Exposition of Isaiah 9, Title page – Dedication
A PROPHEsie out of the nienth Chapter of Esaie, of the Kingdome of Christe, with a frutefull and godlye exposition of D. Martin Luther: Wherein is moste excellently intreated of the conquest of Christe and of al his members, ouer Sinne, Death, and Satan, and of sundry other things most comfortable to be red, and no lesse necessary to be knovvne. (∵)
Imprinted at London by H. Bynneman, for Gregorie Seton, and are to be solde at the signe of the Hedgehog, at the vvest ende of Paules. An. 1578.
¶ To the worshipful and godly gentleman, M. Laurence VVashington, G.S. wisheth grace and peace through Christ Iesus.
NOt only moste vntrue, but verye vngodlye also is the saying of some, who affirme that the wrytings of the Prophets containe nothing in them, but certaine olde Sermons whereof in our age and time there is no vse. For the Prophets in their writings teach the feare of God, reprehend idolatrie, trust and confidence in man, couetousnesse &c: and set forth the punishments of suche sinnes. They teach also of fayth in Christ, cōforting the afflicted with most sweete and pleasant Prophesies of Christ and his kingdome. VVherefore not onelyonly the Apostles oftentimes vse their testimonies, but euen Christ himselfe also, and exhorteth vsus diligently to read and search them. Most falsely therefore it is sayde of some, that they serue now to no vse: yea very vngodly also is this their saying, wherby they so lightly esteeme of gods word, which if it had no other thing to commend it but only the Author therof, who is God himselfe, that were sufficient to make vsus most willingly to embrace it, as very necessary to be knowen of al the godly.
Howbeit, by those places of the Prophets most comforte and spiritual ioy may be receyued, where they cōmend to the Church the promises of God concerning his sonne Christ: and therefore such places especiallye are to bee perused and meditated vppon of Christians, who in this world can loke for no other but trouble and affliction, wherof Christ in the Gospel hath foretolde them, yea which Christ their Lord & Maister hath before suffered, and therfore may not they thinke to escape free. Notwithstanding, in what affliction so euer, in theyr Christ they may finde most sweete consolation: if they be poore, he is able to inrych them: if they be sicke, he is a Phisitiō able to heale them: if they be persecuted of the world, he is able to delyuer them: yea and more than thys, if Sathan assayle them, by fayth in Christ they resist hys furie, auoide his snares, and ouercome his tentations: if the burden of sinne oppresse them, he and none but he is able to ease them therof: if deathe terrifye them, in hym they may find life, for he hath conquered Satan, he hath satisfyed fully for sinnes, he by hys death hathe ouercome death, and opened the gate of euerlasting life to all beleeuers.
Nowe forasmuch as these benefittes bee inestimable, and our weakenesse and infirmitie is such that we can euen hardely beleeue them, it is very necessarye for vsus diligentlye to reade and meditate vppon the worde of God, wherein they are cōmended and confirmed vntounto vsus: and therefore, such places of the Prophets especially are to be perused & well considered of, wherein they are mentioned and liuely set forth. VVherefore after good aduisement and due consideration, I hauehave published in print thys little Treatise, whyche I hauehave sent to your worship, beeyng fully perswaded, that it shal be found, not an vnprofitable Pamphlet, but a boke replenished with most sweet & singular consolatiō. For therin (as in readyng it you shal find) is duplicate page duplicate page conteyned a Prophesie of the Kyngdome of Chryste, wyth a most fruteful and godly exposition thereof, wherein is lyuely setforth the victorye and tryumphe of Chryst and of al hys members ouer sin, death, and Satan: also the moste certayne resurrection of all the faythfull to euerlastyng felicitye, wyth dyuers other thyngs moste comfortable to be read, and no lesse necessary to be known.
The dedication hereof I thoughte moste conuenient and meete to make to your worship, not onelyonly thereby to testifye my thankfull mynde toward you, for the manifolde & sundry benefits that I hauehave receiued at your hands, although euen this may seeme to be a cause sufficient, but especiallye for that you hauehave of a long tyme shewed youre selfe to be of the number of them, vntounto whome the inestimable benefites of Christe doe apperrayne. For your Religion hath shined as well in workes as in words, in al godly conuersation as in a Christiā profession. VVherfore, forasmuch as to the godly, godly matters are acceptable. I doubt not but this Treatise wil of your worship be wel accepted, and therefore I neede not enter into the commendation therof, for in deede it doth sufficiently cōmend it selfe, as to the godly and diligent Reader wil plainly appere. Only this I wish, that al they that shal be occupyed in reading either this or any other godly treatise whatsoeuer, maye take suche fruite thereby, that their faith may be encreased, and their consciences truely comforted.
Your Worshippes bounden to dispose and commaund. G. Seton.
¶ A Prophesie out of the the ninth Chapter of Esay, of the childe Christ Iesus borne vntounto vsus, with an exposition of D.M. Luther.
THe people that walked in darkenesse, hauehave seene a greate lighte:Verse. 2. they that dwelled in the land of the shadowe of death, vponupon them hath the light shined.
3 Thou haste multiplied the people, and not increased their ioy: they hauehave reioyced before thee according to the ioye in haruest, and as men reioyce when they deuide a spoyle.
4 For the yoke of their burden, and the rodde of their shoulder, and the slaffe of their oppressour haste thou broken, as in the daye of Midian.
5 And truely eueryevery battel of the warre our is with noyse, and with tumbling of garments in bloud: but this shall be with burning and consuming of fire.
6 For vntounto vsus a child is born, and vntounto vsus a Sonne is giuen: and the gouernement is vponupon his shoulder, and his name shal bee called VVonderful, counsellour, Strong, Valiaunte, alwayes a father, the Prince of Peace.
7 His gouernement shal be encreased, and of the peace there shal be no end: he shall sitte vppon the throne of Dauid, and vppon his kingdome, to order it, and to stablishe it with iudgemente and with righteousnesse, from henceforth euen for euer: the zeale of the Lord of hostes wil performe this.