Commentary on Isaiah, Preface – Encomium
A PREFACE TO THE PROPHECIE OF ISAIAH:
BY Mr. IOHN CALVIN.
THey hauehave been wont to ſpend many words in ſetting forth the office of the Prophets.The Prophets ground their doctrin vponupon the law. But I ſee no readier way then to referre them to the law; whence their doctrine is drawne, as the riuers from the fountaines. For they ſet the law before them for their imitation, ſo as by good right we may affirme and hold them to be the expoſitors thereof, in whom there is nothing ſeparate from it.Whereof they are the Expoſitors. The law containes three points: Now the Law containes three points. Firſt, the doctrine of life: ſecondly, the threatnings and promiſes: thirdly, the couenant of grace, which is founded in Chriſt.
For as touching the Ceremonies, they were exerciſes, by which the people were held in the ſeruice of God, and in godlineſſe; according to the Contents of the firſt Table.
The Prophets then expound the doctrine thereof more at large; and lay that foorth in more plaine termes, which is brieflie contained in the two tables; teaching that which the Lord principallie requires.
As touching the threatningsThreatnings: and promiſesPromiſes: which Moſes touched in generall; they applie them to their owne times, and deſcribe them particularly. Laſtlie, that which is ſaid obſcurely in Moſes, touching Chriſt and his grace; they ſet it foorth more perſpicuouſlie, and alleage more ample and abundant teſtimonies of the free couenant.
But that the thing may be more cleere, we muſt fetch the matter further off; namely, from the Law it ſelfe, which God ordained as a perpetuall rule for his Church, that it might alwaies be in mens hands: and that all their ſucceſſors ſhould follow it.
Now becauſe this doctrin of the law ſufficed not this obſtinate & vnruly people; the Lord alſo foreſeeing that they would neuer be held in, vnleſſe it were by ſome bridle: hee addes a prohibition,Prohibitions. not to ſeeke to Magitians, Southſayers, Inchanters, Sorcerers, nor to ſuch as regard the times, or the flying of birds,Deut. 18.9.10.11.12. to ſuch as asked counſell of familiar ſpirits, or at the dead; becauſe ſuch things were an abomination to the Lord.
And to preuent the replies which they might make, namely, that their condition ſhould be worſe, then that of the infidels, who had their Southſayers, Aſtrologers, Sacrificers, and ſuch like, of whom they might aske aduice and counſel; but they ſhuld be deſtituted of any that might be able to giuegive them ſatisfaction in doubtful and intricat cauſes: herein, to take away al pretext, & that they might not defile themſelues in theſe execrable cuſtomes of the Gentiles, God promiſeth to raiſe them vp Prophets, Deut. 18.by whom he wil manifeſt his wil, who alſo ſhall faithfully teach them whatſoeuer hee ſhall giuegive them in charge; that they might hauehave no cauſe to complaine for the time to come, as if any thing were wanting vntounto them.
I grant, that in that place Moſes mentions a Prophet, and not Prophets. Notwithſtanding it is a change of the number, to wit, the ſingular for the plurall, a thing common in the Scriptures. And howſoeuer the place ought properly and principally to bee vnderſtood of Chriſt (as S. Peter expounds it Act. 3.) in regard he is the Prince of the Prophets, and that all of them, with their doctrine alſo depend vponupon him, and with one conſent aime at him: yet by this name, which is collectiue, it alſo comprehends the reſt of the Prophets.
The Lord then hauing promiſed them Prophets, by whom hee would declare vntounto them his counſell and will, he commanded the people to reſt in their expoſition and doctrine. Not that the Prophets ſhould adde any thing to the law, but that they ſhould faithfully expound the ſame, and conſerue the authoritie thereof.
Whence alſo it is, that Malachi exhorting the people to perſiſt in that doctrine,Mal. 4.4. ſaith, or rather God by him: Remember the Law of Moſes my ſeruant, which I gaue him in Horeb for all Iſrael. Thus bringing them backe to Gods law only; and commanding them to be content therewith. But would Malachi hauehave them to deſpiſe the Prophets then? No. But foraſmuch as the propheſies are dependances of the law, and that the law ſummarilie comprehends them all, this exhortation ſufficed. For ſuch as are well acquainted with the ſumme of the doctrine, and principall heads of it, hauing their willes well inclined thereto; it is certaine that they will not contemne the propheſies: for it were a thing too fond to boaſt of hauing affection to the law, and yet in the meane while not to make any account of the diuine interpretation thereof: ſuch as are ſome at this day, who are ſo ſhameleſſe,Note. that they dare brag of louing Gods law, and the whileſt cannot endure to bee admoniſhed or reprehended by the doctrine which is drawne and collected from the ſame.
Thus when the Prophets deale with mens manners, they bring in no new thing,The firſt table. but explane thoſe things which were miſunderſtood in the law. As for example, the people thought they had done their duties to the vtmoſt, when they had offered ſacrifices, and obſerued the ceremonies: for the world is wont alwaies to meaſure God according to their owne ell, and to botch him vp a carnall ſeruice. This corruption the Prophets reprooue ſharpely, ſhewing that all ceremonies are nothing where the integritie of the heart is wanting; and that God will be worſhipped by faith, and a right inuocating of his name. This was manifeſted to them plainely enough in the law, but it was needfull it ſhould take a deeper impreſſion, and that they ſhould be put againe in mind of it. The hypocriſie,The ſecond t…ble. wherewith men maske themſelues vnderunder the vaile of ceremonies, was to be diſcouered.
As touching the ſecond table, the Prophets thence drew their exhortations, ſhewing how all wrong, fraud and violence was to be abandoned. The Prophets office then was nothing elſe, but to hold the people in obedience to Gods law.
In the threatningsThreatnings. and promiſes they hauehave ſomething more ſpeciall. For what Moſes propounded in generall, they deſcribe in particular. Beſides, they had viſions,Viſions. which were proper to them: by which the Lord reuealed things to come, that ſo they might applie the promiſe and threatnings to the peoples vſe, and might further aſſure them of Gods will.
Moſes Moſes.threatens, God will purſue thee with the ſword, the enemies ſhall vex thee without, and within, domeſticall contentions ſhall annoy thee. Thy life ſhall hang as by a thread; thou ſhalt tremble at the ſhaking of a leafe; and ſuch other things.
But the ProphetsThe Prophets ſay: Behold, God hath raiſed againſt thee the ſword of the Chaldeans, and of the Egyptians: alſo, God hath armed theſe to the battell. This citie ſhall be deſtroyed at ſuch a time. The like is to be ſaid of the promiſes.
Moſes Moſes.ſaith, If thou obſerueſt the commandements, God will bleſſe thee. And then he goes on in recounting bleſſings in generall.
But the ProphetsThe Prophets in particular affirme, The Lord will bleſſe thee in ſuch a thing.
Alſo the Lord promiſeth by Moſes Moſes.in theſe words, Although thou wert ſcattered and driuen to the vtmoſt parts of the earth, yet from thence will I gather thee.
But the ProphetsThe Prophets promiſe, that albeit the Lord hath ſcattered them as farre as Babylon, yet within 70. yeeres he will cauſe their captiuitie to returne.
And as touching the free couenant which God made with man through Chriſt, the Prophets are much more euident;Couenant of grace. and doe much more confirme the people in it. For they ſet Chriſt before their eies, when they would comfort the faithfull, and raiſe vp their minds to the hope of his comming, euen as it were to the foundation, and to the place of the couenant, vntounto whom the effect of the promiſes was to be referred.
Whoſoeuer ſhall ponder theſe things, ſhall eaſilie perceiue what hee is to ſeeke in the Prophets, and whereunto their writtings tend. But for the preſent, it ſufficeth that we hauehave pointed it foorth as with the finger.
Hence we may ſoone gather how wee ought to handle the doctrine of the word, and how we ought to imitate the Prophets; who ſo much admired it, that thence they collected the admonitions, reprehenſions, threatnings and conſolations, to applie them to the peoples vſe.Note. For though it be not dailie reuealed vntounto vsus what we ought to doe, yet are wee to compare the conuerſation of the people of our times, with that of the people of old; and by hiſtories and examples to denounce the iudgements of God. Namely, that from the vengeance he tooke vponupon ſuch ſinnes in that time,God alwaies like himſelfe. he will likewiſe be reuenged vponupon thoſe that reigne eueryevery where in our time. Why ſo? Becauſe he is alwaies like himſelfe.
The faithfull teachers then muſt come furniſhed with the like wiſdome, if they meane to handle the doctrine of the Prophets profitablie. Thus much as touching the propheſies in generall.
To come to our Prophet Iſaiah: the inſcriptionThe inſcription. ſufficiently ſhewes both what he was, and in what time he publiſhed his propheſies. For his father is here named, to wit, Amos brother of AZarias king of Iuda.Iſaiah deſcended of the blood Royall. Whence it appeares hee was of the blood royall: and of this opinion are all the ancients. And yet neither his ſtocke, nor neere affinitie to the King (for the Iewes affirme he was father in law of Manaſſeh) could hinder him from being put to death in hatred of his doctrine, neither was he reſpected any more, then if he had been of ſome baſe eſtate or condition.
The names of the Kings here mentioned, ſet foorth the time,The time when Iſaiah Propheſied. in which hee propheſied. There are ſome who thinke that he began about the end of VZiahs raigne. And they take their coniecture from the viſion which is recorded in the ſixth chapter, by which he teſtifies hee was confirmed. But this coniecture is too weake; as ſhall be ſhewed in place conuenient. It rather appeares by the inſcription, that he propheſied in the daies of Vziah; of which I ſee nothing to the contrarie. How euer it bee, it plainely appeares that he propheſied aboue 64. yeeres. For Iothan raigned 16. yeeres: Ahaz as much; Hezekias 29. This makes 61. Ad thoſe in which he propheſied vnderunder Vziah; and afterwards vnderunder Manaſſes, Iſaiah put to death by Manaſſes.who put him to death: Theſe at the leaſt will make vp 64. yeres; in which Iſaiah ceaſed not to performe the office of a Prophet. And it may well be that he propheſied longer: but of this we can gather no certentie from the hiſtorie.
Iſaiah a pa…erne for all Paſtors.This then ought to be ſeriouſlie marked of all the Miniſters of the word, that from his example, they may learne patiently to beare the burthen of their office, though it be cumberſome and painefull: not thinking it any diſgrace to ſuffer many ſore and tedious trauels, ſeeing they hauehave ſo many worthie paternes ſet before them. I grant it muſt needs diſcourage them exceedinglie, when they ſee that things goe not forward; and that their labours take not ſuch good ſucceſſe as they deſire: thinking it better to leaue all, rather then to beſtow ſo much labour in vaine. They hauehave need therefore often to remember, and to ſet before their eies ſuch examples. (Why ſo?) Becauſe Iſaiah fainted not, although he gained little by ſo many painfull trauels.
Ieremiah Ieremiah.alſo ceaſed not by the ſpace of 50. yeeres to call vponupon this people, who in the meane while hardned their hearts the more: and yet wee ſee they forſooke not their charge, whatſoeuer difficulties came betweene. Euen ſo muſt wee follow our vocation, and conſtantlie beare all ſorts of encumbrances.
Note alſo the circumſtance of the change of KingsThe change of Kings. which are here numbred vp, chap. 1.1. For it is impoſſible that in ſo great diuerſitie, the State ſhould alwaies continue alike. No doubt but many troubles fell out. And yet our Prophet perſeuered with an inuincible conſtancie; and neuer ſuffered his heart to be ouercome of feares.
Queſt. But ſome may aske whether Iſaiah himſelfe put this title to his propheſie, or ſome other. Anſ. None of the expoſitors that I hauehave read, anſwers this queſtion. For my owne part, albeit I am not very well ſatisfied, as touching this queſtion, yet I will ſhew what I thinke.
How the Prophecies were collected.After the Prophets had preached to the people, they gathered a compendious ſumme of their ſermon; which they affixed to the gate of the Temple, that the propheſie might the better be viewed and learned of all. And after it had remained there a ſufficient time for ſome certaine daies; the Miniſters of the Temple took it downe, and put it into the treaſurie of the Temple, that the memorie thereof might continue for euer. Very likely it is (I ſay) that the bookes of the Prophets were thus gathered, as may appeare by the ſecond Chapter of Habacuk; Haba. 2.2. See chap. 30.8. and chap. 8.1.2. The Prophecies preſerued by the ſingular prouidence of God.whoſoeuer be diſpoſed to conſider the ſame well: as alſo from the eight of this propheſie.
Now this was done no doubt by the ſpeciall prouidence of God, that by the Prieſts themſelues, whoſe office it was to conſerue the propheſies for ſuch as ſhould ſucceed, it is come to paſſe that wee at this day enioy theſe treaſures; which they for the moſt part lightly eſteemed. For the Prieſts were the greateſt enemies, that the Prophets had to deale withall.
An Epigram vponupon the Tranſlation of M. Caluins Commentarie vponupon the Prophecie of Iſaiah.
THrice happie (England) if thou knew'ſt thy bliſſe,
Since Christs eternall Goſpell in thee ſhin'd
Thou art, H'is beetle-blind that ſees not this,
Brutiſhly ingrate that with a thankfull mind
Doth not acknowledge Gods great Grace herein,
And learne thereby for to forſake his ſinne.
Gods word hath long in thee been ſoundly taught,
The ſound thereof hath rung throughout the Land,
And many a Soule by Fiſhers net been caught,
Which erst lay thrall in Satans cruell band:
This fauour great by none can be expreſt,
But ſuch as hauehave it felt in their owne breſt.
Thy natiue ſonnes in thine owne bowels bred,
Like faithfull Shepheards hauehave done worthilie,
And thee with ſtore of heauenlie Manna fed,
Forcing the Wolues to leaue their crueltie,
To ſlinke aſide, and hide themſelues in holes,
In caues and dens, like pur-blind Backs and Moles.
Tyndall, Frith, Philpot, father Latimer,
The Goſpell preacht by word, by life, by death:
Iuel, Fox, Reynolds, Fulk and Whitaker
To ſecond them hauehave ſpent their vitall breath
In hot purſuit of that great Romiſh Bore,
Who ſpoiled quite this Engliſh vine before.
I ſpare to ſpeake of Deerings ſiluer voice,
Of Greenhams zeale, of Perkins labours ſound,
Of hundreds moe of Zion-builders choice,
The like whereof can ſcarce elſewhere be found:
Such ground-worke they of Gods Truth here hauehave plac'd
As neuer ſhall by Hels whole force beraZ't.
Beſides all theſe, of forren Lights the chiefe,
Beza, and Vrſinus, many other moe,
Martyr, Muſculus, for thy more reliefe
Are ſeene in Engliſh weed abroade to goe,
From place to place in eueryevery Shire and Towne,
To teach the Truth and throw all Errors downe.
And here pr…nted is vntounto thy ſight
The Roiall Prophet Eſais Euangel:
For ſo me thinkes I may it terme aright,
That Prince of holy Prophets doth ſo well,
So liuely Chriſts whole hiſtorie preſage,
As if h'had liu'd in that ſame very Age.
Whoſe Oracles great Caluin doth vnfold
In thine owne natiue Tongue for thy Soules health.
Here maiſt thou gather precious Stones and Gold,
And ſtore vp heapes of Heauenly laſting wealth;
Here maiſt thou find with very little paine
Which would'ſt not loſe for thouſand Worlds againe.
Here maiſt thou ſee the black-mouth'd Atheiſts
Confounded quite by Demonſtration cleare;
The cunning Papiſt put vntounto his ſhifts,
And made in his right Colours to appeare;
Her's Chriſt, his Truth, and Life, thee ſet before,
Heauens Gates ſet open wide: what would'ſt thou more?
By Francis Hering, Doctor in Phyſicke.