Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

HE continueth still the same similitude of burning, and declareth that the fire shall as well consume the high things as the low, and shall leave nothing found: for it may fall out that the fire will seize upon the top of a place, and in the mean while it shall leave the bottom untouched. The word Carmel, which is put here, is not a proper name, as I think, but is rather to be taken for a fat and fruitful territory: and there would also be some absurdity in it, to say that Mount Carmel was in the land of Assyria. The sense therefore is, that not only the ruin of the forests of Assyria draws near, but also that the grain or corn shall be consumed by the same fire, because it shall not only run upon the upper parts of the land, but shall pierce down even into the bottoms. He adds also another similitude taken from man, Even as a man is composed of body and soul, so also his diseases shall seize upon him one by one, till every part be smitten. For it often falls out that the body will be sick and impotent, and the spirit will be sound, and so on the contrary; but when both together are smitten, it is very dangerous. By this similitude then he threatens, that nothing shall remain in good plight to the Assyrians, who are now destinate to destruction, because they shall perish, both soul, and flesh: not that mens souls are mortal, but because God will openly show his vengeance upon them. Surely this is very terrible; for the end of corrections are, that the soul might be saved, although the body should perish,