The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

The tabernacle of David which was decayed. It is not without cause that that evil favoured wasteness & ruin of the kings house is set before our eyes by the prophet. For unless the godly should have been persuaded, that Christ should notwithstanding come, though the kingdom of David were brought to nought, who should not only restore to their old order, things which were decayed: but should exalt even unto the heavens the glory of his kingdom with incomparable success, they should have despaired and hundred times in a day. After they were returned from the exile wherein they lived at Babylon, they were brought by continual destructions almost unto utter destruction. Afterward that ⟨p. 371⟩which remained was consumed by little & little with civill discord, yea when God did relieve their miseries, that kind of help which they had, was a certain matter of despair: for that rule which the Maccabees took upon them, was then taken away from the tribe of Judah. For these causes the Spirit of god doth diligently beat in this by the prophet, that Christ shall not come, until the kingdom of David shall perish: that they may not despair of salvation even amidst greatest miseries. So Isaiah sayeth, that there shall a branch arise out of the contemptible & base stock: and lot us also remember,¹ that God doth observe this wonderful way in restoring the church, that he doth build it up when it is decayed. Furthermore this place teacheth, when the church is best ordered & what is the true and right constitution thereof: to wit, when the throne of David is set up, & Christ alone hath the preeminence, that all may meet together in his obedience.

The tabernacle of Dauid which was decayed. It is not without cause that that euill fauoured wastnes & ruine of the kings house is set before our eyes by the prophet. For vnlesse the godly should haue been persuaded, that Christ should notwithstanding come, though the kingdome of Dauid were brought to nought, who should not only restore to their old order, thinges whiche were decaied: but shoulde exalt euen vnto the heauens the glory of his kingdome with incomparable successe, they should haue dispayred and hundreth times in a day. After they were returned from the exile wherin they liued at Babylon, they were brought by continuall destructions almost vnto vtter destruction. Afterward that ⟨p. 371⟩