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. 12. Children are extortioners of my people: and women haue rule ouer them: O my people, they that leade thee, cause thee to erre, and destroy the way of thy pathes.

THe Prophet also reprooues the follie and blockishnesse of this people who were starke blind, euen at noone day. There is nothing which men beare more impatiently, then to endure the yoke to be laid vpon their shoulders: neither do they verie rea∣dilie submit themselues to the gouernment of any that haue more power then them∣selues. We must needes say that such as obey delicate and effeminate persons, and suffer that such folke should oppresse them, are be∣come sottish, impotent, and faint hearted. Neither is it to be doubted also, but those who thus willingly did offer their shoulders like Asses to beare the burthen, were smitten from heauen with a spirit of amazednes. I graunt that those who are couragious ought to beare the rule of a tyrant: but Isaiah re∣prooueth the Iewes, who for that they had obstinately shaken off the sweete yoke of God, were now readie to yeeld themselues vnder vilanous and base subiection, & that with most seruile conditions. They could not complaine that they were constrained to it by force, seeing they obeyed them freely; to whome notwithstanding they needed not to haue beene subiect vnlesse they would. Whereby it appeares that they were stricken with the hand of God, and daunted with feare, so as they had neither strength nor wit left in them.

And it is euen that same vengeance wher∣with God had threatned the people with be∣fore by Moses. For as we said erewhile, the Prophets had still an eye to this generall doctrine of Moses in all their Sermons. For how can it bee that men hauing power to re∣sist, should willingly put themselues into bon∣dage (which notwithstanding they naturally flee) vnlesse that God hauing depriued them of all counsell and vnderstanding, should thus leaue them to themselues to auenge himselfe by this meanes of their rebellions? Wherefore as oft as the like befals any of vs, let vs not think it is come to passe by chance: no, let vs on the contrarie know, that when witlesse men, and more feeble then little chil∣dren, shall haue dominion ouer vs, that the wrath of God hath then ceassed vpon vs: vn∣lesse peraduenture we meane to be reproued by the Prophet, of a much greater blockish∣nesse.

They that lead thee.] He goes on stil with the same doctrine, to wit, that God is exceedingly angry with y^e Iewes, in that he hath let loose the bridle to the wicked to trouble all. From hence also we may coniecture, that the com∣mon people foolishly suffered themselues to be led hoodwinked by the Gouernours; so as they receiued their edicts and course of con∣uersation as oracles. Now all the corruptions which raigned euery where, came frō thence. To the end that y^e contagion therfore should not spread further by the ignorance of the people, Isaiah cries to them that they should take heede of the Gouernours themselues who were carrying them away headlong into destruction. Others expound; Those which make thee happy. But because the participle which he vseth may be deriued from the verb Iashar, which signifies to gouerne, I had rather follow this interpretation, because me thinks it sutes best with the scope of the text. I con∣fesse indeede that the false Prophets flatte∣red the people: yet I see no reason why he should mention their flatteries in this place. But it agrees very well to the heads and lea∣ders: namely that they were the cause of ru∣ine. For as the Princes are ordained for the common safety, so also is there not a more dangerous plague, then when they be men of no value; ruling all things as they list. He saith then, that those which gouern are the cause of the euill, and corrupt all; seeing they ought to correct others, & to shew them the way by their examples.