Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

1. *Or, thou art, &c.
2. *Or, former.

¹After they have bewailed their miseries, with which they were almost overwhelmed; now in plainer terms they desire the Lord to pardon and ease them of their smart, and withal do more boldly profess themselves now to be his children notwithstanding. For it was adoption only that could raise up their hearts unto a lively hope: so as notwithstanding the burden of afflictions wherewith they were pressed down, yet they ceased not for all that to rest upon God as §1upon a father. This order ought to be well observed: §2for to attain to a sound and sincere humility of heart, it is needful that we be dejected and laid on all four, as they say. But if despair ensue, let us hasten to this consolation: for seeing God hath vouchsafed to elect us for his children, it is our parts to hope that he will save us, even then when things shall seem most desperate and confused. Thus then, in regard of the free covenant, the Israelites protest they are Gods children, that they might feel his fatherly good will towards them in such wise, that his promises might not be in vain.