Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

This is a repetition of that which he hath said before; to wit, that God can destroy all nations as soon as it pleaseth him: and that they are counted as nothing before him even in their best estate. But it may seem strange that he saith, All nations are nothing. Object. Were they not all created of God, that they might be esteemed something? I answer, Ans. this is spoken by comparison. For such is the perversity of our understanding, that it darkens Gods glory and Majesty, and sets those things above it which should be set far beneath. When we are to enter into this combat then, whether God or the creature should have the preeminence, let us boldly pronounce, That that which is compared with God, is nothing. The Prophet speaks not simply of the nature ⟨p. 409⟩of man as it is created of God: but his purpose is to beat down and to bring to nothing all their presumption and pride, when they dare set themselves above him. We know it is unpossible to subsist, or be without God, for in him only we live, move, and have our being, as it is said, Act. 17.28. notwithstanding that which David saith is also as true, to wit, that nothing is so vain a thing as man: who if he be weighed in a balance, will be found lighter then vanity it self, Psal. 62. And in this sort our Prophet shows that all nations are as nothing, yea, less then nothing: that he might the better note out both their vanity, and imbecility.