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. 22. For as the new heauens, and the new earth which I will make, shall re∣maine before mee, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name continue.

HEere hee promiseth that the Church shal be so restored, that it shall indure for e∣uer: for many might feare that she would be laid waste the second time. Her estate then shall be perpetuall, after God shall haue once againe restored her: for which cause, he men∣tions two excellent benefits; to wit, restaura∣tion, and eternitie.

When hee speakes of the new heauens, and new earth, hee hath respect vnto Christs king∣dome, by whom all things are renued: as the Apostle shewes in Heb. 8.8.13. Now this re∣numēt hath this end; namely, that the church might continue alwaies in her happy and flo∣rishing estate: for that which is old, tends to ruine; but things which are new made and re∣nued, are to last long.

God had promised that as long as the Sun and Moone should remaine in the heauens,* 1.1 they should be witnesses of the eternall suc∣cession of Dauids posteritie, which should ne∣uer faile: Psal. 89.36, 37. But in respect that by the disloyaltie and vnthankfulness•• of this people which came betweene, there was some interruption: the restauration wrought by Christ hath really confirmed this prophe∣sie.

Jsaiah therfore rightly affirmes that their sonnes, and their sonnes sonnes should succeed. And as God hath established the world, that it should neuer perish: so shall the succession of the Church be perpetuall, that it shall en∣dure from age to age.* 1.2 In a word, he explanes that which he had said before touching the renuing of the world: lest any man should thinke he referres this to tres, beasts, or to the course of the starres: for it ought rather to be applied to the renument of the inward man. The ancient fathers haue missed the marke, whilest they imagined that these things appertained precisely to the last iudgement, and haue neither weighed the scope of the text, nor the Apostles authoritie. And yet I denie not but we may extend these things to the last day, because we cannot ex∣pect the perfect restauration of all things, vntill Christ, vvho is the life of the vvorld, shall appear••. But we must begin higher, namely, at this de∣uerance, by which Christ regenerates his, that they may bee new creatures: as it is in 2. Cor. 7.1.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The promise recorded in Psal. 89.36.37. really confirmed by Christ.
• * 1.2

  To what this renument ought chi••f∣ly to be re∣ferred.