A commentary vpon the prophecie of Isaiah. By Mr. Iohn Caluin. Whereunto are added foure tables ... Translated out of French into English: by C.C.

Vers. 2. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest vpon him: the spirit of wisedome and vnderstanding, the spirit of counsell and strength, the spirit of knowledge, and of the feare of the Lord.

NOw he begins to speake of Christ plaine∣ly and without any figure. It had been sufficient to haue propounded the consolati∣on vnder the former similitude: and fitly did the opposition answere betweene the bur∣ning of the forrest, and the new restoring of it againe. He therein described the twofold estate of the people: for hauing spoken of the calamitie, he by and by addes the hope of re∣stauration: the beginning whereof notwith∣standing, must come forth of a little bud: but now hee manifestly shewes what this deli∣uerance shall bee, and what the condition both of Christ and his Kingdome should be also.

Some thinke this should rather be refer∣red to Ezekiah, who was a figure of Christ: but how inconsiderately wee shewed heretofore. For when Ezekias was borne, the name and royall dignitie of the house of Dauid had yet vigor and strength in his successours: and be∣sides, hee was farre short of this greatnesse, whereof he will speake by and by.

Moreouer, hence we gather, that the spiri∣tuall Kingdome of Christ was promised in times past to the antient people, inasmuch as the vertue, power, and maiestie thereof is heere established in the gifts of the Holy ghost. Now albeit Christ had little neede of these gifts and graces: yet was it needfull for vs that he should be thus inriched with them, because hee tooke our flesh vpon him; to the end hee might afterwards powre out againe all those benefits vpon vs, whereof we should otherwise haue been vtterly destitute. For out of his fulnesse must we all draw grace vp∣on grace, euen as out of the fountaine;* 1.1 accor∣ding to that in Iohn 1.16.

The Spirit of the Lord.] We must keepe that in mind, which I touched erewhile; to wit, that this is to be referred to the humane na∣ture of Christ; because it could not be that hee should haue been inriched with the gifts and graces of the Father, but as in respect that he was made man. Besides, as he descen∣ded

frō heauen for our sakes; so did he also re∣ceiue the gifts of the holy Ghost from hea∣uen to adorne vs with them: and this is that anointing whereby he obtained this name of Christ, the which he communicates to vs. For whence comes it that wee are called Christi∣ans but ••y reason that hee receiues vs into his f••llowship,* 1.2 and that he distributes to eue∣rie one of his fuln••sse, according to the mea∣sure of his f•••••• ••••••••ralitie?* 1.3 And in very deed, this plac•• doth not so much teach vs what Christ is in himselfe, as rather what he recei∣u••d of the Father, that hee might fill vs with his abundance. Now albeit there is no great need that wee should stand long in opening the meaning of the words, yet not withstan∣ding if any will haue a short difference be∣tweene wised••me and vnderstanding, I am of opinion that the word wisedome, doth gene∣rally comprehend whatsoeuer belongs to the order and rule of life:* 1.4 and then that vn∣derstanding is added in stead of the expositi∣on thereof.* 1.5 For if we haue the foresaid wise∣dome, wee shall haue vnderstanding enough. This word counsell,* 1.6 signifies as much as the word Iudgement; whereby wee are able to giue resolution in doubtfull things: for it were not sufficient to haue vnderstanding, vnlesse wee were therewithall endued with counsell, to guide vs safely in matters of impor∣tance. The word strength, is sufficiently knowne.* 1.7 As touching knowledge, or skill, it dif∣fers l••ttle from vnderstanding, vnlesse it should rather appertaine vnto knowing, and so ••t should declare the act.* 1.8 The feare of the Lord,* 1.9 signifies a sincere affection to serue and honour God. Now the Prophet reckons not vp all the graces of the holy Ghost heere, as many haue thought. For the Papists haue sot∣tishly and vnlearnedly drawne their seuen-formed g••ace from this place: and some of the antien••s haue been no lesse absurdly decei∣ued therein then they. Isaiah mentioneth but sixe, & they haue added the seuenth of their owne head. And as one errour lightly fol∣lowes another, so they haue indeuoured to restraine the gifts and graces of the holy Ghost to be but seuen in number: and yet notwithstanding in other places wee see that there are as many epithites more attributed vnto him,* 1.10 according to the diuersitie of his effects. Morouer, it is a thing sufficiently knowne, that wee our selues are made parta∣kers of many other benefits by the meanes of Christ, then those which are heere recited; to wit, meekenesse, chastitie, sobrietie, truth, holinesse, and the like, which comes to vs from no other fountaine then from Christ himselfe. Hee recites not all the gifts heere then, which were conferred vpon the Lord Iesus, neither was it needfull so to doe: his meaning was onely to shew that Christ was sent vnto vs furnished and adorned with all graces fit to inrich vs with all.

If these things had not been added, perad∣uenture [ 1] wee might haue conceiued the re∣stauration of this kingdome to be carnall ra∣ther [ 2] then spiritual, as the Iewes doe: or might haue imagined Iesus Christ had been vnfur∣nished of all necessarie graces. And therefore hee shewes first generally, then particularly, that the gifts of the holy Ghost were powred into him,* 1.11 to the end we might boldly goe vn∣to him to aske those things we stand in need of. For he will inrich vs with wisdome and vn∣derstanding he wil giue vs counsell when things are confused, he will make vs strong and vali∣ant in combats, and will beautifie vs also with godlinesse; that is to say, with the true feare of God: in a word, hee will furnish vs with all things needful for our life and saluation. The Prophet then comprehends all gifts and gra∣ces heere, so as it is too foolishly done of them, who haue gone about to suppresse that which is not heere expressed.

Now hee shewes that all graces are in Christ, to the end they might be communica∣ted vnto vs: for which cause we are called his companions in the 45. Psalme, verse 8. For as the strength of the members flowes from the head, so Christ powres out the vertue of his heauenly vnction vpon the whole body of his Church. Whence it followes, that those who are barren and dry, haue no communi∣on at all with Christ, and therefore doe falsly challenge vnto them the name of Christians. As often therefore as wee feele in our selues the want of any of these gifts, let vs accuse our owne infidelitie as the cause of it; be∣cause true faith makes vs partakers of all Christs benefits. Let vs humbly intreat the Lord then, that he will not suffer the lusts of our flesh to raigne in vs, that so Christ may wholly vnite vs vnto himselfe. Let vs also ob∣serue, that it is onely in Christ, in whom wee are to seeke all good things. For we greatly deceiue our selues, if wee thinke to obtaine any thing at the Fathers hand by any other meane.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ioh. 3.37.38.
• * 1.2

  Eph. 4 7.
• * 1.3

  We ••re 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be in this place, not so much wi•••• Ch•• ••t is in him ••e f, as wh •• h•• h••••h ••••cei∣ued ••f his Father, th••t he ••ight fi••l v•• w•••••• his abun•• nce.
• * 1.4

  1. Wis••••me.
• * 1.5

  2 Vnderstan¦d••ng.
• * 1.6

  3. Counsell.
• * 1.7

  4. Streng h.
• * 1.8

  5 Know∣ledge.
• * 1.9

  6 The feare of the Lord.
• * 1.10

  Gal. 6.1. 2. Tim 1.7.
• * 1.11

  These gif•••• of the holy Ghost, namely, wis∣dome, vnder∣standing, counsell, strength, knowledge, and the feare of the Lord, are therefore powred into Christ, that we standing in neede of all, or any one of them, might bold∣ly beg the same at his hands.