Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

genuine difciples of Chrift, who are the real fubjects of his kingdom; and not to princes, and their fubjects, profeffing Chriftianity, who often make war on one another, and on all who invade their rights and privileges. It does not exclude thofe disputes and controverfies which may arife among Christians on religious matters; but fimply represents the humble, meek, and peaceable difpofitions with which they fhould be animated in their conduct toward one another. They fhall not ftir up ftrife, nor disturb, nor hurt one another; but, by the exercifes of juftice, kindness, and beneficence, each fhall aim to advance the happiness of all.This prophecy was accom. plifhed, in fome measure, in the firft ages of Chritianity, when the followers of the Lamb were of one heart and one foul: it has been farther fulfilled in after-times, when the power of the gofpel has been experienced; and it fhall receive its full completion in future happy days, when the doctrine of Jefus Christ, attended with the Holy Spirit, fhall display its efficacy and glory in the hearts and lives of Chriftians.In the mean time, let us remember the great defign of God in our vocation, who hath called us unto peace. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

5 O houfe of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

The prophet, by thus addrefling his countrymen, endeavours to roufe them from their indolence, to recall them from their ignorance and errors, and to excite them to activity in the good ways of the Lord. By the houfe of Jacob might be intended the men of Judah, in diftinction from the houfe of Ifrael; or we may fuppofe it comprehended the whole pofterity of

* Rom. xiv. 19.

Ifrael,

Ifrael, to whom Ifaiah delivered this prophecy. This defignation might remind them, that as their great progenitor had the name of Jacob given him, because he dealt deceitfully, and fupplanted his brother, in like manner they had dealt deceitfully in the worship and fervice of God. The prophet incites them to join with him in the important business which he propofes; Come ye, let us walk in the light of the Lord. In this manner the children of Ifrael, and the children of Judah, are reprefented, animating one another to feek the Lord their God; Come,' faid they, let us join our 'felves to the Lord, in a perpetual covenant that shall "not be forgotten.' The upright fervants of the Most High always wish to travel the road to Zion in company. True godlinefs never contracts, but always enlarges the heart, with a generous concern for the glory of God, and the best interests of men.

[ocr errors]

Let us walk in the light of the Lord. Light being the most excellent of all vifible things, it is ufed in fcripture to exprefs perfection in general, or fome particular excellence. As it is the medium by which we contemplate and become acquainted with the creatures, it is a proper emblem of wifdom and know. ledge. In this fenfe it must be understood, where Belshazzar informed the prophet Daniel, that I have heard of thee, that the fpirit of the gods is in thee, and light and understanding, and excellent wifdom is found in thee +. As it is the means of enabling us to regulate our conduct, and to direct our actions aright, it is used to denote holinefs and purity; and, in this view, thofe who are light in the Lord, are ⚫ invited to walk as children of light. As it gives pleasure and joy to behold the light, it is thence employed to fignify the most desirable felicity and blesfedness. Thus it is affirmed, that if any fay, I have finned, and perverted that which is right, and it profiteth me not; he will deliver his foul from

[ocr errors]

Jer. 1. 4, 5.

[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

going down to the pit, and his life fhall fee the light. The word of God, which communicates the molt important knowledge, affords ufeful direction in every circumstance, and conveys fubftantial confolation to the heart under every trouble, may be called, with great propriety, the light of the Lord. Under this defcription the royal pfalmift fpeaks of it, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto 'my path f.' It is the light of the Lord, as it proceeds from the Father of lights: it reveals his name; it difcovers his bleffed will, and points out the way which conducts to his kingdom and glory. The word of God then may be confidered as the light of the Lord here intended, in which the prophet encourages others to walk with him.-Walking, you know, is the regular progreffive motion which is. made in moving from one place to another; and is often used in fcripture, in a figurative fenfe, to exprefs the whole courfe of mens conduct, and their progrefs in that courfe. To walk in darkness, is to live in ignorance, fin, and mifery; and to walk in the light, is to practise truth, holinefs, and righteoufnefs. The import of the friendly invitation before us, feems to be shortly this: O houfe of Jacob, come,

ftudy a growing acquaintance with the word of God, folicitous to poffefs the knowledge it imparts, to enjoy the direction it affords, and the confolation it never fails to adminifter, when accompanied with the powerful bleffing of its divine Author.-After this inftructive example, let us animate each other to the practice of duty, exhorting one another; and fo much the more, as ye fee the awful day approaching, which will refemble that foretold in the following part of this chapter. From mutual love and compaffion, in obedience to the will of God, let us encourage each other to make progrefs in the good ways of the Lord, by thofe interefting confiderations

Job xxxiii. 27, 28.

T

+ Pfal. cxix. 105. fuggefted

T

fuggefted in fcripture, which are admirably adapted through the divine bleffing, to promote this valuable purpose.

6¶Therefore thou haft forfaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the eaft, and are foothfayers like the Philiftines, and they please themfelves in the children of ftrangers.

The prophet here enters on a new fubject, in which he gives an affecting defcription of the state of the Jewish nation at the time this prophecy was delivered. He addreffes himself to God in the form of complaint, bewailing the lamentable condition of thofe whom he had forfaken, and pointing out the causes which had contributed to reduce them to fuch calamitous circumstances. Among these, were, their introduction of foreign customs, their pride, their love of worldly grandeur, their idolatry, and worship of ftrange gods, mentioned in this, and the three following verfes.

The house of Jacob is here honoured with the character of the people of God. It justly belonged to them, not only as he created and formed them into a people, and governed them in right of his univerfal dominion; but they were his in a special manner, in confequence of his choofing them for his peculiar people, his redeeming them with a ftrong hand and stretched-out arm, his entering into covenant with them; fo that they became his property, were called by his name, and profeffedly devoted to his fervice. Notwithstanding this intimate connection, God had forfaken them. He took off the restraining influence of his providence, whereby he prevented their enemies from executing their destruction: he removed the hedge of his kind protection, by which they enjoyed the most agreeable safety. He with-held from them his gracious direction, which had attended them in all their fortunes: they faw not their figns;

there

there was no more any prophet, neither was there among them any that knew how long. The Moft High hid counfel from them, fo that they groped at noon-day. He withdrew from them his divine favour, which had long compaffed them as a fhield: he denied them his gracious prefence, and Holy Spirit, which was the beauty and glory of their affemblies, having in referve for them the moft awful temporal calamities. This desertion is fpoken of as having already taken place, which, in the Hebrew ftyle, denotes, that it fhould certainly foon happen, and therefore might be confidered as already having taken effect.Hath God then caft away his people? God forbid! God hath not caft away his people whom he foreknew. When offended with their multiplied and aggravated tranfgreffions, he feverely chaftifes, and grievously afflicts them, fo that he may feem to forfake them; but, according to his own affurance, he will not altogether caft them out of his fight, nor finally reject them: The Lord will not caft off his people, neither will he forfake his inheritance *."

Because they be replenished from the east, and are foothfayers like the Philiftines, and they please themfelves in the children of strangers. This fentence, as Dr. Lowth obferves, is manifeftly imperfect: he thinks the true reading is, "They are filled with divination "from the eaft." The Gentile nations, prompted by a curiofity natural to mankind, were extremely fond of acquiring the knowledge of fecret and future events. For this purpose they had among them perfons who were called diviners, magicians, forcerers, all of whom, it feems, had the name of foothfayers. Thefe pretended to difcover things fecret, and to foretel things future, by contemplating the heavens, by looking at the planets, by obferving the flight of birds, by examining the entrails of beafts, by confulting with familiar fpirits, and various other ceremo

*Plal. xciv. 14.

« AnteriorContinuar »