Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 1. The word that Isaiah the son of Amos saw upon Judah and Jerusalem.

Vers. 1. The word that Isaiah the sonne of Amos saw vpon Iudah and Ierusalem.

This prophecy is a confirmation of the doctrine which we have had a little before, as touching the restoration of the Church. For in as much as it is a very hard matter to expect the salvation of the Church in the middest of the ruin of it, when as the wrath of God being once kindled doth begin to consume all things round about; then are the bare and naked promises very hardly thought to be sufficient for us to rest and stay our selves upon. For this cause the Lord would have this special vision conjoined in stead of a confirmation with the consolation, which was proposed heretofore; the more assuredly to confirm our faith, that the Church should not perish, no not in all the calamities that could possibly befall it. Thus I doubt not but this vision hath affinity with that which we have seen in the 26. and 27. verses of the former chapter. And by this we may know what was the use and end of visions. For in as much as the bare doctrine is of no sufficient authority at all with us; therefore the Lord addeth visions, by which he seals up in us the trueth of his word. Seeing then that this vision is joined with the former promise, from thence we gather a very profitable doctrine: to wit, that all the visions which the Lord revealed to his Prophets in times past, ought to be joined with the promises, and to be as seals annexed unto them. Herein also we have greatly to magnify, and extol from time to time the wonderful goodness of God, who is not contented to give us his word alone, but doth also vouchsafe to set the view of the things promised even as it were before our eyes.

THis prophesie is a confirmation of the doctrine which we haue had a little before, as touching the restauration of the Church. For in as much as it is a very hard matter to expect the saluation of the Church in the middest of the ruine of it, when as the wrath of God being once kindled doth begin to consume all things round about; then are the bare and naked promises very hardly thought to bee sufficient for vs to rest and stay our selues vpon. For this cause the Lord would haue this speciall vision conioyned in stead of a confirmation with the consolation, which was proposed heretofore; the more assuredly to confirme our faith, that the Church should not perish, no not in all the calamities that could possiblie befall it. Thus I doubt not but this vision hath affinitie with that which we haue seene in the 26. and 27. verses of the former chapter. And by this we may know what was the vse and end of visions. For in as much as the bare doctrine is of no sufficient authority at all with vs; therefore the Lord addeth visions, by which he seales vp in vs the trueth of his word. Seeing then that this vision is ioyned with the former promise, from thence we gather a very profitable doctrine: to wit, that all the visions which ye Lord reuealed to his Prophets in times past, ought to be ioyned with the promises, and to be as seales annexed vnto them. Herein also we haue greatly to magnifie, and extoll from time to time the wonderfull goodnes of God, who is not contented to giue vs his word alone, but doth also vouchsafe to set the view of the things promised euen as it were before our eyes.