Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

HE opposeth this as a contrary member to the former: from whence it is easy to gather the Prophets meaning: to wit, that his purpose was to comfort the good, and to terrify the wicked by setting forth the righteous judgement of God. For when any great calamity falls out, by which all are alike afflicted hand over head, we begin to call it into question whether the world be guided by the providence of God or no, or rather by the turning of the wheel of blind fortune. Thus the faithful fear to be wrapped up in the same ruin with the wicked. Others again think that it is all one whether a man be godly or wicked, seeing aswell the one as the other are alike afflicted with pestilence, war, famine, and other such corrections. And so from thence, this perverse imagination entereth in the mind of man, that there is no difference between the reward of the godly, and the ungodly. Amongst such an heap of dark cogitations, many by the temptation of the flesh, are solicited to despair. The Prophet therefore shows the upright judgement of God; to the end they might persevere in his fear; and might also know, that those shall not escape unpunished, who persuade themselves that he will not correct them, though they provoke him daily to wrath and indignation.

HE opposeth this as a contrarie member to the former: from whence it is easie to gather the Prophets meaning: to wit, that his purpose was to comfort the good, and to terrifie the wicked by setting forth the righteous iudgement of God. For when any great calamitie falles out, by which all are alike afflicted hand ouer head, we begin to call it into question whether the world be guided by the prouidence of God or no, or rather by the turning of the wheele of blind fortūe. Thus the faithfull feare to be wrapped vp in the same ruine with ye wicked. Others againe think that it is all one whether a man bee godly or wicked, seeing aswell the one as the other are alike afflicted with pestilence, warre, famine, and other such corrections. And so from thence, this peruerse imagination entreth in the minde of man, that there is no difference betweene the reward of the godly, and the vngodly. Amongst such an heape of darke cogitations, many by the temptation of the flesh, are solicited to despaire. The Prophet therefore shewes the vpright iudgement of God; to the end they might perseuere in his feare; and might also know, that those shal not escape vnpunished, who perswade themselues that he will not correct them, though they prouoke him daylie to wrath and indignation.