Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

And this he doth upon good reasons: for §1when divers changes happened, some thought that God did sport himself as it were, and took pleasure to bring base things §2to confusion: others thought that all things were guided by a blind violence of fortune; of which profane histories give sufficient testimony: and very few there were who could be resolved that these casual mishaps were ordained and governed by the counsel of God. For no one thing is so hardly beaten into mens heads as this; namely, that the world is governed by the providence of God. Many indeed will confess this with their mouth, but the number of them is very small which have it truly engraven in their hearts. We need but one little puff of wind to trouble us, and behold we are undone: then fall we to searching the causes of it, as if this depended upon the will of men. What will we do then, when all the world is in an uproar, and that all things are so changed in divers places, that it seems they must needs shiver into pieces? Well, we see then it is very profitable that Isaiah and the rest of the Prophets should speak of such calamities, to the end that all might understand, that they come not to pass but by the secret and wonderful counsel of God.

And this he doth vpon good reasons: for §1when diuers changes happened, some thought that God did sport himselfe as it were, and tooke pleasure to bring base things §2to confusion: others thought that all things were guided by a blind violence of fortune; of which profane histories giue sufficient testimonie: and verie few there were who could be resolued that these casuall mishappes were ordained and gouerned by the counsell of God. For no one thing is so hardly beaten into mens heads as this; namely, that the world is gouerned by the prouidence of God. Many indeed wil confesse this with their mouth, but the number of them is verie small which haue it truely engrauen in their hearts. We neede but one little puffe of wind to trouble vs, and behold we are vndone: then fall wee to searching the causes of it, as if this depended vpon the will of men. What will we doe then, when all the world is in an vproare, and that all things are so changed in diuers places, that it seemes they must needes shiuer into peeces? Well, we see then it is very profitable that Isaiah and the rest of the Prophets should speake of such calamities, to the end that all might vnderstand, that they come not to passe but by the secret and wonderfull counsell of God.