He brings the Jews again to the prophecies, and attributes this honour unto God, that having in fit time revealed the thing, he takes away all doublings. Afterwards he adds, that whatsoever was foretold, shall be confirmed. And thus there is a double force in the doubling of these words, I, even I. As if he should say; It is none but the God of Israel that hath spoken these things which are hidden, and to come: secondly, he being true, and one that never deceives, he will undoubtedly accomplish whatsoever he hath promised. Isaiah then propounds two ends here unto himself: First, that the poor captives should wait for their deliverance: secondly, being delivered, that they should acknowledge God to be the author of so excellent a benefit, and not to ascribe it either to the arm of flesh, or to haphazard. Now he shows that Cyrus his good success in his enterprises, shall proceed from Gods calling of him. Not that he was worthy of so great a favour, neither that he obtained it by his own industry and power; but in regard that the Lord used him as his servant to deliver his people. For where he called him his beloved in the former verse, and here saith that he hath called and brought him; I told you erewhile that it is not to be referred to that love of God, whereby he adopts us for his children, by calling us to himself. Cyrus was neither loved nor called in this kind:1 for howsoever he were endued with excellent virtues, yet was he tainted with very odious crimes, as ambition, desire of swaying Kingdoms, covetousness, cruelty, and many other vices:2 for his woeful and unhappy end manifested sufficiently ⟨p. 509⟩what he was. The Prophets meaning is then, that God will be favourable to Cyrus in prospering him outwardly: not to adopt, nor to show him that favour which he only communicates to his chosen. The cause must be considered then for which he gives him these titles, to wit, that he will use his ministry for the deliverance of his Church, as we have said before.
HEe brings the Iewes againe to the prophecies, and attributes this honour vnto God, that hauing in fit time reuealed the thing, hee takes away all doublings. Afterwards hee addes, that whatsoeuer was foretold, shall be confirmed. And thus there is a double force in the doubling of these words, I, euen I. As if he should say; It is none but the God of Israel that hath spoken these things which are hidden, and to come: secondly, he being true, and one that neuer deceiues, he will vndoubtedly accomplish whatsoeuer he hath promised. Isaiah then propounds two ends here vnto himselfe: First, that the poore captiues should wait for their deliuerance: secondly, being deliuered, that they should acknowledge God to be the author of so excellent a benefit, and not to ascribe it either to the arme of flesh, or to haphazard. Now he shewes that Cyrus his good successe in his enterprises, shall proceede from Gods calling of him. Not that he was worthy of so great a fauour, neither that he obtained it by his own industry and power; but in regard that the Lord vsed him as his seruant to deliuer his people. For where he called him his beloued in the former verse, and heere saith that he hath called and brought him; I told you erewhile that it is not to bee referred to that loue of God, whereby he adopts vs for his children, by calling vs to himselfe. Cyrus was neither loued nor called in this kind:1 for howsoeuer he were indued with excellent vertues, yet was he tainted with very odious crimes, as ambition, desire of swaying Kingdomes, couetousnesse, crueltie, and many other vices:2 for his wofull and vnhappy end manifested sufficientlie ⟨p. 509⟩what he was. The Prophets meaning is then, that God will be fauorable to Cyrus in prospering him outwardly: not to adopt, nor to shew him that fauor which he only communicates to his chosen. The cause must be considered then for which he giues him these titles, to wit, that he will vse his ministrie for the deliuerāce of his Church, as we haue said before.
- 1How Cyrus is said to be loved and called of God: See Chap. 45.3.How Cyrus is said to be loued and called of God: See Chap. 45.3.
- 2Cyrus had a miserable end.
