Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

To the two houses.] The Jews do fondly and senselessly rent this sentence, instead of dividing it aright. For they say, that God shall be partly a sanctification; and partly an offence to the Israelites: as if by the two houses, he should distinguish between the faithful and the unfaithful. But he rather commands the faithful not to be discouraged, although almost all the multitude of both the kingdoms, do hinder them from following of God; but that in forsaking all impediments, they should go on with cheerfulness through the thickest of them. The Prophet might have said in a word, he shall be a stumbling stone to Israel: but he meant to express it more fully: for he comprehends the whole people, and saith; that God shall be their overthrow. The people were divided into two Kingdoms; to wit, Ephraim and Judah; and therefore he names both the one and the other. I grant that some were excepted out of this number: but he speaks here of the whole body in general.

To the two houses.] The Iewes doe fondly and senselesly rent this sentence, instead of diuiding it aright. For they say, that God shall be partly a sanctification; and partly an offence to the Israelites: as if by the two houses, he should distinguish betweene the faithfull and the vnfaithfull. But hee rather commands the faithfull not to bee discouraged, although almost all the multitude of both the kingdomes, do hinder them from following of God; but that in forsaking all impediments, they should goe on with cheerefulnesse through the thickest of them. The Prophet might haue said in a word, hee shall be a stumbling stone to Israel: but hee meant to expresse it more fully: for hee comprehends the whole people, and saith; that God shall be their ouerthrowe. The people were diuided into two Kingdomes; to wit, Ephraim and Iudah; and therefore hee names both the one and the other. I grant that some were excepted out of this number: but he speakes heere of the whole body in generall.

This is an excellent place, and cannot be too oft called to mind; especially in this time wherein we now live, wherein we see the estate of religion almost quite abolished in Christendom. Many boast that they are Christians, who yet are far off from God, and to whom also Christ is a stone of offence.