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. 21. Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall possesse the land for euer: the graffe of my planting shall be the worke of mine hands, that I may bee glo∣rified.

THe Prophet shewes heere, wherein the true establishment of the Church con∣sists: truly when shee is separated from the godlesse, and that the faithfull onely haue place in her. But we know that hypocrites are alwaies mingled amongst the true children of God in the Church. We haue also told you that the kingdome of Christ is heere deciphe∣red out; not such a one as it shall be in euery particular moment of time, but in its perfe∣ction. Christ at his first comming, began to accomplish that which is heere said, when he purged his Church: in which regard, he calles his Gospell a fan; because by it the chaffe is se∣parated from the wheat: Mat. 3.12. And he con∣tinues still euery day to purge it, and wil hold on that course euen to the day of haruest. In the meane while, there must be much refuse mingled amongst the good graine, which in that day shall at last bee vtterly purged and clensed out.

Moreouer, heere is a close opposition be∣tweene that prophane and wicked troope, who by their filthinesse doe pollute the san∣ctuarie of the Lord. Further also he seemes to mention the vocation of the Gentiles, when in the plurall number he saith, that all peoples shall be righteous.

Where hee addes, that they shall inherit the land for euer, I doubt not but he had respect vnto Iudea, and closely opposed the time of the restauration, to that of the captiuitie, which was at hand. As if he should say; Albeit I doe banish my people out of their inheri∣tance, yet after seuentie yeeres, I will bring them backe againe to possesse it for euer. It is also to be noted, that he restraines this pro∣mise which appertained to all the people of Zion, to the righteous. For thus there is a kind of correction, whereby he shuts out all hypo∣crites, who are wont vainly to vsurp & snatch

vnto them those titles, which onely belong to the true children of God. This sentence then agrees with the beginning of the 73. Psalme: Yet God is good to Israel, euen to the pure in heart. For here the Prophet attributes the name of Jsrael, which all bragged of, to the true seruants of God onely. And so in this place we may say as much of the word peoples, to wit, that little remnant which shall be pur∣ged from their vncleannesse. This was not wholly accomplished among the Iewes: they had the beginnings of it indeed, when they were restored home vnto their Country a∣gaine; that so afterwards by their meanes, the possession of the whole world might be giuen vnto Gods children. And as he spake heereto∣fore of the restauration of the Temple, which was not perfect in Ierusalem, but should bee extended thorow all the quarters of the world: so this possession of the land must not bee restrained to Iudea alone, seeing it stretcheth it selfe further off, in regard all men are cal∣led to haue their part therein: that so by faith they may bee the children of Abraham, and consequently be made heires.

These phrases of speech then which are much in vse among the Prophets, ought to be diligently obserued, that we may the bet∣ter attaine to their meaning, and not to cur∣tall their sentences, nor wrest them to a wrong sense. Their exposition then is too far fetched, and farre remote from the proprie∣tie of the Prophets language; who by the land, vnderstand heauen & the blessed life. For the land of Canaan was giuen to the children of Israel, that being separated from the rest of the world, as the peculiar flocke of God, they might in that place serue him purely. And therefore to possesse the land by right of inheri∣tance, signifies nothing else, but to continue and remaine in the Church of God.

Where God affirmes that the graffe of his planting shall be the vvorke of his hands; it serues to confirme the hope of the faithfull. For in mans iudgement it was a thing vnpossible that euer the Church should bud againe; for all esteemed her forlorne, chiefly in respect her roote lay hidden. That she might sprout a fresh then, the Prophet saith, that God will play the husband man, namely, in replanting that which was withered after it was plucked vp by the rootes. In a word, hee signifies that the deliuerance of the Church out of this mi∣serable seruitude, shal be an admirable worke of the Lord, and not of men; in regard she shall be raised vp as it were from death. And truly that which belongs to the heauenly life, is not giuen vs by nature, nor obtained by our industry; but flowes vnto vs, and proceedes from Gods free bountie. Euery one of vs also oght to apply vnto himself in particular, that whcih is here said of the whole Church in ge∣nerall: for we were planted of God before the foundations of the world: Eph. 1.4. and af∣terward [ 1] incorporated and called; to the end [ 2] we might haue assurance of our election and plantation. The wicked were neuer planted of God: and therefore Christ pronounceth that those whom his heauenly Father hath not planted, shall be plucked vp: Mat. 15.13.

To cōclude, the end wherefore we be plan∣ted, is by and by added, namely, that wee might set forth the praise of God, and tell of his wonderfull workes: as we are taught verie well by Paul, in Eph. 1.12. And by Peter in his first Epistle: Chap. 2.9.

Notes

• Or, peoples.
• The Church is then truly established, when she is separate frō the godlesse, and that the faithfull a∣lone haue place in her.
• The phrases of speech vsed by the Prophets, ought dili∣gently to be obserued.
• The end why we are plan∣ted.