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. 9. And in that day shall men say; Loe, this is our God: wee haue waited for him, and hee will saue vs: This is the Lord, wee haue waited for him: wee will reioyce and bee glad in his saluation.

ANd they shall say.] The verbe is indefinit, and should be translated, He shall say: but because he speakes of that which All, and not one or two, should say: I had rather turne it, Men shall say. This is a very good conclusion, seeing thereby they shew that these benefits of God are not stinted nor scanted to a few; but that men both receiue and feele them by effect. His meaning is then, that God pre∣pares not this banquet (mentioned vers. 6.) in vaine; in regard men are satisfied there∣with, and reioyce with an eternall ioy. For this gladsome voyce which he foretels should be publike, is a reall signe and testimonie) as you would say) of Gods grace. This place ought to be diligently obserued of vs; for the Prophet therein shewes, that there shall bee such a manifestation, that it shal retaine mens mindes in the word of God, so as they shall wholly rest in it, without any doubting at all.

But if these things appertaine to Christs Kingdome, as they doe indeed, wee receiue great fruit thereby. What? Christians haue now that certaine trueth, in which they may boldly rest; vnlesse they forget themselues, and reiect the grace of God. For it is manife∣sted vnto all, & hath taken frō them all occa∣sion of doubting; so as they may safely boast, that they truely know what his will is: yea, we may say, and that truely, as Iesus Christ said to the woman of Samaria, We worship that which we know: Iohn 4.22. Therefore, in as much as we are assured by the Gospell, of that grace which is offered vs in Iesus Christ, we wander not any more in vncertaine conie∣ctures, as many doe, but we imbrace God and his pure seruice; so as we boldly bid adiew to all humane inuentions.

The opposition also is to bee noted be∣tweene the little and obscure knowledge which the Fathers had vnder the Law, and that fulnesse of knowledge which shineth now in the Gospell: for albeit God vouchsa∣fed the people of old, the light of his heauen∣ly truth; yet it did appeare more familiarly by Christ, as it is said in the first of S. Iohn, vers. 14.18. The Prophet therefore now extols and sets forth that assured confidence which the onely Sonne of God reuealing his Father, hath brought vnto vs at his comming. Be∣sides, as in this behalfe we haue a much grea∣ter prerogatiue then the ancient people had, in regard that the reconciliation made by Christ, sets the Lord more at one with vs: so God cannot bee otherwise knowne but in Christ, who is his liuely image, and the ingra∣uen forme of his substance: Heb. 1.3. He that knowes not the Sonne, the same knowes not the Father. Howsoeuer the Turkes, Iewes, and other infidels boast, that they worshippe God the Creator of heauen and earth; yet in so doing, they worship nought but the deuice of their owne braine. And albeit they be ob∣stinate, yet they follow nothing but vncer∣taine and false opinions, in stead of the truth: they grope in darkenesse, and worship their owne imaginations in stead of God. In a word, all religion out of Christ is false and deceitfull; all seruices are detestable, & ought boldly to be condemned.

But it is not without cause that the Pro∣phet vseth these two wordes, Behold, this is, &c. For therein he testifies, that God is sure∣ly present, and a little after, in mentioning

faith, and assurance, he sets forth the con∣stancie of those who worship God in Christ. It is certaine that we can not comprehend the Lord in his Maiestie, for he dwels in light which no man can attaine vnto, the which would certainly ouerwhelme vs, if we should presume to aspire thereunto. And therefore he applies himselfe to our weaknes, commu∣nicating himselfe vnto vs in Iesus Christ, by whom he makes vs partakers of his wisdome, righteousnes, and all other his benefits.

This is also an excellent point, for in cal∣ling Christ the God of the faithfull, he giues him the title of The eternall: whence we gather, [ 1] that the true eternitie of God is comprehen∣ded in his person. Moreouer, seeing Christ is [ 2] thus manifested by the Gospell, it reproues the wicked vnthankfulnes of those who be∣ing discontented with this perfect manifesta∣tion of him, haue dared to adde vaine specu∣lations of their owne, as we may see in the Papacie.

Wee haue waited for him.] Now hee ex∣presseth that constancie and perseuerance which those should haue that haue once im∣braced God in Christ: for this was not to be a temporarie knowledge, but such, as where∣in we must stedfastlie perseuere vnto the end. Now Isaiah speakes in the person of the aun∣cient Church which then had her proper seate only among the Iewes. And therefore contemning all other gods which were wor∣shipped in other places, he confidentlie af∣firmes that he only which was manifested vn∣to Abraham, and published in the Law by the ministrie of Moses, is the true God: for other nations which were plunged in darknes and ignorance waited not for him: in regard that this waiting proceeds from faith, which is ac∣companied with patience; and faith is neuer separate from the word. He admonisheth the faithful then that their saluation hangs vpon expectation and hope, because the promises of God were somewhat deferred till Christes comming. Furthermore we haue also to con∣sider what the condition of these times were, for it seemed that Gods promise was either disanulled; or that he had reiected the poste∣ritie of Abraham. Truely, howsoeuer they be∣held the promise a farre off, yet God did in no sort reueale himselfe vnto them at that time: it was needfull therefore that they should be endued with a wonderful patience, to sustaine so heauie afflictions and tempta∣tions. This is the cause why he commands them to wait patientlie for the comming of Christ, for then they should perfectlie feele how neere the Lord is to thē that serue him.

Now this very doctrine ought to quiet and calme our troubled spirits at this day, to the end we may wait for the Lord with a sure and inuincible hope; although our saluation be yet hidden, and that we say of him when he seemes to be far off, Behold him. Let vs learne also in the midst of the greatest confusions, to discerne him by this marke, This is the Lord. For the words thēselu••s, although he speakes in the time past, to wit, We haue reioiced, and are glad, yet the words import a continuall act: and a little before he spake in the time to come, He will saue vs. The summe is, that Christ will neuer disappoint those that are his, of their hope, prouided that they call vpon him with calme and quiet affections.

Notes

• What vse we are to make of this certentie of trueth, now reuealed vnto vs in the Gospell.
• God cannot be knowne but in Christ
• Ioh. 14 7.
• Turkes and Iewes not acknowled∣ging God in Christ, wor∣ship their owne ima∣ginations in stead of God.
• All religions out of Christ detestable.
• Note also, that the Pro∣phet doubles his speech, This is our God, This is the Lord.
• Gen. 15.1. Exod. 20.
• Christ neuer disappoints his of their hope, if with calme affe∣ctions they call vpon him.