Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 22. For I will rise up against them (saith the Lord of hosts) and will out off from Babel the name and the remnant, and the son, and the nephew, saith the Lord.

Vers. 22. For I will rise vp against them (saith the Lord of hostes) and will out off from Babel the name and the remnant, and the sonne, and the nephew, saith the Lord.

Now the Lord testifieth, that he will do that himself which he before had commanded others to do by the ministry of the Prophet: so that we must observe both the one and the other,¹ namely, that it is a work of God when the wicked come to nought, although he use men as instruments to execute his judgements. For he spake thus to them heretofore: Prepare a slaughter, vers. 21. Whence we have to note not only the power of God, but also the efficacy of prophecy. Whence the Prophets (ordained of God) give commandment to all nations to do this or that, it is then so far off that men can hinder the event thereof, that they are even constrained to perform the will of God. Now because we ordinarily stay our selves upon men, and in forsaking God attribute the power of doing all things unto them, we must hold this principle, that seeing God worketh by them, himself is properly the author of the work, whereof they are only but the executioners and instruments. This is clearly enough laid open unto us by the dependence of the places following.

NOw the Lord testifieth, that he will doe that himselfe which he before had commanded others to do by the ministrie of the Prophet: so that we must obserue both the one and the other,¹ namely, that it is a worke of God when the wicked come to nought, although he vse men as instruments to execute his iudgements. For he spake thus to them heretofore: Prepare a slaughter, vers. 21. Whence we haue to note not only the power of God, but also the efficacie of prophesie. Whence the Prophets (ordeined of God) giue commandement to all nations to do this or that, it is then so farre off that men can hinder the euent thereof, that they are euen constreined to performe the will of God. Now because we ordinarilie stay our selues vpon men, and in forsaking God attribute the power of doing all things vnto them, we must hold this principle, that seeing God worketh by them, himself is properlie the author of the worke, whereof they are only but the executioners and instruments. This is clearely inough laid open vnto vs by the dependence of the places following.