Isaiah 43

Isaiah 43:1

BUt now] namely, in the dayes of the Gospell, I will redeem my Church from sinne, and free her from all her evils That created thee] in respect of thy first creation, but chiefly in regard of the second, namely, the spirituall regeneration, Isaiah 29:23. I have called] I have given thee all that being thou hast, and have chosen thee amongst all the rest, Exodus 33:17.

Isaiah 43:2

When thou passest] a description of extream calamities, Psal. 66. 12. from which God alwayes delivereth his Church.

Isaiah 43:3

I gave] I have delivered thee out of all thy calamities, and have put other Nations which were strangers to mee, and thine enemies in thy stead, to be thy ransom, see Prov. 11. 8. and 21. 18.

Isaiah 43:7

That is called] even as children are called by their fathers name Yea I have] this redoubling of words signifieth, that all the Churches deliverance from the beginning to the end, is Gods worke and grace, Philippians 1:6. Hebrews 13:21.

Isaiah 43:8

The blinde] within this particular taxation of the children of Israel with wilfull blindenesse, Isaiah 42:19. are contained all other men in their naturall state, deprived of all spirituall light and obedience to God, though they abound in carnall understanding.

Isaiah 43:9

Be gathered] as in a solemn judgement, either to defend and maintaine their idolatries and superstitions, or to see themselves condemned for them, as Isaiah 41:1; Isaiah 41:21-22. Among them] namely, among their false gods Declare thi] namely, this admirable restauration of the Church by the Messias Be justified] bee acknowledged for true Gods, Isaiah 41:26. And say]let them confesse this truth which is so powerfully preached by the Gospell, namely, that there is but one true eternall God, to whom belongeth all glory and worship.

Isaiah 43:10

Ye] namely, all nations shall be convinced by this truth, and shall bear witnesse of it to all men, jointly with the people of Israel, here called Gods servants, and chosen by prerogative, Isaiah 42:19. That ye may] the end of all that I say to you, is for to bring you to this beleefe and confession That I am he] namely, the true eternall God, subsisting of himself, and being still the same, all which acknowledgements are comprehended in the Hebrew word.

Isaiah 43:12

I have declared] I have caused my Prophets to foretell the salvation which I will accomplish in my sons person, and will afterwards have it preached to all men by the Gospell No strange god] namely, that hath done these things with me.

Isaiah 43:13

Ye before] I was, before time began to run on, and therefore was eternall Let it] or call it back.

Isaiah 43:14

For your sake] a prophesie of the deliverance from the captivity of Babylon, set forth as though it were come already, according to the Prophets stile I have sent] namely, by the Persians and the Medes Brought down] I have caused the Babylonians being affrighted with the unlooked for surprising of their City, to flie to save themselves upon the river Euphrates.

Isaiah 43:16

Which maketh] Exodus 14:21.

Isaiah 43:17

Bringing forth] by hardning of Pharaohs heart, causing him to pusue the people with his army, Exodus 14:4

Isaiah 43:18

Remember ye not] that is to say, the deliverance out of Egypt shall be so much inferiour to the deliverance out of Babylon, that it shall in some sort not deserve to be remembred, for the glory of the one shall quite darken the other.

Isaiah 43:19

Now it shall] that is to say, within a short time, namely, in respect of the many yeers which are past, since the comming out of Egypt or in respect of God, with whom the furthermost times are as hard by and present Make a way] that is to say, I will bring backe my people by a miraculous means, as I did formerly bring them thorow the desa, in which I caused streams of water to run continually along with them, Exodus 17:6. Numb. 20. 11. Psalms 78:16. see Isa. 35. 6. and 41. 18.

Isaiah 43:20

The beasts] a figurative exaggeration, as if the wilde beasts, participating also of this unwonted abundance of waters (as peradventure they really did in the wildernesse) had also on their behalfe praised the Lord, who was the author of this miraculos benefit.

Isaiah 43:21

Have I formed] to whom I will give as it were a new being through my deliverance, and a new heart to know and serve me, contrary to that ungratefull and rebellious people which was in Isaiahs time, of whom hee speaks afterwards, see Psal. 102. 18.

Isaiah 43:23

Thou hast not] but hast done these things to thine idols. Or I doe not regard the externall service thou doest to mee, it being done without piety or repentance, Amos 5:25.

Isaiah 43:24

Made me] that is to say, thou hast tried my long patience in seeing and suffering thy sinnes to my great annoyance, Isaiah 1:13.

Isaiah 43:25

For mine own] out of mine own free motion and meer good will, to exercise and shew my mercy, that all the praise may be given to me, Ezekiel 36:22.

Isaiah 43:26

Put me in] hast thou any thing to alledge or reply to these mine accusations?

Isaiah 43:27

Thy first father] namely, Adam, his meaning is, Thou are corrupt and evill, even in thy first naturall beginning, Isaiah 48:8. namely, in Adam, in whom all men have sinned, Romans 5:12. Teachers] namely, those men which thou imployest as mediators towards me, as the priests. Therefore neither in thy selfe, nor in any others for thee, is there any means of restauration to salvation, but in me onely Have] they are guilty of grievous sins, which makes them abominable to God; and consequently, their prayers, sacrifices, and intercessions will be altogether unprofitable.

Isaiah 43:28

I have prophaned] not regarding the false names they bear of sacred persons The princes] namely, the Priests and chiefe of the Ecclesiasticall order, and ministers of the Temple.