Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

In the mean while it is very likely the Prophet alludes to those horrible and monstrous sacrifices of the Gentiles. For they sacrificed men alive: or buried them quick in the earth. And the Romans, who thought themselves more devout then others; yea, and the Jews also, abstained not from so horrible and execrable a crime. Nay, which more is, these men in their inconsiderate zeal defiled themselves with the murdering of many children: thinking therein forsooth to imitate their father Abraham: Gen. 22.10. And Isaiah therefore saith, that in sacrificing an ox, it was all one, as if they had cut a mans throat. And thus he shows that albeit the Jews had a religion apart by themselves, and such a one as was ordained by God; yet were they esteemed no better then the profane heathen, among whom all things were filthy and unclean. Also, that God approved no more of ⟨p. 665⟩the one, then of the other, in regard his name was no less profaned by their hypocrisy, then by the superstitions ¹of the Gentiles. But in another place we have showed how needful this admonition was. For though the Jews were sufficiently convinced of all manner of abominations, yet they judged themselves in good case as long as they might lie lurking under this coverture. The Prophet therefore meets with them in their turnings, and affirms that they shall gain no more by thinking thus to pacify God, then if they offered up unto him the sacrilegious abominations of the heathen.

In the meane while it is very likely the Prophet alludes to those horrible and monstrous sacrifices of the Gentiles. For they sacrificed men aliue: or buried them quicke in the earth. And the Romanes, who thought themselues more deuout then others; yea, and the Iewes also, abstained not from so horrible and execrable a crime. Nay, which more is, these men in their inconsiderate zeale defiled themselues with the murthering of many children: thinking therin forsooth to imitate their father Abraham: Gen. 22.10. And Isaiah therfore saith, that in sacrificing an oxe, it was al one, as if they had cut a mans throate. And thus he shewes that albeit the Iewes had a religiō apart by themselues, and such a one as was ordained by God; yet were they esteemed no better then the prophane heathen, among whom all things were filthie and vncleane. Also, that God approued no more of