Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

IT may be the Prophet renders a reason here why the people having provoked the holy one of Israel to anger, hath not only pulled upon themselves a sea of evils, but are also worthily cut off by their own obstinacy from all hope of pardon and salvation. But I rather think the Lord proceeds yet further.¹ For having showed that he had good cause given him to reject this people, who willingly chose rather to live a servile life then to be free, he adds, that it is none of his fault that they were not forthwith delivered. And as in the former verse he showed that the fault wholly rested in the Jews, so here he proves that their own malice was the cause why they grew old and putrefied in their miseries, for there wanted neither will nor power in the Lord to have holpen them if they had not stubbornly refused his grace and liberality. To shut it up in a word, Isaiah shows that both their entrance, and continuance in this calamity came only from their own fault, that he might free God from blame: and signifies, that the Jews did wickedly when they accused him to be the author of their miseries; or in complaining, that he came not soon enough to their succour.

IT may be the Prophet renders a reason heere why the people hauing prouoked the holy one of Israel to anger, hath not only pulled vpon themselues a sea of euils, but are also worthely cut off by their owne obstinacie from all hope of pardon and saluation. But I rather thinke the Lord proceeds yet further.¹ For hauing shewed that he had good cause giuen him to reiect this people, who willinglie choosed rather to liue a seruile life then to be free, he addes, that it is none of his fault that they were not forthwith deliuered. And as in the former verse he shewed that the fault whollie rested in the Iewes, so heere he proues that their owne malice was the cause why they grew old and putrified in their miseries, for there wanted neither will nor power in the Lord to haue holpen them if they had not stubbornly refused his grace and liberalitie. To shut it vp in a word, Isaiah shews that both their entrance, and continuance in this calamitie came only from their owne fault, that he might free God from blame: and signifies, that the Iewes did wickedlie when they accused him to be the author of their miseries; or in complaining, that he came not soone enough to their succor.