Is. 17:1-11 Sin desolates cities. It is strange that great conqueror should take pride in being enemies to mankind; but it is better tha flocks should lie down there, than that they should harbour any in ope rebellion against God and holiness. The strong holds of Israel, the kingdom of the ten tribes, will be brought to ruin. Those who ar partakers in sin, are justly made partakers in ruin. The people had, by sins, made themselves ripe for ruin; and their glory was as quickly cu down and taken away by the enemy, as the corn is out of the field by the husbandman. Mercy is reserved in the midst of judgment, for remnant. But very few shall be marked to be saved. Only here and ther one was left behind. But they shall be a remnant made holy. The fe that are saved were awakened to return to God. They shall acknowledg his hand in all events; they shall give him the glory due to his name To bring us to this, is the design of his providence, as he is ou Maker; and the work of his grace, as he is the Holy One of Israel. The shall look off from their idols, the creatures of their own fancy. We have reason to account those afflictions happy, which part between u and our sins. The God of our salvation is the Rock of our strength; an our forgetfulness and unmindfulness of him are at the bottom of all sin. The pleasant plants, and shoots from a foreign soil, ar expressions for strange and idolatrous worship, and the vile practice connected therewith. Diligence would be used to promote the growth of these strange slips, but all in vain. See the evil and danger of sin and its certain consequences.

Is. 17:12-14 The rage and force of the Assyrians resembled the might waters of the sea; but when the God of Israel should rebuke them, the would flee like chaff, or like a rolling thing, before the whirlwind In the evening Jerusalem would be in trouble, because of the powerfu invader, but before morning his army would be nearly cut off. Happy ar those who remember God as their salvation, and rely on his power an grace. The trouble of the believers, and the prosperity of their enemies, will be equally short; while the joy of the former, and the destruction of those that hate and spoil them, shall last for ever __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew