Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

HE sets forth the benefit of the Lords coming,¹ namely, that in showing how his elect are as dear unto him as his own heritage, he will make it known to all the world that the covenant of Adoption by him contracted with Abraham, is not in vain: for this cause he calls them the holy people, in regard the Lord had separated and consecrated them unto himself, for though he governed all the nations of the world, yet he vouchsafed to choose the posterity of Abraham, to have a special care thereof. And in this sense God meant to say, that his people shall be holy, when he shall appear their saviour and redeemer. And as the people are called profane when they be plunged in their dregs, being afflicted and vexed by the scoffings of the wicked: so on the contrary they are said to be holy, when the Lord shows himself by effects to be the God of their salvation, which came to pass in their wonderful deliverance, for then God showed indeed that he remembered his holy covenant touching his heritage which he had (as mans reason deemed) utterly rejected and cast off. For in these words sought out and not forsaken, we must note the opposition between the time wherein the Lord sued out this divorce against his people: and that wherein he reconciled those again unto himself whom he had put away.

HE sets forth the benefit of the Lords comming,