Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Quest. But it may here be demanded of what time the Prophet speaks in this place, for many expound it of the last resurrection. The Jews refer it unto Messiah and his kingdom: but they deceive themselves, because they imagine that this was fulfilled at his first coming: our writers that are Christians have also missed the mark, who have restrained it to the last Judgement. Ans. For the Prophet comprehends the whole kingdom of Christ, even from the beginning thereof unto the latter end. Why so? Because the hope of the blessed life always overcomes the world, as we shall see anon. Now to the end we may the better understand the Prophets meaning, we must first know, that life is not promised generally unto all, but only to such as die in the Lord: now he speaks of the faithful which so die, whom the Lord preserves under his safeguard. We know that God is the God of the living, and not of the dead, Math. §122.32. Are we the Lords? Doubtless we shall §2live. But we must in the mean while become as those that are dead, ¹for our life is hidden, and as yet we can not see that which we hope for. Thus then he only speaks of the dead; that is to say, of the condition of the faithful which sit now in the shadow of death, in regard of the many afflictions wherewith they are daily visited: whence we see that this can not be restrained to the last resurrection. For we contrariwise affirm that the reprobates are dead,² even whilst they live. Why? Because they never tasted of Gods fatherly love in Christ, wherein the true life consists, and therefore they perish in their brutish sottishness. But because the faithful run unto God, therefore they obtain life in the middest of their greatest dangers, yea, even in death it self: but in regard they set this last resurrection before them as the end of their hope; therefore it can not be said properly that they live, till that day be come; that being then freed from all sorrows and corruption, they may receive a sure life that never decays. And therefore S. Paul very fitly shows that it were to turn the order of things upside down, if that the faithful should live till such time as Christ who is the fountain of life appeareth.