other. But that which he biddeth them hear is not single, but double, for he saith, I have declared the former things. Vers. 3. And I have shewed thee new things from this time, vers. 6. and thus it is also understood by Lyra and others, and chap. 42. 9. he spake before to the same effect and in other places
For my Names sake I will defer mine anger, &c. The condition of the Jews being so bad, as hath been said, if any shall marvel why they were spared so long, and that judgements cut them not quite off before this time, he sheweth here, that he hitherto deferred for his own sake, as chap. 43. 25. as being ten∣der over his own name and glory; not because they deserved not utter destru∣ction from their very beginning to be a Nation. And now that he did put them into the furnace of adversity by the Caldees prevailing against them, He saith, that he tried them not as silver, that is, till all drosse was purged out, none but pure mettal remaining; for that he could not do without utterly ruining them, leaving none alive, because there is nothing pure in any man, but what God giveth him, and that by afflictions, for which he saith, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction: Thus also Calvin. But why did he thus favourably by them, being so vile and sinfull, for his own sake? Sol. vers. 11. How shall my name be prophaned, &c. As if he had said, I cannot do otherwise, unlesse I suf∣fer my Name to be vilified, whilst that giving my people over to utter destru∣ction by the hands of idolatrous enemies, they shall say That their Gods are most mighty, and the God of Israel of no power; for this were giving his glory to another, as is here said, and chap. 42. 8.
Hear me (O Israel) my called, &c. Having hitherto called upon Israel to hear of his sins and unworthiness, that he might acknowledge whatsoever should be done for him in deferring his punishment or delivering him again from it, to come from Gods meer mercy; now he calleth upon him to hear again, and to beleeve what he heareth touching his deliverance, which might seem impossible: And he beginneth 1. With his speciall calling to be his pecu∣liar people, for which they might beleeve that they should never be utterly cast off. 2. With his power shewed in making the whole world; and his eternity, being the first and last.
Then he saith, All ye assemble your selves and hear, and hear. Whereby Israel must needs be meant, being before called upon twice by name to hear, vers. 1. and vers. 12. Which of them hath declared these things, the Lord hath loved him, &c. That is, Which of the Caldee Astrologers could foretell of the things concern∣ing Cyrus, to whom the Lord shewed so much love as to bring the Babylonian Empire into his power, and so to inable and stirre him to the building of his Temple? Vers. 16. He stirres them up again to hear it; for he saith that he spake it not to be kept secret, but by his people to be divulged to their comfort and his glory. From the time that it was, I was there.] About these words, saith Calvin, much doubt is made who is meant by this word [I] but the thinks, God, who made all promises of comfort to his people, and by his power effects all things in his due time, that nothing may be ascribed to chance. Some, saith Musculus, draw to Abraham; some to Christ, and some to Isaiah, as if he were present by the Spirit when these things were done; but this last is by Calvin mentioned and rejected, as coact; but to me it seems most genuine, if we put this Paraphrase upon it. This prediction touching Cyrus doing the will of God upon Babylon, was never secretly uttered when it was first afoot, for God made me the instrument so soon as it was his pleasure that it should be published, to speak openly unto you of it; and now the Lord and his Spirit sends me again further to confirm you touching the same. That it cannot be understood of ancient promises, but of this promise only, is plain from the words 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 From the time that this was; and then it worse agreeth unto God to refer it to him, that he was from this time, who vers 12. saith, I am the first and the last; and therefore long before the going out of this de∣cree, even from everlasting. Jerom, who expounds all of Christ, as mystical∣ly meant by him, vers. 14. that he should do all his will upon the Caldees, that