Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

In the next place they step one degree higher; that is, even to equal themselves with God: I have overcome them whom God protected; & therefore I have also overcome himself. Here is a lively description of that which we saw before in the tenth Chapter. Ha! Ashur the rod of mine indignation: but he thinks not so. There the Lord admonished the faithful, that although Sennacherib in his outrageous pride, strove to abolish all divinity; yet he was always to hold this principle, that he could put nothing in execution, but what God himself from heaven should suffer.

In the next place they step one degree higher; that is, euen to equall themselues with God: I haue ouercome them whom God protected; & therefore I haue also ouercome himselfe. Heere is a liuely description of that which we saw before in the tenth Chapter. Ha! Ashur the rod of mine indignation: but he thinks not so. There the Lord admonished the faithfull, that although Sennacherib in his outragious pride, stroue to abolish all diuinitie; yet he was alwaies to hold this principle, that hee could put nothing in execution, but what God himselfe from heauen should suffer.

It is our parts then to acknowledge that God corrects us by the hands of wicked men, who are the rods of his wrath: and therefore to turn our eyes from them, and cast them upon him, who justly corrects us for our transgressions.¹ If the wicked prevail, let us not think that Gods arm is therefore broken: but let us know that we were unworthy §1of his help. For he it is that arms tyrants against §2us for our ruin; he puts weapons and §3munition into their hands, he drives them §4to and fro which way soever he thinks good, and delivers us up into their hands, when we have shaken off his yoke of obedience from our necks.