Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

HE continues on his speech, wherein he sets forth an Image of an horrible desolation: to wit, when beautiful houses and palaces are razed even with the ground; or, so laid on heaps, that men can have no use of them: being rather fit for thorns, briars, and nettles to grow in, then for dwelling places, which is far worse, then if they had bin converted into meadow or arable ground. But see how the Lord punisheth the pride of such as delight in building of sumptuous houses,¹ and gorgeous palaces; they think to make their names immortal, as it were: but God drives them out, and makes nests therein for birds; and dens for wild beasts: and thus they serve as perpetual ensigns of their vain ambition, who by such buildings thought to make themselves garlands of their own renown and excellency. Mens places then are inhabited of such beasts, ²who represent the nature & dispositions of those which built and dwelt in those so goodly houses. Now this overturning of order is also a woeful sign of Gods wrath; to wit, when the earth which was created for the use of man, is constrained to receive inhabitants of other kinds,³