Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

BY these phrases of speech he expresseth that which he said before, to wit,¹ that the strangers which were shut out of GODS Church, are called now unto it: so as the difference between the circumcised and the uncircumcised, shall be abolished for ever. For these words cannot be referred to the proselytes; that is, the strangers converted to the Jewish religion, who were taken into the body of Gods people by circumcision: for then the Prophet had spoken of no new or unwonted thing. But he testifies that Gods grace shall be spread over the whole world; which could not be done, but the Gentiles must needs be united with the Jews, to make one body with them: which came to pass, when the difference touching uncircumcision and circumcision was taken away. There is nothing now therefore that can hinder the Gentiles from serving of God, seeing they are called into the Temple: that is to say, into the society of the faithful. Yea,² as a little before we noted, the priesthood was translated from the Tribe of Levi; not only to the whole body of the Jews, but even to very strangers also. It is well enough known, in how great detestation the Jews have this sentence. For albeit they read these words of the Prophet, yet they hold it for a thing extremely prodigious, that God should call the Gentiles to the participation of this so excellent a benefit, which was peculiarly allotted unto them. And yet that which the Prophet saith is so manifest, that none can without gross impudency, call the truth thereof into question.

BY these phrases of speech hee expresseth that which he said before, to wit,¹ that the strangers which were shut out of GODS Church, are called now vnto it: so as the difference betweene the circumcised and the vncircumcised, shall bee abolished for euer. For these words cannot bee referred to the proselytes; that is, the strangers conuerted to the Iewish religion, who were taken into the body of Gods people by circumcision: for then the Prophet had spoken of no new or vnwonted thing. But hee testifies that Gods grace shall bee spread ouer the whole world; which could not be done, but the Gentiles must needes bee vnited with the Iewes, to make one body with thē: which came to passe, whē the difference touching vncircumcision and circumcisiō was taken away. There is nothing now therefore that can hinder the Gentiles from seruing of God, seeing they are called into the Temple: that is to say, into the societie of the faithfull. Yea,