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. 18. And in that day shall the deafe heare the words of the booke: and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscu∣ritie, and out of darknesse.

HE promiseth, as hath been said, that the Church of God shall continue safe in the middest of these stormes: for albeit the world should be shaken with infinite tempests, and laid on heapes, as if heauen and earth went together, yet the Lord would conserue a little flocke, and raise vp his Church againe, as out of the middest of death. This place ought greatly to refresh the wearie spirits of the Saints, and to confirme their faith: for is it not a miracle of miracles, that so small an handfull of the faithfull (amongst whom re∣maines the one and the same religion, wor∣ship, faith, and meanes of saluation) should be conserued among so many wrackes of Em∣pires which happened here and there?

But it seemes that Isaiah contradicts him∣selfe; for before he foretold that Gods people should be so besotted, that they should haue

none vnderstanding: vers. 11, 12. and now on the contrarie hee saith, that the deafe shall heare, and that the blind shall see. His meaning is then, that the Church must first be chasti∣sed and purged; not after an ordinarie or common fashion, but so strangely, that shee should seeme as good as vtterly extinct.

And therefore he saith, In that day: that is to say, after God hath punished the wicked, and cleansed his Church, hee will not onely inrich the earth with store of fruits,* 1.1 but with the renuing of the face thereof, hee will also restore hearing to the deafe, and sight to the blind, to the end they may vnderstand his law. For men had neither eres to see, nor eares to heare withall, as long as so horrible a iudge∣ment lasted: for all were so terrified and a∣mased, that none could vnderstand. But when the plagues & miseries should cease, then the Lord would opē the eies of that y^t were his, to the end they might see & imbrace y^e goodnes of God. For this is the true way to effect the restauration of the Church; namely, in gi∣uing sight to the blind, and hearing to the deafe: which Iesus Christ, as we know, not onely ef∣fected vpon mens bodies, but especially vp∣on their soules: Iohn 9. We through Gods infi∣nit mercy haue had experience hereof euen in our times, who haue been drawne out of that grosse darknesse of ignorance into which wee were plunged, and hath brought vs out into the true light:* 1.2 for our eyes haue receiued sight, and our eares, which before were close stopped vp, haue been opened to vnderstand, because the Lord hath pierced them, to fit vs for his seruice.

True it is that the blessing which he men∣tioned in the 17. verse, concerning the renu∣ing of the earth, was vnto them a good testi∣monie of their reconciliation: but the illumi∣nation whereof he now speakes, is much more excellent;* 1.3 for without that, all the gifts of God will not onely vanish away, but will also turne to our ruine and destruction. Now the Lord iustly attributes to himselfe alone, so excellent and great a worke: for it is not pos∣sible that those which are blind and deafe, should recouer their sight and hearing by their owne power. It appeares therefore that this is promised in particular to the elect onely; because the greatest part of men doe alwaies lie wallowing and weltering in dark∣nesse.

Notes

• * 1.1

  It is an hap∣pie thing when tem¦por••ll bl••s¦sings and inward re∣nouation go together. Men are not so fit to re∣ceiue cōfort in the day of distresse, as when the storme is ouer. Wherein the true meanes of the Chur∣ches restau∣ration cōsists.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 40.
• * 1.3

  All Gods benefits will turne to our ruin, without we be borne anew.