Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 14. Therefore judgement is turned backward, and justice standeth a far off: for truth is fallen in the^* street, and equity cannot enter.

Vers. 14. Therefore iudgement is turned backward, and iustice standeth a far off: for truth is fallen in the^* street, and equitie cannot enter.

1. *Or, place.

Those are deceived who think he returns to his first speech, in vers. 9,¹ as if he now spake of the punishments which the people had felt from Gods hand. For he still prosecutes his former discourse; and discovers the corrupt diseases of the people: to testify unto all that they were justly punished. But this verse we must thus distinguish from the ninth, where he said, That judgement was gone far off. For in that place he pronounced that the Jews were deprived of Gods help, in regard they had made themselves unworthy that he should be any longer a defender of their cause. But here he saith that judgement was turned backward; because they had overturned all justice and equity amongst themselves. They received then a recompense according to their deserts, when Gods justice stood a far off, and appeared not for their help; seeing they had banished judgement and justice far away from them. For we do but lose our time, to expect that from God, which we have denied unto others, and have cast behind our backs.

THose are deceiued who thinke he returns to his first speech, in vers. 9,¹ as if he now spake of the punishments which the people had felt from Gods hand. For he still prosecutes his former discourse; and discouers the corrupt diseases of the people: to testifie vnto all that they were iustly punished. But this verse we must thus distinguish frō the ninth, where he said, That iudgement vvas gone farre off. For in that place hee pronounced that the Iewes were depriued of Gods helpe, in regard they had made themselues vnworthie that hee should be any longer a defender of their cause. But here he saith that iudgement vvas turned backward; because they had ouerturned all iustice and equitie amongst themselues. They receiued then a recompence according to their deserts, when Gods iustice stood a farre off, and appeared not for their helpe; seeing they had banisht iudgement and iustice farre away from them. For we doe but lose our time, to expect that from God, which wee haue denied vnto others, and haue cast behind our backes.