Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Here he teacheth that Christ shall be the protector of the poor: ¹or rather he shows who they are to whom the grace of Christ properly appertains; to wit, to the poor and meek: that is, to those who being humbled under the sense of their own misery, have thrown to the ground this high and proud conceit of themselves, wherewith men are usually puffed up, till being meekened by the word, they have learned to humble themselves. The Prophet here protests then, that Christ will not be the defender and protector of all in general, but of those who acknowledge themselves poor, and destitute of all good things. And this Jesus Christ himself showed to the Disciples of John Baptist, when he told them that the Gospel was preached to the poor: Mat 11.5. For all are not indeed indifferently capable of this doctrine,² but those only who being stripped of all overweening of the flesh, have their recourse to this heavenly safeguard and protection.

HEere he teacheth that Christ shall be the protectour of the poore: ¹or rather hee shewes who they are to whom the grace of Christ properly appertaines; to wit, to the poore and meeke: that is, to those who being humbled vnder the sense of their owne miserie, haue throwne to the ground this high and proud conceit of themselues, wherewith men are vsually puffed vp, till being meekened by the word, they haue learned to humble themselues. The Prophet heere protests then, that Christ will not be the defender and protectour of all in generall, but of those who acknowledge themselues poore, and destitute of all good things. And this Iesus Christ himselfe shewed to the Disciples of Iohn Baptist, when he told them that the Gospell was preached to the poore: Mat 11.5. For all are not indeede indifferently capable of this doctrine,² but those onely who being stripped of all ouerweening of the flesh, haue their recourse to this heauenly saueguard and protection.

1. 1To whom these graces formerly mentioned do properly appertain.