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. 5. For it is a day of trouble, and of ruin and of perplexitie by the Lord of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking downe the Citie: and a crying vnto the mountaines.

HE againe signifies that the Lord is the Au∣thor of this fearefull iudgement:* 1.1 and to the end the Iewes might not gaze heere and there, wondring that the enemies should get the vpper hand, he tels them plainely that they fight against God himselfe. Now albeit we often meete with this doctrine in the holie Scriptures, yet notwithstanding it is no way superfluous, neither can it be so often repea∣ted but we forget it when we are to practise

it: thence it is that we humble not our selues before our Iudge, but cast our eyes rather vpon men and externall meanes, then vp∣on God, who would easilie remedie our euils.

By day, he meanes a time prefixed, accor∣ding to the vsuall prase of the Scripture; be∣cause it seemes that God yeelds ouer his right for a time, when he winkes at mens wicked∣nesse: but he forthwith recouers it againe in that season that himselfe hath appointed. Now it is not for nought that he names the valley of vision againe: for the Iewes thought themselues secured from all dangers, be∣cause it pleased God to inlighten them by his word. But because they did vnthankfully re∣iect the doctrine thereof, it was but a vaine confidence, to thinke the bare inioying of it should any way profit them: for the Lord not onely punisheth the infidelitie of those that are out of the Church, but that also of the Church it selfe. Nay, rather he begins to ma∣nifest his anger against it first; for he will not indure to haue his graces abused, nor that men should boast of his titles in vaine. That which is added touching.

The cry of the mountaine, it may be referred to God, to the Caldeans, and to those also which fled; because the vanquishers raised vp a cry to augment the terrour: but the van∣quished either cried for mercie and fidelitie, or else testified their sorrow by teares & wee∣pings. The singular number may also be takē for the plurall, or else it is meant of that side of the Citie in which the Temple was built. Both expositions agree to the text; and there [ 1] is no great difference whether we say, That the enemies cried from the mountaine of Zion, [ 2] to incourage one another: or that their cry was heard of the neighbour mountaines, when they pilled and destroyed the Citie: or that [ 3] the citizens themselues made their lamenta∣tions sound to the mountaines which inuiro∣ned the plaine of Iordan.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Though it be often told vs that God is the author of our afflictiōs, yet we forget it when we should put this know∣ledge in pra∣ctise.