Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 8. Now go, and write it before them in a table, and note it in a book; that it may be for the last day for ever and ever.

Vers. 8. Now goe, and write it before them in a table, and note it in a booke; that it may be for the last day for euer and euer.

Having convinced the Jews of manifest incredulity, now he would have it signed and sealed as it were upon perpetual record for a witness unto all posterity, to the end those which should succeed might know both how obstinate & rebellious this people were; as also how justly God inflicted his punishments upon them. We have told you before that the Prophets were wont to gather their Sermons into certain chief heads,¹ and afterwards to fasten them upon the gates of the Temple: which being read and viewed of all at leisure, the Ministers took them thence and laid them up safely in Chests in the Temple: and thus the book of the Prophets were conserved, and afterward gathered orderly into volumes. But when among the rest there was some rare and excellent prophecy and worthy of memory; then the Lord commanded that it should be written in greater letters, the better to draw the people to the reading of it, that they might mark it the more diligently. The Lord now commands ⟨p. 300⟩the Prophet to do the like, thereby showing that this was no ordinary matter, but the whole to be carefully written, and very attentively read. Yea, that it should not only be read, but also so engraven as it were in mens memories, that it might never be raced out.

HAuing conuinced the Iewes of manifest incredulitie, now he would haue it signed and sealed as it were vpon perpetuall record for a witnesse vnto all posteritie, to the end those which should succeed might know both how obstinate & rebellious this people were; as also how iustlie God inflicted his punishments vpon them. We haue told you before that the Prophets were wont to gather their Sermons into certaine chiefe heads,