Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Those who think these words, him that rejoiced, and did justly, should be read together, as if he should say, Thou diddest meet them which served thee willingly, and delighted in well doing; do ill expound this verse, as I think. I rather think that by the rejoicers those are understood who are joyful in prosperity, in regard the people were then in sorrow and heaviness. For there is a close opposition, thus, Thou wert wont in times past to meet our fathers, before they were pressed with any grief, and diddest glad them at thy coming: but now thou art far off, and sufferest us to languish with grief and discontentment. To this belongs that which is added, That they remembered God, because they enjoyed his present grace, and felt him both the author and upholder of their salvation. Thus by the ways of God, he understands all prosperity: be it that he was more near unto §1them by handling them tenderly, and cockering of them as his children: or in regard §2that he naturally is inclined to do good. But because he hath said that God was wont to meet him that did justly, the remembrance may be referred to the love of piety. To wit, that they gave themselves carefully to the service of God: in which sense, these words are the exposition of the former member, which is a thing usual with the Prophets, who are wont to confirm their speeches with many words.

Those who thinke these words, him that reioyced, and did iustly, should be read together, as if he should say, Thou diddest meete them which serued thee willinglie, and delighted in well doing; doe ill expound this verse, as I thinke. I rather thinke that by the reioycers those are vnderstood who are ioyfull in prosperitie, in regard the people were then in sorrow and heauines. For there is a close opposition, thus, Thou wert wont in times past to meete our fathers, before they were pressed with any griefe, and diddest glad them at thy comming: but now thou art farre off, and suffrest vs to languish with griefe and discontentment. To this belongs that which is added, That they remembred God, because they enioyed his present grace, and felt him both the author and vpholder of their saluation. Thus by the vvaies of God, he vnderstands all prosperitie: be it that he was more neere vnto §1them by handling them tenderly, and cockering of them as his children: or in regard §2that he naturallie is inclined to doe good. But because he hath said that God was wont to meet him that did iustly, the remembrance may be referred to the loue of pietie. To wit, that they gaue themselues carefullie to the seruice of God: in which sense, these words are the exposition of the former member, which is a thing vsuall with the Prophets, who are wont to confirme their speeches with many words.