Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Now he appoints even those to be Judges of his cause, with whom he pleads: as men are wont to do in things so plain and apparent, that the adverse party can have no evasion. It is a sign then that God hath gotten the better end of the staff, when he permits those who are guilty, to show whether the matter be so or no. Now he first demands, What could be more desired of a husbandman or good householder then that which he did to his Vine. From thence he concludes, that they are utterly without excuse, in that he should be so wickedly defrauded of the fruits of his labours: although it seems in the second member, that he complains in himself that he waited for any pleasing or desirable fruit of so wicked a people. As it will often come to pass that we shall complain by our selves, when the event of a thing doth not answer our hope: and we are sorry to have bestowed our labour and cost upon so unthankful persons, whose perversity should rather have kept back such benefits from them. And we will confess that we were indeed justly deceived, because we were too easy and light of belief. Yet notwithstanding, this sense will be more plain; to wit, seeing I have fully discharged my duty, and have done above all that could have been expected in husbanding my Vine, whence comes it that it yields me so evil recompense? and that in stead of the fruit which I looked for, it only brings forth bitter fruit?