Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 12. And the harp and the viol, timbrel and pipe, and wine are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the work of his hands.

Vers. 12. And the harp and the violl, timbrill and pipe, and wine are in their feasts: but they regard not the worke of the Lord, neither consider the worke of his hands.

HE adds Instruments with voluptuousness, by which, men given to gourmandise, provoked their appetite. It may be these Instruments were differing from ours, yet notwithstanding they appertained to Music, which Isaiah condemns not; for it is an art in no wise to be contemned;¹ but he painteth forth a people overflowing in all sorts of superfluity, and who gave themselves liberty to take all their delights: which sufficiently appears by that which follows, But they regard not. As if he should say, they so wallowed themselves in their delights, and were so given to their pleasures, that it seemed they were begotten and brought up in them; never thinking wherefore God gave them things convenient. For men were not sent into the world to eat and drink,² & to plunge themselves in dissolutions; but to obey God, and to serve him in reverence, to acknowledge his benefits, and to study how to please him in all things; but when they overflow in excess, dancing and singing, without any other drift then to pass their life in jollity, they are worse then brute beasts; for they consider not to what end God created them, neither how he governs the world by his providence, unto which mark all that we do in our life ought to tend.

HE addes Instruments with voluptuousnes, by which, men giuen to gurmandise, prouoked their apppetit. It may be these Instruments were differing from ours, yet notwithstanding they appertained to Musick, which Isaiah condemnes not; for it is an arte in no wise to be contemned;¹