Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

HE shows the manner of the excellency; or the formal cause, as they say, of this exaltation, whereof he spake before: and it is as much as if he had said, That the Lord of hosts (whom the wicked do proudly tread under foot) shall be exalted, when he shall show himself the judge of the world. And thus he scorns the sottish confidence, wherewith the wicked were swollen. For if judgement and justice must have the upper hand; there ruin must needs follow: seeing their pride was nothing else but an overturning of the whole course of nature. Now we must diligently note, that it is no more possible for the wicked to remain always in an happy estate, then that God should suffer his glory to be abolished. Although judgement and justice do differ in nothing one from the other, yet the repetition is not superfluous. The vehemency also of the speech is further enlarged, when he adds in the second member, and the holy God shall be sanctified, to the end the wicked should not through a false imagination promise a lasting felicity by force, or without cause; which they cannot do, but that the holiness of God shall thereby be abolished. But seeing God is holy of his own nature, it must needs be that he must be sanctified. Whence it follows that ⟨p. 57⟩ruin is prepared for the wicked, that so their obstinacy and rebellion may be brought under, because God can not deny himself.

HE shewes the manner of the excellencie; or the formall cause, as they say, of this exaltation, whereof he spake before: and it is as much as if he had said, That the Lord of hosts (whom the wicked doe proudly treade vnder foote) shall be exalted, when he shall shew himselfe the iudge of the world. And thus hee scornes the sottish confidence, wherewith the wicked were swollen. For if iudgement and iustice must haue the vpper hand; there ruine must needes follow: seeing their pride was nothing else but an ouerturning of the whole course of nature. Now we must diligently note, that it is no more possible for the wicked to remaine alwaies in an happie estate, then that God should suffer his glorie to be abolished. Although iudgement and iustice doe differ in nothing one from the other, yet the repetition is not superfluous. The vehemencie also of the speech is further enlarged, when hee addes in the second member, and the holy God shall be sanctified, to the ende the wicked should not through a false imagination promise a lasting felicitie by force, or without cause; which they cannot doe, but that the holines of God shall thereby be abolished. But seeing God is holy of his owne nature, it must needs be that he must be sanctified. Whence it followes that