Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

If we grant that the Prophet wrote thus of set purpose, me thinks it is an advertisement very profitable to the faithful, lest they should imagine that the Kingdom of Christ was to flourish in outward pomp; also lest hereupon they should forge any carnal triumphs through a vain hope; but might rather be assured only amidst so many afflictions, that the Kingdom of Christ should grow, no man perceiving how; because they had a promise thereof made unto them.

If we grant that the Prophet wrote thus of set purpose, mee thinks it is an aduertisement very profitable to the faithful, lest they should imagine that the Kingdome of Christ was to flourish in outward pompe; also lest hereupon they should forge any carnall triumphs through a vaine hope; but might rather bee assured onely amidst so many afflictions, that the Kingdome of Christ should grow, no man perceiuing how; because they had a promise thereof made vnto them.

Upon the throne of David.] Because the Lord had promised David that the redeemer should be borne of his seed,¹ and that the kingdom of David was nothing but a little shadow of a more perfect and happy estate which God had determined to establish by the hand of his Son, the Prophets are accustomed to call Christ the Son of David; ²to the end they might bring the people back to the remembrance of this so memorable a miracle. For howsoever the name of so holy and renowned a King was for just cause precious and honourable; yet notwithstanding the faithful much more esteemed the promise touching the restoring of salvation which was promised unto David; yea and the very remembrance of this prophecy was famous amongst all; so as there was none, no not the simplest which did not reverence it, being assuredly persuaded of the truth of it. I will not heap up together all the testimonies wherein the Prophets promise the afflicted that they shall be restored in the person of David, ³