Vers. 16. Lord, in trouble they haue visited thee: they powred out a prayer when thy chastening was vpon them.
THis may bee well expounded of those hypocrits who neuer seeke vnto God, vn∣lesse they be constrained thereunto by mise∣ries and calamities. But seeing the Lord also instructs the faithful by his rods and chastise∣ments,* 1.1 as the Prophet hath heretofore shew∣ed: therefore I had rather referre these things simply vnto them. First, to the end they may [ 1] know that God is iust in his iudgements. Se∣condly, [ 2] that they might thereby learne to feare the Lord, and euery day to grow vp in it more and more. Thirdly, that they might [ 3] feele that the bitternesse of the medicine is taken away by the fruite which they receiue from it.
Thus Isaiah then speakes here in the per∣son of the Church;* 1.2 that so, whensoeuer the faithfull should reade this sentence, they might acknowledge that they were neerer vnto God in their afflictions, then when they abounded in all things which their hearts could wish;* 1.3 for then commonly we wax proud and forgetfull: such is the frowardnesse of our nature. Is it not needfull then that we should be tamed & broght vnder by force of armes? This meditation is very profitable to correct the bitternesse of our troubles: for when we know what benefit redounds to vs by them, it makes vs lesse to abhor them.
The word Lachash, (which wee haue tran∣slated Prayer) signifies, To murmure. We are not to take this sentence then for a well fra∣med praier; but for such a one, as testifieth that the heart is pent vp in great dolours, as those who feele such anguish, that they can scarcely open their teeth to vtter their perplexed thoughts. He therefore speakes of such a praier as is pure and far from all coun∣terfetting: for when Gods seruants are vnder