Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

The Prophet shows what remedy was given him after he had been thus terrified, and as he thought to death: and this confirms that which I have said already, to wit, that the purity of the lips comes from God only, for men can bring nothing of their own which is not vain and impure. If any object, it is absurd that the Lord should purge him now, as if his tongue had been impure and profane before, which notwithstanding was the organ of the holy Ghost: I have heretofore sufficiently answered this objection. True it is that the Lord had purged him before, but according to his measure. The purgation which is now added is greater, because it hath his degrees and increasings, which no man can wholly obtain at the first. Wherefore we must not gather that ⟨p. 68⟩the Prophets lips were impure before, because they are now purged: but we are to regard to what end this was done, namely, because the Lord would augment and increase his graces in him, and raise him up higher in dignity, to the end he might have greater authority among the people; and this was requisite by reason of the times, and of the mutation which was then in the state. The fire is taken from the altar, as divine and heavenly, because the law forbade to take any strange fire from thence: the reason is, in regard that whatsoever men do mingle with sacred things, can not but be a mere profanation. Wherefore Isaiah was taught by this figure, that all purity floweth from God only.