Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

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 ⟨p. 42⟩the ancients are set with God, as being his lieutenants: yet notwithstanding I agree to the most received opinion: to wit, that God will even plead against the Ancients of his people. This place then answers to that of David; God sits in the assembly of gods: Psal. 82.2. In a word, his meaning is to say, Although the Princes have liberty now to do what they will without punishment, and that no man dares reprove their disordered appetites;

WHilest impiety runnes ouer the countrie with the raines in her neck, and that the Lord sends no succour from aboue, 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, hee addes now that the Lord will do his; and that he will not suffer such wicked ones to goe vnpunished. For there cannot be a greater offence, nor a thing that troubles our mindes more, then when Magistrates in the open sight of all the people shall shew all manner of leude examples, and yet none must dare once to open his mouth: nay by your leaue they must be soothed and flattered. Then we beginne to aske where is the Lord become? from whom (by this ouer great licentiousnes) the chiefest thing wherein his glorie ought to shine, to wit, in good gouernment, is taken away. Isaiah meetes with this difficultie. As if he should say, Albeit I confesse indeed that the common people are bad inough; yet because ye Princes themselues are corrupt in the highest degree, yea so farre as by their euill examples to defile the whole bodie of the cōmon wealth; know ye, that God is gone vp into his heauenly throne, as a iust Iudge, who at the last wil cal them to account, and will giue euery one of them according to their workes. And yet he exempts not the common people as if they were faultlesse; but to ye end we might know the fountaine whēce all the euils proceeded, he chieflie applies himselfe to ye Gouernours in particular, and threatens them with that punishment which they had deserued. Hee had set vp a iudgement seate for God before; from whence he should pleade: now he tels them againe that he shall come: but how? with the auncients. Now although it were not greatly from the purpose, that the Prophet shuld allude to those lawful assemblies, where