A briefe exposition of such chapters of the olde testament as vsually are redde in the church at common praier on the Sondayes set forth for the better helpe and instruction of the vnlearned. By Thomas Cooper Bishop of Lincolne.

The Exposition vpon the xlvj. of Esay.

Bel is fallen, Nabo is broken downe, whole images were a burthen, &c.

FOr somuch as GOD by his Prophets had threatned that Hierusa∣lem should be destroyed, and the peo∣ple ledde Captiue into Babilon: Esay, in this chapiter and others, doth in∣struct and exhort such as were faythfull of the peo∣ple of God, that they should not be *offended wyth their owne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that God, for the it offences, had sient vpon them, al it with the *prosperitie and suc∣cesse of Babilon, and so by that occasion fall from the worshipping of the true God to the Idols of the

Gentils. Therefore he here denounceth that Bel and Nabo, the great golden Idols of the Chal∣dees, in whome they put their trust, shall be pulled downe and caried away in Cartes & vpon beastes backes by Cyrus and the Persians in the conquest of Babilon, and in the transferring of the Empire vn∣to the Persians. That meaneth he when he sayth, Their Image shall be a burthen for the beasts, &c. and that the same being made of Golde were so heauie that they should wearie euen strong cattell, and cause them to sinke vnder the burthen.

Hearken vnto me, O house of Iacob, and all ye that remaine yet of the, &c.

God doth here warne his people againe, what great difference is betweene the vaine Idols of the Gentiles and himself, who hath euer had *care for them and preserued them, euen like a most ten∣der mother, yea farre more carefully and tender∣lye then any carnall mother can doe. * For as the mother beareth the childe in the wombe, bringeth it forth into the worlde, feedeth, cherisheth, and kee∣peth it so long as it is not able to prouide for it selfe: so when it commeth to age, shee shaketh a great part of her care away.

But God beareth vs in the purpose of his Elec∣tion, bringeth vs forth with the knowledge of our redemption in Christ Iesu, feedeth and cherisheth vs with the continuall foode of his heauenly doc∣trine, saueth vs, and caryeth vs in his armes from all daunger by the might of his prouydence, & that

not onely in infancie and yo••ng age, as mothers. doe, but in olde age, and in all Times. as It maye well appeare by the preseru••••••on 〈…〉〈…〉 his Church, euen in these latter and daungerous dayes against all the assaultes of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and hys instruments.

Whome will you make me like, or to whom will ye make me equall. &c.

Seing that the tender mercie and goodnesse of God towards his people is such, as he hath decla∣red, he doth here sharpely reproue them that forsa∣king his true worship, prescribed in hys law, seeke to honor him in Idols and Images, and thereby to make hym so *vyle that they compare and re∣semble hym to the basest of hys creatures. And therefore he doth here againe deride and scorne their industrie and readinesse to bestow all maner of *cost and charges, and to pull out of their pur∣ses Golde & Siluer to set forth Idolatrous wor∣shipping of God by Images, whereas they will make great daunger to bestowe anye thing to ad∣uaunce Gods holy worde and true worship accor∣ding to the same.

This is a notable place against all such as seeke to defende the vse of Images, by saying that they doe not thinke them to be Gods, nor worship them as Gods, but that they doe worship God in them & by them. For here you vnderstande that God nei∣ther will be *resembled by any Image, nor wor∣shipped in it. For first the making of Images to

worship of directly agaynst the commaundement of God. and secondly he cannot be pleased wyth any worship, 〈…〉〈…〉 which is directed to him in in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Name of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Only * sonne Christ Iesu, and not vnd••r. the pretence of any Image.

Remember the things that are past since the b••ginning of the worlde, &c.

This is an exhortation to such of his people as were inclined to the worshipping of Images Re∣member (sayth he) that which I haue tolde you of the vanitie of Idols and Images, and consider that they haue their beginning of mortall & * wic∣ked men, not hable to helpe themselues, and that I your God am * euerlasting without beginning, and without ending, knowing and vnderst anding all things, and that there is no Image wherein I can be worshipped, but onely the * expresse Image of my Deitie my sonne Christ Iesu your Saui∣our and the true Messias. Wherefore yet agayne I say vnto you, beware, of the Idolatrie of the Gentiles, and cleaue fast vnto me. For * my deui∣ses shall stedfastly be established, and I will fulfill all my pleasure, and whatsoeuer I haue declared to you by my Prophets for your comfort. Yea euen as I haue promised you, I will bring a Birde out of the East, that is, a noble king of the Persians, that shall with great power breake into Babilon, traus∣ferre the Empire from them, and restore you to your Countrey againe. And not onely this, but I wil also in conuenient and short time bring forth

my iustice and sauing health, and set my saluation in Sion and my glorie in Hierusalem by the com∣ming of the Messias and Sauiour of the worlde.

Notes

• Vers. 1. 2.
• Iacob. 4. e. 10. 1. Pet. 5. b. 6. Phil. 4. c. 12
• Psal. 36. a. 1. Psal. 72. b. 12.
• Vers. 3. 4.
• 1. Pet. 5. b. 7.
• Esa 9. 49. d. 15
• Vers. 5. 6. 7. 8
• Act. 17. g. 29. Rom. 1. c. 23.
• Dan. 3. a. 1.
• Io: 14. b. 13.
• Ver. 9. 10.
• Deut. 27. c. 15.
• Esa. 44. a. 6.
• 2. Cor. 4. a. 4
• Psal. 32. c. 11
• Vers. 11.