Vers. 2. I will goe before thee and make the crooked straight: I will breake the brasen doores, and burst the yron barres.
3. And I will giue thee the treasures of darknes, and the things hid in secret places, that thou mayst know that I am the Lord which call thee by name, and name thee, though thou hast not knowne mee.
THese two verses depend vpon the former:* 1.1 but in a word they shew, that Cyrus shall easily ouercome, and that in short time, be∣cause the Lord shall prepare the way for him; for this cause he promiseth that the crooked way shall be made straight, in respect that God will take away all obstacles. Now because money is the sinew of warre,* 1.2 and that Cyrus was to passe ouer the poore & barren moun∣taines of Persia, Isaiah tels him, that the trea∣sures which before were hid, should fall into his hands, that being enriched with ye spoile, he might furnish himselfe with all necessaries, for by treasures of darknes, he meanes treasures hidden and buried deeply in the earth. Now it appeares plainly by the histories how these things came to passe: for after Cresus king of Lydia* 1.3 was taken, who was the richest king in the world, Cyrus recouered great treasures. A man would neuer haue supposed then that he could haue made such a generall Con∣quest, had not the cause of so good successe been heere expressed: to wit, that the Lord called him forth, and guided him in his iour∣ney, that in him he might manifest a notable signe of his power: for so much, that thou mayst know, imports.
* 1.4I grant that Cyrus knew (as we haue said) that God was ye God of Israel, and did greatly reuerence him: yet he became no true Con∣uert for all that, neither did he imbrace the true worship according to the ordinances of Gods law. This therefore was a particular knowledge, to wit, so farre forth as he assisted the Church, for whose deliuerance he was ordeined. It was needful then that he should be in some measure touched with this know∣ledge,* 1.5 in regard of this worke of God which he had to performe. He speakes not of that knowledge then by which we are enlightened, or of the spirit of regeneration, but of a par∣ticular knowledge, such as the prophane and vnbeleeuers haue.
Which call thee by thy name.] Some barely expound this phrase of speech, that Cyrus was thus called of God before he was borne. But we haue said heretofore, Chap. 43.1. that by these words ye Prophet meant another thing, namely, that God calles those by name whom he chuseth and ordeineth to execute some speciall worke, in which respect he separates them from the common multitude, for this signifies a neerer and a more familiar calling. And in this sense it is said, that the good shep∣heard calles his sheepe by name, Iohn 10.3. be∣cause he knowes them distinctlie. But aboue all, this agrees to the faithfull, whom God accounts his flock, and of his familie, which grace he neuer vouchsafed to Cyrus. But in as much as he appointed him to be a speciall Leader in such a speciall seruice, he stamped him as it were with rare and singular notes of his power. And thus much touching the cause why this title of Calling is giuen vnto him.
These words, The God of Israel, must be well obserued, because the superstitious are wont to attribute their victories to their Idols. And in that sense Abacuk saith, That euery one sa∣crificed to his god, Aba. 1.16. They runne riot then in their talke, and forge such a diuinitie as it pleaseth them to conceiue of, in stead of acknowledging the only and true God. Now all that which is heere said of Cyrus, may be applied vnto vs in a farre better sense, to wit, that we frame not to our selues such a know∣ledge of God as fits our owne appetites, but that we separate him so from Idols, that he may only be rereceiued and acknowledged of vs in one Iesus Christ, out of whom we can worship nought but an Idoll, nay the very Diuell himselfe.* 1.6 In this respect then let our knowledge surpasse that which Cyrus had, to wit, let vs reiect all superstitions and idola∣tries, that wee may serue him in holines and righteousnes (all the dayes of our life.)