A17640:1128
Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah
A commentary upon the prophecy of Isaiah. By Mr. John Calvin. Whereunto are added four tables ... Translated out of French into English: by C.C.A commentary vpon the prophecie of Isaiah. By Mr. Iohn Caluin. Whereunto are added foure tables ... Translated out of French into English: by C.C.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston, 1609
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Vers. 3. Gather a counsel, execute judgement: make thy shadow as the night in the mid-day: hide them that are chased out: bewray not him that is fled.
Vers. 3. Gather a counsell, execute iudgement: make thy shadow as the night in the mid-day: hide them that are chased out: bewray not him that is fled.
HE goes on with his speech. But if we will rightly understand this place, we must set the calamity wherewith the Moabites were extremely afflicted, before our eyes. Now he calls their wickednesses to remembrance; to the end all might know how justly this calamity befell them. When they had all things at their desire, they overflowed in dissolutions, and rejected all reprehensions: now being forsaken and left destitute of help, they mourn; seeking remedies, but find none.1 For thus God deals with the reprobates: he supplies their necessities, and puts all they can wish into their hands, to leave them without excuse. But after they have abused these blessings of God through their wicked lusts, and have turned all things to an ill end, he takes from them all means and helps, and then brings them to nothing. Whilst the Moabites were in prosperity, they made no great reckoning of mercy and uprightness, although they might have ruled, and had a flourishing Kingdom without doing any man wrong: yet did they abuse it to establish their tyranny. Now then when they are deprived of all authority, banished, and fugitives; Isaiah in scorn, admonisheth them to gather a counsel, and to execute justice, which before they had overturned by fraud & extortions. For Isaiah hath an eye to the time when the Moabites were spoiled of all principality and power. And it seems this reproach is like to that which the Lord used to Adam, saying; Behold Adam is become as one of us: Gen. 3.22. For he is there scorned by a biting kind of speech, that not being content with the excellent graces he had received, he would needs be like God himself. So the Moabites being not contented with their ornaments and riches, vexed the poor Jews and Israelites after a barbarous manner; pilled and polled them, and imagining wicked devices against them.