Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

¹Having showed how much the estate of this people was perverted and corrupted, he therewithal teacheth that they are justly corrected thus severely, to the end they should take up no complaints, as if they were more hardly dealt withal then there was cause. He hath by piecemeal then deciphered out their open and known corruptions, that they might acknowledge how many ways they were guilty before God: and now he puts them in mind that it was no wonder if God carried a strait hand over such obstinate spirits, in handling them according to their deserts. Now he saith, that judgement was far off, in respect that they were the only miserable people in the world, and had not God their protector, as at other times. He takes judgement & justice for Gods particular care and safeguard over us, namely, when he expresseth so much by the effects. By Justice, he means Gods protection, by Judgement, the vengeance which he executes upon such as offer any violence against us. But here he affirms, that God hath no more care over his people, and that he hath with-held his aid and succour from them, because they were unworthy thereof. We are also to note this particle therefore, for thence it follows, that they were not to murmur against God, as if he kept no measure in his corrections, seeing they had so often abused his Majesty.

¹