Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

The Prophet reckons up here other kinds of blessings which God promiseth to the Kingdom of Christ. For albeit, God had continued to bless his people always, yet were those blessings after a sort withheld till Christs coming, in whom there was to be seen full and perfect felicity. The sum is, that both Jews and Gentiles should be every way happy under the kingdom of Christ. Now as it is a sign of Gods wrath and curse when we receive no fruit at all of our labour: so on the contrary, it is a testimony of his blessing when we enjoy the fruits of our travels. For this cause he shows how the Jews being returned home from their captivity, to enjoy a true and full deliverance, shall not labour in vain; neither shall their works be fruitless. The law threatens the death of friends, wars, loss of goods, and anguish of mind: Levit. 26.22. Deut. 28.65. But God here on the contrary promiseth tranquillity, fertility, peace, and the fruit of our labours. These blessings are well to be noted: for there are few to be found, who in taking pains, fix their eyes upon Gods blessing,¹ so as to attribute all things unto him: or to be persuaded that they do but labour in vain, unless the ⟨p. 661⟩Lord give good success thereunto: Psalm. §1127.1. Even as then we are to expect all blessing §2from God only: so to him alone ought we to render the whole praise after we have received the same.

THe Prophet reckons vp here other kinds of blessings which God promiseth to the Kingdome of Christ. For albeit, God had continued to blesse his people alwaies, yet were those blessings after a sort withheld till Christs comming, in whom there was to be seene full and perfect felicitie. The sum is, that both Iewes and Gentiles should bee euery way happie vnder the kingdome of Christ. Now as it is a signe of Gods wrath and curse when we receiue no fruit at all of our labour: so on the contrarie, it is a testimonie of his blessing when wee enioy the fruites of our trauels. For this cause hee shewes how the Iewes being returned home from their captiuitie, to enioy a true and full deliuerance, shall not labour in vaine; neither shall their works be fuitlesse. The law threatnes the death of friends, warres, losse of goods, and anguish of minde: