Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 18. Violence shall no more be heard of in thy land, neither desolation, nor destruction within thy borders: but thou shalt call salvation thy walls, and praise thy gates.

Vers. 18. Violence shall no more bee heard of in thy land, neither desolation, nor destruction within thy borders: but thou shalt call saluation thy walles, and praise thy gates.

HE here more largely expresseth that which we have said: namely,¹ that in describing the happy estate of the Church, he privily opposeth the miseries and calamities wherewith she had been diversly afflicted, thereunto. For which cause he promiseth that in time to come she should no more be vexed by them I grant notwithstanding that many evils befell them after their deliverance. What of that? Yet the people were never so utterly wasted, but some form of a Church still remained; and by means hereof they enjoyed peace, feeling by experience that God kept and defended them by his power. We must not take it then as if the Prophet in these words promised them to be exempt from all trouble and encumbrance. But this consolation was added by way of comparison, in regard of the miseries to come: to wit, that the Lord will spare his Church; which shall be in safety under his ⟨p. 621⟩protection. And questionless in the course of their deliverance, they evidently perceived some testimonies of this peace which the Prophet doth here so highly extol. To be short, we must always remember that which we have so oft repeated; namely, that we feel all these things in part only; because the kingdom of Christ is not yet accomplished.

HE here more largely expresseth that which we haue said: namely,¹ that in describing the happie estate of the Church, hee priuilie opposeth the miseries and calamities wherewith shee had been diuerslie afflicted, thereunto. For which cause hee promiseth that in time to come shee should no more be vexed by them I grant notwithstanding that many euils befell them after their deliuerance. What of that? Yet the people were neuer so vtterly wasted, but some forme of a Church still remained; and by meanes hereof they enioyed peace, feeling by experience that God kept and defended them by his power. Wee must not take it then as if the Prophet in these words promised them to be exempt from all trouble and encumbrance. But this consolation was added by way of comparison, in regard of the miseries to come: to wit, that the Lord will spare his Church; which shall be in safetie vnder his