Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

The first part of this verse is conjoined §1with that which hath been expounded heretofore; for his meaning is that they were put to their plunges, and so frighted with imminent danger, that they were driven to use all means possible to fortify themselves against the enemy. In the second part of the §2verse he taxeth their senselessness, in being so taken up with seeking after worldly helps, that they forsook that which was the principal. For whereas they should first have had their recourse unto God, they neglected it, in contriving of ditches, ramparts, walls, and other defences of war, and yet did their chief defence all this while rest in God. Now then it appears that that which I said in the beginning is true, to wit, that he foretells not here the destruction of the Jews, but only puts them in mind of that they had felt in former time: that from thence he might take occasion to show how justly the Lord was angry with them, because no chastisement nor correction whatsoever could amend them. For their extreme dangers into which they were fallen, ought to have admonished them of their impiety and contempt of God, but they became so much the more ⟨p. 214⟩hardened. And yet there is scarcely any man §1so obstinate, who in time of adversity, and §2especially in the middest of great dangers, §3but comes to himself, and by himself alone §4considers that he is justly punished, that he hath offended God, and provoked his wrath against him. But the Prophet saith, that not so much as one of the Jews remembered God in these great calamities, and that therefore the Lord had good cause to leave them, without thinking any more upon them.

THe first part of this verse is conioined §1with that which hath been expounded heretofore; for his meaning is that they were put to their plunges, and so flighted with imminent danger, that they were driuen to vse all meanes possible to fortifie themselues against the enemie. In the second part of the §2