Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

IN regard the wast of the Church was such, as the faithful durst scarce hope for a better estate, he shows that God hath the means ready in his hand to reform the Church anew.¹ And as before he used a similitude taken from building, so now also by another he teacheth that they needed not to fear as if God were not able in the end to finish the good work of his building begun.² In the mean while he doth by the way tax the pride and insolence of such as would be taken to be pillars of the Church; which yet as much as in them lay took the next way to overturn it. The light of faith was almost put out: Gods service was corrupted: so that there was a fearful deformity to be seen in the estate of this people, albeit they boasted themselves to be the royal Priesthood. Which we see now fulfilled in the Papacy. For they stick not to belch our glorious titles without any shame at all, albeit the lamentable confusion […] ⟨p. 280⟩to flight in the valley of Baal-perazim by the pursuit of David, 2. Sam. 5.20.25. 1. Chro. 14.11. Secondly, when the Amorites and other enemies were discomfited in the valley of Gibeon by the Israelites, under the leading of Joshua, who obtained such favour of the Lord that the Sun and Moon stood still at his request, that he might have time the better to give his enemies the foil, Josh. 10.10.

IN regard the wast of the Church was such, as the faithfull durst scarce hope for a better estate, he shewes that God hath the meanes readie in his hand to reforme the Church anew.¹ And as before he vsed a similitude taken from building, so now also by another he teacheth that they needed not to feare as if God were not able in the end to finish the good worke of his building begun.²