Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

WE see how God stoops down to the weakness of humane sense. He puts the tongs in the hand of one of the Seraphims; to the end he may take a coal from the Altar and apply it to the Prophets mouth. This was done in a vision: yet notwithstanding God raised up the understanding of the Prophet by the help of this outward sign. But we must not think that the coal had any virtue in it self, as superstitious people imagine hidden virtues in magical arts: there is nothing of all this here; for it is one God and none other which can purge uncleanness from any part whatsoever. The Angel was here the minister of the purgation, but he was not the author of it; to the end we post not that over to another which belongs to God alone. And this the Angel himself expresseth clearly, in that he attributes nothing to himself, but taking the holy pledge which he had received of God, he applies it as a sacrament to the mouth of the Prophet: not as if he could not have been cleansed without the coal, but because this visible sign was profitable for a witness and confirmation of such a thing. And this also is the use of Sacraments,¹ namely, to confirm us according to our weakness. For we are not Angels to behold the mysteries of God without any helps; and therefore he lifts us up to him by little and little, and as it were by steps.

WE see how God stoopes downe to the weakenes of humane sense. He puts the tongs in the hand of one of ye Seraphims; to the end he may take a cole from the Altar and applie it to the Prophets mouth. This was done in a vision: yet notwithstanding God raysed vp the vnderstanding of the Prophet by the help of this outward signe. But wee must not thinke that the cole had any vertue in it selfe, as superstitious people imagin hidden vertues in magicall arts: there is nothing of all this heere; for it is one God and none other which can purge vncleannes from any part whatsoeuer. The Angell was heere the minister of the purgation, but he was not the author of it; to the end we post not that ouer to another which belongs to God alone. And this the Angell himselfe expresseth clearely, in that he attributes nothing to himselfe, but taking the holy pledge which he had receiued of God, he applies it as a sacrament to the mouth of the Prophet: not as if he could not haue been clensed without the cole, but because this visible signe was profitable for a witnes and confirmation of such a thing. And this also is the vse of Sacraments,¹