Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

To be short, his meaning is, that the Church shall never enjoy such abundance of peace, but she must look for many adversaries that will assail her. Object. But how agrees these things together, may some say? for in the former verse he said she should be far from oppression, and from fear, for it should not come nigh her? And now he shows she shall have intestine conspiracies. Ans. But the Prophet hath added this in very fit season, lest the faithful should promise unto themselves a secure resting place in this world, as if the wicked and hypocrites should no way molest her. The Church then you see, is so delivered from reproaches and oppression, that she is perpetually to encounter with open and secret enemies: for Satan will every day be raising up of new alarums against her, so as by his good will, she shall not have a minute of rest. This therefore is a correction as it were of the former sentence, teaching the faithful to be always upon their watch, and never to promise themselves any truce. But for our comfort, the Prophet adds a promise; namely, that the Lord will protect her in the mi•st of all dangers.

To bee short, his meaning is, that the Church shall neuer inioy such abundance of peace, but she must looke for many aduersaries that will assaile her. Obiect. But how agrees these things together, may some say? for in the former verse he said shee should be farre from oppression, and from feare, for it should not come nigh her? And now he shewes she shall haue intestine conspiracies. Ans. But the Prophet hath added this in very fit season, lest the faithfull should promise vnto themselues a secure resting place in this world, as if the wicked and hypocrites should no way molest her. The Church then you see, is so deliuered from reproches and oppression, that she is perpetually to incounter with open and secret enemies: for Satan wil euery day be raising vp of new alarums against her, so as by his good will, she shall not haue a minute of rest. This therefore is a correction as it were of the former sentence, teaching the faithfull to be alwaies vpon their watch, and neuer to promise themselues any truce. But for our comfort, the Prophet addes a promise; namely, that the Lord will protect her in the mi•st of all dangers.