Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 12. Children are extortioners of my people: and women have rule over them: O my people, they that lead thee, cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

Vers. 12. Children are extortioners of my people: and women haue rule ouer them: O my people, they that leade thee, cause thee to erre, and destroy the way of thy pathes.

The Prophet also reproves the folly and blockishness of this people who were stark blind, even at noon day. There is nothing which men bear more impatiently, then to endure the yoke to be laid upon their shoulders: neither do they very readily submit themselves to the government of any that have more power then themselves. We must needs say that such as obey delicate and effeminate persons, and suffer that such folk should oppress them, are become sottish, impotent, and faint hearted. Neither is it to be doubted also, but those who thus willingly did offer their shoulders like Asses to bear the burden, were smitten from heaven with a spirit of amazedness. I grant that those who are courageous ought to bear the rule of a tyrant: but Isaiah reproveth the Jews, who for that they had obstinately shaken off the sweet yoke of God, were now ready to yield themselves under villainous and base subjection, & that with most servile conditions. They could not complain that they were constrained to it by force, seeing they obeyed them freely; to whom notwithstanding they needed not to have been subject unless they would. Whereby it appears that they were stricken with the hand of God, and daunted with fear, so as they had neither strength nor wit left in them.

THe Prophet also reprooues the follie and blockishnesse of this people who were starke blind, euen at noone day. There is nothing which men beare more impatiently, then to endure the yoke to be laid vpon their shoulders: neither do they verie readilie submit themselues to the gouernment of any that haue more power then themselues. We must needes say that such as obey delicate and effeminate persons, and suffer that such folke should oppresse them, are become sottish, impotent, and faint hearted. Neither is it to be doubted also, but those who thus willingly did offer their shoulders like Asses to beare the burthen, were smitten from heauen with a spirit of amazednes. I graunt that those who are couragious ought to beare the rule of a tyrant: but Isaiah reprooueth the Iewes, who for that they had obstinately shaken off the sweete yoke of God, were now readie to yeeld themselues vnder vilanous and base subiection, & that with most seruile conditions. They could not complaine that they were constrained to it by force, seeing they obeyed them freely; to whome notwithstanding they needed not to haue beene subiect vnlesse they would. Whereby it appeares that they were stricken with the hand of God, and daunted with feare, so as they had neither strength nor wit left in them.