Calvin: Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 1

Soveraigne Lord, James King of Great Brittaine, etc.

And to the Most Noble and Vertuous Princesse

The Lady Elizabeths Grace

His Highnesse most deare Sister; all honour and happinesse, with eternall glorie through Christ Jesus.

Most gracious and renowned Princes, having translated out of French into our English tongue the booke of the prophecie of Isaiah, interpreted and expounded by Master John Calvin, of reverend memory: I humblie crave that it may be published under your most Princely names and protection. The reason of this my humble petition is, that the honor of so noble a worke may not be imbased by the meanes of my endevours. This Prophet, by birth, was the sonne of Amos, esteemed by many to have been brother to Azarias King of Judah, and Father in law to King Manasses: which being so, this Prophet was by birth of the blood Royal, and descended of the house of David, which for the promise of Christ to come of him, was the most noble house of all the Kings of the earth. Being so borne, his education could not be but Princely, and his bringing up in all good learning, wisdome, vertue, and honor. His spirituall graces, not attained unto by ordinarie meanes, but inspired into him immediately by the Spirit of God, were excellent. This appeareth particularly in the sixth Chapter of this Prophecie, declaring that an Angell of God with a burning coale taken from the Lords Altar, and laide to the mouth of the Prophet, refined his lips and his tongue, that they became pure and precious as the finest Gold. The same is manifest in all the booke of his Prophecie; wherein both the light and the heate of that heavenly fire appeareth. For he not onely declared the will of God sincerely, according to the lawe and testimonie delivered to Moses, but also foreshewed the future events of the Kingdome of Judah, and of all the flourishing states and Kingdomes of his time.

He Prophecieth also of the birth of Jesus Christ, as if hee had been taught by the Angell Gabriel; who brought the annunciation and message of it to the blessed Virgin his mother. Of his passion and death he spake, as if with the Apostle John he had stoode by when he was crucified. His resurrection he described, as if with all the Apostles he had stoode upon Mount Olivet, where the Lord tooke the cloudie of glorie as his heavenly Chariot to ascend and goe up to his Father. His zeale and indignation against sinne is evident every where, in his sharp reproofes of the offences of…