Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 23. In that day shall there be a path from Egypt to Ashur; and Ashur shall come into Egypt, and Egypt into Ashur:^* so the Egyptians shall worship with Ashur.

1. *Or, love.Or, loue.

Now the Prophet shows how it shall come to pass that the Lord will shed this his bounty forth every where: as if he should say, This largess shall not be shut up in some corner, neither shall it be felt of one people alone, as it was wont to be. Now he speaks here of two nations which were the sworn enemies of the Church, and therefore seemed to be the furthest off from Gods kingdom of all others. For a man might have had much more hope of nations further off, in regard that these two made war, as you would say then, upon God himself, and persecuted his Church of set purpose.¹ Oh Lord! if it be so that he shows himself thus merciful to the capital enemies of his Church, that passing by their sins, he adopts them for his children, what will he then do to other Nations? Thus ye see a manifest vocation of the Gentiles, contained in this prophecy.

NOw the Prophet shewes how it shall come to passe that the Lord will shed this his bountie forth euery where: as if he should say, This largesse shall not bee shut vp in some corner, neither shall it be felt of one people alone, as it was wont to be. Now he speakes heere of two nations which were the sworne enemies of the Church, and therefore seemed to be the furthest off from Gods kingdome of all others. For a man might haue had much more hope of nations further off, in regard that these two made warre, as you would say then, vpon God himself, and persecuted his Church of set purpose.¹ Oh Lord! if it be so that he shewes himselfe thus mercifull to the capitall enemies of his Church, that passing by their sinnes, hee adopts them for his children, what wil he then do to other Nations? Thus yee see a manifest vocation of the Gentiles, contained in this prophecie.