Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 2. ^*Speak comfortably to Jerusalem and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lords hand double for all her sins.

Vers. 2. ^*Speake comfortablie to Ierusalem and crie vnto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquitie is pardoned: for she hath receiued of the Lords hand double for all her sinnes.

1. *Or, speak to the heart of Jerusalem.Or, speake to the heart of Ierusalem.

Here God gives his servants the Prophets a Commission, and puts that in their mouths which they were to utter, when fit time served, for to comfort the faithful that were sorrowful. And yet he stands not so much to exhort or embolden the Prophets to discharge this their duty manfully and faithfully, as he is earnest in giving of hope to the godly, wishing them to possess their souls in patience, until the Prophets were sent unto them with this joyful and comfortable message. To speak according to the heart, signifies nothing else but to speak that which is acceptable to us: for our heart abhors all unpleasant tidings, but it effectually embraceth, and runs (as it were) to meet with that which is well pleasing unto it. Now because the people were in a manner rejected and forsaken, what news could be better welcome then reconciliation with GOD, whereby all their sins were pardoned?

HEre God giues his seruants the Prophets a Commission, and puts that in their mouthes which they were to vtter, when fit time serued, for to comfort the faithfull that were sorowfull. And yet he stands not so much to exhort or imbolden the Prophets to discharge this their dutie manfullie and faithfullie, as he is earnest in giuing of hope to the godly, wishing them to possesse their soules in patience, vntill the Prophets were sent vnto them with this ioyfull and comfortable message. To speake according to the heart, signifies nothing else but to speake that which is acceptable to vs: for our heart abhorres all vnpleasant tidings, but it effectuallie imbraceth, and runnes (as it were) to meete with that which is well pleasing vnto it. Now because the people were in a maner reiected and forsaken, what newes could be better welcome then reconciliation with GOD, whereby all their sinnes were pardoned?