in their minds, wherein the Church should be restored to her perfection. Therefore as the Church was euer and anon almost ouer∣whelmed with diuers tempests, so euery one of the faithfull laid fast hold in these dangers vpon this sentence as vpon a board or planck to bring them saffe to the hauen. In the meane while we must note, that the perfecti∣on of daies, did so begin at ye first comming of Christ, that it runnes on still with a continu∣all course, vntill hee appeares the second time againe for our saluation.
Shal be prepared.] This vision in appearance might almost haue seemed rediculous: not on∣ly because Zion was a little hill of no great height: (as if comparison had bin made of a heape of dust, with great mountaines) but al∣so in regard that a little before he had fore∣told her ruine. How could one haue then beleeued, that Zion which had lost all her dig∣nitie, should againe bee thus honoured with so great an excellencie, that she should turne the eies of all the Gentiles to the beholding of her beautie? yet is shee so aduanced not∣withstanding, as if shee should bee mounted higher then the Mount Olympus. Let the Gen∣tiles bragge of their mountaines, as long as they will; yet shall they be nothing in com∣parison of this little hill (saith the Prophet) although it be low and small in appearance. To naturall reason indeede this is verie vn∣like. What? shall Zion hang in the cloudes? And therefore no question but the wicked scorned this promise. Wee know well e∣nough that impietie hath alwaies ouerflowed her bankes against God. Yea, the circum∣stance which I haue touched alreadie, was e∣nough at the first push to haue ouerthrowne this prophesie. How is it then that this little hil could be so soone exalted, being fallen af∣ter the des••ruction of the Temple into vtter dishonour? But doubtlesse Isaiah foretold not these things in vaine. For in the end, this little hill was truely exalted aboue the moun∣taines: because that from thence the voyce of the Lord was heard; which sounded forth thorowout all the world euen to lift vs vp into the heauens; from thence the Maiestie of God shined. Lastly, because it was the san∣ctuarie of God, it surmounted aboue all the world in height of excellencie.
Now we must note the vse of this prophe∣sie, namely, that Isaiah meant to set before them a consolation, whereupon they were to stay themselues in their captiuitie: that how∣soeuer the Temple should be destroyed, and that the sacrifices should cease, yea and all things should fall to the ground: yet not∣withstanding this hope should encourage the faithfull; and that in this horrible confusion they should thus thinke: True it is that the mountaine of the Lord is now desolate; but yet shall shee haue her seate there againe, so as the glorie of this mountaine shall surpasse the glorie of all others. To the end then that they should not doubt of the euent hereof, the Prophet hath pictured it forth here as in a tablet, wherein they might behold the glo∣rie of God. For although the mountaine continued then safe, yet was it in a manner detestable, because it was brought to a mise∣rable desolation, hauing lost all her glorie, in regard that God himselfe had forsaken it. But the faithfull were to behold, not these ruines, but this vision. It also sufficiently appeares by that which followes, why hee speakes so highly of the exaltation of this mountaine of Zion, because from thence came forth the Gospell, wherein the Image of God shined. Other mountaines might surmount it in height: but because the glorie of God did appeare vpon it in an higher degree, ther∣fore it was also necessarie that the mountaine in which he manifesteth himselfe, should bee exalted aboue others. He doth not praise the mountaine of Zion then in regard of it selfe, but in respect of her ornament or glorie, wherewith also all the world was to be beau∣tified.