Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

¹Some think this should be a form of prayer, which the faithful were to use in waiting for that deliverance whereof the Prophet speaks. And thus they join this verse to the former; The Lord will not deliver you by and by, it shall be your duties therefore to solicit him by your prayers. But I expound it otherwise, to wit, that the Prophet speaks still in the name of the Lord, who in regard of his absolute power, hath heaven and earth at his beck; and here commands them in his name to apply themselves to further the restoration of the Church. This verse therefore hath great force in it to confirm the faithful in the hope of their redemption to come: for which way soever the Jews turned their eyes, they saw nothing but matter §1of despair. If they looked towards heaven, §2behold God an angry Judge: if they looked towards the earth, they saw nothing but tokens of his wrath to present themselves about them on every side, so as they could hope for nothing that was good. Isaiah therefore confirms their faith, and commands heaven and earth, which promised nothing but threats and terrors, to bring forth justice and salvation: which kind of speech hath greater weight in it, then if God himself had promised that this should have come to pass. For the elements, who are ready prest at Gods commandment, are in this sense said to receive and understand the charge enjoined them of God. Thus then the sentence runs all with a breath, which would be but abrupt, if this verse were to be understood of prayer.