Isaiah 66

Isaiah 66:1

WHere is the house] as much as to say, Thinke you then, O carnall Jews, to keep me shut up in your Temple, so that I shall not bee able to part from thence for your sinnes?

Isaiah 66:2

Mine hand] I am the creator, and consequently owner and possessor of all my creatures, and therefore make no account of hypocrites offerings, but doe respect the true repentance and humble faith and devotion of true beleevers.

Isaiah 66:3

He that killeth] that is to say, All your ceremonies and sacrifices are abominable to me, and as distastefull as offences, by reason of your hypocrisie and internall impiety, see Prov.15. 8. and 21. 27 Isaiah 1:11. Have chosen] seeing they have purposely given themselves to follow their owne senses and vicious inclinations, forsaking my Law.

Isaiah 66:4

I also] I will use them according to their deeds, see Levit. 26. 28.

Isaiah 66:5

Heare] this speech is directed to the remainder of good beleeving Jews under the Gospel, who were persecuted by their owne brethren for their faith in Christ, 1 Thessalonians 2:14. Said]in a prophane kinde of scorn, as if they did require of Christ some glorious signe of his deitie, or making a mocke at those things which he foretold concerning his last comming in glory, see Isaiah 5:19. 2 Peter 3:3-4.

Isaiah 66:6

A voice of] a propheticall description of the last destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Romanes.

Isaiah 66:7

She brought forth] namely, the spirituall Jerusalem, which is the Christian Church; hath by her preaching, in very small time, converted an innumerable company of Gentiles to God, in the place of the unbeleeving Jewes Of a man-childe] namely, good and bold Christians, strong in faith; figurative termes, unlesse he means Christ himself, who is formed by faith in every beleevers heart, Galat. 4. 19.

Isaiah 66:9

Shall I bring] that is to say, this wonder ought to cease, if ye consider mine infinite power, whereof there appears small beams in the order of nature.

Isaiah 66:11

That ye may suck] that ye may be ursed and brought up in faith, knowledge, and other Christian vertues in the militant Church, untill you attain to the glory of the triumphant Church in Heaven.

Isaiah 66:12

Peace] that is to say, all manner of happinesse Ye shall be born upon] like little tender babes by your mother the Church, and by all those that shall be employed in her and your service.

Isaiah 66:14

And your bones] you shall be revived and strengthened, where as before you were dead, and like dry bones, see Ezekiel 27:1; Ezekiel 27:4; Ezekiel 27:11.

Isaiah 66:15

The Lord will come] this may be understood of Gods particular judgements; but it is fully and principally meant of the last and generall judgement To render] that is to say, to pronounce the sentence, and execute the condemnation upon the ungodly, Romans 2:8.

Isaiah 66:17

They that] under these idolatrous abominations, wherewith the people defiled themselves in the dayes of Isaiah are comprehended, all the unbeleeving Jews sinnes and their apostasie, as Isaiah 65:3-4. Behinde one tree] the Italian, after Ahad; that is to say, following the idolatry of Ahad, which was a Syrian idol, that represented the sunne. Others expound it, behinde Ahad, that is to say, behinde his Temple In the midst] as who should say, that do wash openly in all mens sight, for your pagan superstitions were often times contrary to naturall honesty Swines slesh] that is to say, unclean things strictly forbidden in the Law, Levit. 11. 7, 29. Deuteronomy 14. 8.

Isaiah 66:18

For I know] seeing my people have defiled themselves to the uttermost. I will shortly reprove them, and call the Gentiles in their place, to whom I will reveal my grace and glorious salvation acquired by the Messias, see 2 Corinthians 4:6.

Isaiah 66:19

And I will set] that is to say, I will save those whom I have chosen amongst the Jews, of which he had spoken, vers. 5. which shall be marked with my mark, Ephes. 1. 13. 2 Timothy 2:19. Revelation 7:3. and amongst them will I chuse mine Apostles as mine Ambassadors, who shall carry my banners, that is to say, the undoubted proofs of my Spirit, Hebrews 2:4. to go and preach my Gospel to the Gentiles Tarshish] namely, the great sea; Pul is a nation towards the south; Lud or Lidia towards the east, Genesis 10:22. Tubal towards the north, Genesis 10:2. andJavan, that is to say, Greece, towards the west, and by these is meant the whole world Seen my glory] namely, my glorious deliverance, the revelation of my soveraign mercy, the manifestation of my Kingdom in my Sons person, and the destruction of all false gods.

Isaiah 66:20

They shall bring] that is to say, they shall gather all the beleevers, spirituall brothers to the true Israelites into the universall Church, which is the heavenly Jerusalem, the Lord lending all means and helps which shall be needfull for this conversion, which means are here set down in figurative tearms For an offering] see Romans 15:16. Philippians 2:17.

Isaiah 66:21

Take of them] I will even amongst the Gentiles chuse Ministers of my Gospel, and Pastors of my Church.

Isaiah 66:22

Remain] that is to say, the true beleevers, begotten by the incorruptible seed of Gods Word in the Church shall for ever remain in my favour, even as the glory and state of happinesse which I have prepared for them is also eternall.

Isaiah 66:23

That from one] the Italian, that from new moon to new, &c. that is to say, all Nations shall continually serve me in my Church in spirit and truth: termes taken from the solemne and publike service which was yeelded to God on festivall dayes.

Isaiah 66:24

And look upon] they shall be spectators of my judgements upon the wicked, and especially of the finall and universall judgement Their worm] he calls the inward gnawing of the Conscience so, accompanied with eternall torments.