(b) Seeing that both the temple and the things in it, with the sacrifices were made and done by his appointment, he shows that he has no need of it, and that he can be without them, see Geneva Ps 50:10.

(c) To him that is humble and pure in heart, who receives my doctrine with reverence and fear.

(d) Because the Jews thought themselves holy by offering their sacrifices, and in the mean season had neither faith or repentance, God shows that he no less detests these ceremonies than he does the sacrifices of the heathen, who offered men, dogs and swine to their idols, which things were expressly forbidden in the law.

(e) I will discover their wickedness and hypocrisy, with which they think to blind my eyes to all the world.

(f) He encourages the faithful by promising to destroy their enemies, who pretended to be as brethren, but were hypocrites, and hated them that feared God.

{g} The enemies will shortly hear a more terrible voice, even fire and slaughter, seeing they would not hear the gentle voice of the prophets, who called them to repentance.

(h) Meaning, that the restoration of the church would be so sudden and contrary to all men's opinions as when a woman is delivered before she looked for it, and without pain in travail.

(i) This will pass the capacity of man to see such a multitude that will come up at once, meaning under the preaching of the gospel of which they who came out of Babylon were a sign.

(k) Declaring by this that as by his power and providence women travailed and delivered so he gives power to bring forth the Church at his appointed time.

(l) That is may rejoice for all the blessings that God bestows on his Church.

(m) I will give her happiness and prosperity in great abundance.

(n) Read Isa 60:16.

(o) You will be cherished as her dearly beloved children.

(p) You will have new strength and new beauty.

(q) This vengeance God began to execute at the destruction of Babylon and has always continued it against the enemies of his Church, and will do till the last day, which will be the accomplishment of it.

(r) Meaning, the hypocrites.

(s) By which are meant them that maliciously transgressed the law, by eating beasts forbidden, even to the mouse which nature abhors.

(t) The Gentiles will be partakers of that glory, which before I showed to the Jews.

(u) I will make these that I chose, that they perish not with the rest of the infidels: by which he alludes to the marking of the posts of his people, whom he preserved, Ex 12:7.

(x) I will scatter the rest of the Jews, who escaped destruction, into various nations.

(y) That is, Cecilia.

(z) Meaning Africa.

(a) That is Lydia, or Asia minor.

(b) Signifying the Parthians.

(c) Italy.

(d) Greece.

(e) Meaning, the apostles, disciples and others who he first chose of the Jews to preach to the Gentiles.

(f) That is the Gentiles, who by faith will be made the children of Abraham as you are.

(g) By which he means that no necessary means will want, when God will call the Gentiles to the knowledge of the gospel.

(h) That is, of the Gentiles, as he did Luke, Timothy and Titus first, and others after to preach his word.

(i) By this he signifies the kingdom of Christ in which his Church will be renewed, and where before there were appointed seasons to sacrifice in this there will be one continual Sabbath, so that all times and seasons will be meet.

(k) As he who declared the happiness that will be within the Church for the comfort of the godly, so does he show what horrible calamity will come to the wicked, that are out of the Church.

(l) Meaning, a continual torment of conscience, which will always gnaw them, and never permit them to be at rest, Mr 9:44.

(m) This is the just recompense for the wicked, who contemning God and his word, will be by God's just judgments abhorred by all his creatures.