Isaiah 57:1-2

Isaiah 57:1-2. The righteous perisheth, &c.— These words contain a kind of prelude to the distressful scene which is opened immediately after; for the prophet designing to describe the melancholy state of the adulterous church, to be chastised by the severe judgments of God, he beholds the few pious and good men yet remaining in the church, gradually falling off and taken away, either by an immature or a violent death; while there were but few who laid this matter to heart, and observed it as a presage of the judgment threatening the church. This stupidity he sadly deplores; immediately subjoining, however, an alleviation to shew (Isaiah 57:2.) that this complaint pertained not to the deceased, as having attained a happier lot, and as blessed in this respect, that they were taken from the evils and calamities of their times. The completion of this prophesy, according to Vitringa, is to be sought in the latter end of the ninth, and in the following centuries; when the Papal power greatly prevailed, and the corruption of the church was as great as the persecution and troubles of the pious were many. Revelation 6:9.