Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

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 ⟨p. 603⟩contends for truth. For whereas some translate, No man judgeth himself in truth: it is a little too nice. Besides, in as much as this verb, To cry, is taken, to contend; the scope of the text seems here to run better, No man sets himself to maintain the right, with a loud voice freely to maintain and defend justice. In a word, to contend against the wicked. Unless we had rather refer this crying for justice, to the miserable, who were unjustly oppressed. As if he should say, These poor wretches held their peace, because they gained nothing by their cries. But this sense would be somewhat too harsh. Well, if such as are careless in defending of mans right; and such as relieve not the afflicted are thus rigorously condemned by the Lord: what shall become of us,¹ if our zeal in maintaining the glory of God, provokes us not to cry without ceasing against iniquities? if we wink at the scoffs wherewith the wicked deride the doctrine of salvation, and profane the name of our God: or if we set light by the plots wherewith they go about to overthrow the Church, shall not our silence deserve to be condemned of disloyalty §1and high treason? (I trow yes.) To be short, Isaiah's meaning is, that all good order falls to ruin by our fault, if we resist not the wicked §2as much as in us lies. Secondly, that there is an extreme confusion, when no man stirs his foot to uphold justice.

Some take the verb N•shpat in the passiue signification, and thinke the Prophets meaning is, That none is iudged iustly. For the whole State is ful of corruptions, and yet no man opposeth himselfe against them. But the actiue signification agrees better, in respect of the answering of these two points one to another, No man calles for iustice: No man ⟨p. 603⟩