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 fift Chapter of Esay.

Nowe will I sing my beloued friende a* 1.1 song of my friend &c.

THe parable of the * vine vsed by the Prophete in this fift Chapter,* 1.2 doth, vnder figuratiue and borowed speach, containe in effect the same mat∣ter that was vttered in the beginning of the first Chapter, that is, the great goodnesse of God towarde the Nation of the Iewes, the vn∣thankfulnesse of the people, and the plague or pu∣nishment threatned for the same. And euen the same three things haue you here to note.

The beloued friend that the Prophete speaketh of in the first verse,* 1.3 is God himselfe, the vineyarde is the house of Israell, the chosen vine the people of Iurie, the 〈…〉〈…〉 that it was planted in, the lande of promise flowing with milke and body: the the hedge or bounde that he set about it, was the prouidence of God and defence of his good Aun∣gels, together with princes magistrates & lawes

both politike and other by him appoynted. The sto∣ning was the casting out of the Idolatrous Cha∣naanites, and other heathen enimies before them. the tower that he builded, was the name of God, and maiestie of his presence among them. The watchmen in the tower, were his prophets which were sent in his name to forewarne his people of all daunger iminent to them, either from God or their worldly enimies. The vine presse was sin∣cere and true doctrine according to the law of god with the knowledge of his true worship which hee gaue to them only of all the Nations of the earth.

And therefore when God had thus husbanded, fenced, and dressed his vine, he might iustly looke for sweete grapes out of the which pleasant and ac∣ceptable ••uy••e should haue beene pressed to hys de∣light and glorie.

The sweete grapes that God looked for, were true fayth, and worshipping of the name of God, obedience to his holy commaundements, a chari∣table and louing minde toward their neighbours. In gouernment of the common welth integritie, and diligent keeping of the lawes, punishing of the wicked, defence of y^e widow, fatherlesse, poore, & in∣nocent. But cōtrary to the hope and expectation of this heauenly husband, the vnkindly vine brought 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and ••inking wilde grapes, that is, infideli∣tie, and mistrust in GOD, superstition, Idolatrie, murdering of his prophetes and messengers, ha∣tred, grudge, and malice among themselues, op∣pression, crueltie, briberie, extortion couetousnesse,

dronkennesse, banketting, and all voluptuous and filthie liuing, yea, and aboue all, contempt and ha∣tred of Gods worde. Wherfore god iustly threat∣neth, that he will take away from them the care of his diuine prouidence, and the gouernmēt of good lawes and princes wherwith they were defended, that they may so lie open to the spoyle of their eni∣myes.

And also that he will not sende anye more a∣mong them his prophetes, nor the heauenly dewe of his grace and wholesome doctrine, whereby be∣fore time they were instructed. Finally, that he will take all his good giftes and benefites from them, wherewith before they were aboundantlye blessed.

In the residue of the Chapter the Prophet vp∣braydeth them with the perticuler wilde grapes with which the lord was displeased,* 1.4 as Couetous∣nesse, and Extortion, Dronkennesse, and Banketting, Securitie and contempt of Gods worde. &c.

As touching Couetousnesse,* 1.5 he reprehendeth the greedie heart and minde that thinketh it hath neuer inough. For otherwise it is not sinne to haue two howses, or two peeces of ground, so it be not with the oppressiō or iniurie of our neighbour. But to haue so couetous a minde that he thinketh all to little for himselfe, and therefore (as Chriso∣stome sayth) woulde take from the poore, if they could, the very vse of the sonne, and are grieued to see their neighbours vse the common elements of the worlde, that it is, that the Prophete here so

sharpely rebuketh, and therefore threatneth that God will make their fayre gaye houses desolate, and their lande barraine vnto them, which they haue purchased with so great iniurie and oppressi∣on of other.* 1.6 In so much that * ten Acres of vines shall scant yeelde one quart of wine, and thirtie bushels of seede scant one pecke.

The seconde vice is Dronkennesse,* 1.7 * and ban∣ketting, with musicke and wantonnesse, which the Prophete threatneth that God will punish with captiuitie and extreeme famine and hunger, in so much that both riche and poore shall die for hunger in great multitudes. For that is it he meaneth whē in the .14. verse he sayth. Hell gapeth and openeth her mouth wide to receyue the number of them that shall die, as it were in a generall plague or murreyne.

By Glorie, he meaneth Riche and Noble: By Multitude, the commons and poorer sort.

The seuententh verse is a * consolation of the poore and godly which were oppressed by the co∣uetous and wicked drunkardes,* 1.8 and shal remaine after their plague and take the fruition of that wealth that the wicked were constrayned to leaue as waste. For by the names of sheepe, and straun∣gers, he meaneth the Godlye that were left after the punishment of the wicked: and had their hou∣ses and landes taken from them, into the which they were nowe restored againe.

The thirde sower grape is Obstinacie in sinne and manifest derision and contempt of god and his woorde. That is it that the Prophete meaneth

when he sayth,

Wo bee to them that drawe wickednesse with cordes of vanitie.* 1.9 &c.

That is, that with vaine allurements doe leade their mindes to increase in wickednesse, and adde sinne to sinne, whatsoeuer perswasion shall be made to the contrarie. As by thinking that that is no sinne which in deede is sinne, or that that is but a small offence and pardonable which is an heynous and grieuous offence before God. Which at the length breake out of this,* 1.10 that they * deryde and scoffe at the threatning of Gods iustice. And say, O you Prophets and Preachers, you threaten Gods plague to come vpon vs, but in the meane season we enioy our pleasant life: so that God doth shewe himselfe rather to be content with our ma∣ner of liuing then with yours, or if he do not, when his plagues light vpon vs then tell vs of them, but it appeareth they are * long in comming,* 1.11 and god is not so readie to punish as you say he is.

The residue of the sower grapes are not onely the cloking of vices with the faire names of ver∣tue,* 1.12 and disgracing of vertues with the foule na∣mes of vices: but also pride, selfelyking, and bry∣berie in Magistrates which are plaine in the text. Agaynst all which he threatneth his grieuous pla∣gues, and sayth,* 1.13 Hee will destroy great and small, strong and weake among them, that is, both roote and braunche.

And after that, to their vtter confusion, he will

bring vpon them a mightie armie of straungers, Nations dwelling farre of, which shall be lustie, couragious, and fierce, earnestly bent agaynst them, and well appoynted in all maner of wea∣pons, munition, and furniture. Which is ment of that hoste that Vespasian and Titus brought to the siege and destruction of Hierusalem.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vers. 1.
• * 1.2

  Hier. 2. e. 21 Math. 21. c. 33 Mark. 12. a. 1 Luke. 20. b. 9
• * 1.3

  Vers. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
• * 1.4

  Vers. 8. 9. 10.
• * 1.5

  Psa. 38. b. 9. 10 Math. 19. e. 23 Amos. 5. c. 11 Esay. 1. f. 23 Iacob. 1. b. 11
• * 1.6

  Deut. 28. d. 38 Mich. 6. c. 15 Agge. 1. a. 6
• * 1.7

  Vers. 11. 12. 13. 14. Luke. 21. g. 34 Rom. 13. d. 13 Gal. 5. c. 18.
• * 1.8

  Vers. 17. Iohn .10. a. 3. 2. Tim. 2. c. 19 2. Pet. 2. b. 9
• * 1.9

  Vers. 18. 19.
• * 1.10

  1. Tim. 4. a. 1 Iudas 5. d. 1. 18
• * 1.11

  Eze. 12. g. 27 2. Pet. 3. a. 4.
• * 1.12

  Vers. 20. 21. 22.
• * 1.13

  Vers. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.