Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Saint Paul allegeth this place when he reprehends the foolish conceit of th• Corinthians, who were so possessed with pride, that they admired none but such as spake unto them in strange languages, 1. Cor. 14.21. It being an usual thing with the common people, to wonder at strange & unwonted things. But this place of Paul is ill understood, by reason they have not well pondered the Prophets words; which the Apostle very fitly applies to his purpose. For he declares how the Corinthians were carried away with a foolish and unbridled ambition, unreasonably affecting things altogether unprofitable; and thus were become children, not in malice, but in judgement and understanding. By means whereof, they pulled the curse of God wittingly upon themselves; wherewith the Prophet had threatened the Jews in this place. And so it came to pass, that the word of God was unto them precept upon precept, receiving no more fruit by it, then if one had told them a long tale in a language they understood not. Men are grown exceeding fond therefore, when they begin to throw themselves by a vain affection into wilful blindness and benumbedness of spirit; with which plague the Lord here threatens the obstinate & rebellious. Saint Paul then expounds and clears this sentence of the Prophet very well; showing, that such as abuse the doctrine of salvation, are unworthy to profit any thing at all by it.

Saint Paul alleadgeth this place when hee reprehends the foolish conceit of th• Corinthians, who were so possessed with pride, that they admired none but such as spake vnto them in strange languages, 1. Cor. 14.21. It being an vsuall thing with the common people, to wonder at strange & vnwonted things. But this place of Paul is ill vnderstood, by reason they haue not well pondered the Prophets words; which the Apostle very fitly applies to his purpose. For he declares how the Corinthians were caried away with a foolish and vnbridled ambition, vnreasonably affecting things altogether vnprofitable; and thus were become children, not in malice, but in iudgement and vnderstanding. By meanes whereof, they pulled the curse of God wittingly vpon themselues; wherewith the Prophet had threatned the Iewes in this place. And so it came to passe, that the word of God was vnto them precept vpon precept, receiuing no more fruit by it, then if one had told them a long tale in a language they vnderstood not. Men are growne exceeding fond therefore, when they begin to throw themselues by a vaine affection into wilfull blindnesse and benummednesse of spirit; with which plague the Lord here threatens the obstinate & rebellious. Saint Paul then expounds and cleeres this sentence of the Prophet verie well; shewing, that such as abuse the doctrine of saluation, are vnworthy to profit any thing at all by it.