Isaiah 8:9

Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.

Ver. 9. Associate yourselves, O ye people.] In confidence of her king Immanuel's succour (help) and support, the Church thus holily insulteth over her most active enemies, foretelling their utter subversion. "The virgin daughter of Zion" doth the like, Isa 37:22 as binding upon her invincible champion Immanuel, Isa 8:2-3 whose very name here putteth spirits into her, and maketh her take ‘heart of grace,' as they say. Basil biddeth the Christians in time of persecution boldly bespeak their adversaries in these words, though somewhat otherwise rendered by the Septuagint, by mistake of a letter. If again ye prevail, ye shall yet again be vanquished. And truly of the Church it may be foretold better than of Troy -

“ Victa tamen vinces, eversaque Troia resurges:

Obruet hostiles illa ruina domes. ”

- Ovid, Fast.

Gird yourselves and ye shall be broken in pieces.] "Ye shall," "ye shall," without fail, though ye little believe it. It shall be done (as is therefore here so often threatened), as sure as the coat is on your back, or the heart in your belly.