Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

And to prevent the replies which they might make, namely, that their condition should be worse, then that of the infidels, who had their Soothsayers, Astrologers, Sacrificers, and such like, of whom they might ask advice and counsel; but they should be destituted of any that might be able to give them satisfaction in doubtful and intricate causes: herein, to take away all pretext, & that they might not defile themselves in these execrable customs of the Gentiles, God ⟨image 10⟩promiseth to raise them up Prophets, ¹by whom he will manifest his will, who also shall faithfully teach them whatsoever he shall give them in charge; that they might have no cause to complain for the time to come, as if any thing were wanting unto them.

And to preuent the replies which they might make, namely, that their condition should be worse, then that of the infidels, who had their Southsayers, Astrologers, Sacrificers, and such like, of whom they might aske aduice and counsel; but they shuld be destituted of any that might be able to giue them satisfaction in doubtful and intricat causes: herein, to take away al pretext, & that they might not defile themselues in these execrable customes of the Gentiles, God ⟨image 10⟩promiseth to raise them vp Prophets, ¹by whom he wil manifest his wil, who also shall faithfully teach them whatsoeuer hee shall giue them in charge; that they might haue no cause to complaine for the time to come, as if any thing were wanting vnto them.

1. 1Deut. 18.

I grant, that in that place Moses mentions a Prophet, and not Prophets. Notwithstanding it is a change of the number, to wit, the singular for the plural, a thing common in the Scriptures. And howsoever the place ought properly and principally to be understood of Christ (as S. Peter expounds it