Now it follows by and by after, that Christ is armed with the breath of the lips to slay the wicked withal; unless some will say that Isaiah added this second member for amplifications sake. And in very deed it is much more to slay, then to smite only. Seeing then it is the property of the Gospel to humble all men generally, it is a thing accidental in the reprobate when he strikes them with a deadly wound. Thus the Prophet should conjoin the special to the general, thereby showing that the wicked fall upon the sword of Christ unto eternal destruction, because they are not consecrated to be acceptable offerings. How ever it be, undoubtedly this last member ought to be wholly restrained and referred to the wicked, and therefore it was added, in as much as this efficacy appeareth not at the first in the preaching of the Gospel:1 and contrariwise many despise and •est at it, holding whatsoever Jesus Christ hath said in his word to be no better then a fable. But howsoever they feel not his power by and by, yet can they not escape it, but at the last they shall be smitten to death therewith. And yet it seems the Prophets meaning should not be sufficiently explained, because he not only speaks here of the inward feeling wherewithal the wicked are touched whether they will or no, but also even of that impiety it self which shall be scattered and abolished by the virtue and efficacy of this sceptre, as the Apostle Saint Paul expoundeth it in the 2. Thess. 2.3. who questionless had respect unto this place when he spake of the ruin of Antichrist, and in that place he opens unto us the meaning of the Prophet. He shows then that Jesus Christ shall never be without enemies, which shall endeavour to overthrow his kingdom, to abolish or stop the free passage of his Gospel (otherwise the Prophet had said this without cause) but Jesus Christ shall destroy them by the sound of his word, as well every one of them in particular, as all of them in general, with their head and Captain also. Thus S. Paul sets before us a double use of this doctrine in an other §1place, requiring this of a Pastor, that he §2be not only fit to teach, but also that he convince the gainsayers, Tit. 1.9. For the Pastor ought not only to feed the flock, but also to keep and maintain it against all harms.
Now it followes by and by after, that Christ is armed with the breath of the lips to slay the wicked withal; vnlesse some wil say that Isaiah added this second member for amplifications sake. And in very deed it is much more to slay, then to smite only. Seeing then it is the propertie of the Gospel to humble all men generallie, it is a thing accidentall in the reprobate when he strikes them with a deadlie wound. Thus the Prophet should conioine the speciall to the generall, thereby shewing that the wicked fall vpon the sword of Christ vnto eternall destruction, because they are not consecrated to be acceptable offrings. How euer it be, vndoubtedlie this last member ought to be whollie restrained and referred to the wicked, and therefore it was added, in as much as this efficacie appeareth not at the first in the preaching of the Gospell:1 and contrariwise many despise and •est at it, holding whatsoeuer Iesus Christ hath said in his word to be no better then a fable. But howsoeuer they feele not his power by and by, yet can they not escape it, but at the last they shall be smitten to death therewith. And yet it seemes the Prophets meaning should not be sufficientlie explaned, because he not only speakes heere of the inward feeling wherewithall the wicked are touched whether they will or no, but also euen of that impietie it selfe which shall be scattered and abolished by the vertue and efficacie of this scepter, as the Apostle Saint Paul expoundeth it in the 2. Thess. 2.3. who questionles had respect vnto this place when he spake of the ruine of Antichrist, and in that place he opens vnto vs the meaning of the Prophet. He shewes then that Iesus Christ shall neuer be without enemies, which shall indeuor to ouerthrow his kingdome, to abolish or stop the free passage of his Gospell (otherwise the Prophet had said this without cause) but Iesus Christ shall destroy them by the sound of his word, as well euery one of them in particular, as all of them in generall, with their head and Captaine also. Thus S. Paul sets before vs a double vse of this doctrine in an other §1place, requiring this of a Pastor, that he §2be not only fit to teach, but also that he conuince the gainsayers, Tit. 1.9. For the Pastor ought not only to feede the flock, but also to keepe and maintaine it against all harmes.
- 1The wicked may for a time take pleasure in contemning the word of the Gospel, but in the end the Gospel shall smite them through unto endless perdition.The wicked may for a time take pleasure in contemning the word of the Gospel, but in the end the Gospel shal smite them thorow vnto endlesse perdition.
