Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Those which translate, That they may cover themselves with a covering, are grossly mistaken: for albeit the Jews sought to the Egyptians for security; yet doth the Prophet rather aim at their wily plottings; of which I spake erewhile, and both the expositions come all to one sense.

Those which translate, That they may couer themselues with a couering, are grosly mistaken: for albeit the Iewes sought to the Egyptians for securitie; yet doth the Prophet rather aime at their wilie plottings; of which I spake erewhile, and both the expositions come all to one sense.

Now he repeats one and the same thing by three phrases of speech: first, that they covered §1their counsels from God: secondly, that they §2asked not counsel at his mouth: and thirdly, that §3they would not be governed by his Spirit. For those that are carried away with a conceit of their own wit, do willingly give themselves to cunning devices, whereby they may cover their infidelity and rebellion: and for as much as it was not their meaning to obey Gods word, therefore they never craved the direction of his Spirit. Thence comes that sorrowful and woeful event: for it cannot be avoided, but those counsels and determinations which the Lord governs not, must come to a miserable and fatal end.¹ What wisdom is there but that which proceeds out of his mouth? Let us seek unto it then; that is to say, let us ask counsel of his word: so shall we also have the direction and government of his Spirit, from whence proceeds all wisdom and counsel.

Now hee repeates one and the same thing by three phrases of speech: first, that they couered §1their counsels from God: secondly, that they