Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

We have also to observe the order which the Prophet keeps here: for first he placeth poverty, and afterwards meekness or gentleness:¹ because we must be poor before we can be brought to be meek and lowly. As long as we th•nke our selves to be any thing, being puffed up with a vain confidence of our own worth, our heart forthwith overfloweth into all pride and conceitedness, so as we cannot be humbled nor brought into any order: but when we once know our own misery, then we begin to abase our selves, and being weak and oppressed, we are forced to sigh under the burden. He here describes then the condition of Christs people,² as heretofore he had set forth the nature of their King: whence also we are to learn, that all do not indifferently partake in these excellent gifts of the holy Ghost, wherewith Christ was adorned, as we have seen heretofore, but the poor and humble only.

Wee haue also to obserue the order which the Prophet keepes heere: for first hee placeth pouertie, and afterwards meeknesse or gentlenesse:¹ because we must be poore before wee can bee brought to be meeke and lowly. As long as we th•nke our selues to be any thing, being puffed vp with a vaine confidence of our owne worth, our heart forthwith ouerfloweth into all pride and conceitednesse, so as wee cannot be humbled nor brought into any order: but when we once know our own miserie, then we beginne to abase our selues, and being weake and oppressed, wee are forced to sigh vnder the burthen. He heere describes then ye condition of Christs people,² as heeretofore hee had set forth the nature of their King: whence also we are to learne, that all doe not indifferently partake in these excellent gifts of the holy Ghost, wherewith Christ was adorned, as we haue seene heretofore, but the poore and humble onely.

1. 1We must be poor before we can be brought to meekness.