Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

It is to be noted that he saith from the ends of the earth; because the praises of God were then bounded within Judea, and were not heard far off: but afterward, they sounded every where. When he adds, glory to the just: some take it as belonging to the person of all the faithful in general; as if the meaning were, that God shall be glorified, because of his justice. Others read it together thus; We have heard glory given to the just God. Those who think the Heralds of these praises are called just, do gather a good sense; but they consider not the word glory: or at the least they are constrained to put the word Rejoicing, in the stead of it. Whereas he puts the verb, we have heard, in the preter-perfect tense, and not in the future; I make no doubt but he meant to revive the hearts of the faithful by this consolation; to wit, We shall again hear the praises of God: for it imports more then if he had said, The praises of God shall be heard. He also speaks in the first person, that he might comprehend the whole body of the Church, and so draws the faithful to a more diligent attention. We often find the epithet Just, in the Scripture, which he here applies unto God: but it belongs unto him after another sort then it doth unto men; who are called just, in regard of that righteousness which is communicated unto them: for God is called just, by the effects; because he is the fountain of it. Let us now see then the substance of this congratulation and thanksgiving;¹ to wit, we praise this just God, because we have life and salvation, by the imputation of this justice unto us. Where the justice of God is felt then, there must praises and thanks needs follow.

It is to be noted that he saith from the ends of the earth; because the praises of God were then bounded within Iudea, and were not heard farre off: but afterward, they sounded euerie where. When he addes, glorie to the iust: some take it as belonging to the person of all the faithfull in generall; as if the meaning were, that God shall be glorified, beccause of his iustice. Others reade it together thus; We haue heard glory giuen to the iust God. Those who thinke the Heralds of these praises are called iust, doe gather a good sense; but they consider not the word glorie: or at the least they are constrained to put the word Reioycing, in the stead of it. Whereas he puts the verbe, we haue heard, in the preter-perfect tence, and not in the future; I make no doubt but he meant to reuiue the hearts of the faithful by this consolation; to wit, We shall againe heare the praises of God: for it imports more then if he had said, The praises of God shall be heard. He also speakes in the first person, that hee might comprehend the whole body of the Church, and so drawes the faithfull to a more diligent attention. We often finde the epithite Iust, in the Scripture, which he here applies vnto God: but it belongs vnto him after another sort then it doth vnto men; who are called iust, in regard of that righteousnesse which is communicated vnto them: for God is called iust, by the effects; because he is the fountaine of it. Let vs now see then the substance of this congratulation and thanksgiuing;