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. 9. [Ans.] The Lord of hostes hath de∣creed this, to* 1.1 staine the pride of all glory, and to bring to contempt, all them that be glorious in the earth.

The pride.] Or, the haughtinesse:* 1.2 for we may reade it both waies, because haughtinesse be∣gets pride; for it is very rare to finde humili∣tie of spirit in a haughtie minde. Notwith∣standing it is better to reade it pride, which is enough of it selfe to prouoke God to take vengeance, when men vnder pretence of their excellencie, aduance themselues aboue measure. To profane, and dishonour, are takn for one and the same thing: because those who are exalted to honour, seeme to bee as men consecrate and set apart, conceiting I wot not what greatnesse of themselues; as if they were now quite exempt out of the com∣mon ranke of men.* 1.3 But God no sooner strips such of their dignity, and brings them down, but hee forthwith makes them vile and con∣temptible. Let vs therefore learne from this place, so to consider of Gods prouidence, that we giue that praise to his infinite power, which belongs vnto it for his so iust a go∣uernement. So then, albeit the iustice where∣by it pleaseth God to moderate his actions alwaies appeares not vnto vs; yet ought wee not therefore to separate his power from his iustice. In the meane while, for as much as the Scriptures plainely shew, and often set before vs the end why God doth this or that; we ought to bee wise in obseruing the causes of his works.

Now this inuention of Gods absolute pow∣er,* 1.4 which the Schoolemen haue forged, is a most execrable blasphemie: for it is all one as 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

the dayes of a king to Dauid, it is too friuolous, for he takes it for the age of a man, as the Psalmist shewes: The age of a man, saith he, is often limited to threescore yeares and ten, Psal. 90.10. But why mentions he a king rather then some other man? It is because Tyre had a king, and therefore he counts the yeres by his life. This serued much therefore to con∣firme the certentie of this prophesie, for the Prophet could not know these things by any humane coniectures. By the song of the harlot, he vnder a fit similitude meanes merchan∣dize, not that merchandizing is to be con∣demned in it selfe, for it is profitable and ne∣cessarie for a Common wealth: but he taxeth the deceits and guile wherewith it aboun∣deth, so as it may very well be compared to the art of harlotrie.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or, profane
• * 1.2

  A rare thing to finde an humble heart in an haughtie minde.
• * 1.3

  Note.
• * 1.4

  God abso∣lute power.