Vers. 24. Thus saith the Lord thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the wombe; I am the Lord that made all things, that spread out the heauens a∣lone, and stretched out the earth by my selfe.
* 1.1NOw the Prophet will forthwith accor∣ding to his custome, fall into a descrip∣tion of Gods power; because the promises would little moue vs, vnlesse the doctrine of Gods power were also added, to remoue all doubts and scruples out of our hearts. For it often falles out that by our obstinacie and distrust, wee diminish both the goodnesse and power of God, in attributing lesse vnto the same then we ought: for which respect the Prophet heartens on the faithfull by the excellent titles afterwards mentioned, to the end they might hope aboue hope. And yet he begins with the commendation of the good∣nes and fatherly affection which God beares his Church to the very end: for the setting forth of Gods force and power would moue vs but little, if himselfe should not therewith∣al draw neere to confirme vs in the assurance of his goodnesse. Wee must not begin at his Maiestie then, nor mount so high, for feare of being ouerwhelmed: but this loue of his, by which he graciously drawes vs vnto him, must be imbraced of vs also.
The title of redeemer in this place, is refer∣red to the time past, in regard that the Iewes, who were once redeemed out of Egypt (as out of a bottomlesse gulph, and that by a miracle almost incredible) ought from the remem∣brance thereof to be confirmed, in hope of the euerlasting continuance of it from age to age. Hee calles himselfe their former, in the same sense which we haue often expounded it before;* 1.2 to wit, because in regenerating those by his Spirit whom he adopts, he makes them new creatures. And thus by the way he puts them in mind of the benefits they had already receiued; that from thence they might conclude, that God would be sure in his promises concerning their deliuerance for the time to come.
From the vvombe.] Hee addes this also, to teach them to acknowledge that all the be∣nefits they had receiued from God, were vn∣deserued: for he had preuented them by his mercy, euen before they were able to open their mouthes to aske any benefits of him. And by this consideration Dauid cheereth vp his spirits in his extreme distresses: It is thou O Lord, saith he, that hast drawne me out of my mothers wombe: thou gauest me hope whilest I sucked my mothers breasts. I was cast vpon thee euen from the vvombe: thou art my God from my mothers belly: Psal. 22.9, 10. But our Prophet speakes not heere of that generall fauour which is common to all men as soone as they are come into the world; but he magnifies that couenant where∣by God had adopted the posterity of Abra∣ham, euen to a thousand generations: for doubtlesse he which hath begun so good a worke, would finish the same vnto the end.
In the next place followes the titles con∣cerning his power; to wit, that it is he which of his owne good pleasure did spread out both the heauens and the earth. By the word sprea∣ding out, his meaning is, that the absolute go∣uernment of the whole world is in his hands, and that all creatures are subiect vnto him: for Gods vvord and power ought so to be ioi∣ned together, that they must neuer bee sepa∣rated.