Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 7. But he thinketh not so, neither doth his heart esteem it so: but he imagineth to cut off and destroy not a few nations.

Vers. 7. But he thinketh not so, neither doth his heart esteeme it so: but he imagineth to cut off and destroy not a few nations.

Because the wicked do trouble the consciences of the weak by casting out the foam of their rage, as if God had not the power to hold their fierceness and fury short; the Prophet prevents this betimes, and exhorts the faithful to know, that they are justly afflicted by a secret judgement of God, although the wicked overflow into all dissolution. So then he shows that which we touched erewhile, namely, that the Assyrians shall mind nothing less then to serve God, and to be executioners of his vengeance: but we shall see by and by to what end they did it. For some might object thus: Object. Thou art the Ambassador of God, why doest thou menace us with the Assyrians? As if belike this furious beast would yield obedience to the commandment of God. Ans. To this he answereth, that God is such a wonderful workman, that he knoweth how to draw those to do him service who think nothing at all thereon, or which otherwise would not obey him. Although (saith he) that their endeavours and counsels tend wholly to another end, yet nothing shall hinder God, that even by them he should not execute and fulfil that which he hath ordained. For many might reply: What a preposterous course is this? Will God subject his chosen people to profane nations? There is no equity at all in it, that our estate (be we sinners as we are, in the highest degree) should be made worse then the condition of thieves, who by their wickedness and impiety had deserved a most severe punishment. The Prophet declareth then that the Assyrians should have their turn also, and should be justly punished in their time: and yet ought no man to think it strange if they afflict, pill, devour, & massacre others, seeing they should not want their recompense.

BEcause the wicked doe trouble the consciences of the weake by casting out the fome of their rage, as if God had not the power to hold their fiercenesse and furie short; the Prophet preuents this betimes, and exhorts the faithfull to know, that they are iustlie afflicted by a secret iudgement of God, although the wicked ouerflow into all dissolution. So then he shewes that which we touched erewhile, namely, that the Assyrians shall minde nothing lesse then to serue God, and to be executioners of his vengeance: but we shall see by and by to what end they did it. For some might obiect thus: Obiect. Thou art the Ambassador of God, why doest thou menace vs with the Assyrians? As if belike this furious beast would yeeld obedience to the commandement of God. Ans. To this he answereth, that God is such a wonderfull workeman, that he knoweth how to draw those to do him seruice who thinke nothing at all thereon, or which otherwise would not obey him. Although (saith he) that their endeuors and counsels tend whollie to another end, yet nothing shall hinder God, that euen by them he should not execute and fulfill that which he hath ordeined. For many might replie: What a preposterous course is this? Will God subiect his chosen people to profane nations? There is no equitie at all in it, that our estate (be we sinners as we are, in the highest degree) should be made worse then ye condition of theeues, who by their wickednes and impietie had deserued a most seuere punishment. The Prophet declareth then that the Assyrians should haue their turne also, and should be iustlie punished in their time: and yet ought no man to thinke it strange if they afflict, pill, deuoure, & massacre others, seeing they should not want their recompence.