Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Let the pot strive with the pots. That is to say, let every one strive with his equal, as we use to say in our common proverb, Let the pot cleave the pots of the earth. For in sending men to their like, he taxeth their boldness and presumption, for not considering that in contending with God, ¹they sought nothing else but how to plunge themselves into their own ruin. As if he should say, Do ye know with whom ye have to do? Let them know that God will ever be stronger then man, and they shall be constrained in the end to give place. But if they so far forget their own brittleness, that like Giants they dare scale the heavens, then shall they prove by experience (it may be when it is too late) that they meddled with their match, and that they have contended with their Maker, who can easily dash his vessels in pieces one against another, yea and beat them to powder, as the potter doth the vessels which he hath formed.

Let the pot striue vvith the pots. That is to say, let euery one striue with his equall, as we vse to say in our common prouerb, Let the pot cleaue the pots of the earth. For in sending men to their like, he taxeth their boldnes and presumption, for not considering that in contending vvith God, ¹they sought nothing else but how to plunge themselues into their owne ruin. As if he should say, Doe yee know with whom yee haue to doe? Let them know that God will euer be stronger then man, and they shall be constrained in the end to giue place. But if they so farre forget their owne brittlenes, that like Giants they dare scale the heauens, then shall they proue by experience (it may be when it is too late) that they medled with their match, and that they haue contended with their Maker, who can easily dash his vessels in pieces one against another, yea and beate them to pouder, as the potter doth the vessels which he hath formed.

1. 1Proverb.P•ouerb.