Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 8. Thus saith the Lord, As the wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it, so will I do for my servants sakes, that I may not destroy them whole.

Vers. 8. Thus saith the Lord, As the wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it, so will I doe for my seruants sakes, that I may not destroy them whole.

¹The Prophet here moderates his former sentence. For otherwise it had been a thing too severe that the iniquities of the fathers should thus be called to mind, to the end the Lord might destroy their children with them. Yea, this might so have affrighted the faithful, that it had been enough to have driven them from all hope of salvation. We ought then you see, to stand carefully upon our watch, and to consider for what cause the Lord is displeased with us. For his meaning is so to astonish us, as that therewithal he would draw us to himself: and not thereby to throw us headlong into despair. He leaves some hope for the faithful here then, lest they should wax fainthearted: and in proffering them refreshing, he allures them to repentance, of which he reaped neither pleasure nor profit.

¹THe Prophet here moderates his former sentence. For otherwise it had been a thing too seuere yt the iniquities of ye fathers should thus be called to mind, to the end the Lord might destroy their children with them. Yea, this might so haue affrighted the faithfull, that it had been enough to haue driuen them from all hope of saluation. We ought then you see, to stand carefullie vpon our watch, and to consider for what cause the Lord is displeased with vs. For his meaning is so to astonish vs, as that therewithall hee would draw vs to himselfe: and not thereby to throw vs headlong into despaire. Hee leaues some hope for the faithfull here then, lest they should waxe fainthearted: and in proffering them refreshing, hee allures them to repentance, of which he reaped neither pleasure nor profit.