Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 65:8

8 Thus saith the Lord, as the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, destroy it not , for a blessing is in it , so will I do for my servants sake , that I may not destroy them all.

These words must be conce[illegible: 1+ letters]ved as a gracious answer from God to the Prophet, saying as Abraham, Gen. 18. 23. 25. or as Moses, Ex. 32. 11, 12, 13. pleading Gods covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. To this God repheth, that he intended no such severity, the unfaithfulness of men should not make his promise of no effect, Rom. 3. 3. His threatning should be made good upon the generality of this people, whose Vine was of Sodom, and of the fields of Go [illegible: 1+ letters], Deut. 32. 32.

But yet, as in a Vineyard, which is generally unfruitful, there may be some particular Vine that brings forth fruit, or as in a Vine which is full of luxuriant branches that bring forth no fruit, there may be here and there a branch, that bringeth forth fruit, and hath the hop[illegible: 1+ letters]s of new wins in the c[illegible: 1+ letters]uster, and as to such, the Gardiner bids his Servant destroy it not, or them not; for they are fruitful, there is in them what speaketh Gods blessing, or what may be of use, and do us good.

So ([illegible: 1+ letters]aith God) will I do for my Servants sake, that I may not destroy them all, either for the sake of my Servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, with whom I anciently made a Covenant, or for my Servant Davids sake, or for the sake of such as are my Elect, at this time amongst them, see Ier. 30. 11. Amos 9. 8.

Marginal references: Joel 2. 14.