Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 7. Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law. Fear not ye the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their rebukes.

Vers. 7. Hearken vnto me, yee that know righteousnes, the people in whose heart is my law. Feare not ye the reproch of men, neither be ye afraid of their rebukes.

¹Because the wicked having all things at their wish, deride and scorn our hopes, and make themselves sport with our miseries & calamities, the Prophet exhorts the faithful to suffer with patience, and not to fear their rebukes; neither to be discouraged for their outrages, because the felicity which they enjoy,² shall be but of short continuance. For notwithstanding their merriments stuffed so full of derisions and proud disdainings, they are already ordained to be meat for moths and worms: as on the contrary, that God holds the salvation of the faithful (which for a time he seems to neglect) safe in his own hand. But we are again to note the repetition of this verb, To hearken, ³for this is the third time the Lord hath required audience in this Chapter: for when we be in perplexities, and tremble in regard of our miseries, we have much ado to apprehend or embrace the promises. There is great need then that we should often be roused and wakened up to attention, until we have wound our selves out of all entanglings.

¹BEcause the wicked hauing all things at their wish, deride and scorne our hopes, and make themselues sport with our miseries & calamities, the Prophet exhorts the faithfull to suffer with patience, and not to feare their rebukes; neither to be discouraged for their outrages, because the felicitie which they inioy,²