Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

IN this, and in the verses following, he shows what punishment the Lord would inflict upon this people, to wit, that they shall be so spoiled by the Assyrians, as the Israelites their brethren had been a little before them, yea much more grievously: for howsoever the Assyrians in t•mes past had much wasted them, the kingdom of Judah nevertheless was not yet brought to ruin. Add hereunto, that the destruction of the kingdom of Is•ael was as a looking-glass, wherein they might behold the wrath of God, and the just judgement which he had brought upon them: and yet no question but this prophecy seemed incredible to them of Judea, although there were many good likelihoods of it, and all because the state was quiet; and they no sooner had the least show of truce, but they forthwith grew careless: therefore he saith, that this destruction should come from far, whereof they did not so much as dream. And thus he sounds the Alarm as if the enemies had bin already at the gates. For he puts not these words from far, and from the ends of the earth, to put them in any hope, but rather of set purpose he thus speaks, so the end they should not judge of the wrath of God by things apparent to the eye.

IN this, and in the verses following, he shewes what punishment the Lord would inflict vpon this people, to wit, that they shall be so spoyled by the Assyrians, as the Israelites their brethren had been a little before them, yea much more grieuously: for howsoeuer the Assyrians in t•mes past had much wasted them, the kingdome of Iudah neuerthelesse was not yet brought to ruine. Adde hereunto, that the destruction of the kingdome of Is•ael was as a looking-glasse, wherein they might behold the wrath of God, and the iust iudgement which hee had brought vpon them: and yet no question but this prophesie seemed incredible to them of Iudea, although there were many good likelihoods of it, and all because the state was quiet; and they no sooner had the least shew of truce, but they forthwith grew carelesse: therefore hee sayth, that this destruction should come from farre, whereof they did not so much as dreame. And thus he sounds the Alarum as if the enemies had bin alreadie at the gates. For he puts not these words from farre, and from the ends of the earth, to put them in any hope, but rather of set purpose he thus speakes, so the end they should not iudge of the wrath of God by things apparent to the eye.