Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

HE now exhorts the people to be always ready to depart, ¹and yet in the mean while patiently to endure their misery: for as the over-great haste of the people to be loosed deserved to be repressed, so their drowsiness was to be quickened, in respect that before their deliverance every ones desire was wonderfully kindled to return; but when the time was expired, their long expectation had abated their heat, and had deprived them not only of all hope, but of all will or desire to return, so as the number of those that came back again into Judea was very small. They were mingled amongst the Babylonians, who had so enticed and corrupted them, that they made little or no reckoning at all of their country. It was very needful therefore that they should be awakened and quickened up to be of good courage in this their long attendance, and that they should not suffer themselves to be stained with the filthinesses of the Babylonians.

HE now exhorts the people to be alwaies readie to depart, ¹and yet in the meane while patientlie to indure their miserie: for as the ouer-great haste of the people to be loosed deserued to be repressed, so their drousines was to be quickned, in respect that before their deliuerance euery ones desire was wonderfullie kindled to returne; but whē the time was expired, their long expectation had abated their heate, and had depriued them not only of all hope, but of all will or desire to returne, so as the number of those that came back againe into Iudea was very small. They were mingled amongst the Babylonians, who had so entised and corrupted them, that they made little or no reckning at all of their countrie. It was very needfull therefore that they should be awakened and quickned vp to be of good courage in this their long attendance, and that they should not suffer themselues to be stained with the filthinesses of the Babylonians.