_THE PROMULGATION OF THE GOSPEL. THE PREACHING OF JOHN BAPTIST. THE
PREACHING OF THE APOSTLES. THE PROPHET, BY THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD, AND
BY HIS INCOMPARABLENESS, COMFORTETH THE PEOPLE._
_Before Christ 712._
THE fourth part of the prophesies of Isaiah extends from this to the
49th chapter; the p... [ Continue Reading ]
COMFORT YE, &C.— These are the words of the prophet, relating what
he saw, or what he heard, in this scene of the manifestation of the
kingdom of God, with its signs and concomitants. He relates, that he
heard the voice of Jehovah directed to certain ministers of his,
commanding them to comfort his... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VOICE OF HIM THAT CRIETH— It is manifest to every reader of this
passage, that it exhibits to us the voice of a public herald or
harbinger, who, at the approach of an illustrious king, commands the
ways to be levelled, and made fit for his reception, easy and
commodious for his passage. The meta... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VOICE SAID, CRY— The beginning of the kingdom of God is
presented to the prophet's view in extatic vision, together with its
progress through various scenes, one succeeding the other. The prophet
had now heard two voices of harbingers or forerunners. A third
succeeds, which is finely introduced.... [ Continue Reading ]
O ZION, &C.— We have here the fourth voice, directed to the
evangelists, to whom it is given in command, to promulgate the true
presence of their redeeming God, and the king of his church, among all
people. It is true, the words _the voice said_ are to be understood
before this period. _The divine v... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HATH MEASURED THE WATERS, &C.— The prophet here, in the most
sublime manner, celebrates the divine majesty and greatness, but
particularly his wisdom. Rapt into an extacy, after he had described
the beginning and the nature of the new oeconomy, he sees that there
would be many men of worldly pru... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WHOM THEN WILL YE LIKEN GOD?— _To whom,_ &c. or _what resemblance
will ye contrive for him?_ Isaiah 40:19. _The workman casts an image;
and the goldsmith overlays it with gold, and worketh silver chains:_
Isaiah 40:20. _He who is thrifty in his oblation, chooses wood that
will not rot; he seeketh... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY SAYEST THOU, &C.— The _third,_ or _consolatory_ part of this
discourse begins at this verse, wherein the foregoing doctrine and
prophesy are applied to the comfort of the church; who, in her various
afflictions, complained that she had been neglected of the Lord. This
complaint makes the basis o... [ Continue Reading ]