Isaiah 58:7 [Is it] not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
Ver. 7. Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry?] Thine "own bread" it must be, and that especially whereof thou hast on the fast day abridged thyself; for what the rich spare on such a day the poor should spend. Hereby (1.) Men's prayers shall speed the better; Act 10:4 (2.) They shall make God their debtor; Pro 19:17 (3.) That is best and most pleasing alms to God that is given in Church assemblies; for (1.) It is an ordinance of God, and a Sabbath duty; 1Co 16:1-2 (2.) Christ there sitteth, and seeth the gift and mind of every almsgiver, Luk 21:1-2 setting it down in his book of remembrance. Mal 3:16
And that thou briny the poor that are cast out.] Scilicet tanquam rebelles, as those poor Albigenses were in France, and their posterity lately in Piedmont; the Protestant Lorainers, proscribed for religion by their duke, and entertained by the state of Strasburg, at the earnest suit of the ministers there, till they could be conveniently provided for elsewhere, there being some thousands of them, which, till then, were forced to feed upon hips, haws, leaves of trees, and grass of the field. a
That thou cover him.] Duties of the second table only are here enjoined, because they are excellent evidences of true piety and pure religion. Jam 1:27
And that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh.] Thy poor brother, who is of the same nature with thee, and is as capable of grace and glory as thyself. Learn to see Christ in thy poor petitioner, and thou wilt the sooner yield. Mat 25:34-40 Consider also what is said of him that "shutteth up his bowels of compassion" from his necessitous brother. 1Jn 3:17
a Scultet. Annal.