Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 24. Shall the pray be taken from the mighty? O the just captivity delivered? 25. But thus saith the Lord; Even the captivity of the mighty shall be taken away, and the pray of the tyrant shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

Vers. 24. Shall the pray be taken from the mightie? O the iust captiuitie deliuered? 25. But thus saith the Lord; Euen the captiuitie of the mightie shall bee taken away, and the pray of the tyrant shall be deliuered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will saue thy children.

Having answered an objection in the former verse,¹ which might arise in the minds of the faithful: now he confirms this solution yet better. For it seemed a thing incredible that the Jews should ever be delivered from under the hands of so mighty an enemy, who held them prisoners by the law of arme•, and had justly subdued them under bondage. He adds this interrogation then (as it were) i• the person of all the common people, who, as it is likely, had this speech rife in their mouths: to which he makes answer, as we ⟨p. 527⟩shall see anon. But first we must observe the similitude, in that the Church is called the pray of the mighty, and the just captivity: that is to say, lawful. For he is called a just possessor, which hath gotten it lawfully: as in a just war, he that takes the spoil, is the just possessor of it. Such was the condition of this ancient people, whilst they were in exile; for they lost both their Country and liberty together, and the vanquisher's vvill only was a law?

HAuing answered an obiection in the former verse,¹