Vers. 15. I will make waste moun∣taines and hilles, and dry vp all their hearbs: and I will make the floods Ilands, and I will dry vp the pooles.
THe Prophet meanes that all the muniti∣ons which animated the wicked to re∣taine these poore captiues, could not hinder the Lord from setting them at libertie. It was needfull this should be added to the for∣mer. For when we see the wicked armed (in a manner) with inuincible power, wee then tremble, and haue much a doe to apprehend Gods power, so farre as to continue stedfast in our confidence. Isaiah therefore insists vpon this point, signifying that neither men nor munitions can resist the Lord, when he is minded to deliuer his chosen. In a word, hee shewes that the change shall bee such, that those who were the strongest before, shall be broken to peeces, and shall gaine nothing by resisting of him. This I take to be the natiue sense of these words; so that it is needlesse to stand descanting subtilly vpon them any lon∣ger, as some do, who expounding these things allegorically, thinke that mountaines and hilles signifie Cities; hearbs, the men which dwell in them. But why should we follow such sophi∣stries, seeing the Prophet onely shewes that God is powerfull enough to fulfill his promi∣ses, and to deliuer his Church? because hee can easilie surmount all stumbling blockes that shall be laid before him. This sentence therefore answers to other prophecies which we haue seene heretofore, where Isaiah tea∣cheth, that Gods power is not tied to second causes, when he is determined to preuent the enemies of their purpose; but goes thorow with his worke after a wonderful fashion, and breakes downe all impediments which see∣med to shut vp his passage.