Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 10. I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.

Vers. 10. I said in the cutting off of my dayes, I shall goe to the gates of the graue: I am depriued of the residue of my yeeres.

Behold here a very mournful song, for it contains in it complaints rather then prayers. Whence it appears, that this good King was so straited with distresses, that being oppressed inwardly, he forceth himself to tears and lamentations, and dares not freely open his mouth to frame a well ordered prayer. In mutterings by himself then he lays forth the greatness of his sorrow: but this may seem strange if we consider the cause. Was it beseeming so holy a personage for the desire he had to prolong this transitory life, so greatly to abhor death? The first rudiments of the heavenly doctrine do teach us, that we are but wayfaring men here, and therefore ought swiftly to run the race that is set before us towards eternal life. Object. But Hezekias seems to be so much given to the earth, as if he had never tasted so much as one dram of true godliness. He flees and detests death, as if he had been utterly unacquainted with the word of God. What means he then to set down his boiling passions in this manner? It seems he meant rather to draw the faithful by his example to a kind of intemperance, rather then to keep them within the lists of Gods hests. Are we not all of us too much inclined to rebellion of our selves, but we must also have a Schoolmaster to instruct us?

BEhold here a very mournefull song, for it conteines in it complaints rather then prayers. Whence it appeares, that this good King was so straited with distresses, that being oppressed inwardlie, he forceth himselfe to teares and lamentations, and dares not freelie open his mouth to frame a well ordered prayer. In mutterings by himselfe then he layes forth the greatnes of his sorrow: but this may seeme strange if wee consider the cause. Was it beseeming so holie a personage for the desire he had to prolong this transitorie life, so greatly to abhorre death? The first rudiments of the heauenly doctrine do teach vs, that we are but wayfaring men here, and therefore ought swiftlie to runne the race that is set before vs towards eternall life. Obiect. But Hezekias seemes to be so much giuen to the earth, as if he had neuer tasted so much as one dramme of true godlines. He flees and detests death, as if he had been vtterlie vnaquainted with ye word of God. What meanes he then to set downe his boiling passions in this maner? It seemes he meant rather to draw the faithfull by his example to a kind of intemperancie, rather then to keepe them within the lists of Gods hests. Are we not all of vs too much inclined to rebellion of our selues, but we must also haue a Scholemaster to instruct vs?