Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Moreover this comparison did admonish them how grievous the chastisement should be, which they of set purpose had pulled down upon their own heads: for if God threaten the unbelievers and profane nations so sharply, who yet have erred in darkness, how much more severe ought his anger to be against his people, who had wittingly he rebelled against him?¹ Just it is that the servant which knew his masters will and did it not, should be beaten with more heavy stripes. When God then denounceth such rough punishments against poor blind wretches, he therein did set a looking-glass before the Jews (who had been trained up in the law) what chastisement they had deserved.

Moreouer this comparison did admonish them how grieuous the chastisement should be, which they of set purpose had pulled down vpon their owne heads: for if God threaten the vnbeleeuers and prophane nations so sharplie, who yet haue erred in darknes, how much more seuere ought his anger to be against his people, who had wittinglie he rebelled against him?¹ Iust it is that the seruant which knew his masters will and did it not, should be beaten with more heauie stripes. When God then denounceth such rough punishments against poore blind wretches, he therein did set a looking-glasse before the Iewes (who had been trained vp in the law) what chastisement they had deserued.

1. 1Luk. 12.47.

And yet the chief mark that Isaiah aims §7at in these prophesies, is to show the Jews how dear and precious their salvation was in Gods eyes, when they saw that he took their cause into his own hand, and executed vengeance upon the wrongs which had been done them.