Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

There is an allusion and meeting together of words in this place, which hath a very good grace; as if he should say, Thy Princes are pincers. Neither speaks he so of the princes as if the people were holy and blameless, but he toucheth the wellspring of the mischief: for even as no evil is more hurtful, then that which comes from the head, and disperseth it self into all the members; so also is there nothing more pernicious in a commonwealth, then a corrupt and wicked Prince, who spreadeth abroad his corruptions over all the body, as well by example, as by giving liberty thereunto: Prou. 29.12. From whence also came the proverb, Such a master such a man. It is all one then as if the Prophet should have said, that it was no particular vice that reigned among the common people, but that the Princes, and great Lords had let loose the reins to all wickedness. Also there is a close amplification in the word Princes; because it is a thing much to be lamented, that the evil should come from thence, where remedy should be sought. He joins one particular, which •s, that they are companions of thieves: by which words he signifies, that they were so far off from endeavouring themselves to repress thieveries and wrongs, that on the contrary, they drew gain and profit from thence: and he calls them thieves justly, who in taking part of the pray, gave licence to others to steal. Neither can it be avoided when a Judge suffereth himself to be corrupted by bribes, that disorders should not reign: for it is all one, as if he himself should consent with thieves.

THere is an allusion and meeting together of wordes in this place, which hath a verie good grace; as if hee should say, Thy Princes are pincers. Neither speakes he so of the princes as if the people were holy and blamelesse, but hee toucheth the welspring of the mischiefe: for euen as no euill is more hurtfull, then that which comes from the head, and disperseth it selfe into all the members; so also is there nothing more pernicious in a commonwealth, then a corrupt and wicked Prince, who spreadeth abroad his corruptions ouer all the body, as well by example, as by giuing libertie thereunto: Prou. 29.12. From whence also came the prouerb, Such a master such a man. It is all one then as if the Prophet should haue said, that it was no particular vice that reigned among the common people, but that the Princes, and great Lords had let loose the raines to al wickednes. Also there is a close amplificatiō in the word Princes; because it is a thing much to be lamented, that the euill should come from thence, where remedie should be sought. He ioynes one particular, which s, that they are companions of theeues: by which words he signifies, that they were so farre off from endeuoring themselues to represse theeueries and wrongs, that on the contrarie, they drew gaine and profit from thence: and he calles them theeues iustly, who in taking part of the pray, gaue licence to others to steale. Neither can it be auoided when a Iudge suffereth himselfe to bee corrupted by bribes, that disorders should not raigne: for it is all one, as if hee himselfe should consent with theeues.