grace to the faithfull; then they direct their speech to the hypocrits, testifying that the mercy which God promiseth to his children, shall be so far off from benfiting of them, that they shall surely beare the reward of their sinnes.
Wheras he bends the force of his speech in particular against women, the Hebrews vnder this word (according to the vse of their tong) vnderstand Cities: but I thinke this should be no figuratiue maner of speech, and therefore I rather rest in the bare letter. Now he speaks to women rather then vnto men, to signifie the greatnesse of this desolation: for women and maidens are commonly spared in such times, by reason of their sex, being also desti∣tute of warlike defences. Well, he saith the destruction shall be so barbarous, that none shall scape scotfree.
And note that he speakes expresly of women of rest, who cōmonly are the most delicate: for according to their abundance, so they may better shift for themselues, and may more easilie escape dangers, when the poore must be faine to goe to the wall. But Isaiah telles them that they shal be constrained to rise and tremble: therein opposing this trembling, to that rest and ease which they quietly inioy∣ed. For he commands them to arise, as giuing them to vnderstand, that it was no time for them now to sit still, because the Lord was a∣bout to awaken them out of their secure couse of life.
When he addes, heare my voice yee daughters: by daughters, the Rabbines vnderstand Cities and Townes; but this ought to be taken litte∣rally, as I said before. Hee shewes whence this terror and violence shall proceed, which shall cause them thus to arise and tremble; to wit, from the iudgement of God. But he men∣tions the voice, to shew that this shall bee no vaine prophecie, because this war was pro∣claimed against them by the commandement of God. As if he should say; You shall one day feele by experience, what power and effi∣cacie there is in the word of God to awaken you.
Now he blames their idlenesse, securitie, and delicacie so oft, not onely because it should be vnked for those that had bin wont-to be at their ease, to bee so rudely rouzed vp; but also in regard it is a thing almost vn∣possible, that the world (in this corrupted and depraued estate of mans nature) should not bee too carelesse in abusing rest and abun∣dance. For we then by little and little fall in∣to a sottishnesse of mind, deceiuing our owne soules with vaine imaginations: so as all feare is abandoned of euery one: in which false se∣curitie, wee easily are drawne audaciously e∣uen to rush against God himselfe.