Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 13. The hatred also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, neither shall Judah vex Ephraim.

Vers. 13. The hatred also of Ephraim shall depart, and the aduersaries of Iudah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not enuie Iudah, neither shall Iudah vexe Ephraim.

Here he promiseth that there shall be such great tranquillity in the Church, §2that the Israelites and the Jews shall not waste themselves any more by civill dissensions, §3neither yet be molested in any sort by their enemies: also, that they shall not be subject to hatred nor envy, as they were before. Not as if there should no wicked ones at all be found still among them; but that the Lord will root them out at the last. Yet we are especially to observe that which he adds touching the pacifications of civill hatreds and dissensions; to wit, that the children of Abraham shall no more molest one another, but shall be at unity in one religion, and in the true fear of God. For it was an odious and detestable spectacle to see them so long time sworn enemies one to another.¹ It is not for nought that he shows the fountain of dissensions; to wit, envy, which was the cause why the successors of Abraham did rent one another, when the Tribes of Judah and Ephraim strove amongst themselves for the excellency. This cursed fire brand envy, hath kindled all the wars in the world, when as no man will humble himself, nor part with the least jot of his right. In a word, the Lord promiseth here, both an outward and an inward peace, which is an excellent and desirable benefit above all things.

HEere hee promiseth that there shall bee such great tranquillitie in the Church, §2that the Israelites and the Iewes shall not waste themselues any more by ciuill dissensions,