Isaiah 65

Another Sermon.

Isaiah 65:1

I am sought of them that] Rom. X. 20. cleare this to be spoken by Christ of the Gentiles, and of their coming in to him, Acts XIII. 46.

Not called by my Name] Chap. LXIII. 19.

Isaiah 65:2

I have spread out] To the Jewes, Rom. X. 21. See Rom. XI. 11,—24.

Isaiah 65:3

in gardens] To their Idols.

altars of brick] Of matter, and maner, according to their owne devising.

Isaiah 65:4

which remaine among the graves] To consult with spirits, that haunt such places; or to have dealings with the dead; necromancers, chap. VIII. 19. Deut. XVIII. 11. 1 Sam. XXVIII. 8, 11.

and lodge in the monuments] In their idol-temples; or, in Caves under ground, haply to expect dreams from their imaginary deities; or among the corpses; as that possessed man did, Mar. V. 5.

and broth] Wherein unclean flesh had been sod.

Isaiah 65:5

stand by thy self] Though themselves so impure and vile, Luke VII. 39 Such sinners would yet be such Saints.

a smoak] A continual provocation, and vexation to me.

Isaiah 65:6

written before me] Upon record in my sight.

Isaiah 65:7

and the iniquities of your fathers together] Though God lay nothing upon any person, but what indeed comes farre short of what is due to him; Yet he hath an eye oft in inflicting judgements on notorious wicked ones descended also from such like fathers, unto the sins of the fathers also, either enhauncing, or lengthening the judgements, to make their sufferings the more exemplarie, that men may observe how execution of vengeance, though delayed for a time; yet at length falleth, with a full storme, on the race of the wicked, 1 Sam. III. 12. Lam. V. 7. Matth. XXIII. 32, 35, 36. 1 Thes. II. 15, 16.

Isaiah 65:8

a blessing in it] The little liquor in the cluster argued life and sap to be in the plant; and so hope of recovery, to become fruitful againe.

not destroy them all.] A Remnant still reserved and saved, ver. 9. for the propagating of the Church, Jer. XXX. 11. Amos. IX. 8.

Isaiah 65:10

Sharon] Under Libanus, 1 Chron. XXVII. 29.

Valley of Achor] Neere Jericho.

Isaiah 65:11

that prepare a table for that troope] Feasts, for their troope of idols; pointed at as it were with the finger, in contempt, by the Prophet here. Some by this troope understand the hoast of heaven. Some, one particular Star, as Jupiter.

that furnish the drink-offering] Heb. that fill mixture; i. e. wine, Apoc. XIV. 10. Psal. LXXV. 8. Prov. IX. 2. strong wine is in these places meant, without mixture of water. For they would not offer such to their Idols; though in their ordinary drinking they did mix it for themselves.

Isaiah 65:13

behold] A strange alteration, four times repeated.

Isaiah 65:15

by another name] Verse 16. chap. LXII. 2, 4, 12. as being in another state and condition, then you, or they formerly. Such a name as should be used, not in Cursing, but in Blessing. See Hos. I. 6, 9. and II. 1, 23. Rom IX. 26. 1 Pet. II. 10.

Isaiah 65:17

I create new heavens] A further more strange alteration. Make, as it were, a new world: Their change shall be such, that coming suddenly out of such adversity, into such prosperity, they shall seeme to be in a new, in another world. But this is chiefly applyable to the times of the Gospel, under Christ, in a spiritual sense; in regard of those plentiful endowments of spiritual graces that therein should abound, John I. 16, 17, Acts II. 17, 33. Heb. IX. 9,—12. And hereunto is this change applied chap. LXVI. 22. 2 Cor. V. 17. begun here: to be perfected in heaven, 2 Pet. III. 13. Apoc. XXI. 1, 5.

and the former] Jer. III. 16. 1 Cor. II. 9. 2 Cor. III. 7,—10.

Isaiah 65:18

But be ye glad] Gods speech, as, chap. III. 10. and XXX. 10.

Isaiah 65:20

the childe] He that was once a childe. None among them, young, or old, should be taken away by untimely death, but should live to the utmost course of nature, wont usualy to be attained, verse 22.

but the sinner] Such among them as remained still unreformed, unrefined, unreclaimed, though he live never so long, shall at length prove a cursed wretch

Isaiah 65:22

as the dayes of a tree] As the Oake, and Elme.

Isaiah 65:24

Before they call] Chap. LVIII. 9. Psal. XXXII. 5. Dan. X. 12. and IX. 20,—23. Luke XV. 18, 20. Acts X. 44. and XI. 15. John XIV. 13, 14. and XV. 7, 16. and XVI. 23, 24, 26.

Isaiah 65:25

The wolf and the lamb] Such as had beene of a wolvish disposition formerly, should now be thus transformed. All shall be harmlesse, ch. XI. 6,—9.