Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 9. For this is unto me as the waters of Noah: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I will not be angry with thee, nor rebuke thee.

Vers. 9. For this is vnto mee as the waters of Noah: for as I haue sworne that the waters of Noah should no more goe ouer the earth, so haue I sworne that I will not bee angry with thee, nor rebuke thee.

¹This may be read two ways: first as we have translated, This is to me as the days of Noah: but the matter is not great. The principal therefore is to have an eye to the Prophets meaning: for the expositors have but roved a far off at it, as I think. They expound in general terms; that the Lord by oath promised Noah, there should never be any deluge again, and that this oath should remain for ever: for without this, the good man might have trembled and feared death at the next shower of rain that had fallen, but that the Lord had sworn to him is should never come to pass. And thus, when afflictions are at hand, we may justly fear to be overwhelmed by them, unless the Lord had promised that his Church should be preserved in safety. But as I think, this should be restrained to the captivity of Babylon: for he compares this captivity to the deluge, which then deformed the face of the whole earth; so as the Church seemed to be utterly wasted, the people were all in a manner carried away, and transformed into a strange nation, the kingdom and government were overthrown, their bondage was extreme, and no man would have imagined but that their memory and name had been wholly blotted out. And questionless that which our Prophet said in the first Chapter, came to pass, namely, that if the Lord had not left a small remnant, they should have been like to Sodom and Gomorrah.

¹THis may bee read two waies: first as wee haue translated, This is to me as the daies of Noah: but the matter is not great. The principall therefore is to haue an eye to the Prophets meaning: for the expositors haue but roued a farre off at it, as I thinke. They expound in generall termes; that the Lord by oth promised Noah, there should neuer be any deluge againe, and that this oath should remaine for euer: for without this, the good man might haue trembled and feared death at the next shower of raine that had fallen, but that the Lord had sworne to him is should neuer come to passe. And thus, when afflictions are at hand, wee may iustly feare to be ouerwhelmed by them, vnlesse the Lord had promised that his Church should bee preserued in safetie. But as I thinke, this should be restrained to the captiuitie of Babylon: for hee compares this captiuitie to the deluge, which then deformed the face of the whole earth; so as the Church seemed to be vtterly wasted, the people were all in a maner carried away, and transformed into a strange nation, the kingdome and gouernment were ouerthrowne, their bondage was extreame, and no man would haue imagined but that their memorie and name had been wholly blotted out. And questionlesse that which our Prophet said in the first Chapter, came to passe, namely, that if the Lord had not left a small remnant, they should haue been like to Sodome and Gomorah.