Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

That he might amplify the offence of the Jews, he now shows that it was not Gods fault that they were deprived of good days. He said before, that the miseries and calamities which they endured, were the punishments of their wilful & obstinate blindness. Now, to fill up the measure of their iniquity, he adds that by their obstinacy they had rejected all relief. This place is diversly expounded. Some read;¹ The Lord would have it so: others, He is gracious. But I have translated, The Lord is willing: that is to say, is inclined to deliver his people, to magnify his law, and to exalt his justice. And thus God yields the reason why he is ready to succour the unworthy; to wit, because he is willing that his glory may be advanced in their salvation, that his justice by this means may also appear, and that his law might flourish in her perfect strength. Now in that the Jews were in such a distressed estate, it was because they wittingly loved darkness rather then light, and to heap sorrows upon their own heads, rather then to obey God: for had not this come between, it was his only desire to have enriched them, and to have advanced them.

THat he might amplifie the offence of the Iewes, hee now shewes that it was not Gods fault that they were depriued of good daies. Hee said before, that the miseries and calamities which they indured, were the punishments of their wilfull & obstinate blindnesse. Now, to fill vp the measure of their iniquitie, he addes that by their obstinacie they had reiected all reliefe. This place is diuersly expounded. Some reade;¹ The Lord would haue it so: others, He is gracious. But I haue translated, The Lord is vvilling: that is to say, is inclined to deliuer his people, to magnifie his law, and to exalt his iustice. And thus God yeeldes the reason why he is ready to succour the vnworthy; to wit, because he is willing that his glory may be aduanced in their saluation, that his iustice by this meanes may also appeare, and that his law might florish in her perfect strength. Now in that the Iewes were in such a distressed estate, it was because they wittingly loued darknesse rather then light, and to heape sorrowes vpon their owne heads, rather then to obey God: for had not this come betweene, it was his onely desire to haue inriched them, and to haue aduanced them.

1. 1