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Vers. 17. They shall be turned back: they shall be greatly ashamed that trust in grauen Images, and say to the molten I∣mages, Yee are our Gods.
BY this we euidentlie see to whom the for∣mer doctrine belonged: for now he di∣stinguisheth Gods seruants from Idolaters. As if he should say, The Lord wil leade his people, but in the meane while those that trust in gra∣uen Images shall be ashamed. As if he should say, the choice is here set before you, either by grace to be saued, or miserablie to perish. For all such as put their confidence in Idols shall surely perish: but those that rest vpon Gods word and promise shall assuredly be saued. I grant they must suffer many and tedious af∣flictions, yet they shall not be ashamed nor con∣founded: for God in the end will shew that this difference which he puts betweene them that trust in him, and those that trust in Idols was not in vaine.
Moreouer, it is very certaine that by the two marks which he here expresseth,* 1.1 all Ido∣laters are meant, who fix their hope in any thing but in God. For albeit they bow not before their Idols, yet in attributing vnto them I know not what diuinitie, they take that glorie from the only true God which to him belongs: for the principall part of Gods seruice stands in faith and prayer, both which the Prophet expresseth in this place. But it may be demanded, [Quest.] whether they were so blockish as to say to a block, Thou art my God. For the most superstitious haue confessed that God was in heauen; neither haue they bin so grosse as to attribute a diuine nature directly to wood or stone: it seemes there∣fore that Isaiah makes them more sottish then they are. [Ans.] I answere, that all Idolaters attri∣bute that power to their Images which be∣longs to God;* 1.2 albeit they acknowledge him to be in heauen: for when they trot so fast after their puppets and Idols, to whom they make and pay their vowes, doe we not eui∣dentlie perceiue that they giue that to them which only appertaines to God? It is in vaine then that they labour to colour and cloake brutishnes, for they make gods of wood and stone, and in thus doing offer extreame vio∣lence to the Lord. The Prophet therefore hath not ouershot himselfe, neither hath he framed a false accusation against Idolaters, because their owne vvords doe sufficientlie te∣stifie the same to their faces, when they call their Idols and Images, gods. Yea let it be gran∣ted that they be not heard to pronounce any such words, yet their madnes may easily be discerned, in that they thinke God can nei∣ther heare, nor help them, vnlesse they pro∣strate themselues before a senselesse stock, and mumble vp a certaine stint of prayers before it. Now these things are thus vttered, to let all know, that none can be saued, but he which shall trust in God only.