Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

But will some man say, are sins purged by afflictions, by which God corrects us? If it be so, then it follows that they are satisfactions for sins; as the Papists teach. For these two things depend one upon another; to wit, if God correct us for our sins, that they may be done away; then if he sends no affliction, it follows that there must be some satisfaction in stead of it. Ans. But it is no hard matter to loose this knot, if we note that the Prophet meddles not here with this question; namely, whether we merit remission of sins by works, or whether afflictions be satisfactions for our offences. For his purpose is plainly to teach, that corrections are remedies sent of God, whereby he cures our maladies,¹ in regard we are wont to abuse his patience and long suffering. Needful it is therefore that he should force us to acknowledge our sins, & to bear afflictions patiently: and thus afflictions are as purgations whereby our wicked lusts are consumed,² even as if they had passed through the fire; which metaphor the Scripture is often wont to use. But they can no way become satisfactions: I grant men may be prepared by them to repentance.

But will some man say, are sinnes purged by afflictions, by which God corrects vs? If it bee so, then it followes that they are satisfactions for sinnes; as the Papists teach. For these two things depend one vpon another; to wit, if God correct vs for our sinnes, that they may be done away; then if he sends no affliction, it followes that there must be some satisfaction in stead of it. Ans. But it is no hard matter to loose this knot, if we note that the Prophet meddles not here with this question; namely, whether wee merit remission of sinnes by workes, or whether afflictions bee satisfactions for our offences. For his purpose is plainely to teach, that corrections are remedies sent of God, whereby hee cures our maladies,¹ in regard we are wont to abuse his patience and long suffering. Needfull it is therefore that he should force vs to acknowledge our sins, & to beare afflictiōs patiently: and thus afflictions are as purgations whereby our wicked lusts are consumed,² euen as if they had passed thorow the fire; which metaphor the Scripture is often wont to vse. But they can no way become satisfactions: I grant men may bee prepared by them to repentance.