Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 4. If so be the Lord thy God hath heard the words of Rabshekeh, whom the King of Ashur his master hath sent to rail on the living God, and to reproach him with words, which the Lord thy God hath heard, then lift thou up thy prayer for the remnant that are left.

Vers. 4. If so bee the Lord thy God hath heard the words of Rabshekeh, whō the King of Ashur his master hath sent to raile on the liuing God, and to reproch him with words, which the Lord thy God hath heard, then lift thou vp thy praier for the remnant that are left.

Object. IT seems that Hezekias doubts whether the Lord would hear or no: for the particle Ulai, is translated, if peradventure; and it is taken in this sense almost throughout the whole Scripture. Ans. But we must note that the faithful are accustomed to speak thus, though they be most assured that God will succour them. They are indeed somewhat perplexed, but it is only in regard of the difficulty, of the temptation wherewith they are pressed. Hezekias might well doubt, if we look upon the estate as it then presently stood: but having turned his eyes towards the word of God, he became more certain of Gods will, and then ceased to tremble any more. Now because it cannot be avoided, but the flesh will always fight against the spirit in the faithful, and so overcharge them, that they are fain still to drag the wing or to trail the leg after them, they sometimes fit their words according to the difficulty which presents it self before them. And in other places we may observe, that Gods servants have spoken on this manner, though the matter were out of doubt. For when Saint Peter exhorted Simon the Magician to repentance,¹ he adds; If peradventure the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee: but he therein counsels him not to tremble, or to pray in unbelief, because such a prayer had been in vain: but he sets before him the greatness of his sin, that he might quicken him up with the greater fervency to awaken at the last, that he might prove a true convert indeed. This word if then, is not put here in a doubtful sense, but signifies that which we usually speak, it may be, when we dare hope or promise something to our selves.