Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 14. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign, Behold the Virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and she shall call his name Immanuel.

Vers. 14. Therefore the Lord himselfe will giue you a signe, Behold the Virgin shall conceiue and beare a sonne, and she shall call his name Immanuel.

Ahaz had already refused a sign which the Lord had offered him when the Prophet protested against his obstinacy and unthankfulness. Isaiah notwithstanding testifies that this shall not let nor hinder the Lord from giving the Jews the sign which he had promised and appointed. But what sign? That a Virgin should be with child. This place is obscure: but the Jews themselves are partly the cause of it, who as much as in them is have depraved the true exposition by divers cavils. For this testimony toucheth them near, in regard it contains an excellent prophecy of the Messiah, who is here called Immanuel: and therefore have they studied by all means to wrest the Prophets meaning to another sense. Some of them pretend that mention is made here of king Hezekias, others of the son of Isaiah. Those which draw this §1place to Hezekias, are too shameless, seeing it must needs be that he was of years when Jerusalem was besieged, showing thereby that they are altogether ignorant of the history. But behold the just reward of the froward, ⟨p. 81⟩namely, that God so blinds them, they they are deprived of all judgement. The like befalls the Papists at this day, who oftentimes make themselves laughingstocks when they are carried away with the spirit of giddiness to §2deprave the scriptures. The pretence of those who think it was the son of Isaiah, is altogether frivolous, because we read not that a deliverer should be raised up of the seed of Isaiah which might deserve the title of Immanuel: for this title is so high and excellent, that it can appertain to no man.

AHaz had alreadie refused a signe which the Lord had offred him when the Prophet protested against his obstinacie and vnthankfulnes. Isaiah notwithstanding testifies that this shall not let nor hinder the Lord from giuing the Iewes the signe which he had promised and appointed. But what signe? That a Virgin should be with child. This place is obscure: but the Iewes themselues are partlie the cause of it, who as much as in them is haue depraued the true exposition by diuers cauils. For this testimonie toucheth them neere, in regard it conteines an excellent prophesie of the Messiah, who is heere called Immanuel: and therefore haue they studied by all meanes to wrest the Prophets meaning to another sense. Some of them pretend that mention is made here of king Hezekias, others of the sonne of Isaiah. Those which draw this