Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 7. And the multitude of all the nations that fight against the Altar shall be as a dream or vision by night: even all they that make the war against it, and lay siege unto it.

Vers. 7. And the multitude of all the nations that fight against the Altar shall be as a dreame or vision by night: euen all they that make the warre against it, and lay siege vnto it.

I Expound this verse otherwise then some do,¹ who think that the Prophet meant to comfort the faithful, which I confess is not without great show of reason. And so it contains a very excellent doctrine, to wit, that the enemies shall be like those that dream, when the Lord shall disappoint them of their hope, even whilst they imagined they were sure of the pray. But this interpretation (for ought I see) seems not to agree very well with the text. Sometime it falls out that a sentence sounds so goodly in show, that we are drawn to such a liking of it that it steals from us the true and natural meaning thereof,² so as we neither advisedly consider the text it self, nor yet take any great pains to seek out the authors intent and purpose.

I Expound this verse otherwise then some do,¹ who thinke that the Prophet meant to comfort the faithfull, which I confesse is not without great shew of reason. And so it conteines a very excellent doctrine, to wit, that the enemies shall be like those that dreame, when the Lord shall disappoint them of their hope, euen whilest they imagined they were sure of the pray. But this interpretation (for ought I see) seemes not to agree very well with the text. Sometime it falles out that a sentence sounds so goodly in shew, that we are drawne to such a liking of it that it steales from vs the true and naturall meaning thereof,²