Commentary on Isaiah, Commentary on Isaiah · Chapter 37 · Verse 3
Verſ. 3. And ſaid, I beſeech thee, Lord, remember now how I hauehave walked before thee in trueth, and with a perfect heart, and hauehave done that which is good in thy ſight: and Hezekiah wept ſore.
IT ſeemes here that he meant to reaſon the caſe with God, and to rip vp his former life vntounto him, as one being wrongfully afflicted: but he meant nothing leſſe. He rather furniſheth himſelfe with arguments to buckle againſt the ſharpe and dangerous temptations which might follow. For when the Lord dealt thus roughly with him, he might thinke himſelfe forlorne, forſaken, and reiected, as it God had diſliked of all that he had done before: for which cauſe he fortifies & cheeres vp himſelfe, by proteſting that all his actions proceeded from the vprightneſſe of his heart. In a word, hee concludes that his indeuors were not diſpleaſing vntounto God, though hee were preſently taken away: and thus he makes way for good hope and praier.
Hee oppoſeth not his merits then to the righteouſneſſe of God,Hezekias oppoſeth not his merits againſt Gods righteouſnes, but armes himſelfe againſt a ſh…rp temptation. neither complaines he as if he were puniſhed vniuſtly; but armes his ſelfe againſt a ſharpe temptation, to the end Gods dealing might not ſeem too ſeuere in his eies, in regard that hee had ſo well reformed and taken away corruptions, which had then the full ſwinge in his kingdome, but chiefly in the Church.
God admits his children ſometime to glory in their well doing.I denie not but the Lord ſometimes admits his children to reioice in the things which they hauehave well done: not as vanting of their deſerts in his ſight, but to acknowledge his benefits, and to be ſo touched with the remembrance thereof, that they may the better fit themſelues thereby to beare all their aduerſities patiently. Sometimes alſo the importunitie of their enemies conſtraines them to glory with an holy boaſting, that they may commend their cauſe to God, as to him that is the Iudge and defender of it: and ſo Dauid boldly oppoſeth his innocencie againſt the ſlanders of his aduerſaries, and that euen before the iudgement ſeate of God: Pſal. 7.9. and 17.3.It is an old practiſe of Satan, vnderunder colour of humilitie, to driue vsus into deſpaire. But Hezekiah meant here to preuent Satans ſophiſtrie, whereof the faithfull hauehave ſufficient experience, whileſt vnderunder pretence of humilitie, hee ouerwhelmes them in deſpaire. We muſt be very warie therefore, that our hearts be not ſwallowed vp of it.
Beſides, from his words we gather the true rule of a well ordered life;The rule of a well ordered life. The firſt rule. Nothing prouokes God more then fained holineſſe. Ioh. 4. to wit, when the integritie of the heart holds the firſt place: for there is nothing that diſpleaſeth God ſo much, as when we goe about to coſen either him, or mē by our diſſimulatiō: for as a gliſtering ſhew of works is wont to dazle our eies; ſo nothing prouokes his wrath more thē feined holineſſe, in regard his name is thereby moſt profaned. We know he is a ſpirit: is it not good reaſon then that he ſhould be worſhipped ſpiritually, eſpecially ſeeing he proteſteth that a double heart is an abomination vntounto him? Hezekiah therefore had good cauſe as you ſee, to beginne at the vprightneſſe of his heart.
The word Chalem, which is tranſlated perfect, is nothing elſe but that integritie and ſoundneſſe of heart which is oppoſed to hypocriſie; which alſo appeares by the word truth, according as Saint Paul ſaith,1. Tim. 1.5. that the end of the law, is louelove out of a pure heart, a good conſcience, and faith vnfeined. Moreouer, Hezekias ſets downe the fruits which iſſue from a pure heart, as from the roote; not onelyonly to animate himſelfe, but others alſo, eſpecially concerning thoſe things which might giuegive them any occaſion of ſtumbling. Hee ſtaggered not then, but meant to remoue the impediments which peraduenture might diſcourage many.
Againe,The ſecond rule. let vsus note how our life muſt be ordered, if we deſire that God ſhould approue of vsus; to wit, that we doe nothing vvithout his commandement: And hauehave done that which was good in thy ſight.for as hee reiects and condemnes all outward ſhewes, whereby hypocrits would bee thought iolly fellowes; ſo eſteemes he nothing at all of any newfound ſeruices, wherein the ſuperſtitious ſort trauaile in vaine, thinking they merit much at his hands, whileſt they caſt his word behind their backs. But Hezekias, Hezekias not onelyonly ran, but he ran well.who knew that obedience was better then ſacrifices, 1. Sam. 15.22. ſaith not onelyonly that he ran, (which ſome often doe, though cleane out of the way) but alſo that he ſquared his whole life to the commandements of God, which onelyonly is the competent Iudge thereof. Now from this place wee may gather, how much this holy perſonage was kindled with the affection of praier: for albeit he ſees nothing about him but ſignes of Gods wrath, yet hee ceaſeth not to hauehave recourſe vntounto him ſtill,God muſt be ſought vntounto by praier, when hee ſeemes moſt angrie. and exerciſeth his faith, by powring out his praiers & teares in his preſence; which all faithfull hearts ought carefully and diligentlie to practiſe, and that euen in their deepeſt diſtreſſes.