Meffiah appeared, and the moft ignominious death that he sustained, in obedience to the will of God, which rendered him odious and contemptible in the view of proud, inconfiderate mortals, ver. 2. and 3.-The true caufe of his profound abafement is then explained. It did not arise from any fault that he had committed, but was occafioned by the fins of those for whofe redemption he fubmitted to the death of the crofs, ver. 4-7.-The joyful confequences which were to refult from his complicated sufferings are next delienated, from whence it is apparent that he is beloved and precious in the fight of God, and that in the most afflicted condition, he was the object of the peculiar care of his providence, ver. 8-10.-After which Jehovah is reprefented confirming the doctrine of the gospel, and inftructing the Church as to the extenfive glorious effects that were to proceed from the obedience performed by his righteous Servant, ver. II. and 12.

CHAP. LIII.

IO hath believed our report? and to

WHO whom is the arm of the Lord re

vealed?

This exclamation, or inquiry, made by Isaiah in the name of his fellow fervants, and of the apoftles and minifters of the word, expreffes furprize and forrow at the infidelity of those who rejected their teftimony, and the little fruit that accompanied their labours!The Hebrew word tranflated report, fignifies a rumour that is fpread abroad, a word that is heard, a doctrine that is propofed and inculcated by public teachers. Here it denotes the meffage that Jehovah hath fent by his fervants to his people, from whom he

demands

demands the obedience of faith. It contains the important truths which God hath been pleased to reveal for their inftruction, the holy precepts he hath given as the rule of their conduct, the joyful tidings he hath published concerning falvation, the precious promises he hath delivered as ground of encouragement, and the awful threatnings denounced againft tranfgreffion. Isaiah, speaking not in his own name only, but in that of the other fervants of God, calls it their report; because they are intrusted with the business of propogating it throughout the world. Though the truth is always fubftantially the fame, it hath been revealed with different degrees of perfpicuity, as the Church was able to bear. In early ages, it appeared as a light fhining in a dark place, that had burst out from obfcurity, afterward it fhone forth with increafing brightness unto the perfect day. There cannot remain a doubt that this report, this teftimony, this record of God concerning his Son, ought to be accounted worthy of all acceptation, and should be believed with the heart unto falvation. It is attended with the most satisfying evidences, and where it is received with faith and love, it never fails to produce the most falutary effects.-Who then hath believed the words of the prophecies of this book, and who continues in the things that are written therein, knowing of whom they have learned them? They who, deeply affected with the interefting difcoveries therein contained, give them undoubted credit, placing their entire dependence on the power, grace, and faithfulness of Jehovah, for the accomplishment of his good word, fay, with the apostle Paul,We know whom we have believed;' and with the apoftle Peter, We have not followed 'cunningly devifed fables.'

6

To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? The arm of Jehovah, as I lately remarked, when difcourfing from chap. lii. 10. may fignify his mighty power exerted by the miniftry of the gofpel for the converfion and falvation of mankind. This power

6

is revealed and gloriously displayed in the bleffed effects produced by his Divine agency, on the hearts of thofe he reconciles to himself, and brings into fubjection to his government ;-by removing their prejudices against the truth, and by enlightning their minds to understand it. It is manifefted when they are declared to be the epiftle of Christ ministered by us, as the apostle Paul fpeaks, Written not with pen and ink, but by the Spirit of the living God; 'not in tables of stone, but in flefhly tables of the ' heart *.' The expreffions are beautiful and forcible. The heart is the table whereon Jesus Christ writes, by the miniftry of his fervants, his laws, which are the epiftle he fends unto the world, intimating his royal will and pleasure. That this table may ferve this good purpose, he removes its natural hardness and obduracy, renders it soft, and fufceptible of Divine impreffions. The characters which he there infcribes are not formed with pen and ink, which might be eafily blotted out or erased, but by the power and Spirit of Almighty God, fo that the impreffion becomes indelible, and perfectly legible to him that underftands. Thofe to whom the arm of the Lord is thus revealed are made acquainted with the grace of God in truth; they delight in his word, and obey his will; they bring forth fruit unto God, and being doers of his work, are bleffed in their deed. What admirable, glorious effects, refult from the revelation of the arm of the Lord, not only in things that are seen and temporal, but especially in the hearts and difpofitions of men! What excellence, what beauty, are confpicuous in all the works of God's hands! but all that comeliness and glory hall decay, and wax old like a garment, whereas the beauties of holiness, communicated by his renovating power, when he forms his own lovely resemblance on the human foul, fhall never perifh, but thall flourish through immortal ages.

Who bath believed our report, &c. This enquiry, VOL. IV.

M

* 2 Cor. iii. 3.

which

which is twice cited in the New Teftament*, intimates, that there were comparatively few who credited the tidings published refpecting the humiliation and fubfequent exaltation of the great Meffiah. This complaint was not peculiar to the time wherein Ifaiah and his fellow-fervants were employed in delivering the meffages from God, wherewith they were intrufted. Whilft the Son of God, the great prophet of Jehovah, who spake as never man spake, was teaching the way of God in truth, and making known his falvation, notwithstanding the astonishing miracles he performed, there were not many who received his teftimony, to whom his doctrine proved the power of God unto falvation. In reviewing the effects of his miniftry among Jews and Gentiles, the apostle Paul introduces the words we have been confidering as thereby verified. Indeed, in every age, and particularly in the period wherein we live, the minifters of God have had juft reafon to take up this mournful lamentation. Some reject the report of the gospel, on account of the fublime doctrines it contains, which tranfcend their comprehenfion. Others refuse to give it credit, because of the plainnefs and fimplicity with which it is propofed, because it is adapted to the capacities of the meanest, and therefore they deem it unworthy of their notice. Some are offended at the ftrictness of its precepts, others are difpleafed at the freedoms ufed by its minifters, the information which it contains, and the plan of falvation which it exhibits, that is defigned to humble the great, the learned, and the proud. From perfons of thefe defcriptions it often meets with the strongeft oppofition; and as few of them who have believed the report are among the rich and great of this world, many in low circumstances have been deterred, by their means, through ignorance, bigotry, and pride, from embracing the gofpel, and have perfifted in treating it with fcorn and derifion. The chief caufe is mentioned in the latter

John xii. 38. and Rom. x. 16.

latter part of this verfe: the arm of the Lord hath not been revealed, the powerful influence of his grace hath not been experienced.-With fervour and Inportunity let us adopt the earnest prayer of the Church, Awake, awake, O arm of the Lord, put on ftrength,' &c. The longer that God defers to grant our requests, the more importunate ought to be our fupplications for his gracious interpofition in our favour, and in behalf of his Church; then may we hope that we fhall not ask in vain.

2. For he fhall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness: and when we fhall fee him, there is no beauty that we should defire him.

The humble extraction and mean appearance of the Meffiah, are mentioned as principal causes of the mournful event complained of in the preceding verfe. Men whofe minds were warped with prejudices, and not enlightened by the spirit of wisdom to fee the neceffity of a fuffering Redeemer, would not cordially receive him, and place their trust in him for falvation. Some illuftrious perfon of diftinguished eminence is here characterized by feveral remarkable circumstances, which are attributed to him. The first question that naturally occurs on reading the words before us is, refpecting the fubject of this prophecy. We enquire, with the man of Ethiopia, when fitting in his chariot reading this chapter, Of whom speaketh the prophet this, of himself or 'of fome other man?' It is evident that Isaiah spake not of himself, for what is here written is not applicable to him. Who then is the other perfon of whom he foretold-He fall grow up before him as a tender plant, &c. The predictions recorded in this paffage of fcripture accurately defcribe the Lord Jefus Chrift, the promised Meffiah, who was born of

the