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. 1. Heare ye me, ô Iles, and hear∣ken ye people from farre, The Lord hath called me from the womb, and made men∣tion of my name from my mothers belly.

HAuing discoursed of the re∣demption to come, hee now descends to speake of Christ, vnder whose leading, the peo∣ple were deliuered from the captiuitie of Babylō, as in old time they were out of Egypt. Now it was needful the former prophesie should be con∣firmed with this present doctrine: for they would hardly haue bin drawne to expect this redemption from the Lord, had he not set Christ Iesus before their eies, in whom all Gods promises are Yea, and Amen, 2. Cor. 1.20. who only also is able to cheere vp and re∣fresh the fainting spirits: for wee are no lesse to looke for temporall saluation from him, then that which is eternall. Adde, that the Prophets are wont in speaking of the restau∣ration of y^e Church euer to mention Christ, not only because he is the minister thereof, [ 1] but also because our adoption is grounded [ 2] vpon him. The Iewes who haue any sparke of

sound iudgement do confesse, that this place is to be vnderstood of Christ only. But all haue not kept the order which we haue no∣ted. For the Prophet speakes not of Christ at the first brunt, but vseth this preface, for with∣out it the people could looke for no redemp∣tion, in regard their reconciliation with God depēded thereupon. Now that it might haue the greater efficacie, he brings in Christ him∣selfe speaking, not only to the Iewes, but to the nations beyond the seas, and to the strangers farre remote from the common wealth of Is∣rael, who are specified heere vnder this word iles, as we haue shewed in another place.

The Lord hath called me from the vvomb.] Some aske what this vocation is? for seeing we were elected in Christ before the foundations of the world, Ephes. 1.4. it followes that he is before vs, because he is the beginning and foundation of our election. It seemes the Prophet therefore hath spoken lesse then the thing imports, in affirming that Christ was called from the womb, seeing he was before all time. But the answer to this is easie, for the question is not heere touching Gods eternall election, whereby we are adopted for his children, but only of the establishing and consecration of Christ ordeined to this office, that wee should not thinke he intruded himselfe thereinto at ran∣don. For no man takes this honor to him∣selfe, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron, Heb. 5.4.5. So Christ tooke not vpon himselfe the office of the high Priest, but he which aduanced him to it, said, Thou art my sonne, this day haue I begotten thee, Psal. 2.7.

Moreouer, the Prophet defines not of the beginning of time, as if God had then begun to call him from the womb, but it is as if he should haue said, Before I came out of my mothers womb, God ordeined me to this of∣fice, as S. Paul saith, That God had chosen him from his mothers womb, Gal. 1.15. though notwithstanding he had elected him also frō before the foundations of the world. It is al∣so said of Ieremiah, Before I formed thee, I knew thee, Iere. 1.5. In a word, the summe is, that Christ tooke our flesh by the ordinance of his Father, that he might fulfill the worke of our Redemption vnto which he was desti∣nated. Hereunto appertaines the last mem∣ber of the verse, for the mentioning of his name, signifies as much as a familiar knowledge of him. He separates him then from out of the common ranke of men, because he is chosen to a rare and singular piece of seruice.

Notes

• From the treatise of their re∣demption, h•• comes to speake of Christ.
• All the pro∣mises are Ye•• and Amen in Christ.
• Christ thrust not himselfe into his of∣fice without a calling.