Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

The other sense is, that God resembles us nothing at all. For we tremble in adversity, because we measure him according to our own capacity: and thus we mutter, How can the Lord help us, seeing we are overwhelmed with troubles? Moreover, the afflicted are for the most part despised and neglected. And thus we think that God is careless of us, because we conceive of him according to the reach of our carnal reason. But it is our parts to judge far otherwise of him, and therefore the Prophet saith, that he dwel• in the heavens, to signify, that he is not subject to humane affections: for he is always like himself, and never changeth his counsel. As he therefore hath once promised to restore the people to their former liberty, so will he assuredly perform it.

The other sense is, that God resembles vs nothing at all. For we tremble in aduersitie, because we measure him according to our owne capacitie: and thus we mutter, How can the Lord help vs, seeing vve are ouerwhelmed with troubles? Moreouer, the afflicted are for the most part despised and neglected. And thus we thinke that God is carelesse of vs, because we conceiue of him according to the reach of our carnall reason. But it is our parts to iudge farre otherwise of him, and therfore the Prophet saith, that he dwel• in the heauens, to signifie, that he is not subiect to humane affections: for he is alwaies like himselfe, and neuer changeth his counsell. As he therefore hath once promised to restore the people to their former libertie, so will he assuredlie performe it.

This exposition I approve of, and yet rather accept of the first, which is more ample and copious, and also agrees with other testimonies of the holy Scriptures, where these two things are often conjoined, namely, That God dwells in heaven, and yet hath respect to things below: but especially of his children, as I said erewhile.

This exposition I approue of, and yet rather accept of the first, which is more ample and copious, and also agrees with other testimonies of the holy Scriptures, where these two things are often conioined, namely, That God dwels in heauen, and yet hath respect to things below: but especiallie of his children, as I said erewhile.