Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

In adding afterwards every one: he descends ⟨p. 555⟩from the general in which he comprehended all, ¹to the particular: to teach every one apart, whether it be not so indeed: for a sentence generally propounded, moves us not so much, as when every man considers that it belongs to him in special. Let every one then awaken up his own conscience, and let him present himself before the judgement seat of God, confessing his misery.

In adding afterwards euery one: he descends ⟨p. 555⟩from the generall in which hee comprehended all, ¹to the particular: to teach euery one apart, whether it be not so indeede: for a sentence generally propounded, moues vs not so much, as when euery man considers that it belongs to him in speciall. Let euery one then awaken vp his owne conscience, and let him present himselfe before the iudgement seate of God, confessing his misery.

1. 1The Prophet descends from the general, to every one in particular.The Prophet descends frō the generall, to euery one in particular.

In the next place the Prophet shows wherein this staying consists, namely, that every one hath followed his own way: that is to say, hath lived after his own pleasure. And thus he shows that there is but one way to walk in; out of which, if any one turns, he can do nothing but wander and lose himself. Neither speaks he of works only, but of our very nature, which causeth us all to go astray. For if we could recover the right way again, and deliver our selves from error, either by the instinct of nature, or by our own wit, Christ had died in vain. We are all lost then till Christ hath delivered us: and the more we shall rely upon our own wisdom or industry, the more shall we draw perdition down upon our own heads.