Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 3. For I am the Lord thy God, the holy one of Israel thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba^* for thee.

Vers. 3. For I am the Lord thy God, the holy one of Israel thy Sauiour: I gaue Egypt for thy ransome, Ethiopia and Seba^* for thee.

1. *Or, in thy stead.

¹HE confirms the former sentence by the experiences of the time past. For if the Lord had in former time succoured his people, it was good reason they should stay assuredly upon his favour (for the time to come.) We must ever keep that in mind which is contained in the first verse; Fear not, for I have redeemed thee: for these things should be joined together, because they tend all to one §1end. For if the Lord be our God, then by consequence §2he is with us: vers. 2. and we shall §3prove by experience that he is our Saviour. But if we will find him such a one to us,² it is necessarily required, that we prove our selves to be a part of Israel; not in name only, but to show some infallible marks thereof in the whole course of our life. Thus you see the foundation of our confidence is in this, that the Lord is our God. Whence it follows, that those who acknowledge him not for their father, neither will rest upon his good pleasure, must needs have trembling consciences for ever. The wicked rejoice and lift up their crests against God, but their security and joy is nothing else but a giddiness, & frenzy of spirit; by reason whereof, they hasten their own perdition the sooner. But the faithful are here assured, that he who hath chosen them, will always continue their God and Saviour: for which cause he hath separated them from the rest of the world, to be his heritage.