A17640:3899
Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah
A commentary upon the prophecy of Isaiah. By Mr. John Calvin. Whereunto are added four tables ... Translated out of French into English: by C.C.A commentary vpon the prophecie of Isaiah. By Mr. Iohn Caluin. Whereunto are added foure tables ... Translated out of French into English: by C.C.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston, 1609
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Use. Let us then sigh and complain with the Prophet: yea, let us be even grieved in our souls, if we see little fruit to come of our labours, and let us pour forth our complaints before God. For thus ought the faithful servants of God to be affected, if they mean sincerely to discharge their duties. Isaiah shows then, that the number of those shall be very small, that shall submit themselves to the Gospel of Christ: for when he cries; Who vvill believe our preaching? it is as much as if he had said; That of an hundred that hear the Gospel, scarcely one of them will prove a believer.
Vse. Let vs then sigh and complaine with the Prophet: yea, let vs be euen greeued in our soules, if wee see little fruit to come of our labours, and let vs powre forth our complaints before God. For thus ought the faithfull seruants of God to bee affected, if they meane sincerely to discharge their duties. Isaiah shewes then, that the number of those shall bee very small, that shall submit themselues to the Gospell of Christ: for when hee cries; Who vvill beleeue our preaching? it is as much as if he had said; That of an hundred that heare the Gospell, scarcely one of them will proue a beleeuer.
Neither speaks he of himself only here, but as one representing the person of all the faithful Ministers, Although God send many of his servants then,1 yet there are but a few that believe: What shall become of them that enjoy no preaching at all? shall we need to wonder much at their extreme blindness? If the earth that is well husbanded, brings forth but little fruit; what is to be expected from that that is utterly barren, and unhusbanded? But the Gospel loseth no whit of his excellency, though it get but few followers: neither doth the small numbers of believers diminish the authority thereof, nor yet obscure the infinite glory of it: but rather so great is the mystery of it, that it can hardly find any welcome in the world: for it is esteemed folly, 1. Cor. 1.23. because it is far above the reach of their carnal reason.