And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they [are] the seed [which] the LORD hath blessed.
Ver. 9. And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles,] i.e., Shall be noted and noticed for eximious and exemplary: non aliunde noscibiles quam ex vitae emendatione, a as it was said of the primitive Christians, famous among the very heathens for their holy conversation. Pliny giveth a very honourable testimony of their innocence in his second epistle to Trajan. Those that stood with the Lamb had his Father's name in their foreheads; Rev 14:1 they led convincing lives, so that their friends could never sufficiently praise them, nor their foes justly find any fault with them. Such a one was Luther, Bucer, Bradford, &c. Christians should shine as lamps, show forth the power of godliness in their whole practice, do more than others possibly can do, Mat 5:47 that all may see and say, "These are the seed that the Lord hath blessed," these are his darlings, his earthly angels. What a shame was it to those flagitious Jews that it should be asked, "Are these the people of Jehovah?" Eze 36:20 And the like to profligate professors, that Papists should say, Are these your new gospellers? For certain, said one, a when he had read Christ's sermon in the mount, either this is not gospel, or we are not right gospellers.
a Tertul. ad Scapul.
b Linaker.