Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 5. My righteousness is near: my salvation goeth forth, and mine arms shall judge the people: the Isles shall wait for me, and shall trust unto mine arm.

Vers. 5. My righteousnes is neere: my saluation goeth forth, and mine armes shal iudge the people: the Iles shall wait for me, and shall trust vnto mine arme.

HE confirms the former doctrine.¹ The righteousness of the Lord hath relation unto men, who have experience that he is just. When the people were oppressed under so sore a bondage, they had good cause to think they were justly chastised for their sins. But they might wonder they were thus left and forsaken, that Gods worship was dissolved, and his holy name blasphemed by the profane & ungodly, who committed many outrages against him without punishment. That he might give them some consolation then, Isaiah promiseth that God will shortly assist them, that so his truth and righteousness may be published throughout the whole world. But by the word Justice, he means not that recompense, which he gives to every one, but that faithfulness of the Lord, who protects his Saints, and bestows many graces upon them, and keeps his promise touching their deliverance, in not suffering them to be overwhelmed. This appears yet better to be so by the member following, where by way of exposition he adds, that his salvation is gone forth: for the righteousness of God appeared in the salvation of the people. The captivity of the Jews in Babylon was unto them as a kind of death, and this is the cause why he calls this deliverance salvation.

HEE confirmes the former doctrine.¹ The righteousnes of the Lord hath relation vnto men, who haue experience that he is iust. When the people were oppressed vnder so sore a bondage, they had good cause to think they were iustlie chastised for their sinnes. But they might wonder they were thus left and forsaken, that Gods worship was dissolued, and his holy name blasphemed by the prophane & vngodly, who committed many outrages against him without punishment. That he might giue them some consolation then, Isaiah promiseth that God will shortly assist them, that so his truth and righteousnes may be published throughout the whole world. But by the word Iustice, he meanes not that recompence, which he giues to euery one, but that faithfulnes of the Lord, who protects his Saints, and bestowes many graces vpon them, and keeps his promise touching their deliuerance, in not suffring them to be ouerwhelmed. This appeares yet better to be so by the member following, where by way of exposition he addes, that his saluation is gone forth: for the righteousnes of God appeared in the saluation of the people. The captiuitie of the Iewes in Babylon was vnto them as a kind of death, and this is the cause why he calles this deliuerance saluation.