Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

THE XXXII. CHAPTER.

Vers. 1. Behold a King shall reign in righteousness, and the Princes shall govern in judgement.

Vers. 1. Behold a King shall reigne in righteousnesse, and the Princes shall gouerne in iudgement.

¹His meaning is to say, that God will yet be good unto his church; so as he will restore it unto the former estate. Now the best way to bring it thereunto, is when civill policy is rightly administered, and all things ordered according to justice and equity. No doubt this prophecy belongs to Hezekiah, and to his reign; under whom the Church was reformed and brought again into her first glory: for before she was miserably scattered. That wicked and cursed hypocrite Ahaz, had corrupted all after his own fantasy, and had overthrown both the civill and ecclesiastical policy.² The Prophet therefore promiseth another King, to wit, Hezekiah, who by his justice and equity, should set those things in order, which before were confused. In a word, he here sets forth the happy state of the Church, as in a glass: which seeing it cannot be erected without Christ, it is therefore certain that the things here spoken of, ought to be referred to him; of whom Hezekiah was but a figure, both touching his office and Kingdom.

¹HIs meaning is to say, that God will yet bee good vnto his church; so as he will restore it vnto the former estate. Now the best way to bring it thereunto, is when ciuill policie is rightly administred, and all things ordered according to iustice and equitie. No doubt this prophecie belongs to Hezechias, and to his reigne; vnder whom the Church was reformed and brought againe into her first glory: for before she was miserably scattered. That wicked and cursed hypocrit Ahaz, had corrupted all after his own fantasie, and had ouerthrowne both the ciuill and ecclesiastiall policie.