Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Isaiah then speaks properly, saying, Thou receivest not the promises of God; but yet will he fulfil them: yea, he will send his Christ, for whose sake it is his pleasure to preserve this City: and howsoever thou beest unworthy of it, yet God will have regard of his own glory. King Ahaz then is shut out from the sign which he had before rejected, and is deprived of the benefit of which he made himself unworthy: yet is the inviolable promise of God offered again unto him, which is sufficiently showed by the particle Laken, which signifies Therefore, as if he should say, Because thou rejectest this particular sign which God offered thee; the same God which was so liberal as to offer thee a sign freely, will not cease to give it, although it be irksome and cumbersome to thee. But whereas I have said, that the event of this promise is made even to Ahaz, my meaning is not as if God did therein comprehend him within the number of his chosen, for whose salvation God had ordained his Son: but as in respect that the word was directed to the whole body of the people. For they which expound the word Lakem, which signifies your sons, is constrained. Moreover, the Prophet leaves this profane king in regard of the accomplishment of the promise, and hath respect to the people who were adopted of God. He will give it you then, not to thee, ô cursed king, nor to thy companions, but to you whom he hath adopted. For the covenant which God had made with Abraham remaineth sure and unmoveable. And the Lord hath always had a remnant to whom the fruits of it do appertain, although hypocrites rule and bear sway over the people who are partakers thereof. So then there is no inconvenience to propound this promise to the visible Church, and to set it in full view before their eyes.

Isaiah then speakes properlie, saying, Thou receiuest not the promises of God; but yet will he fulfill them: yea, he will send his Christ, for whose sake it is his pleasure to preserue this Citie: and howsoeuer thou beest vnworthie of it, yet God will haue regard of his owne glorie. King Ahaz then is shut out from the signe which he had before reiected, and is depriued of the benefit of which he made himselfe vnworthie: yet is the inuiolable promise of God offred againe vnto him, which is sufficientlie shewed by the particle Laken, which signifies Therefore, as if he should say, Because thou reiectest this particular signe which God offred thee; the same God which was so liberall as to offer thee a signe freely, will not cease to giue it, although it be irksome and cumbersome to thee. But whereas I haue said, that the euent of this promise is made euen to Ahaz, my meaning is not as if God did therein comprehend him within the number of his chosen, for whose saluation God had ordeined his Sonne: but as in respect that the word was directed to the whole bodie of the people. For they which expound the word Lakem, which signifies your sonnes, is constreined. Moreouer, the Prophet leaues this prophane king in regard of the accomplishment of the promise, and hath respect to the people who were adopted of God. He will giue it you then, not to thee, ô cursed king, nor to thy companions, but to you whom he hath adopted. For the couenant which God had made with Abraham remaineth sure and vnmoueable. And the Lord hath alwaies had a remnant to whom the fruits of it do appertain, although hypocrites rule and beare sway ouer the people who are partakers thereof. So then there is no inconuenience to propound this promise to the visible Church, and to set it in full view before their eies.