Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

See here the end, whereof I have spoken in the first verse: for if the Lord should destroy the world, no fruit would come of it, such a desolation could engender nothing but horror; neither would it ever bring us nearer unto God to praise him: nay contrariwise we must needs remain as blocks when we only feel his wrath: for praises proceed from the feeling of his favour and goodness. It is all one then as if he had said, Lord, thou wilt not only smite and afflict, but wilt also effect, that the wounds which thou makest shall not be without fruit. For by them thou wilt beat down the pride of men, to the end that those which in times past were strangers from thee, may now stoop under thine obedience. Hence we learn how necessary chastisements be,¹ for by them we are taught to glorify God; whereas prosperity puffs us up in such wise that we dishonour him, and think we may do what we list: we also run out and range over all the fields when God deals lovingly with us.

SEe heere the end, whereof I haue spoken in the first verse: for if the Lord should destroy the world, no fruit would come of it, such a desolation could ingender nothing but horror; neither would it euer bring vs neerer vnto God to praise him: nay contrariwise we must needs remaine as blocks whē we only feele his wrath: for praises proceed from the feeling of his fauor and goodnes. It is all one then as if he had said, Lord, thou wilt not only smite and afflict, but wilt also effect, that ye wounds which thou makest shall not be without fruit. For by them thou wilt beate downe the pride of men, to the end that those which in times past were strangers frō thee, may now stoope vnder thine obedience. Hence we learne how necessarie chastisements be,