Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

TO correct this distrust, to the complaint he adds an exhortation full of sweet consolation.¹ For by a very fit similitude he shows what great care the Lord hath over his Church in comparing him to a mother, whose entire affection and care is so great towards her child, that the fathers love in comparison thereof is as nothing. He propounds it not then, you see, in the example of a father, which notwithstanding is often used: Deut. 32.6. 2. Cor. 6.18. but that he might the better express his singular love, he rather compares him to a mother: and he names not children only, but the fruit of the womb, to which usually the woman bears much greater affection. For the love that a mother bears towards the little one which she nourisheth and suckleth at her breast, is almost unutterable. Also what care doth she use, even to spend many nights together without sleep, by reason of the frowardness of the child! And to speak all in a word, she spares not to wast and consume her self daily, so as her love makes her clean forget her self. And this care we see is not only in the reasonable creatures, but in the unreasonable also: yea, even in wild beasts, who yet are gentle and loving in this behalf, howsoever otherwise they be of cruel and fierce natures.