Exposition of Isaiah 9, Part 3
Thou haste multiplied the people, and not increased their ioy.
He nowe giueth vsus to vnderstande, from whence, whither, and why this light whiche is the Gospell and heauenly Doctrine, shineth and commeth: Hée declareth moreouer, the disciples of this light and doctrine,The Ievvs reioyce not at the light that shineth, but are offēded at it. and sheweth that they are of two sortes: where as it is sayde Iohn. 1. The light shineth in darkenesse, and the darknesse comprehended it not. This is that whereof we spake before, that a great part of the Iewes is offended and stumbleth at the light, as it is againe sayde Iohn. 1. He came vntounto his owne, and his owne receiued him not. Howbeit a few, namely the refuse and dregges, and the base sort of the Iews receiued the light. This is that which he sayth, thou hast not increased, or thou haste deminished theyr ioye, whiche maye hauehave a double vnderstandyng. One, that there be fewe of the Iewes which shall reioyce at thys lyghte, yea a great parte are so hardened, and are broughte into suche furie and rage, that they do persecute it vntounto the laste houre of their life. The other sense is, there is great ioy among the Saintes, where the Gospell hath good successe, so that many are conuerted. Of suche ioy the Apostles tooke but little of ye Iews, yea they did rather gretly lament their hardned faith, as it is manifest in Paul, Rom. 9. and Esay hymselfe declareth the same, Chapiter .33. when he sayeth: The messengers of peace shall weepe bitterly: that is, the Apostles which preach peace, and the Gospel, shall lament greatlye, &c. when as notwithstandyng the Iewes oughte to take excéeding greate pleasure and ioy thereat, for that they shold beléeue, forasmuche as such a light was promised and brought of Christe hymselfe to them especially before all nations of the earth.
But the former sense is rather to be liked, and doeth better agrée wyth the texte,The Ievvs offended at the conuersion of the Gentiles. when it is saide that there is therfore so little ioy, for that so many of the Gentiles are conuerted: For it grieued none so muche that the Gentiles were conuerted, as it did the hardned Iewes. Nowe it is not fitly sayde that there is little ioye, and that not many do therefore reioyce, bycause the Gentiles belieue the Gospel, and it is thus much in effect: It doth vexe and trouble many, more than can be sayd, that Christe crucified is receiued of so many Gentiles, and a very fewe there are, whome thys doth wel please, all the rest are euen in a rage and furie thereat, as if at this daye in our tyme it shoulde be sayde: GOD maketh manye to become true Gospellers, but that bringeth smal ioye to the Pope: that is, there be fewe in the Papacie, whyche doe thereat take pleasure and ioye, yea there are verye manye, euen the greatest part of them, whom it doth so grieue, that they are brought euen vntounto furie & foolishnesse. Moreouer thys text meaneth the same that Moses doth in his song, where he sayeth after this sort:Deut. 32.21. I wil prouoke them to enuie by those which are not my people: I wil anger the by a foolish nation. According as Paule alleageth it. Rom. 10. That is, I wil receiue ye Gentiles which are not my people, whiche are also foolish, in as muche as they hauehave not the lawe of Moses, neyther knowe so muche of God, as the Iewes, whiche heare of hym daylye. When therefore it shall be sayde: Beholde the Gentiles are the people of GOD, that setteth them in a rage and furie. For they only wil be the people of God, and yet they do not worship God only for their God, but hauehave others also. For as much therfore as they forsake God, he wil receue others: for that they commit fornication wyth others, hee will choose to himselfe others also, whome he may louelove. This is to make the ioy little and small, and to multiplie the people. Wherby ye qualitie & state of the Gospel is declared, namely what successe it hath in the worlde:The Gospell bringeth ioy to the receyuers therof, but offedeth them that receiue it not. very much ioy procéedeth from it if many receiue it, yet neuerthelesse many are offēded at it, which do not receiue it. Fy (say they) how many thousande men are seduced by that heresie? all the worlde desireth to hauehave that doctrine, as the Iewes said, Iohn. 11. If we let him thus alone, all men will beleeue in him: and Iohn. 12. Beholde the world goeth after him. So they say also at this day: vnlesse we preuent it, the whole world will embrace the heresie of Luther. Let vsus endeuour therfore with might and maine to represse it, let vsus burne, kil, persecute, and pursue, that wee maye extinguishe the Gospel: for it maketh the people to reuolte from vsus, it diminisheth also our wealth and honor.Though the vvicked persecute the Gospel yet they shall not preuaile against it. Go to ye valiaunte and stoute Champions, stay and hinder the course of the Gospel al that yee are able, ye shall notably fayle of your purpose. If ye did not so resist, your pompe and pride might continue longer. That therefore ye may the sooner perish, helpe forwarde your owne destruction, striue both againste God and men, that both God and men may hate you, that so at the laste ye may be destroyed, euen as it hath happened to the Iewes, and to all the persecutours of the Gospell. Amen.