Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 6. And there shall be stability of thy times, strength, salvation, wisdom, and knowledge: for the fear of the Lord shall be his treasure.

Vers. 6. And there shall be stabilitie of thy times, strength, saluation, wisdome, and knowledge: for the feare of the Lord shall be his treasure.

He promiseth that the estate of the kingdom shall shall be happy and glorious under Hezekiah, having respect principally to that woeful and miserable scattering which was seen in Achaz his days. For albeit the enemy was expulsed, yet was there small hope that the Jews (being in such extremity) should have recovered their first condition. As touching the words, some translate thus; There shall be in thy times, truth, strength, and salvation: as if the Prophet should relate what felicity the people should enjoy under this holy King: and they think that every word contains in it so many benefits of God. Others take the word stability, for fidelity; as if the Prophet should have said; that it should be in stead of salvation and strength. Othersome draw a sense from hence a little differing; to wit, that strength, salvation, and knowledge, shall be stable under Hezekiah. But when I scan the words of the Prophet considerately, I had rather make another distinction; to wit, that stability, strength, and salvation shall reign in wisdom and knowledge under Hezekiah: and so, that which is by and by added, the fear of the Lord shall be the treasure of this good King, will follow and agree well. For in time of peace, every one desires to be secured: yet how few are there that care to use the means to enjoy so great a benefit? Nay, do not the most part pamper themselves as swine in the sty? so as whilst blind covetousness draws all the world after things earthly, few make any reckoning of that incomprehensible light of the heavenly doctrine.

HEe promiseth that the estate of the kingdome shall shall bee happie and glorious vnder Hezechias, hauing respect principally to that wofull and miserable scattering which was seene in Achaz his daies. For albeit the enemie was expulsed, yet was there small hope that the Iewes (being in such extremitie) should haue recouered their first condition. As touching the words, some translate thus; There shall bee in thy times, truth, strength, and saluation: as if the Prophet should relate what felicitie the people should inioy vnder this holy King: and they thinke that euery word containes in it so many benefits of God. Others take the word stabilitie, for fidelitie; as if the Prophet should haue said; that it should bee in stead of saluation and strength. Othersome draw a sense from hence a little differing; to wit, that strength, saluation, and knowledge, shall bee stable vnder Hezechias. But when I scan the words of the Prophet considerately, I had rather make another distinction; to wit, that stabilitie, strength, and saluation shall reigne in wisdome and knowledge vnder Hezechias: and so, that which is by and by added, the feare of the Lord shall be the treasure of this good King, will follow and agree well. For in time of peace, euery one desires to be secured: yet how few are there that care to vse the meanes to inioy so great a benefit? Nay, doe not the most part pamper themselues as swine in the stie? so as whilest blind couetousnesse drawes all the world after things earthly, few make any reckoning of that incomprehensible light of the heauenly doctrine.