Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

NO doubt but many despised this song when Isaiah first published it: for in his time Jerusalem was full of bad companions, and the number of the godly were very few. But after the Prophets death, they were chastised for their impiety; for then they had some inkling that the Prophet had not foretold these things in vain. For whilst the wicked are in prosperity, they fear nothing, and bear themselves in hand, that they cannot be tamed. And thus the Jews thought they could never be driven out of Judea, nor led captives: nay, they imagined they should dwell there ever. It was needful therefore that all occasion of swelling pride should be taken away from them: hereunto tend the Prophets words, when he saith, that the inhabitants of the new City shall be unlike the first: for they shall be faithful and just.

NO doubt but many despised this song when Isaiah first published it: for in his time Ierusalem was full of bad companions, and the number of the godly were very few. But after the Prophets death, they were chastised for their impietie; for then they had some inckling that the Prophet had not foretold these things in vaine. For whilest the wicked are in prosperitie, they feare nothing, and beare themselues in hand, that they cannot be tamed. And thus the Iewes thought they could neuer be driuen out of Iudea, nor led captiues: nay, they imagined they should dwell there euer. It was needfull therefore that all occasion of swelling pride should be taken away from them: hereunto tend the Prophets words, when he saith, that the inhabitants of the new Citie shall be vnlike the first: for they shall bee faithfull and iust.

Moreover, this promise might have seemed ridiculous; because those which were banished and led into captivity, had no matter at all to rejoice of. Therefore after the destruction of the Temple and the City, and the overthrow of all estates, they might object, where are those gates which he commands us to open? or where are those people that should enter in at them? And yet notwithstanding,¹ we see these things came to pass; neither was there any thing foretold, which the Lord did not perform and accomplish. We ought therefore to set these ancient histories before our eyes, to arm our selves with the examples contained in them, and in the middest of this confused estate in which we now see the Church to be, to hope notwithstanding that the Lord will restore it.