Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

He calls them weary, who were broken with many afflictions,¹ as we have seen before. I give strength to him that is weary. And Christ speaks thus, Mat. 11.28. Come unto me all you that are weary and laden. Thus he means then that God hath instructed and taught them, that he might be fitted to comfort the afflicted with apt and fit words: so as the broken hearts might be healed by the sense and feeling of Gods mercy in Christ. Hence we gather, that the Ministers of the word ought chiefly to extend their care over such as are in distress,² and to comfort those that are oppressed, and in a manner overwhelmed with the weight of their calamities: and then to teach them wherein the true rest of the soul consists: as we have showed, Chap. 29 18.12. Moreover, here we see what every one of us ought especially to search after in the holy Scriptures; namely,³ how to arm and fit our selves with proper and apt sentences to minister consolation to our own souls in the time of need. He then that shall be able to cheer up and sustain his own spirit with solid comfort when things are perplexed; nay, when they seem altogether desperate: let such a one assure himself, that he hath well profited in the Gospel. I confess the doctrine of the holy Scriptures hath many other uses. For they not only contain in them matter that is meet and profitable to comfort the weak and afflicted, but also sharp rebukes and threatenings against the obstinate: 2. Tim. 3.16.⁴ But Isaiah here shows, that his principal charge was, in due season, to minister or bring a word of comfort to the Jews, who were now in a manner comfortless.

He calles them vvearie, who were broken with many afflictions,¹ as wee haue seene before. I giue strength to him that is vvearie. And Christ speakes thus,