Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Isaiah · Chapter 61
CHAP. LXI.
Ver. 1. THe Spirit of the Lord God is upon me] Chriſt had graciouſly promiſed to accompliſh his peoples happineſſe in its due time, chap. 60.22. Here he ſheweth how and when he will do it, viz. by himſelf, anointed and appointed by his heavenly Father to be Meſſiah the Prince, Dan. 9.25. Chriſt the Lord, Acts 4.26. Prieſt, Prophet, and King of his Church, a Saviour ex Profeſſo, conſecrated as the Prieſts of old were, firſt with oyle, and then with blood: So was he, 1. By the holy Spirit, inviſibly at the firſt inſtant of his conception, and viſibly, at his Baptiſm. 2. By his own blood ſprinkled upon him at his Circumciſion, but eſpecially at his Paſſion, which was another Baptiſm, Matth. 20.23. Luke 12.50.
Becauſe the Lord hath anointed me] Prae conſortibus & proconſortibus, Pſal. 45.7. Above thy fellows and alſo for thy fellows, as ſome render that text; See Joh. 1.33. & 3.34. Luke 4.18. Acts 10.38. Heb. 1.8. with Pſal. 105.15. 2 Cor. 1.21, 22. 1 Joh. 2.20, 27. Only unto every one of us is given grace according to the meaſure, of the gift of Chriſt, Epheſ. 4.7. but God gave not the Spirit unto him by meaſure, Job. 3.34. he had it in an abundant and tranſcendent manner, good meaſure, preſſed down ſhaken together and running over, even as much as his humane nature was capable of. Let the Saints love him for this, Cant. 1.2. and labour to be more and more made partakers of his holineſſe: for of his fulneſſe we all receive grace for grace Joh. 1.16. a perſection in ſome ſort anſwerable to Chriſts own perfection. There are that obſerve in this text (and not amiſſe) the Myſtery of the holy Trinity: viz. God the Father anointing his Son Chriſt, with the Holy Ghoſt. See the like at Chriſts baptiſm, Mat. 3.16. with the Note there.
To preach good tidings to the meck] To preach: this referreth to Chriſts Prophetical Office; as doth binding up the broken-hearted to his Prieſtly, and proclaiming liberty to the captives, to his Kingly Office. To theſe three offices as God, he was conſecrated, (ſet apart for a Mediator, as Exod. 30.30) and as Man, he was qualified, as before. That which Chriſt came to preach was good tydings, goodſpe… or Goſpel, as we call it, the beſt news that ever came into the world, Luke 2.10. This he came and preached not in his own perſon only, but by his Prophets and Apoſtles, Epheſ. 2.17. in whom he ſpake, 2 Cor. 13.3. and before all whom himſelf preached the firſt Goſpel to our firſt parents, Gen. 3.15. even the Goſpel of grace.
Ʋnto the meek] Or lowly: for humility and meekneſs are ſ…rores collactancae, twin-ſiſters. Theſe are thoſe poor that are Goſpellized, viz. the poor in ſpirit, ſenſible of their utter indigency and nothingneſſe, Matth. 5.3. whereby alſo our Saviour proveth himſelf to John's diſciples, ſent unto him for the purpoſe, to be the true Meſſiah, foreſhewed by Iſaiah, and foreſhadowed in him, Matth. 11.5. Luke 7.22.
He hath ſent me to bind up the broken hearted] This Chriſt doth as a fit Highprieſt, ſenſible of our miſeries, Heb. 4.15. He hath manum medicam, he is the true Samaritan:Pungit & ungit ut ſanct. not the Phyſician only but the Chirurgion of his people, cataplaſmans & obligans, plaiſtering and binding up their wounds given them by the Devil, (that wicked chief,) then when the Prieſt and the Levite (the Law) had paſſed them by, and yeilded them no help at all.
The broken-hearted] Broken with the ſence of ſin and fear of wrath; ſo broken, as if all their bones were rattling within their skin. This was Davids caſe, Pſal. 51.8. and this he pleads, as one in caſe and capacity for mercy, ver. 17. he knew well enough, that God poureth not the oyl of his mercy, ſave only into broken veſſels: for whole veſſels are full veſſels, and ſo this precious liquor would run over, and be ſpilt upon the ground.
To proclaim liberty to the captives] Liberty from the tyranny of ſin, and terror of Hell. This Chriſt doth as a King, with great power, Joh. 8.32, 34. Rom. 6.17, 18. Col. 1.13. 2 Tim. 2.26.
And the opening of the priſon] i. e. Of Hell, called here koach of lakach to receive: becauſe it is capacious, and ſtill taking in more company; ſic infernus dicicitur ab inferendo, ut aliqui volunt.
Ver. 2. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord] The new and true Jubilee or year of releaſment, called here in the Hebrew the year of good-will, like as the Elect are called the men of Gods good-will, Luke 2.14. This year is now, 2 Cor. 6.2. and the preſent now muſt be embraced and improved; ſith God is but a while with men in the opportunities of grace; which opportunities are headlong, and once paſt, irrecoverable.
And the day of vengeance of our God] Tribulation to them that trouble his people, 2 Theſ. 1.6, 7. Gog and Magog ſhall down in that day; all Hamans be hanged up at that feaſt royal, at the laſt day eſpecially, Luke 19.27.
To comfort all that mourn] This, Chriſt did both by word and deed: and this muſt all his Miniſters do: comfort the feeble-minded, 1 Theſ. 5.14. not burdening mens conſciences with humane traditions and merit of works. Popery is a doctrine of deſperation.Apud Hebraeos ornatus eſt in verbis. foreign & foreign
Ver. 3. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion] Here is ſhewed how it is that Chriſt comforteth his people, ſc. by clearing up their conſciences from the ſtain and ſting of ſin, and by healing their natures, cauſing them to grow in grace as trees of righteouſneſs, well rooted and well fruited.
foreignTo appoint unto them] ſc. Comfort, as ver, 2.
To give unto them beauty for aſhes] Cidarim pro cinere, luſum pro luctus, riſum pro rictu, &c. to turn all their ſighing into ſinging, all their muſing into muſick, all their ſadneſs into gladneſs, all their tears into triumphs. But then thoſe that would rejoyce with joy unſpeakable, muſt ſtir up ſighes that are unutterable: for even Chriſt himſelf favos poſt fella guſtavit, taſted firſt of the ſower, and then of the ſweet.
That they may be called] Have the comfort and the credit of growing Chriſtians, full of goodneſs, and filled with all knowledge, able alſo to admoniſh one another, as were thoſe Romans, chap. 15.14. to their eternal commendation. See Joh. 15.5, 8. Philip. 1.11.
That he might be glorified] As indeed he is by one gracious action performed by a fruitful Chriſtian, more then by all his works of Creation and Providence.
Ver. 4. And they ſhall build the old waſts] Deſolationes ſaeculi, the Gentiles that have long lain forlorn and deſolate, as ruinated houſes, or the wild waſte, ſhall, by the Apoſtles and other Doctours of the Church, be brought to Chriſt, and built up in holineſs.
And they ſhall repair] The ſame thing is four ſeveral times ſaid over for better aſſurance: and to ſet forth the miracle.
Ver. 5. And ſtrangers ſhall ſtand and feed your flocks] i. e. Shall be very well pleaſe to ſerve you, ſo they may ſerve the true God with you: yea, being proſelyted, they ſhall become eminent Paſtours and Teachers of the Goſpel; ſuch as were Juſtin Martyr, Cyprian, Auſtin, &c.
Shall be your plow-men] See 1 Cor. 3.9.
Ver. 6. But ye ſhall be named the Prieſts of the Lord] Or, Princes of the Lord, as the word is uſed, 2 Sam. 8.18. See Exod. 19.6. Rev. 1.6. 1 Pet. 2.9. Rom. 12.1. Heb. 13.15.
Ye ſhall eat the riches of the Gentiles] Ye ſhall have the double honour of countenance and maintenance.
Ver. 7. For your ſhame ye ſhall have double] i. e. Plentiful reparation, double dammages, as Job had, chap. 42.10, 12.
And for confuſion they ſhall rejoyce] Your grief ſhall be turned into joy as our Saviour ſomewhere ſaith: See Mat. 5.12.
Everlaſting joy ſhall be unto them] They ſhall be everlaſtingly merry: not ſo much for the double honour done to themſelves, as for the enlargement of Gods Kingdom, and the increaſe of his people: with whom they ſhall ſpiritually rejoyce and reign for ever.
Ver. 8. For I the Lord love Judgement, &c.] One rendreth it roundly thus, For I the Lord love right; I hate rapine by iniquity: q. d. Therefore I will right and repay the wrongs and dammages done to my people. Neither is it for any one to think to expiate his bad deeds by his good, to ſet off with God, and to make him amends. In the times of Popery indeed men were taught ſo to do; they were perſwaded that God would accept rapinam in holocauſtum, and they practiſed accordingly: as did the French Fury Brunhildis, who founded many Colledges: and our King Stephen who built many Monaſteries: eo ſcilicet beneficio maleficia ſua expiaverunt, ſaith mine Author. How much better Selymus the great Turk,Turk. hiſt. fol. 567. who being on his death-bed moved by Pyrrhus his favourite, to beſtow the great wealth taken from the Perſian Merchants in divers places of his Empire, upon ſome notable Hoſpital for relief of the poor, refuſed ſo to do, and forthwith commanded reſtitution thereof to be made to the right owners.
And I will direct their work in truth] i. e. In ſincerity: there ſhall be good actions and good aimes; which two make a good Chriſtian. Some render the words thus, And I will give them according to their work in truth; making in truth to be Gods oath: q. d. Truly and without all doubt, I will perform my promiſes: you have mine Oath and my Covenant both, for your better aſſurance.
Ver. 9. And their ſeed ſhall be known among the Gentiles] i. e. Shall be noted and noticed for eximious and exemplary: non aliundè noſcibiles quàm ex vitae emendatione, as it was ſaid of the Primitive Chriſtians, famous among the very Heathens,Tertul. ad Scapul. for their holy converſation. Pliny giveth a very honourable teſtimony of their innocency, in his ſecond Epiſtle to Trajan. Thoſe that ſtood with the Lamb had his Fathers name in their foreheads, Rev. 14. they led convincing lives, ſo that their friends could never ſufficiently praiſe them, not their foes juſtly find any fault with them. Such a one was Luther, Bucer, Bradford, &c. Chriſtians ſhould ſhine as lamps, ſhew forth the power of godlineſs in their whole practice, do more then others poſſibly can do, Matth. 5.47. that all may ſee and ſay, Theſe are the ſeed that the Lord hath bleſſed, theſe are his darlings, his earthly Angels. What a ſhame was it to thoſe flagitious Jews that it ſhould be asked Are theſe the people of Jehovah? Ezek. 35.20. And the like to profligate Profeſſours, that Papiſts ſhould ſay, Are theſe your new Goſpelers? For certain, (ſaid One when be had read Chriſts Sermon in the Mount) Either this is not Goſpel, or we are not right Goſpelers.Linaker.
Ver. 10. I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord] Me beatam! quare dolerem? O happy am I, ſaid the Church; why ſhould I be troubled at ought: why ſhould not I over-abound exceedingly with joy, who have ſuch rich and precious promiſes! gaudium in re, gaudium in ſpe; gaudium de poſſeſſione, gaudium de promiſſione, &c. i. e. Joy in hope, and joy in hand: joy in poſſeſſion, and joy in reverſion, &c. as Bernard ſweetly. When once a ſoul enjoyeth God, it is quiet (as a Bee that is got into her hive, or a Bird got into her neſt, or the Dove into the Ark) nay it is triumphant, as more then a conquerour.
For he hath cloathed me with the garments of ſalvation] By ſalvation and righteouſneſſe, Hierom here underſtandeth Chriſt our Saviour and Juſtifier, whom we are bidden alſo to put on, Rom. 13.14. Gal. 3.27, Rev. 12.1.
foreign. Aquila.As a Bridegroom decketh himſelf with ornaments] Tanquam sponſum qui ſacerdotem reſert ornatu (ſo Piſcator rendreth it) as a Bridegroom bravely arrayed, like a Prieſt, Os humeroſque Deo ſimilis.
And as a Bride adorneth her ſelf with jewels] Mundo ſuo, with her ornaments, habiliments, Heb. implements. The Church is here compared to a Bridegroom for her ſtrength and conſtancy, ſaith Cyril: and again to a Bride for her fruitfulneſs, beauty and glory,There is in this verſe a double elegancy in the Hebrew that cannot be engliſhed. here begun, and hereafter to be perfected.
Ver. 11. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud] Hic rurſum loquitur Chriſtus, ſaith Piſcator, here Chriſt ſpeaketh again, giving us to underſtand that piety is planted by God in the hearts of his people. We are Gods husbandry, ſaith the Apoſtle, See Mark. 3.26, 27, 28. The Church is Chriſts garden, Cant. 5.1. Howbeit it is with holy affections, as with exotique noble plants: this Countrey is not ſo kindly for them, being but a ſtepmother to them; therefore muſt they be much watered and cheriſhed, &c. We have a gracious Promiſe that our hearts ſhall be like watered gardens, chap. 58.11. and that if we quench not the Spirit, but quicken and cheriſh it, there ſhall flow out of our belly, that is, out of the boſom and bottom of our ſouls ſhall flow rivers of living water, Joh. 7.38. better than thoſe that watred the garden of Eden; ſo that we ſhall be filled with the fruits of righteouſneſs which are by Jeſus Chriſt unto the glory and praiſe of God, Philip. 1.11.