VERS. XXXII.
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He was led as a sheep to the slaughter.
THE Text in Isaiah is indeed exprest here according to the Greek Version, but whether the Eunuch used that Version or no, is no unjust question. As also, whether he were a Jew or a Proselyte; whether a Proselyte made, or a meer Gentile; whether an Eunuch in the strict, or in the larger sense. Which things are not to be en∣quired into, because we can no where be resolved about them. The perversness of the Jews is more obvious, who, to elude these express and plain things about the sufferings of the Messiah, do divert the whole sense of this Chapter to another thing. It goes cur∣rent amongst them, that the afflicted people of Israel, are the subject of this Prophesie: although there are those that would apply part of it to Jeremy; others, part of it to R. Judah the holy; nay some there are that will allow some part of it to the Messias himself, in the mean time providing that they admit not of his death; it would be very tedious to set down particularly their triflings and elusions in this matter. I rather enquire who it is that the Greek Interpreters apply this passage to? Whether they plainly and sincerely un∣derstood them of the sufferings and death of the Messiah? Let those answer for them, who would have them inspired by the Holy Ghost. If they were thus inspired, they could not but attain the true sense and scope of the Scripture, as well as the Grammatical signification of the words, and could not but discern here, that the Prophet treats of an afflicted, suffering, dying, buried Messias, &c.
And if so, how strange a thing is it, that the whole Nation should be carried away with so cursed, perverse and obstinate a denial of the Messiah's death? What? For Se∣venty two Doctors and Guids of the people, and those divinely inspired too, so plain∣ly to foresee the sufferings and death of the Messiah foretold in this Chapter, and yet not to take care to disperse this Doctrine amongst the people, nor deliver and hand it down to posterity? But if they did do it, how came so horrid an aversness to this Doctrine to seize the whole Nation? If they did not, what execrable Pastors of the people were they, to conceal so noble, and so necessary an Article of their Faith, and not impart it?
In like manner do the Jews commonly apply that famed Prophesie of Christ, Isa. IX. 6. to King Hezekiah; I doubt also the Greek Interpreters lean that way, that clause 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, I will restore health, or soundness to him, gives a suspition of it.