Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

The Prophet opposeth this sentence to the former: for he had said that when the faithful are afflicted, or see others in the like case, that they cease not for all that to rest in the assurance of Gods favour, and to hope constantly in his help. Now on the contrary he saith that the wicked can not be brought to love God, albeit he labour to draw and knit them unto him by all sorts of his benefits: nay rather they become the worse, although he show himself most gracious towards them. It may seem then at the first blush that this verse should be contrary to the former: for it was there said that the justice of God is known upon earth, even then whilst he himself shows that he is Judge of the world, and executes vengeance upon the iniquities of men.¹ But here he saith, that the wicked can not be allured nor drawn by any means to serve God: and so far is it off that they are any thing the better for the stripes which they receive, that they wax worse and worse, and that whilst he lades them daily with his benefits: for it is out of controversy that all make not a right use of afflictions.² What use I pray you made Pharaoh of the plagues wherewith God smote him? did not the blows which he felt make his heart the more hard?