Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 2. As the melting fire burned, as the fire caused the waters to boil (that thou mightest declare thy name to thy adversaries) the people did tremble at thy presence. 3. When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, and the mountains melted at thy presence.

Vers. 2. As the melting fire burned, as the fire caused the waters to boile (that thou mightest declare thy name to thy aduersaries) the people did tremble at thy presence. 3. When thou didst terrible things which wee looked not for, thou camest downe, and the mountaines melted at thy presence.

¹We may read all this in the future tense, or in the subjunctive. As if he should say; Lord, if thou wouldest come down, the people would tremble at thy presence, thine adversaries would forthwith melt away. But I think it to be more native, as I have turned it: for it is very sure that the Prophet alludes here to Mount Sinai, Exod. 19.20. where the Lord manifested himself openly unto the people. Hence also it appears how unadvisedly this Chapter was distinguished, seeing the contents thereof is recited for the confirmation of the former wish, which should have been placed in the beginning. We have elsewhere seen, that when the Prophets mention the reliefs which God hath given to his people, they still bring in testimonies concerning the deliverance out of Egypt.² And as oft as they speak of this history, they therewithal comprehend whatsoever benefits God bestowed upon his people: not only when he delivered them from under Pharaohs tyranny, and appeared unto them in ⟨p. 646⟩mount Sinai: but that also, when by the space of 40. years he furnished them in the desert with all things necessary; who having subdued and wasted their enemies, did put them in quiet possession of the land of Canaan.