Page 260
ISAIAH. JEREMIAH.
THe Prophet Isaiah hath engraved his spi∣rit in his Book, and cannot be commen∣ded more advantageously then by his works. He that would make him great Elogies after so sublime a Prophecy would seem to intend to shew the Sun with a torch. The things that are most excellent make themselves known by themselves, as God and the Light; and I may say, all the words that this divine Personage hath left us, are as many characters of his Im∣mortality.
It is with a very just title that we put him amongst the holy Courtiers, for he was born at the Court of Judea, and some hold that he was the nephew of King Amasiah. This birth so elevated, and so many fair hopes which might flatter him to make him follow the course of the great ambitions of the world, did no way shake the force of his spirit. It was a soul con∣secrated to things Divine, that sacrificed the first fires of his youth by the most pure flames of Angels. Ne∣ver did Prophet enter into that Ministery with more authority and disposition of heaven.
He had a sublime vision, in which he saw the Majesty of God seated upon a Throne of Glory envi∣ron'd with Seraphims, that were transported through the admiration of his greatnesse. God in person crea∣ted him his Prophet; the Seraphim, a messenger of the sovereign power, purified his lips with a Carbun∣cle, from whence proceeded a celestiall fire, that if he had got any pollutions at the Court, where tongues are so free, they might be taken away by that sacred touch. He offered himself to God with an heart full of chearfulnesse, to carry his word before Kings and Subjects, without fearing their menaces or their furies. And he acquitted himself all his life time worthily of that duty, and prophesied more then fourscore and ten years, not ceasing to exhort, to counsel, to rebuke, to instruct, to comfort, and to perform all the exercises of his charge.
His Eloquence is as elevated as his birth; he speaks every where like a King, with a speech firm, lofty, and thundering, that passes all the inventions of man. When he threatens and fore-tells the calamities of Na∣tions, it is so much lightning kindled by the breath of Seraphims that proceeds out of this Divine mouth that pierces the rocks, that shakes the mountains, that crushes the highest cedars into dust, the nations into fear, and the Kings into respect.
When he comforts, they are rivers of milk and ho∣ney that flow from his tongue, and spread themselves with incomparable sweetnesses into afflicted hearts. When he describes the perfections and the reign of the Messias, they are the amorous extasies of a spirit melted by the heats of Jesus that strikes, burns, and penetrates him more then seven hundred years before his Birth.
The holinesse of his Life marched alwayes hand in hand with his Doctrine; He was a man, dead to all worldly things, that lived but by the raptures of his deified spirit. He loved singularly the poor, and com∣forted them in all their necessities. He spake to Kings and reproved their sins with an heroick constancy wor∣thy of his Bloud and Ministery.
At the same time, as Romulus began the Court of Rome, Isaiah saw that of Judea, where he experimen∣ted great changes and strange diversities according to the revolutions of humane things. He passed his youth under his uncle Amasiah who was at first a Prince good enough, and very obedient to the voyce of the Prophets; for when he had enterprised a migh∣ty warre with the Idumeans, he raised two armies, one of his own people, and the other of the unbelieving Israelites which he had invited to his aid; but when the Prophet told him that he did not well to make use of the Arms of Israel that was impious and sepa∣rated from the true God; he discharged them freely, although he had already paid an hundred thousand men, and contenting himself with his own troops, gave them battel, which he gained with great ad∣vantages.
But it is a strange thing, that by taking the Idume∣ans, he took also their Gods to worship them in Jeru∣salem,