1HE confirms his former speech, namely, that the people did ill in accusing God of cruelty, and that they did not rather acknowledge that they received the just recompense of their sins, the heaps whereof reached up to the heavens. And in this sense it is that the Prophet saith, they were multiplied. Also this particle before thee, hath great weight: for the Prophet descends into himself, and acknowledgeth the just judgement of God, which was hidden from mens eyes. His meaning is then to note out a close opposition, which is between mens judgement & Gods, Men flatter themselves, and think not of their sins; but God who is the Judge, leaves not to condemn them for all that, neither cares he for all the vain and idle excuses, wherewith they would fain daub them over. And therefore he contents not himself simply to condemn this people; but he ads, that they had multiplied their iniquities: that is to say, they were guilty before God many ways. He acknowledgeth then that God is just, and executes the office of a good Judge, seeing among men there is not to be found so much as a drop or grain of justice or equity. And therefore it is he adds,2 that it was not needful to cite any witnesses, nor to bring them from the Court of heaven, because the Jews were sufficiently convinced and condemned by the testimony of their own consciences. This manner of speech therefore ought to be well observed; for it shows that God hath no great need of proofs, seeing our sins hold us sufficiently convicted. We have no reason then to contend with God, as if he punished us wrongfully, or as if he chastised us too severely: for our own iniquities testify plainly enough against us, what we are, neither hath God need to seek out for any other witnesses.
1HE confirmes his former speech, namely, that the people did ill in accusing God of cruelty, and that they did not rather acknowledge that they receiued the iust recompence of their sinnes, the heapes whereof reached vp to the heauens. And in this sense it is that the Prophet saith, they were multiplied. Also this particle before thee, hath great weight: for the Prophet descends into himselfe, and acknowledgeth the iust iudgement of God, which was hidden from mens eies. His meaning is then to note out a close opposition, which is betweene mens iudgement & Gods, Men flatter themselues, and thinke not of their sinnes; but God who is the Iudge, leaues not to condemne them for all that, neither cares hee for all the vaine and idle excuses, wherewith they would faine daube them ouer. And therefore he contents not himselfe simply to condemne this people; but he ads, that they had multiplied their iniquities: that is to say, they vvere guiltie before God many vvaies. He acknowledgeth then that God is iust, and executes the office of a good Iudge, seeing among men there is not to bee found so much as a droppe or graine of iustice or equitie. And therefore it is he addes,2 that it was not needfull to cite any vvitnesses, nor to bring them from the Court of heauen, because the Iewes were sufficiently conuinced and condemned by the testimonie of their owne consciences. This manner of speech therefore ought to be well obserued; for it shewes that God hath no great neede of proofes, seeing our sinnes hold vs sufficiently conuicted. We haue no reason then to contend with God, as if he punished vs wrongfully, or as if he chastised vs too seuerely: for our owne iniquities testifie plainly enough against vs, vvhat vvee are, neither hath God neede to seeke out for any other vvitnesses.
- 1A confirmation of the former sentence.
- 2Vers. 4.
