Now he sets forth the fruit of this chastisement:1 and this is the second consolation, which should sustain the faithful in their adversities. For howsoever they felt nothing §1but the wrath of God; yet were they to think that the Lord (who never forgets his own) would still preserve his Church for ever: and withal, that the corrections should be profitable to his children. Having spoken §2then of the perpetuity of the Church, he also ads, that afterwards men shall look unto God, which is the most desirable good thing of all others. For when we return unto God, then the world, which was laid wast before, begins to be brought into his right frame again. Therefore when we are estranged from him, because none of us repents willingly, we can not be brought back again into the right way unless he use the spur and corrections to drive us forward. Hereby then we are admonished to bear our chastisements cheerfully, seeing God useth them as means to purge us from a most deadly apostasy. For to look unto God, 2is nothing else but (having once turned out of the way) to come into his favour by turning again unto him, and to put our selves under his protection. What is the cause why men give over themselves to all lewdness? Surely because they forget God.3 For where the true knowledge of God is, there is also reverence of his Majesty joined with it: and wheresoever forgetfulness beareth sway, there contempt must needs reign. Although this manner of speech appertain properly to faith, as if he should say, when the Israelites shall be once tamed by these sharp chastisements, they shall then feel by experience that there is no succour but in God alone: in which sense he presently adds the word maker. Truly it was a detestable senselessness that they rested not upon that God only who had endued them with so many excellent gifts. The Prophet shows then that they shall become wiser by being humbled under calamities and afflictions, and shall begin to hope in him who had bound them unto him by so many benefits.
NOw he sets forth the fruit of this chastisement:1 and this is the second consolation, which should susteine the faithfull in their aduersities. For howsoeuer they felt nothing §1but the wrath of God; yet were they to thinke that the Lord (who neuer forgets his owne) would still preserue his Church for euer: and withall, that the corrections should be profitable to his children. Hauing spoken §2then of the perpetuitie of the Church, he also ads, that afterwards men shall looke vnto God, which is the most desirable good thing of all others. For when we returne vnto God, then the world, which was laid wast before, begins to be brought into his right frame againe. Therefore when we are estranged from him, because none of vs repents willinglie, we can not be brought backe againe into the right way vnlesse he vse the spurre and corrections to driue vs forward. Hereby then wee are admonished to beare our chastisements cheerefullie, seeing God vseth thē as meanes to purge vs from a most deadlie apostasie. For to looke vnto God, 2is nothing else but (hauing once turned out of the way) to come into his fauor by turning againe vnto him, and to put our selues vnder his protection. What is the cause why men giue ouer themselues to all leaudnes? Surely because they forget God.3 For where the true knowledge of God is, there is also reuerence of his Maiestie ioined with it: and wheresoeuer forgetfulnes beareth sway, there contempt must needs reigne. Although this maner of speech appertaine properlie to faith, as if he should say, when the Israelites shall be once tamed by these sharp chastisements, they shall then feele by experience that there is no succour but in God alone: in which sense he presentlie addes the word maker. Trulie it was a detestable senselesnes that they rested not vpon that God only who had indued them with so many excellent gifts. The Prophet shewes then that they shall become wiser by being humbled vnder calamities and afflictions, and shall beginne to hope in him who had bound them vnto him by so many benefits.
- 1The second consolation.
- 2God useth corrections as a special remedy to preserve us from apostasy.God vset• corrections as a speciall remedie to preserue vs frō apostacie.
- 3What it is to turn unto God. Knowledge of God breeds reverence: forgetfulness contempt.What it is to turne vnto God. Knowledge of God breeds reuerence: forgetfulnes contempt.
