Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 9. This is in mine ears saith the Lord of hosts:^* surely many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair without inhabitant.

Vers. 9. This is in mine eares saith the Lord of hostes:^* surely many houses shall be desolate, euen great and faire without inhabitant.

1. *Or, if there be not many, &c.

Something must be here supplied; for his meaning is that the Lord is set down as the Judge, having the knowledge of all these things. When the covetous rap and scrape their riches together, they are blinded by their lust, and think not that they must one day be called to an account. True it is that men are never so besotted, but they attribute some kind of judgement to God; but they flatter themselves in such wise, as that they think surely God regardeth not. So they acknowledge a judgement of God in general, but when it comes to the particular, there they lay the reins in the neck, and suppose they should not be kept so short. Also in this particle, if there be not, we see a form and manner of oath often used in the scripture. For to the end he might the more astonish them, he speaks doubtfully as it were by sentence broken off in the mid way. He might have expressed this threatening by a full sentence; but being imperfect, it holds the hearer more in suspense, and so it brings the greater fear with it. Moreover, by this manner of oath (half pronounced as we say) the Lord would teach us to accustom our selves to modesty, to the end we take not liberty in using execrations.

SOmething must be heere supplied; for his meaning is that the Lord is set downe as the Iudge, hauing the knowledge of all these things. When the couetous rappe and scrape their riches together, they are blinded by their lust, and thinke not that they must one day be called to an account. True it is that men are neuer so besotted, but they attribute some kinde of iudgement to God; but they flatter themselues in such wise, as that they thinke surely God regardeth not. So they acknowledge a iudgement of God in generall, but when it comes to the perticular, there they lay the raines in the neck, and suppose they should not be kept so short. Also in this particle, if there be not, wee see a forme and maner of oath often vsed in the scripture. For to the end he might the more astonish them, hee speakes doubtfully as it were by sentence broken off in the mid way. He might haue expressed this threatning by a full sentence; but being imperfect, it holds the hearer more in suspence, and so it brings the greater feare with it. Moreouer, by this maner of oath (halfe pronounced as we say) the Lord would teach vs to accustome our selues to modestie, to the end we take not libertie in vsing execrations.