The Argument - God, according to his promise in De 18:15 that he would never leave his Church destitute of a prophet, has from time to time accomplished the same: whose office was not only to declare to the people the things to come, of which they had a special revelation, but also to interpret and declare the law, and to apply particularly the doctrine contained briefly in it, for the use and profit of those to whom they thought it chiefly to belong, and as the time and state of things required. Principally in the declaration of the law, they had respect to three things which were the ground of their doctrine: first, to the doctrine contained briefly in the two tables: secondly to the promises and threatenings of the law: and thirdly to the covenant of grace and reconciliation grounded on our Saviour Jesus Christ, who is the end of the law. To which they neither added nor diminished, but faithfully expounded the sense and meaning of it. As God gave them understanding of things, they applied the promises particularly for the comfort of the Church and the members of it, and also denounced the menaces against the enemies of the same: not for any care or regard to the enemies, but to assure the Church of their safeguard by the destruction of their enemies. Concerning the doctrine of reconciliation, they have more clearly entreated it than Moses, and set forth more lively Jesus Christ, in whom this covenant of reconciliation was made. In all these things Isaiah surpassed all the prophets, and was diligent to set out the same, with vehement admonitions, reprehensions, and consolations: ever applying the doctrine as he saw that the disease of the people required. He declares also many notable prophecies which he had received from God, concerning the promise of the Messiah, his office and kingdom, the favour of God toward his Church, the calling of the Gentiles and their union with the Jews. Which are principal points contained in this book, and a gathering of his sermons that he preached. Which after certain days that they had stood upon the temple door (for the manner of the prophets was to post the sum of their doctrine for certain days, that the people might the better mark it as in Isa 8:1, Hab 2:2) the priests took it down and reserved it among their registers. By God's providence these books were preserved as a monument to the Church forever. Concerning his person and time he was of the king's stock

(for Amos his father was brother to Azariah king of Judah, as the best writers agree) and prophesied more than 64 years, from the time of Uzziah to the reign of Manasseh who was his son-in-law (as the Hebrews write) and by whom he was put to death. In reading of the prophets, this one thing among others is to be observed, that they speak of things to come as though they were now past because of the certainty of it, and that they could not but come to pass, because God had ordained them in his secret counsel and so revealed them to his prophets.

(a) That is, a revelation or prophecy, which was one of the two means by which God declared himself to his servants in old times, as in Nu 12:6 and therefore the prophets were called seers, 1Sa 9:9.

(b) Isaiah was chiefly sent to Judah and Jerusalem, but not only: for in this book are prophecies concerning other nations also.

(c) Called also Azariah, 2Ki 15:1 of these kings read 2Ki 14:1-21:1, 2Ch 25:1-33:1.

(d) Because men were obstinate and insensible, he calls to the dumb creatures, who were more prompt to obey God's word, as in De 32:1.

(e) He declares his great mercy toward the Jews as he chose them above all other nations to be his people and children as in De 10:15.

(f) The most dull and brute beasts acknowledge their duty more toward their masters, than my people do toward me, of whom they have received benefits without comparison.

(g) They were not only wicked as were their fathers, but utterly corrupt and by their evil example infected others.

(h) That is, him that sanctifies Israel.

(i) What good is it to seek to mend you by punishment, seeing that the more I correct you, the more you rebel?

(k) By naming the chief parts of the body, he signifies that there was no part of the whole body of the Jews free from his rods.

(l) Every part of the body, the least as well as the chiefest was plagued.

(m) Their plagues were so grievous that they were incurable, and yet they would not repent.

(n) Meaning, of them who dwell far off, who because they look for no advantage of that which remains destroy all before them.

(o) That is, Jerusalem.

(p) Because he will always have a Church to call on his Name.

(q) That is, all destroyed.

(r) You who for your vices deserved to be destroyed, as they of Sodom, save that God from his mercy reserved a little number, La 3:22.

(s) Although God commanded these sacrifices for a time, as aids and exercises of their faith, yet because the people did not have faith or repentance, God detests them, Ps 50:13, Jer 6:20, Am 5:22, Mic 6:7.

(t) Without faith and repentance.

(u) Your sacrifices offered in the new moons and feasts: he condemns by this hypocrites who think to please God with ceremonies and they themselves are void of faith and mercy.

(x) He shows that where men are given to evil, deceit, cruelty and extortion, which is meant by blood, there God will show his anger and not accept them though they seem holy, as in Isa 59:3.

(y) By this outward washing, he means the spiritual: exhorting the Jews to repent and amend their lives.

(z) This kind of reasoning by the second table, the scriptures use in many places against the hypocrites who pretend holiness and religion in word, but when charity and love for their brethren should appear they declare that they have neither faith nor religion.

(a) To know if I accuse you without cause.

(b) Lest sinners should pretend any rigour on God's part, he only wills them to be pure in heart, and he will forgive all their sins, no matter how many or great.

(c) He shows that whatever adversity man endures, it ought to be attributed to his own incredulity and disobedience.

(d) That is, Jerusalem, which had promised happiness to me, as a wife to her husband.

(e) Given to covetousness and extortion, which he signified before by blood, Isa 1:15.

(f) Whatever was pure in you before, is now corrupt, though you have an outward show.

(g) That is, they maintain the wicked and the extortioners: and not only do not punish them, but are themselves such.

(h) When God will show himself merciful to his Church, he calls himself the Holy one of Israel, but when he has to do with his enemies, he is called Mighty, as against whom no power is able to resist.

(i) I will take vengeance of my adversaries the Jews and so satisfy my desire by punishing them.

(k) Lest the faithful among them should be overcome with his threatening he adds this consolation.

(l) It is once the work of God to purify the heart of man, which he does because of his promise, made concerning the salvation of his Church.

(m) By justice is meant God's faithful promise, which is the reason for the deliverance of his Church.

(n) The wicked will not be partakers of God's promise, Ps 92:9.

(o) That is, the trees and pleasant places where you commit idolatry which was forbidden De 16:22.

(p) The false god's in which you put your confidence will be consumed as easily as a piece of wick.