Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Besides, he adds that this labour shall not only fructify among the people of Israel, but among the Gentiles also: which (blessed be our God) is now come to pass. Nay, more then that; for seeing the Jews with an obstinate hardness, became so graceless as to reject Christ; the Gentiles are now grafted into their stock. And thus Christ is appointed of God to be a light unto the Gentiles, and his salvation manifested to the utmost parts of the world.

Besides, he addes that this labour shall not onely fructifie among the people of Israel, but among the Gentiles also: which (blessed be our God) is now come to passe. Nay, more then that; for seeing the Iewes with an obstinate hardnesse, became so gracelesse as to reiect Christ; the Gentiles are now grafted into their stocke. And thus Christ is appointed of God to be a light vnto the Gentiles, and his saluation manifested to the vtmost parts of the world.

This consolation then was very necessary, as well for the Prophets, as the Apostles: Acts 13.47. For they had but too woeful and daily experience more and more, of the frowardness of the Jews. In which regard, they might have called the certainty of these promises into question, seeing so little fruit of them appeared. But understanding that Christ was also sent to the Gentiles, they were not so unwilling to go through thick and thin, as otherwise they would have been. I grant it was a thing incredible; nay, prodigious: but thus the Lord is wont to work far above the reach of mans reason. Saint Paul calls it a secret hidden, Eph. 3.9. from the foundations of the world, and is yet unknown to the very Angels: 1. Pet. 1.12. further forth then it is manifested unto them by the Church: Eph. 3.10. Thus then, although the Jews were once the only wise people under heaven,