Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Because Sennacherib had been the instrument of Satan to shake the faith of Hezekias, he now opposeth his rampart against him; to wit, that God is the Lord of hosts, and therefore of infinite power. For there is no doubt but he rouseth up his spirits, in assuring himself to obtain that he asks, when he adorns the Lord with these excellent titles. Will we have our prayers to prevail with God? let us hold this principle; that God will be found of them that seek him:¹ Heb. 11.6. But this good King had special need to lay hold of this sentence; to wit, that Gods power always remains one and the same, albeit the wicked strive to lessen it by their railings & scoffs; and to take heart the more freely and boldly unto him, to set himself valiantly against the lets by which Satan endeavoured to hinder his course. Now herein we may behold the heroical magnanimity of this good King, who ceased not to resist this tyrant for the maintenance of Gods power, but bare a loyal affection inwardly in his heart thereunto, and also made God a witness of his inward affection. Before he begins to frame any prayer then, he breaks through the fallacies whereby Satan went about to put him to the wall: so that he not only magnifies Gods power, but maintains the sovereignty which he hath over the whole world.

BEcause Sennacherib had been the instrument of Satan to shake the faith of Hezekias, hee now opposeth his rampart against him; to wit, that God is the Lord of hosts, and therefore of infinit power. For there is no doubt but hee rouseth vp his spirits, in assuring himselfe to obtaine that he askes, when he adornes the Lord with these excellent titles. Will we haue our praiers to preuaile with God? let vs hold this principle; that God will bee found of them that seeke him:¹ Heb. 11.6. But this good King had speciall need to lay hold of this sentence; to wit, that Gods power alwaies remaines one and the same, albeit the wicked striue to lessen it by their railings & scoffes; and to take heart the more freely and boldly vnto him, to set himselfe valiantly against the lets by which Satan indeuoured to hinder his course. Now herein we may behold the heroicall magnanimitie of this good King, who ceased not to resist this tyrant for the maintenance of Gods power, but bare a loyall affection inwardly in his heart thereunto, and also made God a witnesse of his inward affection. Before he begins to frame any praier then, he breaks through the fallacies whereby Satan went about to put him to the wall: so that hee not onely magnifies Gods power, but maintaines the soueraigntie which hee hath ouer the whole world.