Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

The Prophet meant to say,¹ that there was no regard of equity or uprightness among them: That no man opposed himself against the injuries, which the great ones practised against the weak. And, that all licentiousness grew and increased, because all looked through their fingers thereat, and no man did set his heart to maintain justice. Now it is not enough that we only abstain from violence our selves, unless as much as possibly we can, we therewithal endeavour to hinder men from doing the same to others. Truly, who ever he be that permits that which he may hinder; the same may be said in a sort to command it. For silence is a kind of consent. And to this appertains the second member.

THe Prophet meant to say,¹ that there was no regard of equitie or vprightnes among thē: That no man opposed himselfe against the iniuries, which the great ones practised against the weake. And, that all licentiousnesse grevv and increased, because all looked through their fingers thereat, and no man did set his heart to maintaine iustice. Now it is not enough that we only abstaine from violence our selues, vnlesse as much as possiblie we can, we therewithall endeuour to hinder men from doing the same to others. Truely, who euer he bee that permits that which he may hinder; the same may be said in a sort to command it. For silence is a kind of consent. And to this appartaines the second member.

1. 1It is not enough that we abstain from offering violence, unless we hinder it in others.It is not enough that we abstaine from offering violence, vnlesse we hinder it in others.

Some take the verb N•shpat in the passive signification, and think the Prophets meaning is, That none is judged justly. For the whole State is full of corruptions, and yet no man opposeth himself against them. But the active signification agrees better, in respect of the answering of these two points one to another, No man calls for justice: No man