Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

He calls the inhabitants of the dust, the faithful, who are humbled under crosses and afflictions, who in life have death continually before their eyes. Yet I deny not but they also enjoy the benefits of God even in this life: but by this similitude the Prophet sets out their miserable condition, as those that bear in their bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus: 2. Cor. 4.10. For it is needful that their outward man should be beaten down and mortified, till at the last it be brought to nothing, that so the inward man may be renewed daily: 2. Cor. 4.16. If we mean then to have any part or portion in this consolation, let us willingly content our selves to lie down in the dust.

He calles the inhabitants of the dust, the faithfull, who are humbled vnder crosses and afflictions, who in life haue death continually before their eyes. Yet I deny not but they also inioy the benefits of God euen in this life: but by this similitude the Prophet sets out their miserable condition, as those that beare in their bodies the dying of the Lord Iesus: 2. Cor. 4.10. For it is needfull that their outward man should be beaten downe and mortified, till at the last it be brought to nothing, that so the inward man may be renued daily: 2. Cor. 4.16. If we meane then to haue any part or portion in this consolation, let vs willingly content our selues to lie downe in the dust.

For this cause he commands the dead to arise and sing; which may seem to be very unfitting for men in their case, there being nothing among them but a sorrowful silence. In this therefore the Prophet shows an apparent difference between the elect of God,¹