Commentary on Isaiah, Commentary on Isaiah · Chapter 1 · Verse 23
Verſ. 23. Thy Princes are rebellions and companions of theeues: eueryevery one loueth gifts, and followeth after rewards, they iudge not the fatherles, neither doth … doth the widowes cauſe come before them.
THere is an alluſion and meeting together of wordes in this place, which hath a verie good grace; as if hee ſhould ſay, Thy Princes are pincers. Neither ſpeakes he ſo of the princes as if the people were holy and blameleſſe, but hee toucheth the welſpring of the miſchiefe: for euen as no euill is more hurtfull, then that which comes from the head, and diſperſeth it ſelfe into all the members; ſo alſo is there nothing more pernicious in a commonwealth, then a corrupt and wicked Prince, who ſpreadeth abroad his corruptions ouer all the body, as well by example, as by giuing libertie thereunto: Prou. 29.12. From whence alſo came the prouerb, Such a maſter ſuch a man. It is all one then as if the Prophet ſhould hauehave ſaid, that it was no particular vice that reigned among the common people, but that the Princes, and great Lords had let looſe the raines to al wickednes. Alſo there is a cloſe amplificatiō in the word Princes; becauſe it is a thing much to be lamented, that the euill ſhould come from thence, where remedie ſhould be ſought. He ioynes one particular, which …s, that they are companions of theeues: by which words he ſignifies, that they were ſo farre off from endeuoring themſelues to repreſſe theeueries and wrongs, that on the contrarie, they drew gaine and profit from thence: and he calles them theeues iuſtly, who in taking part of the pray, gaue licence to others to ſteale. Neither can it be auoided when a Iudge ſuffereth himſelfe to bee corrupted by bribes, that diſorders ſhould not raigne: for it is all one, as if hee himſelfe ſhould conſent with theeues.
EueryEvery one loueth gifts.] Hee alſo ſhewes the cauſe wherefore the Princes had ſocietie with the theeues, and by a wicked conſpiracie had coupled themſelues with them, to foſter and maintaine all iniuſtice: to wit, couetouſnes. For iuſtice is gone when Iudges are giuen to the louelove of monie: for if accepting of perſons be ſuch a corruption in iudgment, that where it reignes, equitie hath no place at all; truely, whoſoeuer he be that is poſſeſſed with couetouſnes, ſuch a one hath more reſpect to the perſon then to the cauſe. And therefore he cannot ſee the right: but will practiſe that which one ſaith, to wit, hee will make lawes, and vnmake them againe.
By this we are aduertiſed, what a vertue it is in a Magiſtrate to know how to contemne gifts: for if he cannot curbe his deſires, his hands and eyes, he will neuer iudge iuſtlie. It is therefore but a tale when ſome ſay, they can keepe a good conſcience, though they receiue rewards, ſeeing that which the Lord ſaith, remaines euer true; namely, that gifts doe blind the eyes of the wiſe, and peruert the words of the iuſt:Exod. 23.1. Deut. 16.29. There is no man then ſo perfect, nor ſo wiſe and learned, whoſe eyes & vnderſtanding may not be blinded with gifts. Whence it is that he iuſtly chargeth ye Iudges to be cōpanions with theeues, becauſe being carried away with a blind deſire of monie, there was no law neither of God nor of man which they peruerted not, and that there remained amongſt them no reſpect either of ſhame or equitie.
Wee muſt alſo note, that for the conuiction of hypocrites, the Prophet ſets their workes, which were notorious, before them, which were alſo apparent to all the world: becauſe otherwiſe they would neuer bee brought vnderunder. And yet no doubt but there were many at that time which winced when they were thus termed by ye name of theeues: as alſo at this day, many crie out impudently, and obſtinately that they are not theeues for taking thoſe bribes and giftes which are offered them, and that it will hinder them nothing at all from iudging iuſtly. Now becauſe ſuch anſwers are friuolous, the Prophet hauing diſcouered their wickednes, and contenting himſelfe thus to hauehave reprooued them, he pleades no more with them. And verily nature it ſelfe teacheth vsus, that it is vnp…ſſible to giuegive right iudgemēt, when Iudges are ſo greedie of recompence and reward: for it cannot bee but that thereby they muſt needes ſet both their faithfulnes and eſtimation to ſale.
They iudge not the fatherleſſe.] Euen as the Lord doth ſpecially recommend vntounto vsus the cauſes of the widowes and of the fatherleſſe, becauſe they are deſtitute of mens ſuccour and helpe; ſo alſo it is no meruaile if hee be offended when hee ſeeth the Iudges neglect them, in ſtead of being mouth, eyes, eares and hands for them. For when no man puts forth himſelfe to ſuccour ſuch as are deſtitute of counſell, forecaſt, and meanes, they muſt of neceſſitie bee laid open to iniuries, and all manner of violences, without hope of redreſſe. Now when no man takes their cauſe to heart, it is a ſigne that couetouſnes and briberie hauehave the chiefeſt ſway there, and not equitie.