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. 3. Gather a counsell, execute iudgement: make thy shadow as the night in the mid-day: hide them that are chased out: bewray not him that is fled.

HE goes on with his speech. But if we will rightly vnderstand this place, we must set the calamitie wherewith the Moabites were extremely afflicted, before our eyes. Now he calles their wickednesses to remembrance; to the end all might know how iustly this cala∣mitie besell them. When they had all things at their desire, they ouerflowed in dissoluti∣ons, and reiected all reprehensions: now be∣ing forsaken and left destitute of helpe, they mourne; seeking remedies, but find none.* 1.1 For thus God deales with the reprobates: he sup∣plies their necessities, and puts all they can wish into their hands, to leaue them without excuse. But after they haue abused these bles∣sings of God through their wicked lusts, and haue turned all things to an ill end, he takes from them all meanes and helpes, and then brings them to nothing. Whilest the Moa∣bites were in prosperitie, they made no great reckoning of mercy and vprightnesse, al∣though they might haue ruled, and had a flo∣rishing Kingdome without doing any man wrong: yet did they abuse it to establish their tyranny. Now then when they are depriued of all authoritie, banished, and fugitiues; Isai∣ah in scorne, admonisheth them to gather a counsell, and to execute iustice, which before they had ouerturned by fraud & extortions. For Isaiah hath an eye to the time when the Moabites were spoiled of all principality and pwer. And it seemes this reproch is like to that which the Lord vsed to Adam, saying; Behold Adam is become as one of vs: Gen. 3.22. For he is there scorned by a biting kinde of speech, that not being content with the excellent graces he had receiued, hee would needes be like God himselfe. So the Moa∣bites being not contented with their orna∣ments and riches, vexed the poore Iewes and Israelites after a barbarous maner; pilled and polled them, and imagining wicked deuices against them.

Seeing then that they had abused the ex∣cellent gifts of God, hee iustly reprocheth their fact. Which also appertaines to all re∣probates, who insolently exalt themselues when they prosper; and abusing the same, doe offer hard measure to the faithfull. For in as much as they pollute the things which God hath consecrated to a right end, it is good reason they should be depriued of them, and suffer extreme want. Wee see daily exam∣ples hereof before our eies. Whence is it that those who are aduanced to great places of honour, fall so violently, but because God a∣uengeth himselfe of their tyrannous gouern∣ment and wicked practises? The Lord also re∣procheth their shame, contempt, teares, and complaints: as when they cry out, Oh that I might returne againe to my goods! Oh that I were set in my first estate! But then alas re∣pentance is too late.

Make thy shadow.] The Moabites (as I haue touched before) might haue refreshed the

Iewes somewhat in their miserie when the Assyrians vexed them. At the least, had there been any sparke of humanitie in them, they ought to haue receiued the fugitiues: but in stead of doing this, they persecuted and wic∣kedlie offered violence to those which were oppressed too much alreadie by the hands of others. Good reason it was then that the Moabites should haue experience in their owne persons of that crueltie which they had exercised towards others, that being chased from their dwellings, banished and wandring to and fro, they might finde no suc∣cor nor shadow to hide and defend themselues from the heate. For why should they enioy that comfort which they had vnkindlie refu∣sed to giue vnto others?

He takes the mid-day heere for extreme heate: and this similitude is often found in the scriptures, to wit, that the Lord was as a cloud at hie noone, and as a pillar of fire by night, Exod. 13.21.22. Numb. 14.14. Deut. 1.13. because he did it once in the wildernes. The Prophets retained these phrases of speech because they were then in vse, although they recited not the historie. Besides, when he saith, hide them that are chased out, he speakes of the Iewes, who being pursued and vexed by the Assyrians, were notwithstanding vn∣courteouslie intreated by y^e Moabites, whose dutie it was to haue entertained and comfor∣ted poore fugitiues, especiallie those who fled to thē for succor. But since they chased them away, it was requisit that themselues should be chased and depriued of all help and succor. For iust and equall is that sentence of the Lord, who commands that euery one receiue that measure which himselfe hath measured, Deut. 19.19.21. Matth. 7.2. Now the Prophet would haue the Moabites to acknowledge their sinnes, to the end they might confesse the punishment of their cruelties to be iustlie inflicted vpon them. Although he rather re∣spects the Iewes, to teach thē that God neg∣lected not their miseries; but would after∣wards let them see that he reuenged all their wrongs.

Notes

• * 1.1

  How God deales with the wicked.