Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

This tends to the consolation of the faithful. As if he should say; We see what will fall upon the heads of the wicked, for thou wilt cast them out of the company of thy children, & wilt consume them with fire as thine enemies: but we shall have an happy and blessed estate. The verb Shaphat, which signifies to Ordain among the Hebrews, is as much to say, as to Establish: as if he should say; Thou wilt hold and preserve us in peace continually. The wicked indeed enjoy a kind of peace, but it lasts not long: our peace is seated and established in the Lord, and hath such a foundation as shall endure for ever. Now by the word peace, he means a settled and lasting felicity. Hence let us conclude then, that the children of God which trust in him, are fully blessed: for the life of the wicked is more then miserable, albeit it be soaked in much deliciousness and pleasures, as those that have all things at their wish. There is no assured nor stable peace then, but in the fatherly love of our God.

THis tends to the consolation of the faithfull. As if he should say; We see what will fall vpon the heads of the wicked, for thou wilt cast them out of the company of thy children, & wilt consume them with fire as thine enemies: but we shal haue an happy and blessed estate. The verbe Shaphat, which signifies to Ordaine among the Hebrewes, is as much to say, as to Establish: as if he should say; Thou wilt hold and preserue vs in peace continually. The wicked indeed inioy a kind of peace, but it lasts not long: our peace is seated and established in the Lord, and hath such a foundation as shall indure for euer. Now by the word peace, he meanes a setled and lasting felicitie. Hence let vs conclude then, that the children of God which trust in him, are fully blessed: for the life of the wicked is more then miserable, albeit it be soaked in much deliciousnesse and pleasures, as those that haue all things at their wish. There is no assured nor stable peace then, but in the fatherly loue of our God.

By works, he means all the good which God doth to his chosen: as if he should say; All our affairs and actions: all things which we use for our benefit in this world, in a word whatsoever, we put our hands unto. Those then who have alleged this place, to overthrow the doctrine of free will, did not well understand the Prophets meaning. I grant it is God only that works, whatsoever is good in us; so as all our uprightness proceeds only from his Spirit: but the Prophet meant simply to teach here, that we receive all the good things which we enjoy, only from the hand of God;