Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

¹HE here reckons up some particular kinds of sins, that he might with the greater vehemency provoke the people to acknowledge their sins. Now truly it is monstrous that those which were chastised, and in a manner shattered to pieces by the hand of God, should yet stand to set up the crest, and that their neck should be of such an iron sinew, as that they could neither be bowed nor humbled by the feeling of their misdoings. For the Lord labours to soften our hard hearts by his rods and stripes. But when chastisements profit us nothing, we may then be said to be grown past recovery. Isaiah insists long upon this point, namely, to show how woeful the state of this people was, who albeit they were almost ground to powder, yet did they still grudge against God, and could not endure to be brought under subjection. He therefore often repeats this admonition, and stands the more vehemently upon it, that he might tame the rebellion of this people.

¹HE heere reckons vp some particular kinds of sinnes, that he might with the greater vehemencie prouoke the people to acknowledge their sinnes. Now truly it is monstrous that those which were chastised, and in a maner shattered to peeces by the hand of God, should yet stand to set vp the crest, and that their necke should bee of such an yron sinew, as that they could neither bee bowed nor humbled by the feeling of their misdoings. For the Lord labours to soften our hard hearts by his roddes and stripes. But when chastisements profit vs nothing, wee may then be said to bee growne past recouerie. Jsaiah insists long vpon this point, namely, to shew how woful ye state of this people was, who albeit they were almost ground to powder, yet did they stil grudge against God, and could not endure to be brought vnder subiection. He therefore often repeates this admonition, and stands the more vehemently vpon it, that he might tame the rebellion of this people.