Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 18. I have seen his ways and will heal him: I will lead him also and restore comfort unto him, and to those that lament him.

Vers. 18. I haue seene his waies and will heale him: I will leade him also and restore comfort vnto him, and to those that lament him.

The Lord here on the contrary magnifies his mercy,¹ in regard that he is favourable to this so obstinate and rebellious a people, and in preventing them of his mere bounty and compassion. As if he should say, I have endeavoured to bring them to repentance by my rods and chastisements, even whilst they pursued their lusts: but they have showed themselves obstinate and incorrigible, so as I have spent all my labour in vain. I might therefore (if I would) justly destroy them, yet had I rather heal and save them. But this can not be effected unless I manifest my great and infinite mercy. Well, I will therefore withdraw my corrections. You see then that our Prophet by degrees amplifies and sets forth Gods mercy, whom he brings in as a careful Physician, be thinking himself of the aptest and fittest medicines to cure this peoples maladies. But they are incurable, unless the Lord prevent us for his own mercy and truths sake. Let his rods be never so sharp and biting, yet can they not draw us to repentance, unless the Lord work it in us by his holy Spirit. Alas! without it we are in danger to grow the more obstinate and hard hearted.² In this people therefore we may behold the image of mans corrupted nature, therein the better to take knowledge of our own obstinacy and rebellion against God; as also what remedies are the meetest to heal our spiritual sicknesses: so as being sick, nay half dead, yet we may recover health, and be brought into the right way, and therein remain.

THe Lord here on the contrarie magnifies his mercie,¹