Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

That it might not seem he hath cried out so oft without cause, he shows again how great and horrible punishment is near to this people, and denounceth an extreme ruin against the obstinate, because they would not be brought into the way, but obstinately resisted against the heavenly doctrine: now he useth such figures as were fit to express his meaning and also such as touched them nearer to the quick, then if he had spoken plainly without them. He begins with a similitude, and forthwith ends with a metaphor, in attributing a root and bud to the people, as to a tree: for by these two words he comprehends whatsoever force was in the people; were it open, or hid: and saith, that all of it should perish. For even as when the root which gives strength unto the tree and sustaineth it begins once to rot, then the tree decayeth: so he threatens destruction to this people, and tells them that all their strength is wasted and consumed. But he shows not now, as heretofore, the particular kinds of wickednesses by which they had provoked the wrath of God. He only adds the general cause, to wit, the contempt of the law of God, because, as we all know, that is the fountain of all evils. He also amplifies the fault greatly, that in as much as the will of God was manifested unto them in the law, they could not say it was by ignorance or error, but of set malice, that (in shaking off the yoke of God) they gave themselves the reins to all licentious liberty, which was all one, as if in rejecting a most loving father, they should give over themselves to be vassals and slaves to the devil. Add withal that he accuseth them of a general revolt, as if he should say, they were not rebellious against God in one kind only, but they wholly forsook the Lord as disloyal apostates. Moreover, that they did not only despise the word of God, but he complains of a thing more horrible, to wit, that the word was become abominable unto them, or, that they rejected it with a wicked despitefulness. If so be then that the contempt of the law of God be the wellspring, head, and perfection of all evils, there is nothing we are more to fear, then that Satan should so prevail as to turn us aside from the reverence of it. And if we be subject to some faults, yet let us suffer at the least that the medicine may be applied unto them;