Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 9. Woe be to him that striveth with his maker,^* the potsherd with the potsherds of the earth: shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, it hath none hands? 10. Woe unto him that saith to his father; What hast thou begotten? or to his mother; What hast thou brought forth?

Vers. 9. Woe bee to him that striueth with his maker,^* the potshard with the potshardes of the earth: shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy worke, it hath none hands? 10. Woe vnto him that saith to his father; What hast thou begotten? or to his mother; What hast thou brought forth?

1. *Or, let the pot contend against the pots.

This place is diversly expounded:¹ for some understand it of Balthazar, who (as we see in Daniel) lifted up himself proudly against God, in profaning the holy vessels of the Temple: but this is too constrained an exposition. The second² may seem more probable; to wit, that the Lord gives and grants more to his chosen, then a father will do to his children, or a workman to his work: for those who expound the words thus, think that the Prophet speaks here by way of comparison in this sense: If a son should rise up against his father, and contend with him, should he get any audience? No: for a father will keep and retain his own authority, and in this behalf would justly reject his son. The like would also fall out, if the clay should rise up against the Potter. Yet God permits us to contend with him, and offers himself freely to satisfy any of our demands: and thus they join the tenth and eleventh verse together, thinking that the patience of God appears, in that he deals thus favourably with us, and humbles himself more then mortal men are commonly wont to do towards their children. I grant that this