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. 5. The yles saw it, and did feare, and the ends of the earth were abashed, drew neere, and came.

6. Euery man helped his neighbour, and said to his brother; Be strong.

HE shewes now that the world was too vn∣thankfull, who hauing seene the workes of God, did still perseuere in that blindnesse wherewith it was possessed before. In the be∣ginning of the Chapter, hee shewed that the victorie was his, if they would but lend their eares to heare his plea: now he addes, that the Gentiles knew his power well enough, and yet for all that, continued obstinate and rebellious. In which respect, they were left without excuse. Why so? Because the Lord manifested himselfe so apparantly, that they could not chuse but see him, vnlesse they would wittingly shut their eyes, lest they should behold him.

That he might therefore take from the na∣tions furthest off, all pretext of ignorance, he saith, they were abashed at the sight of his works; and yet they fell to their old bias a∣gaine, and forthwith wrapped themselues in many superstitious vanities and errors. The summe is, that they not onely beheld▪ but were also conuinced, in that this knowledge abashed them. But some may obiect, [Obiect.] that the benefits which God did to Abraham, could not bee made knowne to all, in such wise that for∣raigne nations should be fully acquainted with it. I answer, [Ans.] that howsoeuer he mentions none but Abraham here, yet vnder him hee meant to call to mind other examples of his goodnesse, which their forefathers had tasted of since, that from both, they might conceiue hope of deliuerance. Abraham was not onely deliuered out of Caldea, but God drew also all his posteritie out from the bondage of Egypt: Exod. 13.16. and put them into posses∣sion of the land of Canaan. He saith then that the Iles felt his power, when hee deliuered and preserued his people, that they might know the true God: for his power plainly appeared in so many miracles.

Lastly, he signifies, that the Iles should bee astonished at Gods inuincible power, when he should afterwards deliuer his people. And whilest the wicked shall heare tell of it, they will not cease still to bee perplexed, because they therein feele that God is their enemie.

Drew neere.] By this, some vnderstand, that the vnbeleeuers tooke a narrow view of Gods works. For we vse to draw neere when we would be more certainly informed of any new thing: others referre it to the King of Sodome, who met Abraham: Gen. 14.17. but these things, as I thinke, sauor not, neither come they neere the marke. The words of the text will be easilie vnderstood, if we ioine this latter member to the verse following, thus; They drew neere and came: euery man hel∣ped his neighbour: and so the sense will be; Al∣though the Iles saw and knew my vvorkes, so as they stood abashed, yet they assembled by heapes to make conspiracies. But to what end? Euen to harten on one another to make new gods, and to confirme themselues more and more in their blindnesse.

Hee amplifies the crime then, when hee saith, that euery one helped his neighbour. Now truly, hee that shall looke neere home, and shall diligently obserue mens dealings, hee shall perceiue that the spring from whence all superstitions flow, is, that with one consent they agree to quench the light which shines vpon them from heauen.

Now albeit the Lord heere complaines of idolaters, yet he doth it to the end the Iewes might bee farre from corrupting themselues with so foule a sinne, but might rather keepe themselues close vnto God, and to a sincere confidence in his promises. He sets the ingra∣titude of the Gentiles then before them, that they might learne to shun their steps, and to continue rooted in the reuerence of Gods Maiestie. We here see now as in a glasse, how great the peruersitie of men is, who profit nothing at all by beholding the workes of God, but become the more dull and senslesse thereby; for they had rather winke with their eies, and to shut them at high noone, then to behold God, who represents himselfe before them. Besides this blindnesse, there is a ra∣ging furie which prouokes them to rise vp a∣gainst God himselfe, and to be so mad, as to offer him the combat, rather then not to maintaine their superstitions: so that this vice stands not so much in the worshipping of idols, as in going a madding after them. The Prophet sets forth this phrensie when he saith, play the men; be valiant, or strong: for he expresseth their mischieuous conspiracie, in that they prouoked, nay, set one another on fire to commit idolatry, and to reiect the feare of the true God, which they might con∣ceiue in their mindes, by the sundry testimo∣nies of his power.

Notes

• Vers. 6.
• The foun∣taine from whence all superstitions flow.
• God com∣plaines of the Gentiles to admonish the Iewes.
• Idolaters not onely blind, but furious and frantike.