Isaiah 55

The prophet publishes the free offers of grace by the gos-, pel, and exhOyts men,not to reject them, but to turn to God by a sincere repentance, who will graciously pardon and accept them.

Isaiah 55:1

JljLO, every one Mat thirsteth, come ye to the waters. The Divine; grace is often represented under the emblem of springs and streams of water. (See the notes upon xxx. 25.-,xliv..3.) In like manner Divine knowledge, the food and support of the soul, is expressed by the metaphors of meat arid drink, which sustain the body. (See John vi. 27. and so to the end of the chapter.) Under this metaphor the prophet here exhorts men to make use of those means of instruction which the gospel so freely offers. Christ himself expounds the words to this sense, John vii.‘37.. r - -… i Come ye, buy, and eat: yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.] Buying sometimes signifies in general gaining or procuring any thing. In this, sense Solomon uses the word, when he bids us buy the truth and sell it notii.e. spare no pains to learn it,’ (Prov. xxiii. 23. see likewise Rev. iii. 18.) It is. added, without money, and without price, to shew that Divine knowledge is of far greater 4 value than to be purchased with money, being the gift of God, andnot’to be obtained but by earnest prayer and sincere endeavours. (Compare Ecclns., li. 25, 2G.)

Isaiah 55:2

Wlterefore do you spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not?\ All the pretences to religious knowledge, but such as proceed from God himself, aTC vain and useless; they can neither instruct men in the* truth, nor lead them to happiness. And let your soul delight itself in fatness.] By fatness is meant all sorts of delicious food: (see xxv. G.) and the expression here denotes the true knowledge of God and of happiness, as was observed upon the first verse. (Compare likewise the following verse.). Vcr. 3. And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies ofDavidJ] The gospel is often