Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

We had almost the like place to this in the eight Chapter,¹ where our Prophet compared his doctrine to letters sealed up: and anon he will liken it to a closed book. This falls out when the Lord deprives men of the light of his spirit, and of sound judgement for their unthankfulness sake; that seeing, they might not see; and hearing, they might not hear at all: whereby he punisheth them most justly. We ought to observe this well, for we often take our selves to be great proficients, and to be exceeding happy that we have the word of God amongst us: but what profit get we by it, unless our understandings be fitted to conceive it, and our hearts framed to be directed by it? For wanting this,² we are more accursed, then if we had not the word at all. And therefore we stand in need of a twofold grace: First, that God would enlighten us by his word: secondly, that he would open our eyes, and dispose our affections to embrace the obedience of it. Otherwise, the light of the Gospel shall stand us in no more stead, then the light of the Sun doth to the eyes of him that is stark blind.

We had almost the like place to this in the eight Chapter,¹ where our Prophet compared his doctrine to letters sealed vp: and anon he will liken it to a closed booke. This falles out when the Lord depriues men of the light of his spirit, and of sound iudgement for their vnthankfulnesse sake; that seeing, they might not see; and hearing, they might not heare at all: whereby hee punisheth them most iustly. We ought to obserue this well, for wee often take our selues to be great proficients, and to be exceeding happie that we haue the word of God amongst vs: but what profit get we by it, vnlesse our vnderstandings be fitted to cō ceiue it, and our hearts framed to be directed by it? For wanting this,² wee are more accursed, then if we had not the word at all. And therefore wee stand in neede of a twofold grace: First, that God would inlighten vs by his word: secondly, that hee would open our eyes, and dispose our affections to imbrace the obedience of it. Otherwise, the light of the Gospell shall stand vs in no more stead, then the light of the Sun doth to the eyes of him that is starke blind.