Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 4. Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the deserts, which eat swines flesh, and the broth of things polluted are in their vessels.

Vers. 4. Which remaine among the graues, and lodge in the deserts, which eate swines flesh, and the broth of things polluted are in their vessels.

HE reckons up other sorts of superstitions. Which albeit by reason of the brevity of the words, it be somewhat obscure; yet from other places of the Scriptures, it may easily be gathered what they were. For as Necromancy was a thing much in use among profane nations, so also the Jews went into the sepulchres and deserts, to ask counsel of devils; whereas they should only have sought counsel at the mouth of God. And in supposing to fetch answers from the dead, they delighted to be deceived by the illusions of wicked spirits.

HE reckons vp other sorts of superstitions. Which albeit by reason of the breuitie of the words, it bee somewhat obscure; yet from other places of the Scriptures, it may easily bee gathered what they were. For as Necromancy was a thing much in vse among profane nations, so also the Iewes went into the sepulchers and deserts, to aske counsell of diuels; whereas they should onely haue sought counsell at the mouth of God. And in supposing to fetch answers from the dead, they delited to be deciued by the illusions of wicked spirits.

Now by the 18. of Deuteronomy, vers. 11. and other places, it appears, how expressly the Lord had forbidden this. And we have touched it somewhat before, in Chap. 8. We are here taught in general, that the Lord requires nothing more of us then obedience, which he accepts above all sacrifices: 1. Sam. 15.22