Commentary on Isaiah, Commentary on Isaiah · Chapter 40 · Verse 15
Verſ. 15. Behold, I will make thee a roller, and a new threſhing instrument hauing teeth: thou ſhalt threſh the mountaines and bring them to pouder, and ſhalt make the hills as chaffe.
HE ſpeakes ſtill of the reſtauration of the Church, promiſing that ſhe ſhall be ſo exalted aboue her enemies, that ſhe ſhall bruiſe and grind them to pouder. And this he expreſſeth vnderunder a very fit ſimilitude. For the Iewes to whom he ſpeakes were almoſt cruſhed in pieces: but now on the contrarie he tels them that they being deliuered ſhall cruſh their enemies, and ſo render them like for like. Now it was very needfull that this conſolation ſhould be added, for had they not recouered new ſtrength, it is like enough they had bin ſubiect to the tyranny of their enemies for euer: God meant to arme them then, that they might be able to repulſe the outrages done vntounto them: ſo as they were now become the executioners of Gods vengeance as our Prophet ſhewes.
But by theſe words it might ſeeme he meant to inflame the Iewes with a deſire to reuenge, Obiect. which is directlie contrarie to the nature of Gods ſpirit: to which vice we being too much inclined, the Lord often commands vsus to repreſſe theſe deſires of reuenge; ſo farre off is he from allowing them in vsus: nay, doth he not on the contrarie exhort vsus to pray for our enemies? Math. 5.44. Wee ought much leſſe then to reioice in their miſeries and calamities. I anſwere, Anſ. that the Prophet ſhewes here what ſhall come to paſſe; but he neither commands, nor counſels them to deſire the ruin of their enemies. Obiect. If any replie, that we muſt not only expect, but alſo deſire that which the Lord hath promiſed, ſeeing it turnes to his glorie, Anſ. and our ſaluation: I confeſſe indeed, that this conſolation greatlie aſſwageth our ſorrowes, in that he promiſeth to puniſh our enemies one day who hauehave cruelly vexed vsus, in rendring them the ſame meaſure which they hauehave meaſured. Yet this hinders not the law of louelove, which enioines vsus rather to ſorrow for the euils which they voluntarily pull downe vponupon their owne heads,Note. and to bewaile their condition, then to wiſh their ouerthrow. If we imbrace this promiſe with ſuch faith as is meet, that is, in caſting downe all the impaciencie of the fleſh at her feet, then ſhall we firſt of all be diſpoſed to patience; and in the next place we will with a moderat zeale wait for the accompliſhment of Gods iudgements. We muſt therefore labour to quench all thoſe inordinate paſſions of the fleſh, and with an humble and meeke ſpirit to wait for the fit time when this iudgement ſhall be executed: not ſo much in regard of our owne particular profits, as to ſee Gods iuſtice exalted, according as it deſerues. Dauid hath written to this effect, Pſal. 58. The righteous ſhall reioyce when he ſeeth the vengeance, he ſhall waſh his feete in ye blood of the wicked: not that they take pleaſure in their miſeries, but as it is ſaid afterwards in that Pſalme, Men ſhall ſay, Verily there is fruit for the righteous, doubtleſſe there is a God that iudgeth the earth. For God manifeſts his iuſt iudgements to the world, when the wicked are puniſhed for their miſdoings. The Iewes (being cruell and blood-thirſtie) ſnatch vp theſe promiſes like ſauage and wilde beaſts, who rauenouſlie deuoure the pray that is offred, and keepe a howling if they doe but apprehend the very ſent of it.We cannot approoue our ſelues to bee Gods children, vnleſſe we be led by the ſpirit of meekeneſſe. But the Lord would not hauehave his children to forget that mildnes which he aboue al things likes of: for we can make no claime to be the children of ſuch a father, vnleſſe we be led with the ſpirit of meekenes and gentlenes. To be ſhort, by the harrow with ſharp teeth, he meanes nothing elſe but the fearefull and terrible end of the wicked, whom the Lord will ouerthrow by the hands of the faithfull, yet not ſo inflame their hearts with a deſire of ſhedding blood, as to comfort and cheere vp their ſpirits.