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. 11. The hie looke of man shall be humbled, and the loftines of men shall bee abased, and the Lord onely shall be ex∣alted in that day.

BEcause whilst the wicked are glutted with present riches, and rest, all things falling out to their wish, they put these threatnings of the Prophet farre off from them, and by this meanes hardned their hearts against God: in this place therefore hee now sets downe a course (as hath been said) how to pull downe this pride of theirs: as if he should say, The time will come, wherein your great arrogancie, which makes you thus in vaine to set vp your bristles, yea, and that with an in∣credible rage against the most high, shall cease. For howsoeuer the wicked seeme to be religious, yet you shall perceiue by their pride notwithstanding, that they will not sticke to iustle euen against the Lord him∣selfe, so as it seemes they are greater then he. In that God thus thundreth against them, it is to the end that he might pul downe their pride and hautines; and himself onely might be knowne to bee the chiefest. And there∣fore, as we haue said heretofore, the impuni∣tie of sinne is as it were a cloud cast before our eies, which hinders vs that wee cannot see the glorie of the Lord. For when he re∣uengeth himselfe vpon the rebellions of men, his glorie doth so much the more ap∣peare.* 1.1 And that is the cause also why Salo∣mon saith, That the hearts of the children of men are set in them to doe euill, because in this world they see themselues more happie then the godly, and so blinded more and more. But here hee shewes that after the proud shall be brought vnder in spite of their teeth; then nothing shall hinder, that God should not be knowne to be such a one as he is. Surely there was great reason that the people should willingly haue submitted themselues vnder God, and haue cast their eies vpon his greatnes, in respect that vn∣der his shadow they were in safetie: and be∣sides the stocke of Abraham was adorned so excellently with such varietie of benefits, to the end they should haue bin as y^e mirror of the holines, and glorie of the Lord. But be∣cause the Iewes are now risen vp in rebellion against this so good a God, Isaiah denoun∣ceth against them, that God will deuise a new way how to axalt his glorie; to wit, euen in their destruction.

In naming, The hie lookes and loftines, hee notes the inward pride of the mind and hart, by their outward countenance and behaui∣our. For a wicked conscience will discouer it selfe in the contempt of God and man, euen by the outward gesture and looke. It is in the same sense that Dauid notes out loftie eies, and high lookes: Psalm. 131.1. &c. 101.5. Isaiah also doth better confirme this, in the verse following. Now by heaping vp of so ma∣ny words with such great vehemency, we may easily gather how notorious their rebellion was. Moreouer, we are not to maruaile that

he insists so much vpon the taming of mens arrogancie, if we doe but consider how hard a thing it is to bow the hearts of those who rest••ng vpon their riches, are afraid of no∣thing: imagining that they are aduanced to none other end, but to doe whatsoeuer they list without checke or controlement. For we our selues haue experience at this day how tender and delicate, yea and how easily such take pepper in the nose, who attribute to themselues more then there is cause why, and in the end how obstinately they reiect all holsome admonitions. For this cause it is that the Prophet doth thus sitly sharpen his stile against such iolly fellowes in parti∣cular, rather then to threaten y^e vengeance of God against the whole people in gene∣rall. And yet he sets not himselfe against the Princes onely who were placed in great dig∣nitie aboue others: for not onely they, but those also of baser condition are readie enough to burst with pride oftentimes; ac∣cording to the common prouerbe, Euery one hath the heart of a king: so as wee see euery day, that if wee touch the sores of wretched and beggerly fellowes but euen with the tip of the finger, you shall see them vomit forth insupportable poysoned speeches. Seeing then that this vice was very common, Isaiah toucheth as well the small as the great that were tainted therewith, signifying, that by how much the more the Lord had dealt gen∣tlie with them, by so much the more they were to looke for a greater iudgement: for their hearts were swollen with rebellion, be∣cause of their too great abundance. Further∣more although the letter Lamed, which is put in the datiue case, be sometime superfluous, yet notwithstanding in this place it holds his proprietie: because it seemes Isaiah assignes out a certaine day, as men are wont to doe, when iudgements or assises are held. I ex∣pound it then, that the day is appointed by God himselfe, wherein the proud must make their appearance before his iudicall throne to receiue sentence of condemnation.

Moreouer we may gather by these words, that God shewes himselfe an enemie to all the proud; and therefore this day of assig∣nation is as much as if God had said; I can no longer endure that men should thus wic∣kedly exalt themselues against me: and ther∣fore all such as lift vp themselues aboue mea∣sure, shall be broken in peeces with my hand. Now if this were well rooted in our hearts, who is it that would not abhorre and detest pride, by which we thus prouoke the wrath of God against vs? If any will reade, Proud and loftie, in the Neuter gender, it must be referred to the fortresses, bulwarkes, and mu∣nitions: but the rules of Grammar cannot beare it, that wee should expound it other∣wise then of mens persons.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Eccles. 8.11.