A commentary vpon the prophecie of Isaiah. By Mr. Iohn Caluin. Whereunto are added foure tables ... Translated out of French into English: by C.C.

Vers. 19. If yee will consent and obey, yee shall eate the good things of the land.

ISaiah still pleades the cause of God against the people: and in briefe affirmes, that all the calamities which the people susteined ought to be imputed to their owne default: and that they were to blame themselues for not recouering a more happie and comfor∣table estate. Why so? Because God for his part is alwaies readie to pardon their sinnes, if they harden not their owne hearts against him. But for as much as it seemes, that the Prophet placeth felicitie here, in the will and power of man, [Obiect.] the Papists contend with open mouth that men haue power of their owne free mouing to doe good or euill. Is it so? [Ans.] As if God discoursed here how great the abilitie of men is; when hee accuseth their obstinacie. But he should then say in vaine, [Obiect.] if yee will consent, if so be it were not in their power. I answere, [Ans.] that howsoeuer the choice bee not in our owne power, as they would make vs beleeue it is, yet God iustly chargeth sinners to be the voluntarie authors of their euils, because they pull downe the wrath of God vpon their owne heads willingly, and without constraint. I grant then, that it is a speciall gift of God for a man to endeuour to doe good: but it is also as true, that the wic∣kednes of reprobates hindreth them from applying themselues thereunto: and there∣fore that al the fault of their hardning abides and remaines in themselues. And hereupon dependes this reproach, namely, That the people might haue had an happie issue, and a comfortable life, if they would haue become teachable and obedient to God. For seeing that of his owne nature hee desires nothing more then to doe good, we may iustly impute it vnto our owne malice, and vnthankfulnes, that this liberalitie which hee daily offereth, comes not vnto vs.

On the contrarie, he addes a terrible and grieuous threatning, to wit, that the ven∣geance of God is readie to sease vpon them, to the end they might feele that the contem∣ners of God shall not remaine vnpunished. We must also note that there is but one only rule of well liuing; that is, the obedience which wee yeeld vnto God, and to his word. Also in these words, there is a trāsported sen∣tence by a figure which wee call Hypallage, because the speech should be resolued thus, If you be of a readie mind, and haue full con∣sent of will to obey; or else thus, and yet in the same sense: If ye hearken and obey me, and my word. Seing then that God placeth the felicitie of men in obedience, it followes

that our life is then well ordered when wee heare God speak••ng, and that we obey him in all things. Now wee may see how great the wickednes of men is when they vouchsafe not to lend their eare to God, but reiect the felicitie which hee offereth and prepareth for them. Truely their froward affections ought to bee timed, to the end that whilst these poore wretches draw the wrath of God vpon their owne heads, they might not wit∣tingly and willingly cast themselues head∣long vpon the edge of the sword. Wee must note also, that in the verse followin,g which is the conclusion, he threatens them with ex∣treame ruine, if so be they still continue to rebell obstinately against God.

The good things of the earth.] He meanes the fruites which the earth brings forth for the necessitie of our life. For the earth seemes to bee somewhat vnkind when it brings not forth her fruites, but keeps them as it were in her bosome. Although I make no question but hee alludes to the promises of the law, where God promiseth that he will blesse the ground of such as walke in his commande∣ments, that they may haue abundance of all good things. And yet hee offereth not the commodities of this life vnto vs to the end he would stay vs in an earthly felicity, which hypocrits indeed only gape after, wholly im∣ploying all their wits thereabouts: but that by the contemplation thereof, we should lift vp our minds to the heauenly and spirituall felicity: as also that by the taste of his so great goodnes he might accustome vs to rellish the estate of eternall happines. Now the ancient people were inured rather to be called by such shadowes and resemblances to the hea∣uenly inheritance, namely; by the taste of earthly benefits. And this difference is well to be noted, that we may applie this doctrine to our vse according to that degree where∣unto God hath been pleased to exalt vs. Now the Prophet would teach vs that true felicity, with the complements thereof, consists in the obedience of God: also, that the wicked, in rebelling against him, doe draw vpon them∣selues all manner of calamities: and that we therfore ought to impute all the euils which we endure, to our sinnes and rebellions, as to the proper cause thereof.