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Vers. 4. For thus the Lord hath said vnto me; As the lion and the lions whelpe roare after their pray; against whom if a multitude of sheepheards lift vp their voice, they will not bee moued, nor will humble themselues at their cry: so the Lord of hostes will come downe to fight for mount Zion, and for the side of it.
THe Prophet adds this verse, to shew that the Lord is not minded to leaue his 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉
nish the Iewes for their wickednesses, and chieflie for their Idolatrie; so God also pro∣miseth that this enemie shall be cut off when they shall cease to sinne and to serue Idols. Thus wee see that our obstinacie is the cause why the Lord addes plague vnto plague, and doubles his blowes in pursuing vs more and more. For we still giue him new occasions of enflaming his wrath against vs.* 1.1 If we desire that God should strike vs more softlie, and that our enemies might at once be destroyed and neuer trouble vs more; let vs studie by newnes of life to enter into his fauor againe, for he will by and by lay downe his rods, and take away the force and power of our ene∣mies that they shall not hurt vs.
When it is said that it shall not be by the sword of man: the Prophet thereby meanes that the deliuerance of the Church is the pe∣culiar worke of God:* 1.2 giuing the Iewes to vn∣derstand, that albeit there appeered no help in earth, yet Gods secret power should be suf∣ficient to redeeme them. Are our enemies confounded then; is their force repressed? Let vs know that this proceeds from the hand of God. Indeed he repelleth the force and furie of the wicked diuers waies; but it is his onely hand notwithstanding whereby the Church is saued.* 1.3 For he so works by humane helps, that yet he keepes his chosen after a wonderfull and extraordinarie maner, as may be seene euen since the beginning of the world: and it is no lesse easie to perceiue it now,* 1.4 if we were not hoodwinked. And yet this lets not, but the Lord may imploy some of his seruants in the deliuerance of his Church, but so, that still his owne hand espe∣ciallie shines in such a worke.
We know this prophesie of Isaiah was ful∣filled when the host of the Assyrians was dis∣comfited, and when Sennacherib fled. For men commonlie see not Gods hand therein, but the Lord manifests his power to the end we might know that he is the deliuerer of his Church. And when he freed Ierusalem from the siege which was after laid before it, he did therein as in a glasse present also vnto the Iewes an image of their spiritual deliuerance. It is he alone then which will destroy our spi∣rituall enemies.* 1.5 In vaine therefore shall we seeke other helps and remedies, and in vaine shall we rest vpon our owne strength which is nothing: for we shall neuer ouercome nor be Conquerors but by the leading and help of our God.
His yong men.] His meaning is, that the Lord will so manifest his might against the Assyri∣ans, that the hearts of young men which are wont to be couragious shall quaile and melt as waxe. For in as much as yong men haue lesse experience then those that are old, they are more rash and headie. But the Lord will easilie coole their heate when the houre is come in which he will deliuer his seruants.* 1.6 This is the cause why Isaiah made speciall mention of yong men, as if he had said, the flower, or strength.
Reforme thy euil maners, and God wil redresse thy miseries.
The redemp∣tion of the Church, a peculiar worke of God.
Note.
God vseth men as in∣struments in sauing h••s Church, yet so, that his owne power only shines in this work. Chap. 37. 36. 37.
Our help stands only in the name of the Lord that made heauen and earth.
See to this purpose Chap. 40. ••0