Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

¹BY another similitude he sets forth this inestimable care that God hath over us. We use to say in our common proverb, That one hath that upon his fingers ends, which is seriously imprinted in his memory. And when Moses commands a daily meditation in Gods law, he saith, Thou shalt bind them upon thine hands. Deuter. 6.8. that so they might always have Gods commandments before their eyes. Here our Prophet useth the same similitude, as if he should say, I can no sooner look upon my hands, but I behold thee there: I bear thee so engraven upon my heart, that nothing is able to blot out the remembrance of thee: In a word, I can not forget thee, but I should also forget my self. True it is that GOD hath neither hands, nor any bodily shape: but thus it pleaseth the holy Ghost to stoop down to our slender and weak capacities, that he might the better set forth the infinite love which he bears us. And because the Church is in many places called the Temple, or City of God (whence also comes that similitude of building so much frequented in the scriptures, Psal. 102.16. Jer. 24.6. Math. 16.18.) therefore the Prophet brings in the similitude of walls: by which he notes out the quiet and peaceable estate of the Church: as if he should say, I will always see that Jerusalem shall flourish, and be in good plight. Whence also we observe, that here is set forth unto us a right order of government and discipline,