there may be here and there a branch that bringeth forth fruit, and hath the hopes of new wine in the cluster; and as to such, the gardener bids his servant Destroy it not, or them not, for they are fruitful; there is in them what speaketh God's blessing, or what may be of use, and do us good. So (saith God) will I do for my servants sake, that I may not destroy them all; either for the sake of my servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with whom I anciently made a covenant; or for my servant David's sake; or for the sake of such as are my elect at this time amongst them: see Jeremiah 30:11 Amos 9:1.