Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 16. Come near unto me: hear you this: I have not spoken it in secret from the beginning: from the time that the thing was,^* I was there, and now the Lord God and his Spirit hath sent me.

Vers. 16. Come neere vnto me: heare you this: I haue not spoken it in secret from the beginning: from the time that the thing was,^* I was there, and now the Lord God and his Spirit hath sent me.

1. *Or, done.

¹HE directs his speech again to the Jews, and in commanding them to draw near, he meets them half way (as it were) gently to receive them, and yet he covertly taxeth their revolt, showing, that they were unfit to entertain wholesome doctrine, unless they departed from their errors. Surely it was a detestable fault in them to be so far separated from God, with whom they ought to have bin so nearly conjoined: but their separation consisted not so much in distance of place, as in the want of consent in affections: our approaching then consists in a readiness to hear, having subdued our own carnal reason. But this is a work of his own grace; for who will be ready to direct his heart unto God,² if himself draw him not?

¹HE directs his speech againe to the Iewes, and in commanding them to draw neere, he meetes them halfe way (as it were) gently to receiue them, and yet he couertlie taxeth their reuolt, shewing, that they were vnfit to entertaine wholesome doctrine, vnlesse they departed from their errors. Surely it was a detestable fault in them to be so farre separated from God, with whom they ought to haue bin so neerely conioined: but their separation cōsisted not so much in distance of place, as in the want of consent in affections: our approching then consists in a readines to heare, hauing subdued our owne carnall reason. But this is a worke of his owne grace; for who will be readie to direct his heart vnto God,