everlasting Father shall call his name The Prince of Peace But the words as they are in the Hebrew will not bear such a reading as many of their own do acknowledg for they stand clearly in the order as they are rendered in our Translation And his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor the mighty God c. First Wonderful to wit with respect to that incomprehensible wonder of his two natures the Divine and Humane nature united together in one person as likewise with respect to the wonder of his Concepton Death Resurrection and Ascension together with all the miraculous works that were done by him and especially that great and astonishing work of mans Redemption which the Angels themselves did admire 1 Pet. 1.12 2ly Counsellor as being abundantly furnished to reveal all truths to his people and in all things to counsel and direct them what to do See the Note Prov. 8.14 3ly The mighty God which shews clearly that this cannot be understood of Hezekiah or any other mortal man but only of the Lord Christ 4ly The Everlasting-Father to wit because it is he that regenerates the faithful in all ages and is the father of eternity the author of life eternal to all that believe on him And 5ly The Prince of Peace to wit because he should not advance his Kingdom by force of arms but in a way of peace because he makes our peace with God and united Jews and Gentiles together as one people and because he is the sole author of all the peace of his people outward and inward temporal and eternal See the Note Chap. 2.4 Ver. 7. Of the increase of his Government and peace there shall be no end c. This is added with respect to the last Title given to Christ in the foregoing verse The Prince of Peace to wit that the extending of his Principality and Government and the peace and prosperity thereof should never come to an end but should still proceed farther and farther which is especially accomplished by the enlargement of his Kingdom amongst the Gentiles See the Note Psal 2.8 And observable it is that by foretelling the increase of the peace of his Kingdom together with the great extent of his dominions these singular priviledges are implied 1. That his Kingdom should be carried on not by the sword but by the Gospel of peace And 2. that whereas the enlargement of other Princes Kingdoms do usually tend to their ruin it should not be so with his As for that which followeth 1. It is said that this his Government should be upon the throne of David and upon his Kingdom because Christ was Davids son and heir and Davids Kingdom was a type of Christs see the Notes 2 Sam. 7.11 16. Ps 72.1 132.11 And accordingly even in Jerusalem the seat of Davids Kingdom Christ Preached the Gospel and was owned as the Son of David and vanquished the spiritual enemies and from thence the Gospel of the Kingdom went forth into all the world 2ly It is said that this should be to order it and to establish it that is for the well-ordering the strengthening and setling of his Church and Kingdom with judgment and with justice that is with just judgment or by punishing the wicked and protecting and rewarding the righteous See the Notes Psal 89.14 Prov. 16.12 And 3ly it is said that this shall be from henceforth even for ever that is from the time that Christ in mans nature shall undertake the Government of his Church unto all eternity And 4ly because the accomplishing of these great things which he had promised might in the declining estate of Davids Kingdom seem impossible therefore he addeth that clause The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this for which see the Notes 2 King 19.31 Ver. 8. The Lord sent a word in to Jacob c. It is not a matter of any concernment to know whether this be a new Prophecy or a continuation of that which went before clear it is that after the interlacing of the foregoing comfortable promises the Prophet here returns to foretell the judgments that were coming upon the men of Israel and that for the comfort of Judah who were now terrified with the confederacy of Israel with Rezin King of Syria against them The Lord sent a word into Jacob that is the Lord hath by me or rather by the many Prophets that have been sent to them made known the ruin that is coming upon the posterity of Jacob in the Ten Tribes and it hath lighted upon Israel that is it shall light upon Israel however they flatter themselves even upon them it shall fall it shall certainly come upon them as it hath been foretold See the Note before ver 7. Yet there are some Expositors that would have it understood thus and it hath lighted upon Israel that is the word sent unto them was accordingly delivered to them and known amongst them falling amongst them as the seed doth on the ground where it is sown Ver. 9. And all the people shall know c. That is when the judgment threatned shall come upon them then they shall all know to their cost experimentally that it was indeed the word of God that was spoken to them though now they will not believe it but do vainly flatter themselves even Ephraim see the Note Psal 78.9 and the inhabitants of Samaria that is of the Kingdom of Samaria to wit the Kingdom of the Ten Tribes of Israel or rather the inhabitants of the City Samaria the Royal and chief City of that Kingdom who are particularly mentioned by way of intimating to them that they should not escape by the strength of their fortifications but should the rather be destroyed for their vain confidence therein as is more clearly set forth in the following words that say in the pride and stoutness of heart to wit that which is added in the next verse Ver. 10. The bricks are fallen down but we will build with hewn stones c. That is our enemies have beaten down our brick-buildings but we will build them again of hewn stones which will be far more costly and strong and stately the Sycomores are cut down but we will change them into cedars that is they have hewn and broken down our houses made of the timber of Sycamore-trees which was of no great reckoning but we will build others of Cedar-Timber far more stately and lasting Some I know understand this last Clause of planting Cedars in the room of those Sycamore-trees which the enemies had cut down when they made all the spoil they could in the Countrey which cannot so probably be thought to be here intended But however the meaning of these Proverbial Expressions is that though their State and Land had suffer'd much by their Enemies yet they would soon bring all things into a more splendid and glorious condition than ever they had been in before insomuch that the ruines the Enemy had made should prove an advantage to them
Arthur Jackson 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pinx … st fecit Annotations UPON THE WHOLE BOOK OF ISAIAH WHEREIN First all such Passages in the Text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any Reader of ordinary Capacity Secondly In many Clauses those things are discovered which are needful and useful to be known and not so easily at the first reading observed And thirdly many places that might at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled Intended chiefly for the Assistance and Information of those that use constantly every day to read some part of the Bible and would gladly always understand what they read if they had some man to help them By ARTHUR JACKSON late Minister of St. FAITHS LONDON John 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they which testifie of me Psal 119.27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts so shall I talk of thy wondrous works LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers-Chappel 1682. Academiae Cantabrigiensis Liber TO THE VIRTUOUS and PIOUS AND My very good Friend Mrs Elizabeth Beale IT is Solomon's advice Prov. 27.10 Thy friend and thy fathers friend forsake not that is use all good means to keep and preserve such a friend Such a friend have you always approved your self to the Author of these Annotations and all his Family and on that account I am forc'd to think my self obliged to take this opportunity of testifying my grateful sense of such Friendship by presenting to you these Annotations tho I know they would otherwise have been valued and made use of for the Authors as well as your own sake towards whom and all his you have inherited a most kind and affectionate Friendship from your Worthy and Pious Father deceased and your yet surviving eminently Holy Mother who is as great an instance of a religious humble uniform persevering Christian as any I know I am sure I need say nothing to inhance the value you have for the Authors Memory whose true plain hearted Cordial affectionate Friendship I have so often heard you mention with a great resentment of his loss But I may not forbear gratefully to take notice of your constant and frequent Visits of the Authors Widow my most dear Mother notwithstanding the infirmities of her age hath rendred her unable to be apprehensive of the greatness of your kindness I am never like to have any other way of returning your love and kindness than by hearty desires of the welfare of you and yours and praying to the Lord to return into your bosom full measure pressed down and running over And therefore I heartily pray the Lord to continue those earthly blessings which he hath bestowed on you and to enable you so wisely to improve them that they may not hinder but fit you for those better most solid and durable blessings which remain to be the portion of all that love and serve the Lord and that he himself may be a God and Father to you and yours shall be the Prayer of MADAM Your much obliged Friend and Servant in our Lord John Jackson TO THE Christian Reader ONE main cause why these Annotations which were by the Author in his life-time fairly transcribed with his own hand fit for the Press do come abroad so long after his decease is because some quires of the Copy being parted from the rest were mislay'd and not found again for many years I suppose the Authors Prefaces to the former Volumes do discharge me from any need of giving the Reader an account of them or directions how they may be made most useful to those of ordinary capacities to serve whose spiritual interest they were chiefly designed and towards whom especially the younger and more bashful persons he did always exercise a more than ordinary winning and encouraging freedom in his whole converse having no appearance of that morose austerity and reservedness for which some good men have been blamed and which oft-times hinders those who most need it from desiring and receiving direction and assistance from their Spiritual Guides And therefore I have only to recommend them to the Christian Readers serious perusal and humbly to beg the blessing of the Lord upon them There is only one service which I find many good people judg I owe to the Memory of my most endeared Father and that is to give some brief account of some such passages of his life as may be thought worthy a remark wherein I shall be religiously careful to mention nothing but what I know or have abundant ground to be assured of its truth Mr. Arthur Jackson was born in Little Waldingfield in Suffolk his Father Mr. John Jackson a Spanish Merchant of London dyed when he was young his Mother afterwards married Sir Tho. Crooke Baronet who carried her into Ireland where she dyed He was by his Guardian Mr. Joseph Jackson of Broomfield in Edmunton carried to Cambridg and placed in Trinity Colledg but under the Tuition of one so little minding the faithful discharge of that great Work he undertook that I have often heard him say He might have been half a year absent and his Tutor not known it But by the Grace of God he was betimes engaged in a way of serious constant and resolved studiousness seldom studying less than fourteen or sixteen hours in a day for the first three or four years as I have heard him sometimes declare and then I suppose he took up that course of rising at three or four a clock summer and winter which he practised ever since I can remember and till his death being scarce ever when well in bed at six a clock unless perusing his Notes and indeed he was at 73 as fit and willing for his work as at 40 his sight so good that without spectacles he could read the smallest Greek print in his study by Moon light but so short-sighted that he could not distinguish his friends when he met them in the streets which occasioned many persons who were not acquainted with him to think his not returning their civil salutes to be out of pride or slighting when 't was only his not seeing them occasioned his passing by them unsaluted He continued some time in the Colledg after he was Master of Arts till he married Mary the eldest Daughter of Mr. Tho. Bownert of Stoneberry in Hertfordshire with whom he lived 47 years in great endearment of mutual love by whom he had three sons and five daughters and who with two sons and two daughters do yet survive him He was married in the year 1619 not long after he was chosen by the Inhabitants of Michael's Woodstreet to be their Lecturer and after the death of Mr. Bragden their Pastour When the great Sickness came in 1624. he sent his Wife and Children to her Father and continued himself in the City discharging all the Offices and Duties of a faithful Pastor to his flock
and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles in him shall the Gentiles trust As for the last words and his rest shall be glorious some understand this of Christs death and burial to wit how ignominious soever his death should be to him in the sight of the world yet he should be then and thereby exceedinlgy glorified according to that which he said when he was preparing himself to dye Joh. 17.1 Father the hour is come glorifie thy Son that thy Son also may glorifie thee And indeed it cannot be denied but that this Rest of his was glorious first because he then overcame all the powers of darkness and 2ly because his name was then highly honoured by the great and wonderful things that were done at his Death and the eclipsing of the Sun c. and especially by his Resurrection honoured with the apparition of Angels and many miraculous passages and by his triumphant Ascension into Heaven and 3ly because of the great Glory given him by the Chuch for that great work of their Redemption But yet I do rather conceive that the meaning of these words in this place is either that the Rest and Peace of his Church would be very glorious or else that his Church the place where he had determined to settle his perpetual residence according to that Psal 132.13 14. The Lord hath chosen Zion he hath desired it for his habitation this is my Rest for ever c. and that Matth. 28.20 Lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world and the people upon whom he had setled his love and favour should be very glorious to wit in regard of the glorious signs and effects of his presence amongst them in the abundant knowledge and eminent holiness that should be wrought in them by his word and Spirit and in the great and wonderful things that should be done amongst them for their deliverance and safegard And herein there seems to be an Allusion to that which is often formerly said That the Tabernacle and Temple was filled with the Glory of God See Exod. 40.34 35. Lev. 9.23 and 1 King 8.11 And see also the Note before Chap. 4.2 4. Ver. 11. And it shall come to pass in that day c. In the foregoing verse the Prophet foretold the Conversion of the Gentiles here now he adds that at the same time the Jews should also be converted And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time c. Some understand the first deliverance here intimated to be that of the Israelites out of Egypt and the second here promised to be that of the Jews out of Babylon But because the Jews that were delivered out of Babylon were for the generality only of the two Tribes of Judah and Benjamin and here the Prophet speaks of the deliverance of his people of all the Tribes from all parts of the World and that too in the days of the Messiah that ensign that should be lifted up whereof he had spoken in the foregoing verse I rather think that this is meant of their deliverance by Christ from the spiritual Bondage of Satan Sin Death and Hell to wit that as the Lord did once before with an out stretched arm deliver the Israelites out of Egypt by the Ministry of Moses so he would the second time with great zeal again set himself to recover the remnant of his people which shall be left that is to bring home to himself by Christ those of his ancient people the Jews which shall there remain undestroyed amongst the Gentiles as being still mindful of the Covenant he had formerly made with them And this was partly accomplished in those many thousands of Jews Act. 21.20 though but a remnant in comparison of the whole body of the Nation that were by Christ and his Apostles won to embrace the Faith of the Gospel and shall be more fully performed when the main body of the residue of that Nation shall in the last days be brought in to Christ of which the Apostle speaks clearly Rom. 11.25 26. And indeed because the Prophet doth in this place first foretel the gathering in of the Gentiles to Christ in the foregoing verse and then doth here after that add this concerning the bringing in of the Jews therefore many learned Divines have thought that it is that last Conversion of the Jews that is here principally intended by the Prophet As for the places here mentioned from which the believing Jews should be gathered from Assyria and from Egypt and from Buthros and from Cush and from Elam and from Shinar and from Hamath and from the Islands of the Sea it is hard clearly to determine what all these Countrys are It may suffice us to know that upon the grievous miseries that were brought upon this people first by the Assyrians and afterward by the Babylonians many of them did of their own accord leave the Land of Judea and flee into Egypt of which Pathros seems to have been one particular Province Jer. 44.1 15. See Jer. 43.57 and 44.27 28. and so likewise into other Countrys and that many of them that were carried away Captives by the Assyrians and Babylonians might by them be sold to other Nations and so be dispersed all the world over And evident it is in Scripture that all those Countrys that bordered upon the Sea and were divided from them by the Sea were by the Jews usually called the Islands of the Sea Jer. 47.4 See also the Note Gen. 10.5 Ver. 12. And he shall set up an ensign for the Nations c. See the Note before ver 10. But this I conceive is a farther Explanation of what was said in the foregoing verse concerning the Conversion of the Jews and therefore by saying that the Lord should set up the ensign of the Gospel for the Nations either the Prophet intended that the Jews should be gathered in hereby to the Church from the Nations amongst whom they were dispersed or else that the Nations should hereby be summoned to bring in the Jews unto Christ or at least that the Jews should be converted by the preaching of the Gospel together with other Nations for that the Prophet doth principally here speak of the Conversion of the Jews And therefore by saying that the Lord should set up the ensign of the Gospel for the Nations either the Prophet intended that the Jews should be gathered in hereby to the Church from the Nations amongst whom they were dispersed or else that the Nations hereby should be summoned to bring the Jews unto Christ or at least that the Jews should be converted by the preaching of the Gospel together with other Nations for that the Prophet doth principally here speak of the Conversion of the Jews is evident by the following words and shall assemble the out-casts of Israel See the Note Psal 147.2 and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of
through the Mediation of Christ it cannot seem strange that from the prediction of the deliverance he should now proceed to this promise concerning Christ The Lord hath called me from the Womb c. That is Even from the Womb he designed me to the Office of the Mediator yet the meaning is not that God did not appoint him thereto till he was conceived or born for he was by Gods decree chosen and separated to be the Messiah from all Eternity but that in his conception and birth there was a tendency to the accomplishment of this which God had decreed concerning him to that end he was born Thus it was with Isaiah in regard of his Prophetical Office as it was with Jeremy also Jer. 1.5 and with St. Paul Gal. 1.15 and thus it was with Christ From the bowels of my Mother hath he made mention of my Name that is from my very birth or before I was born he assigned me my name and did thereby make known the Work and Office whereunto I was appointed see Matt. 1.21 Luk. 1.31 and 2.21 Ver. 2. And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me and made me a polished shaft in his Quiver hath he hid me For the understanding of this we must know first that Christs Word and Preaching and Typically the Prophet Isaiahs too is here compared to a sharp sword and to a Polished shaft which wounds not only near at hand but also at a great distance very far off be cause it should be of such power and efficacy to wound and pierce the hearts of Men both by working effectually upon some for their conversion and by convincing vexing and galling of others yea even of the Gentiles to the utmost parts of the World the accomplishment whereof we see in many things recorded in the Gospel concerning Christs preaching as where it is said of Christ that he was mighty in word Luk. 24.19 and where his very enemies confessed Never Man spake like this Man Joh. 7.46 and in that which is said concerning the Doctrine of the Gospel Heb. 4.12 that it is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword c. see the Notes also Chap. 11.4 and Psal 45.6 And 2dly that by saying that God had hid him in the shadow of his hand c. is meant that God would shelter him under the covert of his Almighty power and protect him from the rage of his enemies until the time came fore-appointed by God where he was to dye for the sins of his people see the Notes Chap. 18.1 and 42.1 And indeed considering how sharply Isaiah dealt with the Jews and that for so long a time together under so many several Kings as when he called them Princes of Sodom and People of Gomorrah Chap. 10. and so in many other places he might well say that God had hid him in the shadow of his hand c. For otherwise how could he have been so long secured against their Rage and Fury Ver. 3. And said unto me Thou art my Servant O Israel c. In our great Annotations another Translation is approved as best And he said thou art my Servant It is Israel in whom I will be glorified But this cannot be the meaning of the words according to our Translation of those therefore that adhere to our Translation some hold that this is spoken of Isaiah and that he is called Israel as owning him to be the only one in a manner amongst his people that in those times of general defection deserved to be called by that name an Israelite indeed as Nathaniel is called Joh. 1.47 but far most generally it is understood of Christ Thou art my Servant O Israel for Servant See Chap. 42.1 The greater question is why Christ should be here called Israel Some say it is because he was descended of the Stock of Israel which is not improbable it being manifest that elsewhere in like manner he is called David Hos 3.5 Others because he was the true Israel who wrestled with God to pacifiy his wrath against poor sinners and prevailed as Jacob once wrestled with the Angel and prevailed and was thereupon called Israel Gen. 32.28 And others again because he was the Seed to wit of Abraham and Israel to whom the promise is made Gal. 3.16 And so they hold that both Christ as the Head and the faithful as his Members are here joyntly together called Israel as elsewhere Christ together with the whole Church is called Christ 2 Cor. 12.12 But this seems not so probable because it is so clear in the foregoing Verse that one particular person is here spoken to However the ground of the following words In whom I will be glorified as they have respect to Christ is clearly because 1. by his making God known and the riches of his Grace towards poor sinners and 2ly by his accomplishing the great work of their Redemption and triumphing therein over Satan Death and Hell And 3dly by his performing all that had been foretold by the Prophets God was exceedingly Glorified whence was that of our Saviour Joh. 17.4 I have glorified thee on Earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do Ver. 4. Then I said c. To wit Christ though indeed the following complaint might well be Isaiahs also as a type of Christ I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for nought and in vain to wit in regard I could prevail with so few of the Jews to embrace the glad tidings of the Gospel see Joh. 3.32 Yet surely my Judgement is with the Lord that is he it is that can and will judge my cause and to him I willingly refer my self and my work with my God that is he knows the Commission I had from him and how faithfully I have discharged my trust labouring therein even to the spending of my strength and therefore I know that he will reward me not according to the success of my Labours but according to my faithfulness in the discharge of my duty Ver. 5. And now saith the Lord that formed me from the Womb to be his servant c. That is that appointed and fitted me from the Womb to be his Servant and indeed then Christ took upon him the form of a servant see the Notes above Verse 2 3. to bring Jacob again to him that is to convert the Jews to bring them by Faith and Repentance to return to the Lord their God from whom they were strayed Though Israel be not gathered c. Some read this as it is in the Margin that Israel may be gathered to him and I may be glorious c. and so make it a farther declaration of Gods end in sending Christ namely the gathering of the Jews in to God But reading the words as they are in our Bibles Though Israel be not gathered yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord the meaning is plain as if