Vers. 5. Wherefore should ye be smit∣ten any more? for you fall away more and more: the whole head is sicke, and the whole heart is heauie.
WHerefore should] &c. Some do turne it, vpon what? or, in what part? And they take it as if the Lord should say, There are no more plagues left to strike you withal. For hee had tried so many waies to bring them into the right way, that there was no chastisement left. But I had rather interpret it, Wherefore, or, to what purpose? As also the Hebrew word importes so much; and withall I take it that the sense seemes to a∣gree best thereto. For so we are wont to say, wherefore; to what purpose, &c. His mea∣ning is then, that the Iewes are growne to such a pitch of wickednes and vngodlines, that it is impossible to make them become a∣ny whit better. We know by experience that after desperate men haue once hardned their hearts, then they will rather be broken all to peeces then receiue any correction. Now he complaines that there was such an obsti∣nacie in them, euen as if the Physitian ha∣uing assaied all good remedies to cure his diseased patient, should begin to say at the last, All the skill I haue, will doe no good. And withall hee accuseth them of extreame malice: for when the wicked are come to that passe that chastisements will not humble them, then are they come to the very top of all wickednes. So then it is as much as if the Lord had said, I see very well, that though I should correct you neuer so much, yet I shall do you no good. For questionlesse things are then become wholly desperate when the chastisements and calamities which God v∣seth as remedies to heale our vices, will pro∣fit vs nothing. And yet for all that the Lord is so farre off from ceasing to punish such stil, that (which more is) it stirres vp and inflames his wrath so much the more against vs: For there is nothing more burthensome to him, then such an obstinacie. Notwithstanding it is rightly said, that he loseth his labour, when he cannot thereby draw vs to repentance: and that all the remedies hee applies to a people so vtterly past cure are in vaine. So then he is so farre off from sparing such, that hee not onely doubles his blowes and afflictions vp∣on them, trying all meanes possible: but he is constrained neuer to giue ouer till he hath vtterly consumed them. But then indeede he plaies not the part of a Physitian, but ra∣ther of the Surgion: which is the cause why he so laments here, that his chastisements shall now become vnprofitable to the peo∣ple.
You fall away.] This is a confirmation of the former sentence, so that I distinguish this member from the former, which others not∣withstanding doe conioyne together. As if he should say, You wil be so far off from cea∣sing to erre, that (which worse is) you aug∣ment your wickednesses more and more, for I see you are so carried away to doe euill, as if yee had laid your heads together, deliberate∣ly to conspire thereof in your minds: so that there is no hope at al left of any moderation. Now God in this speech purposed to mani∣fest vnto al men how incorrigible their spirit was, to the end they might pretend no ex∣cuses afterwards.
The whole head.] Others translate, Euery head: and thinke that the princes and great men among the people are here meant by these particular names. But for mine owne part, I rather agree to their opinion, who translate, all the head. For me thinks it is a plaine similitude, taken from the body of man; to wit, when the bodie is so sore affli∣cted, that there is no hope of health left. Now he names two principall partes whereupon the health of the whole bodie depends: and hereby he declares the extremitie of the dis∣eases, wherewith this wretched people was vtterly spent. It was not some part or com∣mon member of the bodie then, which was pained, but the heart was wounded; and the head very sore diseased: in a word, that the vitall parts (as they are called) were so putri∣fied and infected, that they were incurable. But the Interpreters doe not agree in this behalfe: for some referre this sicknes to sins: others, to punishments. To sinnes thus; You are alreadie become a rotten and stinking bodie; wherein nothing that is whole and sound is left: wickednes and sinne hath got∣ten the swinge amongst you, by the infection whereof all is defiled and corrupt. But I had rather vnderstand it of the punishments: for the Lord doubtles stil pursues this complaint: namely, that the people are so rooted in ob∣stinacie, that they cannot bee brought to a∣mendment of life for any plague inflicted vp∣on them; and that howsoeuer they had been smitten euen to death (at the least wise, rent and torne in peeces with sore blowes in a fearefull maner) yet that they became neuer the wiser for all that.