Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

HE prosecutes the same argument.¹ And as he said heretofore that strangers should submit themselves under Gods authority to reedify the Temple: so now he saith, that the strangers shall bestow their labour in building up the walls. The comparisons whereby he promiseth the Churches restoration are divers. For it is a thing usual in the Scriptures, where the Church is spoken of, sometimes to set it forth under the Temple, and then again, under Jerusalem. Now he promiseth that the strangers shall help to set up this building, lest the Jews should faint being astonished at their poverty, or small number. For in the captivity they might be solicited to distrust, thinking that albeit they should return into their country, yet there was no likelihood that ever they should perfect such a work. But Cyrus ²did this, who furnished them with great sums of gold and silver. And yet these things were but figurative in him; for they had their full accomplishment in Christ, to whose kingdom all that which is here spoken must be referred. For first of all he used the service of a few weak men, to wit, the Apostles,³ who were disfurnished of fit means for so long a business; afterwards therefore he raised up strangers out of whom he chose Pastors,⁴ and made their Princes to be nursing fathers to the Church.

HE prosecutes the same argument.¹ And as hee said heretofore that strangers should submit themselues vnder Gods authoritie to reedifie the Temple: so now hee saith, that the strangers shall bestow their labour in building vp the walles. The comparisons whereby he promiseth the Churches restauration are diuers. For it is a thing vsuall in the Scriptures, where the Church is spoken of, sometimes to set it foorth vnder the Temple, and then againe, vnder Ierusalem. Now hee promiseth that the strangers shall helpe to set vp this building, lest the Iewes should faint being astonished at their pouertie, or smal number. For in the captiuitie they might bee solicited to distrust, thinking that albeit they should returne into their countrie, yet there was no likelihood that euer they should perfect such a worke. But Cyrus