Vers. 1. The Spirit of the Lord God is vpon me, therefore hath the Lord a∣nointed me: hee hath sent me to preach good tidings vnto the poore, to bind vp the broken hearted, to preach libertie to the Captiues, and to them that are bound, the opening of the prison.
FOr as much as Christ ex∣poundeth this place of himselfe, Luk. 4.18. there∣fore the interpreters doe without any difficultie re∣straine it vnto him: hol∣ding it for a principle, that Christ is here brought in speaking: as if these things onely appertained vnto him. The Iews scoffe at such, who inconsiderately haue attributed to Christ alone, the things which doe also agree to the rest of the Pro∣phets. To speake then what I thinke, it seemes to me, that this Chapter is added as a seale vnto the former, thereby to confirme yt which hath been said hitherunto touching the restauration of the Christian Church. And that to this end Christ protesteth, that God hath anointed him: which is the cause that he (and that very iustly) appropriates this prophesie vnto himselfe: in regard hee hath exhibited that to vs clearely and mani∣festly which others haue taught obscurely. Yet this hinders not; but yt this sentence may in like manner agree to the rest of the Pro∣phets whom the Lord hath also anointed. For they spake not in their owne names, neither did they execute their offices from their pri∣uate authoritie: but they shewed foorth the authoritie and office of Christ; to whom it not onely belongs to publish these things; but also to fulfill them. This place then must be thus vnderstood, namely, that Christ who is the Prince of the Prophets, obtaines the chiefe place among thē: and that it is he on∣ly who manifests all that which is here men∣tioned: & also that Isaiah, with the rest of the Prophets, and the Apostles, are his seruants; euery one of them imploying thēselues to the vtmost in preaching and publishing the be∣nefits which we receiue frō him. So as yt which Isaiah hath said should be finished by Christ, wee now see it accomplished by the effects.
For this cause he hath anointed me.] This se∣cond member was added in stead of an expo∣sition. For first it would haue been obscure to vs, If he had concealed the cause, vvherefore God had giuen him his Spirit: but now wee may euidently perceiue his meaning, when he shewes the vse thereof: namelie, that hee exerciseth a publicke office, that so hee may not bee taken as some priuate person.
Now as often as the Scripture mentions the spirit of God, and saith, that it dvvels in vs: 1. Cor. 3.16. let vs consider of his efficacie and power; and not imagine it to be some vaine and idle thing in vs without any effect. Wherefore after the Prophet hath spoken of the Spirit of the Lord: in the second place he addes the anointing thereunto: thereby vn∣derstanding the vertues which proceed from that spirit. To which purpose Paul saith, 1. Cor. 12.4. that there are diuers gifts: but only one spirit from whence they flow. This place is diligently to be obserued of vs, for no man ought to take vnto himself power or authori∣tie to teach in the Church of God, vnlesse he be able to shew that he is called therunto by the vertue of Gods spirit. And so testifies S. Paul in 1. Cor. 12.3. namely, that no man can say, Iesus is the Lord, but by the holy Ghost.
But, may some say, wee see that euery one bragges of the spirit. For the Pope, [Obiect.] the Ana∣baptists and other heretikes and fanaticall spirits haue alwaies the holy Ghost in their mouthes, as if hee were their gouernour. How, or by what meanes then may wee dis∣cerne of him that is sent by God, and con∣ducted by his spirit, from him that is not? By the anointing. That is to say, [Ans.] if he be endued with gifts answerable to this charge. If hee then who is sent of God haue the graces and gifts which his office requires; then hath he assuredly the holy Ghost. But if hee will take vpon him the office of a teacher; and in the meane while is destitute both of knowledge and doctrine, let him be held for a seducer.
To preach.] The Prophet attributes not vnto himselfe the authoritie of a teacher, till hee hath made it manifest that he was sent of God. His authoritie is founded vpon his a∣nointing: namely, in being fitted and furni∣shed by the Lord with sufficient gifts. It is our duties to giue him audience then, not as to a priuate person, but as vnto a publike Mi∣nister sent from heauen.
To the afflicted.) Others translate, To the meeke: and the word Anauim, signifies both the one and the other. But I had rather re∣taine the first signification, in respect the Prophet speakes of the prisoners, and of those that are bound. And yet, as I take it, he com∣prehends both. For he speakes of such, who being vtterly forsaken and reiected, are also miserable in themselues. Christ is only promi∣sed to such as are humbled and brought low by the sense of their miseries, who hauing no conceit of their own worth, do willingly con∣taine themselues within the bounds of mo∣desty and humility. Hence we gather that our Prophet speakes properly of the Gospell. For the law was giuen to bring downe all loftie