CHAPTER VIII.
mandes prophet. to take a large roll, sufficient te con-|‘ ain: n legible characters the prophecy. to be delivered ; and. io nit ‘with a man’s pen,” that is, in the plainest ome ate wor d translated a roll, a plate. and)
an engraving too], as distinguished from) called: by,
explaining Scripture. —
B,C. 739.
5. I The Lorp ' spake also unto me ,,;, 0
again, saying, mui ie 2 Che
6 Forasmuch as this people ™ refus-a'Nen nt 15. eth the waters of > Shiloah, ° that go soft- stem,“ ” ly, and ? rejoice in Rezin and Rema- si i = liah’s son; Pride, ix. 16—20;
7 Now therefore, behold, 4 the Lorp ‘evi Th se
Gen
bringeth up upon them the waters of 1 " Deut xxvii ~e — 52 e
the river, * strong and many, even * the xivi7,e. Dan. ix. 26. xi. 10.
22. Am. viii. 8.
and ix5. Nah. i. €.
king of Assyria, and:all his glory :
|' he shall come up over all his channels, peer sl ae: and go over all his banks: Seay ee 8 And ‘he shall pass through Judah ; xis
he shall overflow and go over, * he shall 3+ Bz. xxxi. 3, reach even to the neck; and ‘the stretch- ea Kings xvih. 9
—6. Xviil. 9-12. ing out of his wings shall fill the breadth 42,7522 22 22: XKix: l—
of | thy land, ¥ O Thame nue F icact exit K Xxx. 28. 6 Heb. the fulness of the breadth of thy tang shall be the stretchings out OF his wings. = Ez. xvii. 3. y Vil. 14. Matt. 4. 23° Emnranuel: xxviii. 18.
it was thus intimated-that the Assyrians would Capeaae and rapidly execute the predicted vengeance. The prophet ‘6 took faithful witnesses to record,” that they might be ready to testify, if required, that he wrote the prophecy at the tine mentioned, and prior to the events foretold. And his wife, (called the prophetess, either on account of her relation to him, or because she too was endued with the spirit of prophecy,) being pregnant at that time, or lately deli-as a memorial of the prediction, and a token of its accomplishment.
For before this child should know how to.cry “ My father and my mother,” which children soon learn, (Note; vii. 15.) the king.of Assyria would seize and carry aver the immense riches of Damascus, and all.the spoil of Samaria. So that this message was delivered soon after the preceding.. Some expositors think, that the witnesses and the record imply, that Isaiah on this occasion married another wife; though it is not said that the mother of. Shear-- Jashub was dead, (vii. 3:) but others suppose, that these witnesses (who were persons of rank, though Uriah was a man of very bad character) (are.
Ref.) were called on to attend the circumcision of the prophet’s son, and to attest
— the name by which he was called, as well as the prophecy | confirmed or illustrated by that.name.
‘ And I took unts ‘me faithful witnesses, both of this act that-L did, in fast- ¢ ening this roll upon the doors of the. Temple, ‘and the “name given to my said son, in his circumcision: for « my. wife, the prophetess, had conceived and borne a son, «and the Lord had appointed me to call him by this name.’ (Bp. Hall, )—It has been thought that. these scenes were only acted in vision; but this seems a dangerous, Bbeely in (Note, Hos. i HPO)
—_V. 6—8. Perhaps there was a party in Judah cok fected to the family of David, that secretly favoured the confederates ; ; and ‘this part of the prophecy might be addressed. to them, as. well as the people of. Israel who had; revolted. from that family... Shiloah was a rivulet near. Je-h jrusalem, from-which the pool of Siloam, probably, was
_ It/supplied, of which the tery. name had a typical meaning. to ‘the prophecy, and| (John ix. 7.) The gentleness of this small vee te
he, :.
“€ od
B. C.'739. rviit2ivts 9 1” Associate yourselves, O ye peo- He. «xxvii ~ ple, * and * ye shall be broken in pieces ;
23. Joel iii. 9- 44 Mieliy. 11 —13. Zech. Xiv.
1—3 Rev xvii. 12—14. xx 8, 9. sor yet. Prov xi.
* gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces ; gird yourselves, and ye sliall be broken in pieces.
10 Take © counsel together, and it shall come to nought ; speak the word, and it shall not stand: ? for God és with us.
Pi 5. 6.8KVill.
13. Ps. xxxVii. 14, 15
b1 Kings xx 11.
e vii, 5-7. 25am. XV. 31. Xvi 4.
23. Job v.12. Ps. ii. 1, 2° xxiii 10,11 Ix xxiii.3, &c. P.
rOV. XXi. go. tam-iit 7 11 | For the Lorn spake thus to me pete v.
a + with a strong hand, and ° instructed me
vit 1“ ix. 6 that I should not walk im the way of this xx. J. Josh. i. pa
5 2'cur xi People, saying,
12. Xxxij. 7, 8 Ps xlvi.7 1] Matt i 23. xxviii, 20. Rom. viii. 31. ¥ Heb. in streneth-of hand. Jer. xx. 7. 9. Jer, Xv. 19." Ez. it. 6—8.
1 John iv: 4. Kz. jii. 14. Acts iv. 20.——-——e Ps. xxxii. 8.
ISATAH.
and’ give ear, all ye of far countries :|confederacy ; neither fear ye their fear,
B.C. 739.
| J2 Say ye not, ‘ A confederacy, tO pri 2-6. 11 12, ;| all them to whom this people shall say, A 327.5 *" er at ah EXvii.
BOX be afr aid, eee ae A, a 13 * sanctify the Lorn of hosts him- it's)"
self; ' and let him be your fear, and let "x's Wun <x him be your dread. i 14 And «he shall be fora sanctuary ; ; but for 'a Stone of stumbling, and fora |B. 28 Rev sve. Rock of offence 10 both the houses of - nh 1,2 Prov. israel, for a gin and for ™a snare to the |! ; inhabitants of Jerusalem. 4 15 And many among them shall ay Pew oe * stumble, and fall, and be broken, and 2 !¥°
be snared, and be taken. xXx. 17, 18. John vi. 66.
a i Mal. ii 5: Maté.] seh 16. Luke Ms 34. Rom ix. xi. 9
n Matt. xi 6. xv.
14. xxi. 44, Luke Rom. xi. 9. Cor. i. 23.
sented the mildness and equity of the government of David |their orders with the greatest decision? their efforts would |
and his posterity, compared with that of other neighbour: ing princes. The Israelites, and many Jews also, ungratefully forgot their obligations to the house of David, and through unbelief, despised the still greater blessing wich was to descend from it: so that, contemning its enfeebled condition, “they were ready to.concur with “Rezin and Pe. kah in their attempts to destroy it.
As a genile brook is an apt emblem of a mild government; so a large impetuous overflowing river aptly represents a mighty conqueror and a powerful tyrant: and God was about to bring the waters of such a torrent to punish the people for rejecting David’s | family, and for their multiplied sins.
Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, at the head of numerous and veteran troops, glorying in his conquests, and grasping after new acquisitions, was like a mighty river overflowing all his banks, and rolling his impetuous streams through the adjacent lands. ‘The kingdom of Judah was represented as a human body. The inundation reached even to the neck ; but the head, the capital city, Jerusalem, still remained above water. The success of the Assyrian was also described by the similitude of a monstrous bird of prey, which _ stretched forth its wings over the whole Jand.
Yet the prophet, in predicting these dreadful scenes, addressed himself to Immanuel in person, as the proprietor of ‘this | land: the promised Messiah, in the form of God, was then Lord of that land especially : there, in the fulness of time, he would surely assume human nature, and appear in the form of a servant; and he would therefore certainly deliver his land from Sennacherib’s i invasion, for his own sake and | for the sake of his promise to David his servant. ‘ The ‘ prophet never ¢ s Immanuel his son: and here he speaks |«
© of him as a. istinct person from both the children aboye
i mentioned, and in such a style, as befits none but him |: € that was: to be, in an eminent manner, both the Son of | € David and king of Israel.’
v~. 9, 10.
-(Lowth.)
God’s people. d combine together; let them strengthen |s)
_ These verses area bold challenge to all he: ‘(xxxvii. 35.) Let as many of
prepare for the attempt by every means devise; let them concert their operations | found policy, and promise themselves and |be “fc ess, with the utmost confidence ; ¥ and give «. < tra
‘be frustrated, and themselves broken to pieces. This he repeated three times, to show his confidence that it would certainly be so, ‘‘for,”’ "says he, “ God is with us.” The word is ‘ Immanun.,”’ referring to the virgin’s son before promised: as this blessing was ensured to them, no counsel or confederacy which interfered with it could prosper. This prediction has been fulfilled in the ruin of Syria and Israel: in the destruction of Sennacherib’s powerful armies from various countries ; and in that of Babylon and its dependencies : and it is equally applicable to every combination against the church of Christ, and will be fulfilling till the last enemy shali be put.under his feet.
V.11—15. The Prophet next declared the instruction, which the Lord had powerfully impressed upon his mind, by no mexns fo walk in the way of that people. The Lord spake to him, (asif, in a most encouraging manner, he had taken him by the hand while he taught him,) “ saying, Say ‘ye not a confederacy,” &c. This was a caution to them not to give credit to every report of combinations formed against them, and not to yield to desponding fears.
“The word rendered confederacy, is commonly used in abad sense, for an unlanful conspiracy ; and the combination of Rezin © and Pekah was an impious attempt to defeat the promises of God to the house of David. It was also the effect of unbelief in the Jews, to be so alarmed ata confederacy which was sure to be defeated ; and their propensity to form alliances with heathen princes arose from distrust of God, and disregard to his commandments. ‘ Many of the Jews © were secret friends to Rezin and Pekab, and this circum- ‘stance increased, ewe foe of that invasion; 3 betante it
hens were require: tol bon neh ie neat to. his wrath, ito. rev e his authorit > to d to trust in his mercy, 1
ibe a Sanctuary, a holy Refuge a fied him: but at the sabi . -
une : ould one of stumbling, and an ‘ovcasi : ad a spare,”” toboth J ews cose Is re eli (‘ power. such as th
aus:. B. €, 740, =
®XkixX. 11; Dans
16 T° Bind up * the testimony, 4 seal
Ril. 4 P20, Deut iv. the law * among my disciples. 12 Joho tit 22 17 And * I will wait upon the Lorp,
1 Jobo v.. 9—
12. Rev. xix.10, that
q@ Dan. ik. 24. Rey. X. 4.
rliv. 13. Ps. RXy,
44. Dan. xii-9,
‘ hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and * | will look for him.
18 Behold * I, and the children whom
the Lorn hath given me, are ¥ for signs
icor a us and for wonders i in Israel, from the Lorp
Rev. ii. 17,—-—s xxv. 9. ¥Xvi. 8. KEXiii: 2 Imiv. 4; Gen sti 138°Ps. xxvil. 1h xxxiil
20. XX&vii. 34. xxxix. 7, xf. 1. cxxx 5. Lam iij. 25, 26. Hos. xii. 6 Mie. vii.7 Hab. ii. 3-1 -Thes. i 10.2 Thes. iii. 5. Heb. x. 36—39 tliv. 8. liz. 2 Isiv, 7-Deu EXxi. 17, 18: X¥xxii 20 Ez. xxxix. 23, 24, Mic. iii. 4 ———u 1. 10. Luke ii. 38 ———x 3. vii 3
16. ‘iii. 10. Ps. xxii. $0 Heb. ii. 13, 14.—-—~y Ps. lxxi- 7. Ez. xiv. 8 Zech iii 8 quake if. 34. 1 Cor: iv 9—13. Hed x. 33. -
10. Matt. . xiii. di. Mark iv. 10,
not. ‘In the time of Sennacherib’s s invasion, and during the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, and the consequent captivity, and at many other times; whilst true believer? found the Lord a sanctuary tothem, multitudes of unbeliev- - ing Jews were emboldened intheir presumptuous conficence, by their-external relation to God, and by their privileges: and this unwarranted dependence, whilst they continued in gin, proved asnare to them, and accelerated their ruin. _Bnt the references made to this and similar passages, in the New Testament, point out its grand accomplishment; and show whom the apostles unc derstood to be the “Lorp of “ hosts. himself.” (Marg.
Ref.) For whilst Christ and his cross were a sanctuary to the. remnant of believers, they proved astambling block to the Jewish nation in gene- _ ral; and their erroneous explication of their scriptures, and false confidence that God would protect them, ensnared them to. their ruin, which was attended with unheard. of circumstances of horror. .‘ This text is directly spoken of | ‘ God by-the prophet, but applied to Christ in the New ‘Testament. A plain proof that. Christ is God, andis . atesetiped assuch by the prophets.” (Lomth.) — - V. 16.
The prophet delivered the ieslimony, or mes- _ gage and command, of God to the people; but they, being generally blinded by. their prejudices and sins, did not an-derstand his words; so thaf they. were bound up and sealed among his disciples, or those who cordially attended on his instructions.
Nay, they were ina great measure closed and sealed up from believers, as they related to future events ; yet | the prophet. was ordered to preserve his predictions as a sacred deposit for future ages. (Notes, Dan. xii. 4.) Thus. the doctrines, | promises, predictions, and command ments of Christ, were sealed among his disciples: others Z egarded them, and the Jews in particular have the - veilupon their hearts to this day: nay, where the word of 2 ee elates to ‘future and remote events, it is sealed up a ppee s disciples, until its accomplishment. ‘The prophet foresaw that the Lord would hide hdraw the tokens of his special favour from
‘favour fothem. This might refer to preceding the Babylonish captivity, and the restora- ‘their own land:, but it seems also fo. rejected and dispersed state, and to f their fa uread nission into the church. OD Dae ogee the two children, | : ry significant names 5 they were mentioned, they | eee: of mercy. to
CHAPTER VIL,
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of hosts, * which dwelleth in mount Zion. 19 And when they shall say unto you,
2 xii. 5. xiv. 38. Kxiv, 23, 1 Chr, XKiii 25.-Ps iz,
li. Zech. v 3; * Seek unto them thathave familiar spl-, Hep. xil 22.
a xix, 3.Lev. xx. rits and unto wizards ° that peep, and & Deut. xviii. that mutter: °should not a people seek Cie Stat: unto their God? ¢ for the living to the eee dead ? i 3 2Pet. ii 1:
and ee Sey cobs buthe would wait on him, and look for|- 1 In
d-Ps. evi. 28. Jew, 20 'T’o ¢ the law and to the testimony: *,! Ines if they speak not according to this word,
ot 1s because there ts no * ‘light i in them, Joh 7% &
11 Gal iij-8; We iv 21,22 2 Tim. fi 15— 17 2 Pet. weld: f xxx. 811 Ps. xix. 7, 8. Cxix. 130) Jer. viii: 9. Matt. vi 23 xxii 29. Mark-vii. 7-9. Rom; i.22. 2 Pet. i, 9- * Heb. morning Prov. iv. 18. Hos. vi. 3: Mal: iy. 2: 2-Pet. i. 19.
Sik: Luke x. ee Kvi.7 29 — John v. 39. oe
remembrance. Some of the people would. be astonished, that the prophet should give them such remarkable names : and others would deride both him and them with the most entire scornand contempt. So that “ be and his children ** were for signs and wonders in Israel, from the Lerp,’” who had ordered him thustocall them. For though they were not miraculous signs confirming to the senses the certainty of the ‘predictions ; ; yet they were memorials from. God concerning them, suited to excite attention and ex= pectation. St.
Paul has quoted this passage in an argumentative discourse, and applied it in such a Manner, as preves, that Immanuel himself, and his people whom he ‘condescends to own both as brethren and children, were primarily intended: (Heb. ii. 13.) He was *' a sign, that - “ should be spoken against ;”’ (uke ii. 34.) and they have ever been beheld with wonder and derision, or detestation, because of their‘conformity to him, and their zealous attachment fo his cause, doctrices, and precepts.
This is, among many others, a clear instance, by the apostle’s testimony, of a twofold fulfilment of prophecies: one more. -\immediate, but less important or adequate, the other-more remote, but more fully answering to the emphatical language of the inspired writer.
V.19. ‘The unbelieving Jews. were prone to seek i information, counsel, and help from diviners and wizards
of different: descriptions, which was expressly forbidden in ihe law, and was in fact worshipping. the devil. These persons, it seems, used strange fantastic gestures in their in- ~ cantations, such as. peeping ‘out of the corners of their eyes, and muftering as if they spake out of their belly; with
‘other ceremonies suited to their abominable practices. But
when the Jews were persuaded to seek unto such persons, ' they were instructed to inquire, whether a people should not seek to their God? And whether it were right or reasonable to leave the living to consult the dead; the living
God, to consult dead idols, or the spirits of dead men, whom
hese witches and wizards pretended to bring up to them? A strong expression ofindignant abhorrence. (Mare. Ref.) V. 20. The law of God? is the standard of duty; his sure testimony, the standard of truth; his promise, the firny ground of hope. If, therefore, the people wanted instruc: tion, counsel, or encevragement, let them go to the law, traths, and promises of God’ 3 ware ~Tf€ they would not receive the prophet’s message, or doubted its aull nticity let them recur to the law of Moses and othe {parts of revelation. “Let them prove all th and practices by this’ standard. Bat if am verse. as toreject and contradict this rule, i oo.
B.C. 740. | ISATAH, B. €. 740.
22 And they shall ' look unto the 4%o,5°,%, &
earth ; and behold trouble and darkness, °°, 281 1°
dike. of anguish; and they shall be ie ie, Mitt
vill. 12. xxi¥.
™ driven to darkness. 29. Luke xxi, 25, 26. Jude 13.———m Job xviii, 18. Prov. xiv. 32. Jer. Xxiii. 12. Matt. xxii. 13.
28 pe, 2iAndthey shall pass*through it,"hard-xvid 39. 3¢ ly bestead and hungry: and it shall come «sy, 3. Jer xiv.-t@ pass, that when they shall be hungry,’
ay ae? 1). (hey shal an et themselves,and*curse their
3 Prov. xix. 3. "Ex sel 2 king and their God, and look upward Job ic ll. ii. 5.9. owt, ix. 20, 21. xvi, 9—Il-of the Jews, who have ever been faithful witnesses to record that the books of the Old Testament have been handed down, through succeeding ages, from the persons whose names they bear, i is very valuable and useful, as a conclusive argument in our controversy with the enemies of our holy faith.
We should endeavour that every surrounding object may remind us of the words of God, whether of judgment or of mercy; and that those treasures which men idolize or abuse, will speedily be torn from them. They who reject the salvation and authority of Christ, and refuse his peace and consolation, that they may rejoice in worldly confidences and pleasures, will soon find their licentious liberty to be the basest slavery, their joys to terminate in anguish, and their security in desperation.
But happy are the subjects of Immanuel who live in his land; for he will take care of his church in the most urgent. circumstances. The enemies of his cause may often come in, like an inundation from some mighty river, overflowing all its banks ; | they may sweep to destruction numbers of mere professors, and occasion many troubles to believers; but the church will hold her head above water, in the’ worst of times, and may bid defiance to all the hosts of her enemies.
Let persecuting kings and nobles conspire against her with combined power; let wealth and nobility unite with learning, genius, and philosophy, to run down the despised doctrine of the cross; let men.of every nation associate, and gird themselves ; let them take counsel, give laws, menace, boast, speak, write, triumph: yet, as Jesus is “« Immanuel, “ God with us,” we may boldly say “ the Lorp of hosts ‘cis with us, the God of Jacob is our Refuge.” Their counsel shall come to nought, their word shall not stand; and. the present and future enemies of the church shall share the fate of those who formerly have been broken to pieces ; .
This may predict the miseries of many individuals in| and be constrained to say, ‘ Thou hast ey neon: O Naza- Sennacherib’s invasion; and the dreadfal calamities du- Syene., 3 ring the siege and sack of the city by the Chaldeans : butit WV 1A 22.
Rg most exactly corresponds to the account given by Jose-| — Sid: <4 te phus of the siege of Jerusalem by the oe and the} It requires the. powerful influences of re RO: grace sto miseries connected with that awfulevent. preserve even pious men from conforming in some respects : _ PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. to the way of mere professors of Christianity; and from Phe 1 either desponding, or employing carnal MERPONS,: ‘in peril-ae —< jous times.
When Christians see persecuting powers or Wehave eootinuet reason to bless God for causing his| boasting scholars, combining against the people or truths” revealed will to be written for our instruction, “ with a| of Christ, they are read: give up all for lost. But tet. _ § man’s pen,” in language level to our feeble capacities ;jus not be thus dismayed: the cause of God is in no danger; and for giving us, in his providence, a faithful translation | but the ruin will fall either pon open opr raat or hypo-of the Scriptures into our own tongue.
They who treat| critical friends. ‘They — sanctify — ORD. of te . _ on divine matters, should study plainness, that men in gene- himself, and fear ‘ human ral may understand them; even though it should interfere | nature ; with the display « of their eloquence and erudition, and with| nd eputation among the learned and judicious few..
The |.n of the prophecies forms so conclusive an| by. ak se: divine original of the Scriptures, that too | cific f much care cannot be taken | toascertain, that they were. writ-|a rock of. 1ce ‘tor unbelieving Jews: 3,4 ten on the occasions mentioned in them: and the testimony | thousands who are called Christians. T. .
were devoid of spiritual understanding, for no hope or comfort could be found in any other way. ‘ ‘They have no * knowledge, but are blind leaders of the blind.’ Philosophical illuminators and enthusiastical pretenders to new revelations, not tobe judged of by thelaw and the testimony, are alike concerned inthis descision.. Its effect, however, is counteracted, in some cases, by acritical difficulty, support ed by high authority; asif our translation could not convey the true meaning ; because the root of the word rendered light, signifies to make dark.
But the same noun is used for the morning, or day-break, (when a little light diminishes the darkness,) in the following passages, among many others, (Gen. xxxvii. 24. 26. Josh. vi. 15. 1 Sam. ix. 26. Job xxxvili. 12. Ps. cxxxix. 9.) though it certainly has another meaning in some places. So that the las: _ clause, I apprehend, with deference to so high authority, may be fairly translated: “if they speak not according to “this word, it is because no morning or dawn of light i 1s} “in him; i. e. in any one of them.
V. 21, 22. Inevitable and intolerable evils were com- * ing on each of those who rejected the testimony and law of God, to trust in diviners or carnal confidences. None of them would by any means escape the approaching calamities, and all would pass through them in the utmost distress and penury. And whenready to perish with hunger, they would increase their own anguish by impatience ; they would curse their king or rulers, for their ruinous measures, and even blaspheme God, while in vain they — looked upward for ‘help. Nor could any assistance or relief}. be got from man: but on which side soever they looked, _ they would behold troubles, dismay, and increasing anguish ; — till hardened in impious and- impenitent rage and blas-pheny, they would be driven into final despair ‘and misery.
find | him a- Sanctuary, an d ough faith unto salvation. Bi h
re of t the - a
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* CHAP. IX. Predictions, of deliverance and joy to the people of God, through the incarnation, salvation, and kingdom of Christ, 1—
7. Of dreadful vengeance on Tsrael, for their pride, hypocrisy, and impenitent wickedness, and through the success of their enemies, and their onn furious contentions, 8—21!.- mTB Re EVERTHELESS *.the dimness ‘shall not be such as was in her vex-cross is foolishness in their esteem : his doctrines and precepts, and the reproach of his cause offend them ; and yet they rely on a name, a form, or a notion, and are buoyed ‘up in vain-confidence, till they are snared and taken captive by Satan at his will.
Even to this day, the truths and com- ~ mands of Christ are sealed from the generality of his nominal disciples ; so that they do not perceive the nature or glory of them. It is.given to believers only, to know the _ mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to them that are Without, all is enveloped in parables ; (vi. 9, 10.) “The secret of the Lorp is with them that fear hiin,”’ and they are all taught of God: yet their knowledge will not be complete, till the mystery of God be finished, and till _ they see him face to face.
In the mean time, they wait on - him-and look for him, even when he hideth his face from them, and is pleased to leave his church in trouble: and they will not wait or look in vain.
to receive their souls; he will come ere long to render his: truth universally victorious; and he will come at length to.
raise the dead, and to judge the world. As the divine
Redeemer was contradicted and blasphemed, and treated: with the utmost scorn and enmity, even by Israel; and as
he is not ashamed to call us his brethren and children: surely we should not be averse to be treated by the world, and even by professed Christians, as He was, and as prophets and apostles were in their days. But let us aim to be a memorial] and an example to them: and let parents so educate their children, and minisiers so watch over their _ people, as that they may havea good hope of being abie to say, in the great day of acconnt, “ Behold I, and the chil- “dren. whom the Lorp hath given me ;” and then will their salvation be completed ‘from the Lorp of hosts, which _.- dwelleth in Zion.”’ Let.us then keep close to his word eo and ordinances, and not listen to deceivers, of whatever
nauthenticated pretensions to. intercourse with the world of spirits; or who use whimsical and unaccountable ob-vances, by way of charms or incantations, in order to pernatural help and information. people trust-in him, and seek assistance from him should they. use any suspicious or “unwarranted taining relief?
ing God to. seek help from the dying: or the
tices, are. condemn r
CHAPTER
He wil! come at death]
name, who would excite our attention by unscriptural and |
“Should not
And would not. this be, to go}
dead? “Letus go to the law of God, where all such prac- another world.
and to his testimony, where all need-” fal or desirable sei asses in the use of appointed ia gle fad holiness. (Marg. as ) 2
IX. ation, ‘whenat the firsthe lightly afflicted b.) Kings xe. 19,
the land of Zebulon, and the landofNaph- » ® ache ee tali, and Shiceward did more griey- of eae es 5
ously afflict her ¢ by the way of ‘ie sea, 2 6. 1 Chr. v.
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d Matt 15. beyond Jordan, inGalilee *ofthe nations. # Or populent lx —3. 2 The people that * walked in dark- ». sion vil 8: ness have seen a great light: they that, fuse 178, 2. dwell ‘in the land of the shadow of 12. Kil Bored death, upon them hath the light shined. 14,1, Pet ii 2
3 Thou £ hast multiplied the nation, 00 ire 4 and + not increased the joy: * they J 1 eae before thee } according to the joy in har- 23? Ne 3 Hos iv. 7. Zech. it 11: viii. 23. x. 8 t Or, to him increased the joy.———h xli. RXV. 9 XXXV 2—10 liv 1. lv 12. bxi. 7 10 Ixv. 18. Ixvi- 10. Ps. iv. 7. exkvi. 5; 6- Je S XXxi 7. 12-14. Acts viii. 8. Phil. iv. 4. 1 Pet i. 8. i xvi. 9, 10.
or allowed means. Let us try all doctrines and practices by that unerring rule; and so trust his promises, as to obey his precepts. In all this is neither obscurity, nor any thing dubious: but they who speak contrary to this word, and “attempt to establish aught in opposition to this: ale. are evidently infatuated and blinded by the god of this world. And all.the miseries which ever were felt or witnessed on earth, are as nothing, compared with that. anguish, despair, ee blasphemy, which will shortly overwhelm them. Then will they fret themselves, and curse — those who have led them into their delusions ; and looking round on every side for help but in vain, they shall be driven into the blackness of darkness for ever. May the Lord ees us from such condemnation !
Z NOTES.