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. 3. Surely the Lord shall com∣fort Zion, hee shall comfort all her deso∣lations, and hee shall make her desert like* 1.1 Eden, and her wildernesse like the gar∣den of the Lord: ioy and gladnesse shall be found therein, praise and the voice of singing.

THe Prophet shewes that the example propounded in Abrahams person,* 1.2 agrees to all ages. For as the Lord created so great a stocke out of one man in a moment; so will hee replenish his Church by extraordinarie and vnknowne meanes: not for once onely, but as oft as in the worlds account she is be∣come a widow and barren. And thus after S. Paul hath spoken of Abrahams faith, and com∣mended the excellencie of it, he applies the same doctrine to euery one of vs in particu∣lar: Rom. 4.24.

Where he addes, and shall comfort all her ru∣ines; it may be thus expounded;* 1.3 The Lord will comfort his Church, not onely whilest shee florisheth, but euen when she shal be brought to desolation and solitarinesse. And it was ne∣cessary indeed that she should be wasled and deformed euen to the vtmost, before shee could rightly taste the helpe whereof hee heere speakes. Whereas it followes, that her desert shall be as a place of pleasure, the Prophet hath respect to that place of Moses, where he shewes how man at the beginning was put into the garden of Eden: Gen. 2.15.* 1.4 that is to say, into a place of pleasure: whence by his owne fault he was banished. Now we which are depriued of this benefit and blessing which God bestowed vpon our first father, are also scattered vpon the face of the earth, and depriued of these pleasures. Wherefore when many desolations befall vs, and that wee see the order of nature ouerturned, and no∣thing to bee perceiued but miserable wastes and scatterings, let vs acknowledge that this is the iust punishment of our infidelitie, and

of the rest of our horrible iniquities. Let vs also remember the sentence pronounced a∣gainst our father Adam,* 1.5 or rather against his whole posteritie, which as we are to do in the whole course of our liues, so then principallie when wee see the desolations and wracks of the Church. For the earth which otherwise of it selfe vvould abound vvith all sorts of pleasures, is now brought into a vvildernes by our fault, and the Church which euery where florished, is destroyed and laid waste. Now in the next place the Prophet addes ioy and gladnes, wher∣by he signifies, that there shal be such a won∣derfull change, that the Church shall mourne nor lament no more: for whilest she was op∣pressed vnder so heauie a bondage, there was nothing heard but sighs and grones, but being restored, she shall reioyce, and sing praises vnto God. Heere then we are admonished to praise and blesse the name of God, after we haue ta∣sted of his liberalitie, Psal. 14.7.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or, a place of pleasure.
• * 1.2

  After dark∣nesse, light.
• * 1.3

  The Church must be very low b ough•• before she is fit to re∣ceiue com∣fort.
• * 1.4

  The Garden of Eden, a place of plea∣s••re. Gen. 3.23.
• * 1.5

  A good me∣ditation for vs in the Churches desolation.