Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Where he adds, that they shall inherit the land for ever, I doubt not but he had respect unto Judea, and closely opposed the time of the restoration, to that of the captivity, which was at hand. As if he should say; Albeit I do banish my people out of their inheritance, yet after seventy years, I will bring them back again to possess it for ever. It is also to be noted, that he restrains this promise which appertained to all the people of Zion, to the righteous. For thus there is a kind of correction, whereby he shuts out all hypocrites, who are wont vainly to usurp & snatch ⟨p. 622⟩unto them those titles, which only belong to the true children of God. This sentence then agrees with the beginning of the 73. Psalm: Yet God is good to Israel, even to the pure in heart. For here the Prophet attributes the name of Israel, which all bragged of, to the true servants of God only. And so in this place we may say as much of the word peoples, to wit, that little remnant which shall be purged from their uncleanness. This was not wholly accomplished among the Jews: they had the beginnings of it indeed, when they were restored home unto their Country again; that so afterwards by their means, the possession of the whole world might be given unto Gods children. And as he spake heretofore of the restoration of the Temple, which was not perfect in Jerusalem, but should be extended through all the quarters of the world: so this possession of the land must not be restrained to Judea alone, seeing it stretcheth it self further off, in regard all men are called to have their part therein: that so by faith they may be the children of Abraham, and consequently be made heirs.

Where hee addes, that they shall inherit the land for euer, I doubt not but he had respect vnto Iudea, and closely opposed the time of the restauration, to that of the captiuitie, which was at hand. As if he should say; Albeit I doe banish my people out of their inheritance, yet after seuentie yeeres, I will bring them backe againe to possesse it for euer. It is also to be noted, that he restraines this promise which appertained to all the people of Zion, to the righteous. For thus there is a kind of correction, whereby he shuts out all hypocrites, who are wont vainly to vsurp & snatch ⟨p. 622⟩vnto them those titles, which onely belong to the true children of God. This sentence then agrees with the beginning of the 73. Psalme: Yet God is good to Israel, euen to the pure in heart. For here the Prophet attributes the name of Jsrael, which all bragged of, to the true seruants of God onely. And so in this place we may say as much of the word peoples, to wit, that little remnant which shall be purged from their vncleannesse. This was not wholly accomplished among the Iewes: they had the beginnings of it indeed, when they were restored home vnto their Country againe; that so afterwards by their meanes, the possession of the whole world might be giuen vnto Gods children. And as he spake heeretofore of the restauration of the Temple, which was not perfect in Ierusalem, but should bee extended thorow all the quarters of the world: so this possession of the land must not bee restrained to Iudea alone, seeing it stretcheth it selfe further off, in regard all men are called to haue their part therein: that so by faith they may bee the children of Abraham, and consequently be made heires.