Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 7. Let the wicked forsake his ways, and the unrighteous his own imaginations, and return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him: and to our God, for he is^* very ready to forgive.

Vers. 7. Let the wicked forsake his waies, and the vnrighteous his owne imaginations, and returne vnto the Lord, and hee will haue mercie vpon him: and to our God, for he is^* very readie to forgiue.

1. *abundant in pardon.

¹HE confirms the former sentence: for having called men to receive Gods grace, he at large describes the way how to recover the same. We know how the hypocrites yell and cry with open mouth after God, when they would be succoured in their miseries, and in the mean while they harden their hearts through a wicked obstinacy. That the Jews then might not disguise themselves in seeking of God, Isaiah exhorts them to true piety. Whence we gather, that the doctrine of repentance ought perpetually to be joined with the promise of salvation:² for men can never taste Gods goodness, unless first of all they be displeased in themselves for their sins, and have both renounced the world, and themselves also. For no man will ever in good earnest desire to be reconciled unto God, nor to obtain remission of his sins, unless he be touched with a true and sound repentance.

¹HE confirmes the former sentence: for hauing called men to receiue Gods grace, he at large describes the way how to recouer the same. We know how the hypocrites yell and cry with open mouth after God, when they would bee succoured in their miseries, and in the meane while they harden their hearts through a wicked obstinacie. That the Iews then might not disguise themselues in seeking of God, Isaiah exhorts them to true pietie. Whence wee gather, that the doctrine of repentance ought perpetually to be ioined with the promise of saluation: