Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

All expositors almost do expound this verse, as if Isaiah mentioned the outrages which the wicked are wont to belch out against the Prophets. For they cast the servants of the Lord in the teeth with the things which they have reproved and condemned, which such companions as they can not endure. As if they should say, Who are they, I pray thee, whom thou accusest of blindness, ¹and and who are they thou callest deaf? Take it hardly to thy self. We know none so blind as thou art. They think then, that it is as much as if the Lord complained thus of the Jews, I see very well that you esteem my Prophets for no better then blind and deaf. But we shall by and by see that this interpretation suits nothing at all with the scope of the text: for the Prophet shows afterwards why he calls them blind, to wit, because they saw many things, but kept them not. Now this can not any way agree to the Prophets, let us therefore follow the pure and native sense.

ALl expositors almost doe expound this verse, as if Isaiah mentioned the outrages which the wicked are wont to belch out against the Prophets. For they cast the seruants of the Lord in the teeth with the things which they haue reproued and condemned, which such companions as they can not indure. As if they should say, Who are they, I pray thee, whom thou accusest of blindnes, ¹and and who are they thou callest deafe? Take it hardly to thy selfe. We know none so blinde as thou art. They thinke then, that it is as much as if the Lord complained thus of the Iewes, I see very well that you esteeme my Prophets for no better then blinde and deafe. But we shall by and by see that this interpretation sutes nothing at all with the scope of the text: for the Prophet shewes afterwards why he calles them blind, to wit, because they saw many things, but kept them not. Now this can not any way agree to the Prophets, let vs therfore follow the pure and natiue sense.

1. 1The misinterpretation of this place.