Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 20. The children of thy barrenness shall say again in thine ears; The place is strait for me, give places to me that I may dwell.

Vers. 20. The children of thy barrennes shall say againe in thine eares; The place is strait for mee, giue places to me that I may dwell.

Isaiah goes on with the same argument,¹ and under another figure, promiseth the Churches restoration. Now he compares her to a widow (or rather to a wife) that is barren: to set forth the miserable and desolate condition of this people, who were oppressed under so many evils, that the memory of that nation was in a manner extinct: for they were mingled among the Chaldeans, who held them prisoners; so as they were almost incorporated into one body with them. We are not to marvel then if he compares the church as a barren wife, for she conceived no more children in her womb. In former time the Jews flourished; but now their kingdom was torn in sunder, their power utterly overthrown, and their name in a manner buried in oblivion, when they were led into captivity.

ISaiah goes on with the same argument,¹ and vnder another figure, promiseth the Churches restauration. Now he compares her to a widow (or rather to a wife) that is barren: to set forth the miserable and desolate condition of this people, who were oppressed vnder so many euils, that the memory of that nation was in a maner extinct: for they were mingled among the Chaldeans, who held them prisoners; so as they were almost incorporated into one body with them. Wee are not to maruell then if he cōpares the church as a barren vvife, for shee conceiued no more children in her wombe. In former time the Iewes florished; but now their kingdome was torne in sunder, their power vtterly ouerthrowne, and their name in a manner buried in obliuion, when they were led into captiuitie.