Vers. 28. And the destruction of the transgressers, and of the sinners shall bee together, and they that forsake the Lord, shall be consumed.
TO the end hypocrits should not thinke that any fruit of these promises did ap∣pertaine vnto them, and lest they should boast in vaine, he threatens that they shall perish, although God redeeme his Church. For hypocrites are alwaies mingled amongst the faithfull: and which more is, they thrust themselues into the chiefest places, valuing the Church according to the outward forme and shew thereof, audaciously drawing what∣soeuer God hath promised, vnto themselues. But the Prophet pluckes this trust (if it may be so called) from them, because it proceedes from nothing else but pride of heart, and a vaine perswasion. Here therefore is diligent∣ly to be considered, with what wisedome and discretion the faithfull Teachers haue neede to be endued withall, for the comfort of the good, that they may refresh their minds with some consolation; and preserue them from fainting, and from being discouraged, whilst they terrifie the wicked with the iudgements of God. On the contrarie also the faithfull being stayed by the promise of God, and that the wicked seeke to wrest it to themselues, and lift vp their crests with a vaine confidence, we must then keepe this order and meane, that we giue the wicked no occasion to become proud and insolent: as also that the faithfull be no whit out of heart, nor discouraged: as Isaiah doth here in this place. For hauing spoken of the redemption of the Church, hee threatens the obstinate and wicked, and de∣nounceth their ruin, to the end they might not thinke, these benefits of God did any thing at all belong vnto them. Now although he iudgeth ye wicked to perdition, yet by this comparison he amplifies the grace of God to∣wards the faithfull: the which should then be the better perceiued, when God should heale those that were his, whilest the wicked in the meane while should perish, as it is said in the 91. Psalme, vers. 7. Againe, he also moderates the sorrow which might disquiet the hearts of the faithfull, for the wast of the Church; for he admonisheth them that the whole bo∣die could not otherwise be healed vnlesse the corruption which was in it, were cut off.