Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 1. The righteous perisheth, and no man considereth in heart: and merciful men are taken away; and no man understandeth that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.

Vers. 1. The righteous perisheth, and no man considereth in heart: and mercifull men are taken away; and no man vnderstandeth that the righteous is taken away from the euill to come.

¹Isaiah prosecutes his argument still. For having showed how securely hypocrites repose themselves in their pleasures, and with what impudency they despise Gods word; he further complains, that they consider not the works of the Lord: for we are placed in this world, as upon a spacious Theatre, to behold the acts of our God. Neither is there any of his works, how mean soever they appear in our eyes, that we should lightly esteem; but ought rather diligently and attentively to observe and consider them. Now among other testimonies of his providence, the Lord sets before us the death of the faithful, and of approved men whom he takes out of this world, when he is purposed severely to chastise and correct his people. But no man lays it to heart, neither imagines that such matters should be forerunners of imminent destruction, namely, that the good are gathered to God, and laid up in safety, that they may not be wrapped up with others, in so many common miseries. The sum is, that the wicked greatly deceive themselves, in thinking that the prolonging of their lives, should be the only happiness that can befall them: and that for this cause they should take themselves to be in better case then the faithful, who die sooner then they. For as they are glued to the world, so under this pretence, do they harden their own hearts, that (as they suppose) God favours them exceedingly, in suffering them to be safe and sound, whilst others die.

¹ISaiah prosecutes his argument still. For hauing shewed how securely hypocrits repose themselues in their pleasures, and with what impudencie they despise Gods word; he further complaines, that they consider not the workes of the Lord: for we are placed in this world, as vpon a spacious Theatre, to behold the acts of our God. Neither is there any of his works, how meane soeuer they appeare in our eies, that we should lightly esteeme; but ought rather diligently and attentiuely to obserue and consider them. Now among other testimonies of his prouidence, the Lord sets before vs the death of the faithfull, and of approued men whom hee takes out of this vvorld, when he is purposed seuerely to chastise and correct his people. But no man laies it to heart, neither imagines that such matters should be forerunners of imminent destruction, namely, that the good are gathered to God, and laid vp in safetie, that they may not be wrapped vp with others, in so many common miseries. The summe is, that the wicked greatly deceiue themselues, in thinking that the prolonging of their liues, should bee the onely happinesse that can befall them: and that for this cause they should take themselues to be in better case then the faithfull, who die sooner then they. For as they are glued to the world, so vnder this pretence, doe they harden their owne hearts, that (as they suppose) God fauours them exceedingly, in suffering them to bee safe and sound, whilest others die.