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. And let not the sonne of the strāger which is ioined to the Lord speak•• and say, The Lord hath surely separate me from his people: neither let the Eu∣nuch say, behold, I am a drie tree.

THe Prophet shewes that this grace of God shall be such, that those who were farre off from him before, and against whom the gate was shut, should now obtaine a new e∣state, or should be placed againe in their right. And thus he meets with their com∣plaints, that they should not say they were re∣iected, vnworthie, aliants, or shut out for any infamous note; because the Lord would take away all lets and impediments. Now this may be as well referred to the Iewes, whose tem∣porarie [ 1] reiection had made thē like to stran∣gers, [ 2] as to the prophane nations: and for mine owne part, I referre it both to the one and to the other, that so it may agree with the prophesie of Hosea, J vvill call them my people vvhich vvere not my people. Hose. 1.10.

Moreouer when he saith, that they shall be ioined to the Lord, it is to admonish them that this consolation only appertained to such as followed the voice of Gods call. For there were many Eunuches to whom the Lord shew∣ed no mercie, and many strangers, which were not ioined to the Lord. This promise there∣fore is restrained to those, who being called, should obey. Vnder strangers and Eunuches, he notes out all such as seemed vnworthie to be reputed among the number of Gods people, who once had chosen them for his peculiar inheritance, and afterwards banished them out of his land. Other nations were shut out of his kingdome, as it appeares in euery place of the holy Scripture. Saint Paul saith in the Epistle to the Ephesians, Chap. 2.12.13. that the Gentiles had nothing to do in the Com∣mon wealth of Israel, but were strangers from the couenants of promise, without hope, and vvithout God in the world; but now in Christ Iesus (saith he) you which were once farre off, are made neere by the blood of Christ.

Thus then the Gentiles might in the be∣ginning [ 1] doubt whether this benefit of adop∣tion belonged vnto them or no, seeing it was properly appropriated to the Iewes. And therefore wee see how the Apostles auoided this thing; though the Lord had commanded them to preach the Gospel thorowout all th•• world: Mark. 16.15. For they thought the do∣ctrine of the Gospell should haue been pro∣phaned, if they should indifferently publish it as well to the Gentiles, as to the Iewes. And the same scruple might also trouble the [ 2] minds euen of the elect people, in regard their banishment out of the holy land, was a

signe vnto them of their reiection. The Pro∣phet therefore wils them to remoue all such doubts as these out of their heads.

Vnder the word Eunuch, by the figure Sy∣necdoche, hee comprehends all those that bare any note of infamie vpon them, which might be an occasion to separate them from Gods people. For it seemed that y^e Eunuches, and such as had no children, were reiected of God, and excluded out of the promise: where∣in he had said to Abraham, that his posteritie should be as the starres in the heauens, and as the sand of the sea: Gen. 15.5. and 22.17. In a word, he withdrawes all men from the con∣sideration of themselues, that they may whol∣ly fix their mindes vpon the calling of God, that thus they might imitate the faith of A∣braham, who considered not his body now dead; neither the deadnesse of Sarahs wombe; so as to enter into any dispute with himselfe through his owne incredulitie touching the power of God: but aboue hope, beleeued vnder hope: Rom. 4.18, 19, 20. The Prophet then speakes to the vile and contemptible, lest they should be discouraged; because, as Saint Peter saith, God is no accepter of persons; but in euery nation, he that feareth God, and vvorketh righteousnesse, is accepted of him.

Notes

• A preuention of an obie∣ction.
• Acts 10.34.35.