A17640:344
Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah
A commentary upon the prophecy of Isaiah. By Mr. John Calvin. Whereunto are added four tables ... Translated out of French into English: by C.C.A commentary vpon the prophecie of Isaiah. By Mr. Iohn Caluin. Whereunto are added foure tables ... Translated out of French into English: by C.C.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston, 1609
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Vers. 13. The Lord standeth up to plead, yea, he standeth to judge the people. 14. The Lord shall enter into judgement with the ancient of his people, and the Princes thereof: for ye have* eaten up the vineyard? the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
Vers. 13. The Lord standeth vp to plead, yea, he standeth to iudge the people. 14. The Lord shall enter into iudgement with the auncient of his people, and the Princes thereof: for ye haue* eaten vp the vineyard? the spoile of the poore is in your houses.
- *Or, consumed.
Whilst impiety runs over the country with the reins in her neck, and that the Lord sends no succour from above, we either think that he is idle, or that he hath forgotten his charge. Therefore after he hath complained of the princes which did not their office, he adds now that the Lord will do his; and that he will not suffer such wicked ones to go unpunished. For there cannot be a greater offence, nor a thing that troubles our minds more, then when Magistrates in the open sight of all the people shall show all manner of lewd examples, and yet none must dare once to open his mouth: nay by your leave they must be soothed and flattered. Then we begin to ask where is the Lord become? from whom (by this over great licentiousness) the chiefest thing wherein his glory ought to shine, to wit, in good government, is taken away. Isaiah meets with this difficulty. As if he should say, Albeit I confess indeed that the common people are bad enough; yet because the Princes themselves are corrupt in the highest degree, yea so far as by their evil examples to defile the whole body of the common wealth; know ye, that God is gone up into his heavenly throne, as a just Judge, who at the last will call them to account, and will give every one of them according to their works. And yet he exempts not the common people as if they were faultless; but to the end we might know the fountain whence all the evils proceeded, he chiefly applies himself to the Governors in particular, and threatens them with that punishment which they had deserved. He had set up a judgement seat for God before; from whence he should plead: now he tells them again that he shall come: but how? with the ancients. Now although it were not greatly from the purpose, that the Prophet should allude to those lawful assemblies, where