Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

This comparison doth further exemplify the crime of their revolt. For the Lord might well have compared his people to the Heathen, and Infidels: but he toucheth them nearer, in comparing them to brute beasts, and in showing that they are yet more foolish then they. For albeit these beasts be void of reason & understanding, yet are they teachable, at the least wise in this respect, that they acknowledge those who feeds them. Seeing then that the Lord had not only fed this people as in a stall or Crib, but had fed them largely and abundantly, no otherwise then the father doth his children whom he tendereth; and had not only pampered their bellies, but did always replenish them with spiritual food: had he not good cause, think you, to esteem them worthy rather to be sent to school to learn of Oxen and Asses then of men; especially when he saw they were become so beastly? he sends his people then to these brute beasts to learn their duties of them. And no marvel; for it often falls out that the unreasonable creatures do better follow the order of nature, and do in their kind show more humanity then men themselves. And not to allege many examples, this •ne which Isaiah here propounds shall suffice: namely, that these beasts being altogether senseless and blockish, do yet notwithstanding obey their masters and those who have the government of them. And if in other things we shall consider wherein the beasts do surpass men, how many particulars shall we find out? §1What is the cause that scarcely any beast will offer violence to one of his own kind? and that he should therein, as you would say, acknowledge his own likeness.