Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

HE speaks of things to come, and yet notwithstanding useth the time present, that in this destruction of the City, and in the captivity and ruin thereof, the people might behold the light of God. The sum is then, that even in the midst of darkness, yea of death it self, they were nevertheless to hope, seeing God is able sufficiently to give life to his people when they shall be thought as good as dead. It seems that S. Matthew in alleging this place turns it to an other purpose: for he saith this prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus Christ preached by the sea side, Math. 4.15. But if we rightly consider the Similitude, S. Matthew hath justly applied this place unto Christ, and hath observed the true sense. Although it seems our expositors can not tell how to make it hang together: for whereas they simply affirm, that this appertains to the kingdom of Christ, they yield no sufficient reason of it, neither do they show how this agrees to this place. If we will have the true sense then, we must call to mind what hath been said heretofore, namely, that the Prophet in speaking of the return of this people from the captivity of Babylon, presented not one age or season before his view, but comprehended all others, even to the coming of Christ, who brought a full and perfect liberty with him to his people. For the deliverance from Babylon was as an entrance and beginning of the restoration of the Church, not to establish it for some few years, but till such time as the Messiah should come, who brought salvation, not to mens bodies only, but also to their souls. We shall find this manner of speech to be very familiar with Isaiah, after we have proceeded further, and shall be a little better exercised in reading of his prophecy.