Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

This is the sentence touching their punishment, which Isaiah sets forth by a goodly similitude: for he compares the wicked to a wall that is cracked or swollen. Now as the swelling of a wall, shows that it is ready to fall, because it cannot long stand upright, unless all the parts be equally knit together; so the pride and insolence of the wicked, is an infallible sign & token of their present destruction: for the more they are puffed up, the more sudden shall their downfall be. And as they are full of wind, so it is not possible, but being overcharged therewith, they must forthwith break in sunder. He bids them therefore to exalt themselves and to behave themselves malapertly against God, if they will: but in conclusion, he will quickly overturn your pride & presumption; for it is nothing else but a bubble full of wind. Hence we are to be admonished, that there is nothing better for us, then that we wholly submit our selves under God: and so to gather in all our spirits, that we bind our selves perpetually to do him service. For whosoever he be that shakes off this humility, and grows proud, must needs break in sunder with gathering in over much wind. The Lord indeed for a time suffers the wicked to swell, and make their great risings and overflowings appear, that in the end they might pull ruin and destruction upon themselves, by their pride and vain boastings.

THis is the sentence touching their punishment, which Isaiah sets forth by a goodly similitude: for he compares the wicked to a wall that is cracked or swollen. Now as the swelling of a wall, shewes that it is readie to fall, because it cannot long stand vpright, vnlesse all the parts be equally knit together; so the pride and insolencie of the wicked, is an infallible signe & token of their present destruction: for the more they are puffed vp, the more sudden shall their downfall be. And as they are full of wind, so it is not possible, but being ouercharged therewith, they must forthwith breake in sunder. Hee bids them therefore to exalt themselues and to behaue themselues malapertly against God, if they will: but in conclusion, hee will quickly ouerturne your pride & presumption; for it is nothing else but a bubble ful of wind. Hence we are to be admonished, that there is nothing better for vs, then that wee wholly submit our selues vnder God: and so to gather in all our spirits, that we bind our selues perpetually to doe him seruice. For whosoeuer hee be that shakes off this humilitie, and growes proud, must needes breake in sunder with gathering in ouer much wind. The Lord indeed for a time suffers the wicked to swell, and make their great risings and ouerflowings appeare, that in the end they might pull ruine and destruction vpon themselues, by their pride and vaine boastings.