Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 18. For the grave cannot confess thee: death can not praise thee: they that go down into the pit, cannot hope for thy truth.

Vers. 18. For the graue cannot confesse thee: death can not praise thee: they that goe downe into the pit, cannot hope for thy truth.

Where he saith, that he can not set forth the praises of God if his life be taken away, he promiseth to do it, if so great a benefit may be granted unto him; and therewithal shows, that the only cause why he desires to live, is, that he might praise God. Now albeit there is not a better sign of a godly heart then to desire life, upon condition to glorify God continually by the same: yet it seems Hezekias speaks somewhat too strictly. For the faithful glorify God no less by their death, then by their life:¹ by death they come to be perfectly conjoined with him, and never cease to sing his praises with the elect Angels. But there is yet another difficulty which moved Hezekias so much to flee death, and so earnestly to desire to live still on earth. Which second question, albeit we have discussed heretofore, yet the readers shall again be put in mind that this terror proceeded not from the only apprehension of death: for when the hour came that he should die, he recoiled not back, but willingly went unto his God. But at this time being smitten with the sense of Gods wrath, his only sorrow is, that his sins had bereaved him of his life, fearing he should never taste any of Gods blessings or favours afterward. Hereupon also depends the solution of the first question: for what marvel is it if this good man seeing he must die,² his death also proceeding ⟨p. 393⟩from the anger of God kindled against him, to take vengeance on his sins: what marvel is it, I say, if he sorrowed and lamented to be condemned to die, as one unworthy to be employed any longer in the advancement of Gods true religion and service?