Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 2. ^*Who hath raised up justice from the East, and called him to his foot, and gave the nations before him, and subdued Kings? He gave them as dust to his sword, and as scattered stubble to his bow.

Vers. 2. ^*Who hath raised vp iustice from the East, and called him to his foote, and gaue the nations before him, and subdued Kings? Hee gaue them as dust to his sword, and as scattered stubble to his bow.

1. *Or, Who hath raised up justice from the East? Hath he not called him to come after him.Or, Who hath r•ised vp iustice from the East? Hath he not called him to come after him.

Hence it appears what is the Prophets drift; for his meaning is to assure the Jews that they shall be out of danger of erring, if they will but keep the way which he chalks out before them. This is the cause why he mentions Abraham: for he might have instanced other works of God, but he rather chose an example fitting his purpose: for the Jews being descended from the stock of Abraham, whom God had (not without many dangers) drawn out of Chaldea, they for their parts were to hope that God would no less assist and help them, seeing his force was nothing abated, nor his love cooled. It being a difficult thing for them therefore to hope for any return, in regard they were held captives in their enemies country far from home, the Prophet sets the like example before them, to quicken up their hope and confidence. They were scattered in Chaldea, and in the regions adjoining: they imagined that the way was hedged up against them, in regard of the many stumbling blocks that lay between them and home: but Abraham their father passed from Ur of the Chaldeans, into Judea. He that had brought a poor man with his father, his nephew, and wife, safe and sound through so many straits, could not he also conduct and lead his people? Since God then had delivered Abraham out of all incumbrances, in drawing him out of his Country; this example which so nearly concerned them, ought to touch his children and of-spring to the quick: so as the safe conduit which their father had from, or of the Chaldeans into the land of promise, was to serve them as a pledge or mirror of their deliverance to come.