Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

That he might therefore take from the nations furthest off, all pretext of ignorance, he saith, they were abashed at the sight of his works; and yet they fell to their old bias again, and forthwith wrapped themselves in many superstitious vanities and errors. The sum is, that they not only beheld▪ but were also convinced, in that this knowledge abashed them. But some may object, Object. that the benefits which God did to Abraham, could not be made known to all, in such wise that foreign nations should be fully acquainted with it. I answer, Ans. that howsoever he mentions none but Abraham here, yet under him he meant to call to mind other examples of his goodness, which their forefathers had tasted of since, that from both, they might conceive hope of deliverance. Abraham was not only delivered out of Chaldea, but God drew also all his posterity out from the bondage of Egypt: Exod. 13.16. and put them into possession of the land of Canaan. He saith then that the Isles felt his power, when he delivered and preserved his people, that they might know the true God: for his power plainly appeared in so many miracles.

That he might therefore take from the nations furthest off, all pretext of ignorance, he saith, they were abashed at the sight of his works; and yet they fell to their old bias againe, and forthwith wrapped themselues in many superstitious vanities and errors. The summe is, that they not onely beheld▪ but were also conuinced, in that this knowledge abashed them. But some may obiect, Obiect. that the benefits which God did to Abraham, could not bee made knowne to all, in such wise that forraigne nations should be fully acquainted with it. I answer, Ans. that howsoeuer he mentions none but Abraham here, yet vnder him hee meant to call to mind other examples of his goodnesse, which their forefathers had tasted of since, that from both, they might conceiue hope of deliuerance. Abraham was not onely deliuered out of Caldea, but God drew also all his posteritie out from the bondage of Egypt: Exod. 13.16. and put them into possession of the land of Canaan. He saith then that the Iles felt his power, when hee deliuered and preserued his people, that they might know the true God: for his power plainly appeared in so many miracles.