Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 18. Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins were as crimson, they shall be made white at snow: though they were red as scarlet, they shall be as wool.

Vers. 18. Come now and let vs reason together, saith the Lord: though your sinnes were as crimsin, they shall bee made white at snow: though they were red as skarlet, they shall be as woll.

Come now.] The Expositors have been wont to translate, I pray you, or Then: but me thinks the assurance of a good cause is here noted; so as the Hebrew particle now, serveth for an exhortation. For he shows that the Jews should be able to make no replies, and that they would remain stark dumb; although long time should be given them to justify themselves. And surely so must hypocrites be dealt withal: for they are skilful to plead boldly with God, and will be seeking out starting holes. Therefore he saith if they be minded to plead, he is as ready as they.

COme now.] The Expositors haue beene wont to translate, I pray you, or Then: but me thinks the assurance of a good cause is here noted; so as the Hebrew particle now, serueth for an exhortatiō. For he shewes that the Iewes should be able to make no replies, and that they would remaine starke dumbe; although long time should be giuen them to iustifie themselues. And surely so must hypocrites be dealt withall: for they are skilfull to pleade boldly with God, and will bee seeking out starting holes. Therefore he saith if they bee minded to plead, he is as readie as they.