Isaiah 5:30

REFLECTIONS

READER, let us mark from the perusal of this chapter, the two great leading points contained in it; the grace, and mercy, and loving-kindness of the Lord; and the fallen, corrupt, and wretched state of man. Both views are here presented to us: and both open to very solemn and improving subjects.

How exactly answering to the love of God to his people, is the description the prophet hath given of the church, under the similitude of a vine. Calling, his people out of Egypt, forming them into a church, and planting them in Canaan; casting out the nations before them, and watering them continually with his blessing: these things are strongly shadowed forth under the images of planting, gathering out the stones, making a fence, and causing the clouds, and the rain, and the sun, to shed their influences. - Reader, look at Jesus, that plant of renown! Behold in the wonders of redemption, what God hath wrought. And then take a view of what hath followed in all generations of the church: when the Lord looked that his vineyard should bring forth grapes, wherefore brought it forth wild grapes.

Reader, it will be your wisdom and mine, while contemplating in this chapter the riches of grace, in the Lord's forbearance and long suffering to his people, to look into our own history, and behold what correspondence we can find there, with what is here said of God's ancient people. Oh for grace to make such improvements from the whole, as to see that all our mercies are in Jesus. It is for him, and his righteousness, his atoning blood and salvation, that the world continues. But for his gracious interposition, the whole earth would have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. Lord! visit thy church, thy vineyard, thy people. Oh take unto thee, Lord Jesus, thy great name, and as thou hast wrought out salvation for us, so work salvation in us. Behold the purchase of thy blood, and for thine own sake turn to thy people a pure language, that they may all call upon thee with one consent. Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.