Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 14. He will hew him down cedars, and take the pine tree and the oak, and taketh courage among the trees of the forrest: he planteth a fir tree, and the rain doth nourish it.

Vers. 14. He will hew him downe cedars, and take the pine tree and the oke, and taketh courage among the trees of the forrest: hee planteth a firre tree, and the raine doth nourish it.

¹The Prophet sets forth not only the zeal and witless rage of Idolaters, but also their obstinacy and rebellion. For in that he saith, they cut down cedars, and did plant a fir-tree; it is to show that they persevered long in their folly, and were not overtaken with any sudden passion, which drove them to forge these gods. They are not content only to choose trees of sufficient growth, but they also plant them young, water, and husband them, and wait a long while, till they be come to a sufficient stature to make an Idol of. When we read these things, and see such an horrible rage, let us know that God takes us by the neck (as it were) to pull us thence, and to continue us in true piety. We must take these foxes (I mean these lusts) betimes, and kill them whilst they be cubs, lest if we nourish them over long in our breasts, they grow wild and impregnable. We are evermore to watch over our own hearts, that a wicked lust no sooner creeps in to carry us away to the love of Idols, but we forthwith root it out, for fear of falling into these deep gulfs; because even the best of us all bears about with us some seeds of this brutishness, which by no means can be weeded out: nay, they will bud & sprout up in us without ceasing, unless we be purged of them by the power of the holy Ghost.

¹THe Prophet sets forth not onely the zeale and witlesse rage of Idolaters, but also their obstinacie and rebellion. For in that he saith, they cut downe cedars, and did plant a firre-tree; it is to shew that they perseuered long in their follie, and were not ouertaken with any suddē passion, which droue them to forge these gods. They are not content onely to chuse trees of sufficient growth, but they also plant them young, water, and husband them, and vvait a long while, till they be come to a sufficient stature to make an Idoll of. When wee reade these things, and see such an horrible rage, let vs know that God takes vs by the necke (as it were) to pull vs thence, and to continue vs in true pietie. Wee must take these foxes (I meane these lusts) betimes, and kill them whilest they be cubs, lest if we nourish them ouer long in our breasts, they grow wild and impregnable. Wee are euermore to watch ouer our owne hearts, that a wicked lust no sooner creepes in to carry vs away to the loue of Idols, but wee forthwith roote it out, for feare of falling into these deepe gulphes; because euen the best of vs all beares about with vs some seedes of this brutishnes, which by no meanes can be weeded out: nay, they wil bud & sprout vp in vs without ceasing, vnlesse we be purged of them by the power of the holy Ghost.