Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 12. For the nation and the kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish: and those nations shall be utterly destroyed.

Vers. 12. For the nation and the kingdome that will not serue thee shall perish: and those nations shall bee vtterly destroyed.

¹The Prophet stands much upon the confirmation of the hearts of Gods children, to assure them that they should behold the restoration of the Church one day, as he hath now described it out unto them. These thing were altogether incredible: and howsoever we our selves are sufficiently confirmed by the events of these things which are manifested in all mens sight; yet if we were not governed by the spirit of Christ, hardly should we conceive them in our minds. He shows then that there is no cause at all wherefore the Jews should doubt of the restoration of the Temple; because the Gentiles should come to aide them with all their power. But Isaiah regarded something more high in this place, then the building of the visible Temple. For his meaning is to speak of that obedience which Kings, Nobles, and the commons should yield unto the Church, when they should advance as much as in them lay, the purity of doctrine. Yea, he passeth yet further in pronouncing that the kingdoms and nations which vvill not serve the Church, shall perish. If such as help not the Church, are condemned with this fearful and terrible sentence;² what shall we say of those tyrants who set, themselves furiously against her, and labour with might and main to work her overthrow? If the slothful and careless shall not escape unpunished, ought not the wicked to wait for some horrible vengeance, seeing they strive to hinder and overthrow the work of the Lord?

¹THe Prophet stands much vpon the confirmation of the hearts of Gods children, to assure them that they should behold the restauration of the Church one day, as hee hath now described it out vnto them. These thinge were altogether incredible: and howsoeuer we our selues are sufficiently confirmed by the euents of these things which are manifested in all mens sight; yet if wee were not gouerned by the spirit of Christ, hardly should wee conceiue them in our mindes. He shewes then that there is no cause at all wherefore the Iewes should doubt of the restauration of the Temple; because the Gentiles should come to aide them with all their power. But Isaiah regarded something more high in this place, then the building of the visible Temple. For his meaning is to speake of that obedience which Kings, Nobles, and the commons should yeelde vnto the Church, when they should aduance as much as in them lay, the puritie of doctrine. Yea, hee passeth yet further in pronouncing that the kingdomes and nations which vvill not serue the Church, shall perish. If such as helpe not the Church, are condemned with this fearefull and terrible sentence;