Isaiah 44

Isaiah 44:3

WAter] namely, abundance of my grace, for the purging and remitting of sins; and of the gift of my Spirit for sanctification Upon him that is] that is to say, upon my poor Elect, whose consciences will finde and feel the extream want of it.

Isaiah 44:5

One shall say] all manner of persons and Nations shall joyne with my Church, and shall make open profession of my faith and service, see Psalms 87:4.

Isaiah 44:7

And who] God here reiterates the proofe of his eternall God-head, whereof he had spoken, Chap. 41. 22. and 43. 9. against idols and idolaters Shall call] this word seemeth to have a relation to Gods first decree and councell, by which he gives the first form and being to all things: for Gods calling, in Scripture signifies creating and producing by his word: and this declaring, which followeth, is the prediction of things determined, and setting in order is the execution thereof in the appointed time It] namely, the salvation and redemption of the Church by the Messias Since I] namely, since or from the beginning of the world, Genesis 3:15. Unto them] namely, to them that follow and worship them.

Isaiah 44:8

F〈…〉 ye not] that is to say, O yee people, and especially O thou my Church, free your selfe from the bond of superstition, which is but a vain and anxious feare of a false deity.

Isaiah 44:9

Delectable] he speaketh thus, because that idolatry is a kinde of spirituall concupiscence, and unchaste and disordered love, like as fornication or adultery.

Isaiah 44:11

His fellows] namely, they that follow the first Authors of idolatry Be ashamed] under the light of the Gospell, and under the Kingdome of Christ, which shall discover the foulnesse of idolatry, and shall destroy the idols The workmen] see an example thereof, Acts 19:24-25.

Isaiah 44:12

He is hungry] with much labour and trouble he frameth a thing of nought: this is a scoffe for idolaters.

Isaiah 44:13

The beauty] the Italian, the glory; namely, the noble and excellent forme of humane body, which is the master-piece of Gods work, amongst all other earthly bodies That it may] to be a dead and unprofitable thing, without any motion or action.

Isaiah 44:14

And taketh] he chuseth out, or marketh some fair young tree, and lets it grow to its full height and strength.

Isaiah 44:19

Considereth] the Italian, Seeth it to his heart; they doe not thinke upon it, nor exaine it deliberately, nor do not set the absurditie of it before their eyes.

Isaiah 44:20

Feedeth] that is to say, He puts his trust, and sets his religious devotion and affection upon things which are not only frivolous and vain, but also hurtfull; as if one should eat ashes, see Psal. 102. 9. Proverbs 20:17. Lamentations 3:16. Adceived] blinded with the love of idols preoccupated by false opinions, led astray by evill customs, but especially possessed by the spirit of error, which works with efficacie in the children of rebellion.—Delive] free it from the foresaid snares and bonds to give way to true reason, in which consisteth the true liberty of the soule, Isai. 46. 8. Is there not] that is to say, is not that which I honour, setting it alwayes at my right hand? for the idolaters did alwayes turne to the ight hand to look upon their idols: or that which I put my trust and confidence in, altogether false.

Isaiah 44:22

I have] namely, through Christ, of whose benefits he had spoken in the beginning of the Chapter, and by whom also heathenish idolatry was to be overthrown As a thick cloud]whereof there remains no signe after it is once dispersed by the winde.

Isaiah 44:23

Sing] let all the world participate of this joy which is for the deliverance of his Church, especially the spirituall deliverance by the Messias, see Romans 8:19-20.

Isaiah 44:24

I am] and therefore ought onely to be worshipped.

Isaiah 44:25

The tokens] namely, the soothsayers and Astrologers false prognostickes, especially the Chaldeans, who upon certaine signes either feigned at their pleasures, or falsly interpreted and applied, did foretell the perpetuall lastingnesse of their Empire, which God would not withstanding destroy to deliver his people from thence, see Isaiah 47:13. Turneth] through shame and confusion.

Isaiah 44:26

Of his servant] namely Isaiab, or some other of my Prophets Messengers] the Italian, angels; who are as it were addressers in Gods councell concerning the deliverance of his Church, and doe his message to his prophets, see Psal. 89. 7. Daniel 4:17. Others do take the word Angels for Messengers, namely, Prophets, who declare the will of God to men Be inhabited] after thy desolation is past, and after the returne from Babylon.

Isaiah 44:27

That saith] that shall deliver my people by a miracle, like unto the ancient passage thorow the Red sea: unlesse he have a relation to the turning away and drying up of Euphrates, which was done by Cyrus, which was the means of taking Babylon, Jeremiah 50:38; Jeremiah 51:32.

Isaiah 44:28

That saith] who even now do nominate and appoint Cyrus first King of Persia, who was borne above two hundred yeers after this prophecie, to be the instrument of gathering together and sending home my people, and to feed and defend them, which are the proper actions of a good Shepherd, Ezech. 1. 1. Thou shalt] or be thou built, and let thy foundation be laid.