Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Now he shows that this shall be no feigned admiration, in which art flatterers have great skill, but it shall proceed from a true affection of the heart. Why so? Because there shall be just occasion to wonder, in regard the Lord hath so long, and in so many dangers not only preserved his Church, but hath made it multiply into a new generation unhoped for. For who would have imagined that when the Jews were in the most contemptible condition that might be, covered over as it were with miseries and reproaches, that any one of the Gentiles would have desired society with such: Moreover, there was no likelihood that mens minds could feel so sudden an alteration as to join themselves to such a religion as themselves both hated, and despised before: nay more then that, the wall of separation then stood, which shut out all strangers and uncircumcised ones from entering into the Church of God.

Now he shewes that this shall be no fained admiratiō, in which arte flatterers haue great skill, but it shall proceed from a true affection of the heart. Why so? Because there shall be iust occasion to vvonder, in regard the Lord hath so long, and in so many dangers not only preserued his Church, but hath made it multiplie into a new generation vnhoped for. For who would haue imagined that when the Iewes were in the most contemptible condition that might be, couered ouer as it were with miseries and reproches, that any one of the Gentiles vvould haue desired societie vvith such: Moreouer, there was no likelihood that mens minds could feele so sudden an alteration as to ioine themselues to such a religion as themselues both hated, and despised before: nay more then that, the wall of separation then stood, which shut out all strangers and vncircumcised ones from entring into the Church of God.

But he adds the reason of so great an astonishment, to wit, that she was barren before, and therefore was utterly destituted of children. For the word of God which is the spiritual seed wherewith the children of the Church were begotten, ceased: the sacrifices also were broken off: in a word, whatsoever served to maintain a state in perfection, was abolished.

But he addes the reason of so great an astonishment, to wit, that she was barren before, and therefore was vtterlie destituted of children. For the word of God which is the spirituall seed wherewith the children of the Church were begotten, ceased: the sacrifices also were broken off: in a word, whatsoeuer serued to maintaine a state in perfection, was abolished.