Vers. 2. And hee hath made my mouth like a sharpe sword: vnder the shadow of his hand hath hee hid mee, and made me a chosen shaft, and hid me in his quiuer.
HE vseth two similitudes; to wit, the sword and quiuer, to expresse the efficacie of his doctrine:* 1.1 and then he shewes to what end he was called and dignified with so noble a title; namely, that he might teach: for that is it he signifies by the word mouth. Christ then was not sent of the Father to conquer by force of armes, as earthly Princes doe; but his con∣quest is obtained by the sword of the Spirit;* 1.2 that is to say, by preaching the whole coun∣sell of God, in which hee will be sought and knowne: for he is not to be found elsewhere. Now hee shewes what the force of his mouth is; that is to say, of the doctrine which pro∣ceedes out of his mouth, when he compares it to a sharpe sword. For the word of God is liuely in operation, and more piercing then all two edged swords: for it diuides betweene the soule and the spirit, and the ioints and the marrow; and is a discerner of all the intents of the heart. Heb. 4.12.* 1.3 He compares it also to an ar∣row, because it not onely hits neere, but also a farre off, and comes euen to them who seeme far remote.
But after Isaiah hath spoken of the effica∣cie of his doctrine, hee addes, that God will maintaine both Christ and it by his power:* 1.4 so as nothing shall be able to hinder the course thereof. For as soone as Christ opens his mouth; that is to say, as soone as the Gospell begins to be sincerely preached, the aduersa∣ries band themselues on all sides, and infinit enemies conspire how to suppresse it. So as this efficacie whereof he speakes, and which hee attributes to his doctrine, would not stand, vnlesse Gods protection and shadow came betweene, to abandon the aduersa∣ries.
But he speakes not heere onely of Christ, but of the whole body of his Church. I grant we must beginne at the head, but frō thence we must descend to the members, and apply it to all the Ministers of the word; which is heere spoken of Christ, in regard this effica∣cie of the word is giuen them, that their voice should not beate the aire in vaine, but that it should enter to the pricking of the heart: Acts 2.37. The Lord also causeth the trump of his word to sound, not in one place onely, but to the vtmost ends of the earth. Lastly, in regard, the Lord faithfully keepes them vnder the shadow of his hand, though they be subiect to many reproches, and that Satan on euery side assailes them; yet they breake not off their course, which experience might well haue taught vs. For there is not one of vs, but we had long since been vtterly rooted out by the secret and open practises of our enemies, had not the Lord been our defence. And truly I cannot but wonder, that any one Minister of the Gospell should stand safe,* 1.5 in the midst of so many & so great dangers. But the cause is, the Lord keepes them vnder the shadow of his hand, and hides them as shafts in his quiuer, that they should hot be hurt nor de∣stroied of their enemies.