Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

IN the former verse he had briefly touched the cause from whence such an excellency should come unto the mountain of Zion, to wit, because all nations should flow unto it, as if the rivers should overflow with overmuch abundance of waters: now he declares the same thing, adding also the reason of it. For one might demand upon what occasion so many sorts of people should flow thither by bands from countries so far off. He saith then that they shall come thither for no other end but to serve God. But in the word Many, there is an antithesis, for he signifies that there should not be one nation only, as before; which should yield obedience unto the true worship of God: but that those which were altogether strangers, should come to consent with like agreement in religion with them: as if he should say, The Church which before was shut up as in a corner, shall now be gathered out of all parts. He hath put many then, for divers. For it is certain that he meant not to lessen that which he had said ere while of all nations. Further, although this was never fulfilled, to wit, that all the people of the whole world having left their country should assemble to Jerusalem; notwithstanding because the doctrine of the Gospel (by which God did there gather to himself a Church indifferently from out of all the world) came forth of this mountain of Zion; he well affirms that those who embraced the covenant of salvation, with one consent of faith, and joined themselves to one only Church, should come thither. The agreement also which is between the figures of the law, and the spiritual worship, is to be noted; such as it began to be after the coming of Christ.