Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

I utterly reject not the other exposition, to wit, that the people were not troubled in their trouble; because God always supplied them with some remedies for the assuaging of their sorrows. But in my judgement, the learned expositors have hit the mark, in taking the first sense: wherein the Prophet testifies that God laid upon himself the whole weight of the peoples burden; to comfort them in their calamities and anguishes. Not that he can any way be grieved:¹ but he attributes to himself humane passions by a figure much used.

I vtterly reiect not the other exposition, to wit, that the people were not troubled in their trouble; because God alwaies supplied them with some remedies for ye asswaging of their sorrowes. But in my iudgement, the learned expositors haue hit the marke, in taking the first sense: wherein the Prophet testifies that God laid vpon himselfe the whole weight of the peoples burthen; to comfort them in their calamities and anguishes. Not that he can any way be grieued:¹ but hee attributes to himselfe humane passions by a figure much vsed.

1. 1God no way touched with humane affections.

Afterwards he manifests the effect of this care, namely, in that he always saved them by his Angel, whom he calls the angel of his face: because he was a witness of Gods presence; and as it were his herald to execute his commandments.¹ To teach us, that the Angels run not before they be sent, neither that they intrude themselves into this office of succouring us, by any private motion of their own. For the Lord useth their services; and manifests his presence to us by their means. The Angels can do nothing of themselves, neither do they yield us any succour further forth then as the Lord sends them to be the Ministers of our salvation: