Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Now he expresseth that more fully which we touched before; to wit, that (these hypocrites) had no cause to accuse God of over-great rigour, because themselves by provoking him to displeasure, did thereby put his §1favour far away from them. For he shows §2that God agrees with men well enough, if they will love and follow justice; if they give §3themselves to equity; if they keep their fingers clean from bribes, and walk in uprightness §4with their neighbours; but being infected with all manner of corruptions, and given to malice, slander, covetousness, extortion, and the like sins, must not the Lord astonish such with fears, and show himself terrible unto them? In a word, the Prophets meaning is to stop the mouths of the wicked scoffers, that so they might cease to accuse God of cruelty, in bringing destruction upon them, seeing the whole cause thereof was in themselves. They make many turnings to escape Gods judgement; but the Prophet affirms, that he is always good to those which honour him. And albeit Moses in this sense calls him a consuming fire, Deut. 9.3. lest his majesty and power should be contemned; yet whosoever he be that shall draw near unto him with a true desire to please him, he shall feel by the effects, that there is nothing more sweet and amiable then his presence.¹ At such time then as God causeth the light of his countenance to shine upon the faithful, they have peace with him in a good conscience: whence it follows, that he is not terrible of his own nature, but we, (we) by our perversity provoke him to be such a one unto us.

NOw he expresseth that more fully which we touched before; to wit, yt (these hypocrits) had no cause to accuse God of ouer-great rigor, because themselues by prouoking him to displeasure, did thereby put his §1fauour far away from them. For hee shewes §2that God agrees with men well enough, if they will loue and follow iustice; if they giue §3