Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

The Prophet confirms the former doctrine; to wit, that nothing shall hinder the Lord from working the full redemption of his people; because he hath decreed it. He calls them the redeemed of the Lord: first, that he might provoke them to the consideration of his power: secondly, that they should not measure the promise of their return, by looking unto humane helps. Moreover, he shows that they shall come to Zion. Thereby giving them assurance, that God will not bring them out of Babylon, to leave them in the way. Hence we learn, that we cannot enter into Zion, which is the Church, until God have redeemed us: ¹for in this example of the ancient people, we have a pattern set before us, in which we may see that no man is delivered from under the tyranny of the devil (whose vassals we are all of us by nature) until God have prevented us by his grace. For who is sufficient to be his own redeemer? Now because the work of this redemption belongs in particular unto the kingdom of Christ, it thereupon follows, that he is only the finisher of it; as himself saith, John 8.36. Again, it is not enough to be once redeemed: for mark what the end of it is here, to wit, that he might remain in the Church of God, and grow daily from faith to faith. Hath Christ redeemed us then? let us aim at this mark with all our might.