Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

This verse only contains the exposition and confirmation of the former.¹ But there seems to be some repugnancy between them, because in the latter member he makes God the sole husband of his Church; and in the first he assigns her many. Yet the solution is easy: for when we speak of this marriage of the Church, she hath but one husband, that is, God; who always attributes this title to himself. Now this is accomplished in Christ, to whom the Pastors marry and couple the Church, as a chaste and pure virgin; as Saint Paul speaks, 2. Cor. 11.2. Notwithstanding, this hinders not that this similitude of the marriage should not be transferred to express the unity of faith, which all the children of God have with their mother the Church: yea, God is so her husband, that yet he marries her with all nations that are gathered into her: for whilst she is lest destitute of children, she is after a sort left as a desolate and solitary widow. This therefore is spoken in regard of God, who by his wisdom, ratifying the holy union between the members of his Church, extends the fruit of this marriage to all the body.

THis verse onely containes the exposition and confirmation of the former.