Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Having showed that the cause of all evils proceeds from our selves, to whom they therefore ought to be imputed; he teacheth by consequence, that God revengeth himself justly. For seeing men draw miseries and calamities upon themselves, God permits them not to escape his hands. Not that he is inclined to cruelty, (for he is loving and gentle) but because he is just, and cannot endure the wicked. He expresseth the vengeance of God by the similitude of smoke and darkness, then which nothing is more heavy and doleful; because so fearful a judgement could not well be expressed, but under borrowed speeches. Although it seems he alludes to the smoke whereof he had spoken before. For when a fire is grown to such greatness, and burns so on every side, the brightness must needs be obscured by the darkness of the smoke.

HAuing shewed that the cause of all euils proceeds from our selues, to whom they therefore ought to be imputed; hee teacheth by consequence, that God reuengeth himselfe iustly. For seeing men draw miseries and calamities vpon themselues, God permits them not to escape his hands. Not that hee is inclined to crueltie, (for hee is louing and gentle) but because he is iust, and cannot indure the wicked. Hee expresseth the vengeance of God by the similitude of smoke and darkenesse, then which nothing is more heauie and dolefull; because so fearefull a iudgement could not well be expressed, but vnder borrowed speeches. Although it seemes hee alludes to the smoke whereof hee had spoken before. For when a fire is growne to such greatnesse, and burnes so on euery side, the brightnesse must needees be obscured by the darknesse of the smoke.