Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsIsaiah 37
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read Isaiah 37 in the BibleOriginal Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read Isaiah 37 in the BibleOriginal Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
Isaiah 37:35
For David's sake.
We have here a manifest example that the merits of Saints departed forth of this world, [1] do profit the living: God protecting Jerusalem not only for his own, but also for his servant David's sake. Against which plain sense, Protestants denying merits and prayers of Saints, seem to have no better evasion, than this silly shift, feigned without warrant of holy Scripture, or ancient Father: to interpret these words, For David's sake, to signify for God's promise sake made to David [2]. But if they be demanded, where and when God promised to David, that he would protect and save the city of Jerusalem from sacking by enemies, or from ruin, they can never shew it. God made David conqueror of Jerusalem, extirpating there the Jebusites, who until his time kept the tower of Sion (2. Reg. 5. v. 7) & protected the same city all his time, and long after. [3] And in certain particular dangers, promised to Achaz a wicked King (Isaie. 7.) and to this good King Ezechias here (& 4. Reg. 19.) that he would save and deliver Jerusalem, from the particular distresses wherein it was at those times: but he promised not this to king David. Neither did God make a general promise to protect that city perpetually. For if he had so promised, it should not have been subdued, brought into captivity, & defaced as it was by the Babylonians. And therefore this gloss of Protestants is built upon false ground. [4] And the words are as manifest, [5] as if the kings Majesty should say: I will protect the city of London, that I may save it for mine own sake, and such my former subjects sake, that have faithfully heretofore served their Kings. Or if he should say: I will protect such a nobleman's chief Manor place for mine own sake, & for such his progenitor's sake, who served me loyally. Whereby is plainly signified, that the king doth this favour not only for his own sake, but also for the merits of some that lived there, and deserved well before. [6] Neither do we produce this similitude to prove that is in controversy, but to explain the Catholic doctrine, apparent by this text, and approved by the ancient Fathers, and the whole Church of God.