Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 26. And I will restore thy Judges as at the first, and thy Counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called a city of righteousness, and a faithful city.

Vers. 26. And I will restore thy Iudges as at the first, and thy Counsellers as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called a citie of righteousnes, and a faithfull citie.

Now he speaks plainly without any figure. And because he had said that the spring and beginning of all evils was in the princes; thus he teacheth, that their offices and places shall be purged by the Lord, when he begins to restore the perfect health and welfare of the Church again unto her. And from thence it is also that justice in the political government comes; to wit, when the governors that rule are virtuous, and fearing God: because all thing go to havoc, when those which govern, are wicked. It is plain enough, that by Judges and Counsellors he means all Magistrates of what sort soever. In that he promiseth they shall be such as they were at the beginning, he puts them in mind of the singular benefit of God, whereof they had been deprived. God by his direction had exalted the throne of David, and commanded that in this government there should shine an Image of his fatherly love. Now although they had corrupted the same by wicked tyranny; yet notwithstanding, they ceased not to make their brags of false titles: for they boasted much of the kingdom of David, even as the Papists glory at this day under a false pretence of the Church. Therefore the people are justly admonished from what an happy estate they were fallen by their own default, that so they should not be displeased to have their multitudes of men diminished, but might rather be moved to recover again the good order which God had ordained.

NOw he speakes plainely without any figure. And because hee had said that the spring and beginning of all euils was in the princes; thus hee teacheth, that their offices and places shall be purged by the Lord, when he begins to restore the perfect health and welfarre of the Church againe vnto her. And from thence it is also that iustice in the politicall gouernment comes; to wit, when the gouernors that rule are vertuous, and fearing God: because all thing goe to hauock, when those which gouerne, are wicked. It is plaine enough, that by Iudges and Counsellers he meanes all Magistrates of what sort soeuer. In that hee promiseth they shall bee such as they were at the beginning, he puts them in mind of the singular benefit of God, whereof they had been depriued. God by his direction had exalted the throne of Dauid, and commanded that in this gouernmēt there should shine an Image of his fatherly loue. Now although they had corrupted the same by wicked tyrannie; yet notwithstanding, they ceased not to make their bragges of false titles: for they boasted much of the kingdome of Dauid, euen as the Papists glorie at this day vnder a false pretence of the Church. Therefore the people are iustly admonished from what an happie estate they were fallen by their owne default, that so they should not be displeased to haue their multitudes of mē diminished, but might rather be mooued to recouer againe the good order which God had ordained.