A17640:3616
Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah
A commentary upon the prophecy of Isaiah. By Mr. John Calvin. Whereunto are added four tables ... Translated out of French into English: by C.C.A commentary vpon the prophecie of Isaiah. By Mr. Iohn Caluin. Whereunto are added foure tables ... Translated out of French into English: by C.C.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston, 1609
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Vers. 8. This saith the Lord, in an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I succoured thee, and will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, that thou mayst raise up the earth, and obtain the inheritance of the desolate heritage.
Vers. 8. This saith the Lord, in an acceptable time haue I heard thee, and in a day of saluation haue I succored thee, and will preserue thee, and giue thee for a couenant of the people, that thou mayst raise vp the earth, and obteine the inheritance of the desolute heritage.
From this verse we may yet more clearly gather that which we have handled in the beginning of this Chapter, to wit, that the Prophet so speaks of the whole body of the Church, that he begins at the head thereof. And this, as I have said, ought to be well observed, for the expositors have baulked it, and yet without it we shall not be able to make these verses to cohere. S. Paul plainly shows this, in applying this very sentence to the whole Church, 2. Cor. 6.2. But yet that which follows, I vvill give thee for a covenant of the people, suits to none but Christ only. How shall we make these things agree then? To wit, if we shall consider that Christ is not so much his own as ours.1 For he was not borne; neither died be, nor rose again for himself. He was sent for the salvation of his people. He seeks nothing at our hands: for he stands in need of nothing. Thus then, God makes his promises to the whole Church: and Christ, who is as it were the surety or pledge between both, receives these promises, and procures nothing to himself by them, but altogether for the Churches behoof, for whose salvation he was sent. He speaks not then of Christ, as singling him out by himself, but as of one that is joined and made one with his Church for ever. It is an inestimable favour then which the father shows us when he hears his son for our sakes: yea, that he directs his speech to his son whilst he is speaking of our salvation. For by this we may perceive how near the conjunction is between Christ and us.