Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

The words following of hiding their counsels may serve us for an exposition. Some expound this verse as if the Prophet condemned the curiosity of such who are too bold ⟨p. 290⟩in diving into the secret judgements of God: but this exposition hath no good foundation. The Prophet makes it clear enough of whom it is he speaks, when he adds their scoffing speeches, in that they thought to commit their wickedness so covertly and privily as if none were able to discover them: now this hiding of their Counsels signifies nothing else but a bold persuasion of escaping Gods hand. And thus the wicked obscure the light, by putting their mists before it, lest their secret perversity should be espied.

The words following of hiding their counsels may serue vs for an exposition. Some expound this verse as if the Prophet condemned the curiositie of such who are too bolde ⟨p. 290⟩in diuing into the secret iudgements of God: but this exposition hath no good foundation. The Prophet makes it cleare enough of whom it is he speakes, when he addes their scoffing speeches, in that they thought to commit their wickednes so couertlie and priuilie as if none were able to discouer them: now this hiding of their Counsels signifies nothing else but a bold perswasion of escaping Gods hand. And thus the wicked obscure the light, by putting their mists before it, lest their secret peruersitie should be espied.

Thence proceeds this shameless question of theirs, Who seeth us? for albeit they seemed in outward appearance to serve God, yet they thought themselves able not only to put the Prophets to silence by their shifts and devices, but even to overthrow the judgements of God. I grant they did not this openly, for such will always hold an outward show of profession, that they may the better deceive others thereby: but in their hearts they acknowledge no God, but that which themselves have forged in the shop of their own brain.¹