Isaiah 10:5-15

I pray the Reader to remark with me, how the Lord taketh to himself the whole of the destruction of Judah. If the Assyrian destroy the kingdom, it is because the Lord hath commissioned and appointed it. It is the Lord that sends Assyria against an hypocritical people, even his own people; and what the Assyrian doth, is because the Lord hath ordained it. Let the Reader turn to (Isaiah 36:1) the 36th chapter of this prophecy, and behold the fulfillment of what is here foretold. And while he reads the proud boasting of the Assyrian captain, in his master's name, let him recollect what is here said by the Lord concerning him. It is always blessed to trace effects to their causes. And this comparative view will be very profitable, under divine teaching, to the Reader's mind; for he will see by the sequel of the history, that though the Lord made the Assyrian his instrument, it was but as his rod to correct, and not to destroy. The Lord saith in this passage, that when he hath performed his whole work upon his Church and people, then shall come the punishment of Assyria, by whom he accomplisheth his purpose; and like as a father who corrects his child, when finished, throws the rod away, so shall the axe, that boasteth itself against him that heweth with it, be no more. If the reader will read the close of the 37th chapter of Isaiah from the 21st verse to the end (Isaiah 37:21), he will see the accomplishment of what the Lord hath here said.