Vers. 18. For the graue cannot con∣fesse thee: death can not praise thee: they that goe downe into the pit, cannot hope for thy truth.
WHere he saith, that he can not set forth the praises of God if his life be taken a∣way, he promiseth to do it, if so great a bene∣fit may be granted vnto him; and therewith∣all shewes, that the only cause why he desires to liue, is, that he might praise God. Now al∣beit there is not a better signe of a godlie heart then to desire life, vpon condition to glorifie God continuallie by the same: yet it seemes Hezekias speakes somewhat too strict∣ly. For the faithfull glorifie God no lesse by their death, then by their life:* 1.1 by death they come to be perfectlie conioined with him, and neuer cease to sing his praises with the elect Angels. But there is yet another diffi∣cultie which moued Hezekias so much to flee death, and so earnestlie to desire to liue still on earth. Which second question, albeit we haue discussed heretofore, yet the readers shall againe be put in minde that this terror proceeded not from the only apprehension of death: for when the houre came that he should die, he recoiled not back, but willing∣lie went vnto his God. But at this time being smitten with the sense of Gods wrath, his only sorrow is, that his sinnes had bereaued him of his life, fearing he should neuer taste any of Gods blessings or fauours afterward. Here∣upon also depends the solution of the first question: for what maruell is it if this good man seeing he must die,* 1.2 his death also pro∣ceeding