Vers. 1. The word that Isaiah the sonne of Amos saw vpon Iudah and Ieru∣salem.
THis prophesie is a con∣firmation of the do∣ctrine which we haue had a little before, as touching the restau∣ration of the Church. For in as much as it is a very hard matter to expect the saluation of the Church in the middest of the ruine of it, when as the wrath of God being once kindled doth begin to consume all things round about; then are the bare and naked promises very hardly thought to bee suffi∣cient for vs to rest and stay our selues vpon. For this cause the Lord would haue this spe∣ciall vision conioyned in stead of a confirma∣tion with the consolation, which was propo∣sed heretofore; the more assuredly to con∣firme our faith, that the Church should not perish, no not in all the calamities that could possiblie befall it. Thus I doubt not but this vision hath affinitie with that which we haue seene in the 26. and 27. verses of the former chapter. And by this we may know what was the vse and end of visions. For in as much as the bare doctrine is of no sufficient authority at all with vs; therefore the Lord addeth vi∣sions, by which he seales vp in vs the trueth of his word. Seeing then that this vision is ioyned with the former promise, from thence we gather a very profitable doctrine: to wit, that all the visions which ye Lord reuealed to his Prophets in times past, ought to be ioy∣ned with the promises, and to be as seales an∣nexed vnto them. Herein also we haue greatly to magnifie, and extoll from time to time the wonderfull goodnes of God, who is not con∣tented to giue vs his word alone, but doth al∣so vouchsafe to set the view of the things promised euen as it were before our eyes.
Now he addes a confirmation, because the restauration of the Church is a thing of won∣derfull importance: which also ought neces∣sarily to be knowne. For what shall become of the trueth of God; what shall become of faith, if there be no Church? And if there be no Church, it would follow, that God were a lier, and that all which his word containes, were false. But euen as he shewes by memo∣rable signes, that it is he alone, who without the aide of men, and by meanes vnknowne, conserues his Church: so here now by an excellent prophesie, he promiseth to doe the like.
[ 1] The vse of this prophesie then is double: for in as much as Isaiah and others after him were without ceasing to terrifie and feare this people (so full of obstinate malice) til such time as they should be carried away captiues; the Temple burnt, and the citie destroyed: it was very needfull in regard of the faithfull, that such rigour should be asswaged by some consolation of hope. Moreouer, in regard that they should languish long in captiuitie, and that after their returne many calamities would breake in vpon them to shake their minds; and in the end should bee wrapped, and as it were ouerwhelmed with a sea of an horrible ruine, and almost a desperate confu∣sion: if they had not bin comforted against so many terrors, they would haue perished an hundred times. But the promise of the re∣stauration of the Church did comfort and strengthen those who were alreadie fallen, to the end that at the least the calling vpon the name of God (which against al dangers is the onely and chiefe remedie) might haue it force amongst them. The word, some tran∣slate, The thing; because the signification of this word is generall: but it is rather to be taken for decree, or ordinance. Isaiah saith then, that this was reuealed to him by a spe∣ciall vision.