Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

HE here inveighs more sharply against these Astrologians,¹ who aggravated Babels pride by their vain brags: for such deceivers are wont to bereave men of all fear of God, by attributing all things to the disposition of the stars, so as they leave nothing to Gods providence. See from whence the contempt of God and of all his threatenings springs,² namely, from not attributing the punishments which he sends to his hand, but to destiny, and to a meeting of second causes, which wizards fondly imagine in their own brain. This is the reason why he takes up the Chaldeans in such a rigorous sort, resembling them unto stubble set on fire, which is consumed in an instant; for he compares them not to wood with which one may make a fire of some continuance to warm himself by, but to stubble, or hemp-stalks, to show, that there is nothing of so short continuance as such kind of men.

HE heere inueyes more sharply against these Astrologians,¹ who aggrauated Babels pride by their vaine brags: for such deceiuers are wont to bereaue men of all feare of God, by attributing all things to the disposition of the starres, so as they leaue nothing to Gods prouidence. See from whence the contempt of God and of all his threatnings springs,