\\INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 56\\

This chapter contains a prophecy of the conversion of the Gentiles, and
their accession to the church, and of the corrupt state of the church
afterwards, especially of its rulers, which brought in men comparable to
wild beasts to devour. It begins with an exhortation to the duties of
judgment and justice, enforced by the nearness of Christ's salvation,
and the clear relation of his righteousness in the Gospel, and by the
blessedness of the man that does those duties, and lays hold on those
blessings, and observes the whole of religion, instituted and moral,
\\#Isa 56:1,2\\, when encouragement is given to eunuchs, and strangers or
Gentiles, sensible and religious persons, to hope for acceptance with
God, and that they shall be welcome to his house, with an answer to
their objections, and promises of special favours, \\#Isa 56:3-7\\ to which
is subjoined a promise or prophecy of future additions, both of Jews and
Gentiles, to the church of God in the latter day, \\#Isa 56:8\\ and then
follows a call upon some savage people, comparable to wild beasts, to
come and devour, which will be previous to the above prophecy,
\\#Isa 56:9\\, the reason of which is the sad corruption of the rulers of
the church, their ignorance, negligence, avarice, and drunkenness,
\\#Isa 56:10-12\\.