beinge at the walles heare Whome Rabsices answerde Why thinke ye that my Lorde sente me only to yow and to your Lorde to saye this message and not rather to these kareful miserable men that sitte vpon the walls that they shulde not be constrayned to eate theire owne dyrte and to drynke their owne pisse with yow Rabsace therfore proceded stefly in his oracion kryinge with a lowde voyce in the Iuwes tonge saing heare what the grete king the Kinge of the Assyrions commaundeth Thus coÌ„maundeth the kinge take hede leste kinge Ezekias deceyue yowe for it lieth not in his power to defende yowe Nether let hym persuade yow to truste in his lorde affirminge that y â— Lorde with oute doute wyl delyuer you and that this cyte shal not be delyuerde into the handes of the kinge of Assyrye se that ye obaye not Ezekie for thus promyseth yow the kynge of Assyrie If ye wyll beare me so myche favoure as to forsake hym and turne to me every man shal enioye styll his owne vyneyarde his fygge trees and euery man shal drinke the waters of his owne pytte vntyl I shal come and leade yow vll to a lande as good as is this yowers even a lande wheryn is plentye bothe o whete and wyne ye a lande al redy sowne withe al maner corne and planted with y e beste vynes Take good hede y t Ezekias deceyve yowe not saynge the Lorde shal delyver yow For haue therever yet eny of the goddis of the gentiles delyuerd their lande frome the pow r of the kinge of the Assyrians Where is nowe the God of Hemath aÌ„d Arphad Whe r is the god of Sepharuaim And who I praye yowe delyuerde Samaria fro my power Whiche on emonge all the goddes of these kingdomes hath delyverde their region from my power so that ye maye truste to the lorde to delyver Ierusalem from my hande At these wordes the kinges legates we r so put to sylence that they had not a worde to answere Then returned Eliakim the presydent of y e towne house sonne of Helkie Sobna the scrybe and Ioas Secreterye the sonne of Asaph vnto Ezekias their clothes alto cutte and tolde hiÌ„ the oracion of Rabsacen The .xxxvij. Chapiter THen kinge Ezekias hearing this cut his clothes and he clothed with sacke wente into the temple of the Lorde and in the meane tyme he sente Eliakim the president of y e towne Sobnam the scribe and the seniours of the preestes clothed with sacke vnto Isaye the prophete sonne of Amos whiche sayed vnto hym Thus commaundeth vs Ezekias to saye vnto the. The daye of tribulacion the daye of affliccion and blasphemye is nowe come even lyke as thoughe the tyme of delyueraunce of chylde were presente and strengthe to put it forth shulde fayle the mother Verely the Lorde thy god hath harde the wordes of Rabsace whome his Lorde the Kinge of Assyrye hathe sente to blaspheme and to revyse the lyuinge god with certayne wordes which the lorde thy god hath harde wherfore thou muste geve the to pray r for y â— reamnaunte which ar yet left a lyue Then Isaye answerd y e seruaÌ„ts of kiÌ„ge Ezekie thê°sente comen on this maner Thus shall ye tell yower lorde Thus saith the lorde Feare thou not for these wordes which thou hast harde in y â— which the seruants of the kinge of Assyrye haue thus revyled and blasphemed me for lo I shall sende vpon him but a blaste of wynde whose noyse as sone as he heareth he shal returne into his owne lande where I shall cause him to be slayne with swerde Nowe was Rabsaces returned and fownde the kinge of Assyrye making warre agenst Lobnam for he had knowledge that he was remoued from Lachis and it was reported also of Tharhaca kinge of the Ethiops y t he shuldbe nowe coÌ„e to make warre with him which message when the kinge of Assyrye harde anon he sente other aÌ„bassiatours to Ezekias with this commaundement Thus shal ye tell Ezekias kinge of Iuda Take hede thy god deceyue the not in whom thou trusteste promysinge the that IerusaleÌ„ shal not be delyuerd into the hands of the kinge of the Assyryons For thou hast harde what great actes the kinge of Assyry hath done to al kingdomes in subuertinge them aÌ„d darest thou haue yet eny hope to escape Did the goddis of y â— Gentyles delyuer them whom my predicessours haue coÌ„quered Coulde thei delyuer Gozan Haran Rezeph and the Chyldern of Eden whiche holde of Thalassar where is the kinge of Hamath kinge of Arphad kinge of Sepharuaim Hene and Aue Then toke kinge Ezekias the Pystel of the handes of the Ambassiatours when he had red it he wente vp into the house of the lorde and opened it before the lorde makiÌ„ge his prayer on thys maner O lorde of powers the God of Israel which dwellest at the Cherubyms thou arte y e God which is the only god even the god of al the kingdoms of the erthe for it is thou that haste made bothe heauen aÌ„d erthe Bowe downe thy eare lorde and lysten opene thy eyes aÌ„d beholde Consyder al the wordes of Senherib which hath sente hither a blasphemous message wheryn he curseth and blasphemeth the lyuinge god Verely lorde I knowe this to be trwe that the kinges of Assyrye haue conquered all tye kingdoms and regions of the other nacions that they casted their goddes into the fyer for these were no goddis but the workes of mennis handes made of tre and stone wherfore they haue destroyed them worthely But nowe lorde ow r god nowe saue vs frome the handes of Senherib that nowe al the kingdoms of the erthe might knowe that thou art the lorde a lone When the thinge was at this poynte Isaye the sonne of Amos sente aÌ„d tolde Ezekias these wordes Thus hath the Lorde God of Israel spoken vnto these thinges which thou in thy prayer askedste of me as concerninge the kinge of the AssyryoÌ„s Thê° answerth the lorde agenst him O virgyn and daughter of Zion the kinge of Assyrye hathe despysed aÌ„d scorned the he shoke his head aftyr the o daughter of IerusaleÌ„ but thow proude kynge whoÌ„ revilest thou whom curseste and blasphemeste thou Agenste whom krowest thou or lyftest vp thy stately loke verely euen agenst him that sanctifieth Israel For thy seruants sente hither thou reuyledst the lorde and hast taken so stoughtly vpon thy selfe this thinge sayng I shal kouer the moste highest mountayns aÌ„d sydes of Libani with the multitude of my horse men and chariets I shal cutdowne hir highe Ceder trees hir beste fyr trees I shal entre thorowe both hir highe mountayns and also hyr wodes aÌ„d fayer feldes And where I fynde waters I shal drye them al vp with the fete of my hoste Speakest thow not now euen thus to kinge Ezekias saiÌ„ge hast thou not harde what actes and by what power I haue done them in tyme paste and what I am abonte to do now also that
thinges are naught that it is I that am the Lorde no nother I fashione the light create derkenes I make peace bringe forthe trouble It is I the lorde that dothe al these thiÌ„ges Heauen shal geue downe dewe froÌ„ a bone aÌ„d the clowdes shal rayne downe rightwylnes y â— ertheshalbe opened bringeforth the sauyower Ryghtwysnes also shal bud forth with hym Euen I the lorde shal create this thinge Wo be to him that disputeth with his mak r even the potsherde with y e potter shal the claye saye to the potter what thiÌ„ge makest thou or thy worke â—ueth to no vse Wo be to him that sayth to the father wherfor wilt thou gete chylderne to the mother wherfor wilt thou bring forthe frute Thê° saith y e lorde that maketh holy Israel his maker also Aske me thinges to come vpon my chylderne byd me tell yow of the workes of my haÌ„des I made therthe created man ther vpon I stretched the heauens with my handes al hyr myghty hoste or beutyful aperel are at my coÌ„maundemeÌ„t I shal stervp this kyng Cyrê° with rightwysnes al his wayes shal I directe He shal edyfe my cyte let lose my captiuite that persuaded nether by money nor mede saith the lorde of powers Farthermore thus said y e lorde the marchantes of Egipte of Ethiope the tributaryes of Sabe shall coÌ„e to the shal be thyne they shal folowe the they shalgo in gyves of their fete they shal knefe before the make theyr supplicacioÌ„ prayer vnto the for verely god is with the besydes whoÌ„ there is no god howe profounde howe depely hyd arte thou o god eveÌ„ the god sauiow r of Israel let theÌ„ beshamed coÌ„founded go their wayes togith r with ignomynye al theys worshipers of Idols but Israel shal be saued in the lorde w t a ê‘petual helth Thei shalnot be shamed ne noted w t ignomynye for evermo r for thê° sayd the lorde that created heauens eveÌ„ god that fashioned therthe he made prepared it I haue not made it in vayne but to be inhabited I am the lorde besydes whoÌ„ their is none Neth r haue I spoken in hyd places nor in eny derke korner of the erthe Neth r in vayne sayd I to the sead of Iacob seke me For I am y e lorde speakinge that at iuste is and shewing that at right is let them be gatherd to gither aÌ„d come let the tother nacion escaped that is to saye the gentyles come also vnto me What vnderstandinge haue they that fyft vp an image of tree aÌ„d so praye to a god that cannot saue them Let them come to me I saye and let them agree in one aÌ„d tel me who hath shewed them these thinges before or who expownded thez firste Did not I the Lorde besydes whom there is no god It is I that am the rightwyse god and sauiow r besydes whom ther is non Beturned therfore to me al the costes of the erthe and ye shal be saued for I am god ther is no noth r. I swere be my selfe that rightwysnes shalgoforth of my mouthe my worde returneth not iÌ„ vayne but euery knee shal be bowed vnto me euery toÌ„ge shal swere saye In y e lorde standeth my rightwysnes aÌ„d strength vnto hym shall men come but they shal be confounded as many as speake agenst him And al the sead of Israel shal be iustifyed and haue their plesure in the lorde Bel shal be broken downe Nebo shal haue a fall with whose heauy images y e poore beastes shal be laden weryed with their grevous wayght these beastes with other bearets of these stockes shal faldowne vnd r theyr burdens for they maye not cast them of and thus shal they be karyed into captyuite The .xlvi. Chap. HEare me Iacobs famylye al the reamnaunte escaped of the house of Israel whom I toke euen from theyr mothers wombe haue borne theÌ„ from their byrtheâ— ye shal bare theÌ„ vnto their olde age in their bederethye for sythe I haue made theÌ„ I shal also beare theÌ„ helpe theÌ„ delyuer them To whoÌ„ I praye yow wyl yowe laye me lyken me or compare me WhoÌ„ am I lyke wyl yow then vayne lyers go and waye yow r golde or syluer oute of yow r purse at a payer of seoles hyer yow a caster of metall to make ye a God therof for men to faldowne before it so to worship it which notwithstandinge yet muste be layed on mennis shulders be borne aÌ„d se in his place to stande faste caÌ„not moâ— se frome his place farther more let men krye vnto it yet maye it not answere neth r delyuer them from their anguysshe trouble Consyder this aÌ„d loke vpon yow r selues o brekers of goddes coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes turne to a better mynde cal to mynde olde thinges done from y e creacioÌ„ of the worlde that ye maye se that I am god that there is no moth r god neth r eny thiÌ„ge lyke me which froÌ„ the begiÌ„niÌ„ge shewe the laste thinges aÌ„d even froÌ„ the creacion tell you thiÌ„ges which ar not yet done My counsel standeth at a worde so do I accoÌ„plesshe all my plesures I cal a swyfte byrde frome the easte and what so euer I wysdo from a farre it shal be done at a belt for as sone as I se it it is done Heare me ye proude meÌ„ in harte and farre frome the rightwysnnes I shal bringe nighe my rightwisnes nether shal it be absent and my helthe shal not tarye I shal geue a sauinge helthe to Zion and my beutyful glorye to Israel The .xlvij. Chapiter BVt thou shalt godowne sit in y â— duste O virgen the daughter of BabyloÌ„ thou shalt sit on y e grounde not in thy kinges sete o daughe r of the Chaldes thow shalt nomore be called tendre and dylicate Thou shalt go take the querne sweape griude out the flower of the corne Thou shalt caste of thy preciouse tyre bonettes thy shulders shal be naked and bare legged shalt thou wade thorowe y â— brokes thou shalt not haue one bratte on thy narse men shal se thy secretes to thy grete shame For I wyl take vengeaunce aÌ„d wilnot be entreded These thiÌ„ges hathe ow r redemer spokeÌ„ whose name is y â— for de of pow rs the maker holye of Israel Sit downe daughter of Chaldye aÌ„dbe styll go thy wayes into some derke place for thou shalt nomore be called y e ladye of realmes I was verely so angrye with my people y â— I scourged my heretage betoke theÌ„ into thy power thou haddest no pyte on theÌ„ but oppressedst evâ— their sage men with thy hevye yoke aboue mesure thiÌ„kiÌ„ge thus I shal be a ladye for euer but thow consyderdste not these thiÌ„ges in thy harte nether remeÌ„bredst thiÌ„ges to coÌ„e wherfore heare now these thinges O Delicate ladye which sittest so
handes withe yow into an euerlastinge conuenaunte to geue yowe these assuerd mercyes promysed vnto Dauid Beholde I shall geue hym to testifye of me to the people to be prynce and goyde vnto the Gentyles Beholde thow shalt call an vnknowen nacion vnto the and the Gentyles vnto whome thowe were vnknowne shal haste theÌ„ to y â— aÌ„d that euen for the lordes sake thy god aÌ„d the maker holye of Israel whiche hath set the in thy hyghe honow r. Seke ye y â— lorde whyles he wolde be founde cal vpon hym whyles he is nighe let y e vngodly forsake his owne wayes euery wyked man his owne imaginacioÌ„s and thoughtes aÌ„d returne to the lorde for he wyl haue mercye on him let him I saye turne vnto ow r god for he is redye bente to forgeue for euen thus saith the lorde yower counsells aÌ„d thoughtes at not lyke my counsels thoughtes yower wayes ar not lyke my wayes but as farre as the heaueÌ„s ar aboue the erthe even so farre excede my wayes yow r wayes my thoughtes yow rs for lyke as the rayne or snowe descendeth froÌ„ heauen turneth not thither agene but moysteth the erthe maketh it to budde to bringe forth frute that it shulde geue corne to the sower fode to eate even so my worde which goithe out of my mouth shall not returne to me voyde but shaldo whatsoeuer I wyl shal prosper in those thinges for which I sente it for yow shal lyue in gladnes shal leade yow r lyfe in peace Mountayns and hylles shal leape aÌ„d singe for ioye withe yowe aÌ„d al the trees of the feldes shall clappe their handes for the bushe shall there ryse a fyrtre for the thorne a pyne tre Al this shall make for the glorye of the Lorde and shal be a token y t it shal euermore abyde The .lvj. Chap. THus sayed y â— lorde Se y t ye obserue equyte do rightwisnes fo r my sauiÌ„ge helth hasteth him to-come vnto yowe my ritghtwisnes spedeth him to be declared Blessed is the man that shal do this thiÌ„ge the sonne of man y t maye receyue this thinge eveÌ„ him I meane that kepe the y t Sabbat daye defyelleth it not that is to saye that holdeth his handes dothe no euel Here let not the straungers which shall cleaâ—e to the Lorde saye on this maner Ah lasse for sorowe the lorde seperatethe me frome his people Nether let y â— Gelded man saye lo I am a drye stocke for thus hathe the lorde fyrste of al promysed the Gelded men as loÌ„ge as they kepe my Sabbat dayes that is to saye haue these thiÌ„ges in moste pryce to chose to obserue thez which it pleaseth me to coÌ„maunde wyl holde faste my conuenaunte I shal geue vnto theÌ„ in my house witheyn my walles both a better parte a better name then oother of my nowne sonnes or daughters I shal geue theÌ„ I tell yowe siche a name that it shal neuer fayle Secondaryly he promysethe to the chylderne of the straungers whiche desyer to be ioyned vnto the lorde that they shal serue hym and kysshe the name of the lorde and that they shal be his seruauntes that is to saye al those which take hede that they pollute not my name that is to saye holde faste my coÌ„uenaunt For these men shal I bringe vnto my holy hyll and shal cheare theÌ„ in my house of prayer their breÌ„te sacryfyces with rheir o th r oblacioÌ„s shal be accepte vnto me vpon my alter For my house shal be an house of prayers to all nacions For thê° sayde y e lorde god which gathereth to gither y â— dispersed people of Israel yet shall I gather vnto theÌ„ siche as pertayne to their coÌ„gregacioÌ„ eueÌ„ al y â— beastes of y t felde al the wylde beastes of their wodes shal come to them to eate hym vp Notwithstandinge yet al their byshopes are blynde they aral without knowledge ye they ar aldoÌ„me dogges maye not barke they lye loÌ„ge sleapiÌ„ge dreamiÌ„ge delightiÌ„ge in vayne ydle plesures they ar dogges ye y t the moste vnshamefaced never satisfyed These herdemen vnderstaÌ„de nothinge but euery one of theÌ„ foloweth his owne counsells and thoughtes every one foloweth his owne couetuouse harte with al his might sayng thus come I shall briÌ„ge y t to y t wyne let vs driÌ„ke droÌ„ken as largely shal we driÌ„ke to morowe as to daye ye more largely But iÌ„ y e meane tyme the innoceÌ„te is iuged to dethe and noman consydereth it in his harte y e moste beste men ar conueyde out of the waye and noman so loketh vpon this y â— he wyl saye beholde the synful maketh a waye y â— rightwyse y t he hymselfe might lyue at his plesure in reste y t he myght be suer in his bedde aÌ„d walâ—e aftyr his owne luste The .lvij. Chap. COme hither therfor ye childerne of wytches borne betwene y e whoremonger harlete whom do ye thus scorne aÌ„d take yower plesure of Vppon whom do ye mowe withe yower mouthes bleare oute yower toÌ„ges at Ar not yowe conceyued in adulterye aÌ„d euen y t lyinge desayghtful ysswe takiÌ„g yow r lybidinouse plesure at the okes aÌ„d vnder euery brode shadewed tre destroynge chylderne in valeys aÌ„d vnder the rockes of stone In highe places of stone buylded by ryuer sydes is thy porcioÌ„ wherfore y â— flowdes shal be thy lot for thou haste powerd forth thy lyquet sacryfices vnto theÌ„ haste the r offerd thy oblacioÌ„s shal I suffer these abominacioÌ„s In highe mountayns thou madest thy beddes thether thou asceÌ„dedst to offere thy sacryfices behynde y â— gates postes thou leftedst a remeÌ„braÌ„ce of y â— when thou madest naked thy selfe as wel to me as to a nother Thow wentst madest thy bedde wyder when thou hewedste pluckedst certayne of y t goddis of y t gentyls vnto y â— thou wentest into y e beddes of them where so euer thou syest theÌ„ And thou anoyntedst thy selfe w t swete oyn temeÌ„tes wasshedst y â— with dyuerse swete wat rs wentedst strayte vnto kiÌ„gis when thou sentedst thy messagers into farre countres thorowe whiche thinge thou fellest vnto hell Thou labouredst in y â— multitude of thy nowne wayes aÌ„d neuer thiÌ„kedste it is sufficieÌ„t Thou beleuedst to haue goteÌ„ y â— thy lyuing thorowe thy nowne laboure aÌ„d pollicye so y t thow shuldst neuer neded to haue kared or to haue asked it of me but whom oughtedst thou to dreade fear aftyr that thow haste broken promyse withe me Thou regardedst not me thow calledst not me into thy mynde Thinkest thou y t I will holde my peace as I haue done hitherto so y t thow nedest not be a frayd of me No verely but I shal rather disclose thy rightwisnes thy workes and declare howe lytel they shal profite the Let theÌ„ delyuer y t at thy nede
e my â—uaÌ„t iacob my very right israel whoÌ„ I haue chosen because I wyl powerforth wat r vpoÌ„ y e thirstye erthe flowdes vpoÌ„ y e drye lande I shal powerforth I tel y e my spyrit vpoÌ„ thy seade aÌ„d my graciouse blessinge vpoÌ„ thy yssue they shal flouresh mingled w t you lyke y e grasse lyke y e oysyers by y e ryuersydes one shal saye I am named for y e lordes owne a nother shal be named aftyr iacob a nother shal wryte w t his owne haÌ„de his name aftyr y e lordes name shal be named aftyr israel Thê° I saye spake y e lorde kiÌ„ge of Israel thy redemer y e lorde of pow rs I am the first I am y e laste besydes me is the r no god who hath at eny tyme be lyk me syth I am of euerlastiÌ„g name shewe me iÌ„ what on thing he might be coÌ„pared to me if the r be eny let theÌ„ shewe thiÌ„ges paste to cuÌ„ as I haue done y t w t oute feare faute stoppe do not I eueÌ„ of ev rlastiÌ„g declare tel you of which thiÌ„ge I briÌ„ge you forth as my witnesses is there eny god besydes me is the r eny shap r y t I know not ful vayne therfo r ar al thefe facioners of images ful vnprofitable ar their studye labour for they testifie of their owne selues sithe their images neth r se nor yet haue eny other sence well worthy to be coÌ„founded shamed who then maye sashion god or who wil cast an image profitable for nothiÌ„g wh r fo r al this felau shipe of image makers maye wel be ashamed let al men cuÌ„ togith r befo r me ye geue me he r al maner smythes keruers w t sich oth r I shal make theÌ„ togith r a lyke shamed astonned the smythe taketh the yerne iÌ„ his toÌ„ges he tameth it in y e fyer facioneth it with his hamer ye y t w t al y e mighte of his armes sometyme he faynteth for honger worketh so longe w t oute drinke y t he falleth downe weary Then cometh y e carpentou r he draweth forth a lyne vpoÌ„ y e tymb r smyteth it forth w t chalke he squareth he coÌ„passeth he clenseth karueth it vntyl his worke be lyke a man ye lyke a well proporcioned man to have his seate in the teÌ„ple he getteth him I saye to y e wode to kutdowne Ceders to karye home y e harde pyne trees okes siche oth r trees of the wode orels siche as he had set at home as some pyne trees whoÌ„ the rayne made to wexe which meÌ„ vse to kutdowne to the fyer he goth taketh some of these to warm him w t al with some he heateth his oouen to bake in his brede ye aÌ„d of some of these trees he makethe hym even a god and worshipethe it he maketh hym a karuen image and fallethe downe before it withe parte of it he makethe his fyer withe parte he seethe or rosteth his fleshe aÌ„d eate it when he hath done so is wel satisfyed withe parte of it he is well warmed so that he nowe maye saye the worlde is wel amended I am wel warme I haue bene at the fyer aÌ„d the reste of this timber he karueth into a god into an idole for him selfe before this he falleth downe this he worshippeth vnto this he maketh his vowe of this he aske the his peticions prayeth sayng delyuer me for thou arte my god And yet these images haue nether sense nor vnderstandinge for they ar so dawbedouer that thei neth r se with their eyes nor vnderstande withe their hartes There is noman that so cometh agene to hym selfe thinkinge theys images ar nether endued with eny of the .v. senses nor yet with vnderstandinge nor yet coÌ„ syderth thus parte of this image haue I burnte aÌ„d vpon the colles of it haue I soden broyled my meate and eaten it wherfore then of the reste of it shulde I make me so abhominable an Idolle and thus fall downe before so roten a stocke vayne idlenes and a folysshe harte hath brought them vnto thys Idolatrye aÌ„d so peruerted them that non hath his right mynde or maye thus thinke of hym selfe maye not I erre althoughe I apere to my nowne selfe to do right well Remember wel these thinges Iacob and Israel for thou arte my seruante whoÌ„ I haue fashioned to thentente that thou shuldest be my seruaÌ„te never to be oute of my mynde O Israel I do a waye thy iniquites even as I disperse a clowde thi synnes take I awaye lyke a myste Turne the therfore vnto me for I will delyuer the. Beglad ye heaueÌ„s whom the lorde hath made reioyse ye foundacions of the erthe clappe yow r handes ye mountayns make mery wodes with almaner trees for the lorde wil redeme Iacob and vpon Israel wil he sprede his glorye for thê° spake y e lorde thy defender which hath fashioned y e eueÌ„ from thy mothers woÌ„be I am the Lorde which al a lone maketh althiÌ„ges which a lone haue stretched forth y e heaueÌ„s whiche alone haue set faste y e erthe I skater the sygnes of these sothe sayers or astrominers so y t they shal diuyne iÌ„ vayne be madde for anger I turne these wysemen bakwarde briÌ„g their coniÌ„g into foleshnes But I ster vp y e mynde enteÌ„te of my seruaÌ„t the counsel or thoughtes of my messagers I accomplesshe saiÌ„g vnto IerusaleÌ„ be thou restored iÌ„to thy olde state to the cytes of Iuda be ye buylded agene It is I y t restore desolate places I coÌ„maunde y e depe waters sayng be ye drye hyr ryuers I dry vp It is I that saye vnto Cyrus he is my herde man al thinges shal I accoÌ„plesshe accordiÌ„g to my wyl it is I y t saye vnto Ierusalez be thou buylded agene to the temple let thy foundacion be layed agene The .xlv. Chapiter THus I saye spake the lorde vnto his anoynted Cyrê° whose right hande saith he I haue takeÌ„ that the geÌ„tles shuld fast downe before hiÌ„ I shal turne thei r kiÌ„ges oute of their armoure so that at his comiÌ„ge they shal opene their gates aÌ„d shyt theÌ„ nomore I shal go before the I shal make eaven y e roughe wayes brasen gates shal I breke barres of yerne shal I shake in sondre I shal geue the tresure lyinge yet in derkenes thinges which ar yet hyd preuely that thou mightest knowe that I the lorde god of Israel haue called y e bename for my seruante Iacob and Israel my chosen I haue called the be thy name beutifyed the when as yet thou knewest me not I am the Lorde besydes whom there is no god I gyrte the forth warde when as yet thow knewst me not that men shuld knowe froÌ„e easte to weste that with oute me al
coÌ„syder y e stone oute of whoÌ„ ye ar hewen y e pitte oute of whoÌ„ ye ar digged drawne CoÌ„sid r. I saye AbrahaÌ„ your father Sara your moth r how y e I called hiÌ„ one alone blessed hiÌ„ made him riche encresed his substance coÌ„sid r how the lorde hath counforted Zion in al hir poore state turniÌ„g hir deserte into a paradise hirdrie bareÌ„ grounde in to the lordes gardeÌ„ ioye gladnes shal dwel in hir the r shal be thankes geving w t the voice of men praisinge Wherfo r loke to me my folke aÌ„d geue eare to me my people for the lawe shal goforthe of me I shal publesshe my iugements to lighten the gentils the time is nighe y â— my rightwisnes and my sauinge helth shal goforth to gouerne the people thorow my power The eylands shal waite on me trusting to my strength lyfte vp your eyes to heaveÌ„ beholde the erthe vnder you for heaveÌ„ shal be dispersed lyke smoke the erthe shal be broken lyke a garment thinhabitours shall peresshe in lyke maner but my sauinge helthe shal enduer for euer my mercy wherwith I make men rightwyse shal neuer fayle heare me ye y t loue rightwysnes namely thou o my people which holdest my lawe in thy harte be not a frayed of mennes reuyliÌ„ges fear not theyr rebukes for mottes shal eate theÌ„ as clothes aÌ„d wol but my rightwysnes shal enduer everlastiÌ„g my helth shal abyde from age to age be thou steredvp do vpoÌ„ y â— strength even the arme of the lorde be steredvp as in tymes paste thorowte al ages Art thou not euen he y t smytdown y â— proud Rahab woundedst the dragoÌ„ of Egypte Art thou not the very same y â— dryedste vp y â— gret depe sea madest the depe botome of it so playne that thou gauest fre passage thorowe it vnto the delyuerde men so that thei set at lybertye thorow y e lorde mought returne come agene to ZioÌ„ with ioye there to haue gladnes for a longe tyme that they moughte there haue ioye and mirthe al sorowe and hevynes set a parte And yet answerde the lorde it is I I saye that conforte yow at all tymes and who art thou then that wylt feare and worshipe a mortall man redy to fal and wither awaye lyke grasse wyle thou forgete the lorde which hath made y â— which hath stretched abrode the heauens and hath layed the foundacions of y â— erthe For this cause thou oughtst to feare at al tymes the anger of hym displesed which is bente to destroye but thow wylt saye where is his wrathe it hasteth it cometh swyftly to apere he shal not ons fal by y e waye wherby he maye be hyndred to destroye nether shall his sustinance fayle hiÌ„ I am y e lorde thi god which now make playne y e sea a non I let it swel aboue mesure am called y e lorde of powers I shal put my wordes into thy mouth shal caste vp my hande befo r y â— for thy defence y t thow maiste plante heauens set therthe y t it may be sayd to Zion Thou art my people Stertout of thy sleape stertoute of thy slepe springevp Ierusalem which haste dronke of y e lordes hande the cuppe of his indignacion which haste dronke soukedoute even the very dregges al his cuppe of slomber neth r is there one emoÌ„ge al thy chyldern whom thou hast noureshed vp y t wil take the by y e hande to leade sustayne y e. These two plages ar fallen vpon y e but who therfore is sorye for y e these also ar come vpon y â— as pestelence honger aÌ„d swerde but who is thy counforter Thy chylderne fylled with the wrath of the lorde indignacion of thy God lye troden vnder fote at thenteringe into every streat lyke a rayne deare taken hyr fete bounde togither with a corde wherfo r heare this one thinge I praye y e thou wretched dronken Ierusalez althoughe it be not with wyne Thus sayth thy master the lorde thy god y e auenger of his people Beholde I shal take frome thy hande y e cuppe of slomber with y e dregges of y e cuppe of my indignacion so y e thou drynkeste nomore here aftyr therof I shal put it in to y e handes of theÌ„ y â— scourge y t which haue sayed to thy soule lye downe on y â— grounde y t we mought go vpoÌ„ your backes y t you might be vnto vs as y e pavement of y â— streates to go vpon Cap. lij ARyse Aryse vp Zion do vpoÌ„ the thy strength do vpon y e thi beutyful robes Ierusalem which art y e cyte of y e holye god for the vncircuncised polluted shal nomore come into the shake of y e duste froÌ„ the Aryse Ierusalem sit vp lose thy necke oute of y e bondes o captyue daughter of Zion for thus saith the Lorde ye are solde frely wherfore ye shal be redemed also w tout syluer for thus saith y e lorde god somtyme my people went downe in to Egipte ther to be straungers y e AssyrioÌ„s also dyd theÌ„ gret violence wroÌ„g and that with oute eny cause and nowe what profite ariseth therof vnto me saith the lorde that my people are thê° ledawaye with oute a cause and their lordes and masters constrayned theÌ„ to krye oute wayle yet is my name blasphemed coÌ„tinually saith the lorde wherfore to th entent y t my people might know my name I my selfe shal speake yn these dayes saynge Beholde I my selfe am come Oh how happye fayer shal the fete be of y â— messagers sente by the authorite of god to preache this peaceable delyueraunce to tel vs these good tydinges to preache vs the very sauinge helthe saynge vnto ZioÌ„ thi god mought raigne and lyve when thi overseers lyftvp this voyce they shal also with their voyce shewe yow hiÌ„ with prayse for they shal se clearly w t their eyes wheÌ„ y e lorde shal cuÌ„ agene to ZioÌ„ Thei shal saye O desolated IerusaleÌ„ be thou glad and reioyse for the lorde shal conforte his people shal redeme IerusaleÌ„ y e lorde shal dovp his sleve stretchforth his bare holy arme iÌ„ y e sight of al nacioÌ„s al the coostes of ther the shal se y e sauiour sente froÌ„ our god thei shal byd yow go your wayes cleane gete you oute froÌ„ hense touche no polluted thinge goforth froÌ„ emoÌ„ge theÌ„ se y t ye be cleane y â— bare y e vessels iwels of y e lorde but go not forth as it we r to muster neth r w t to grete haste as men y t fled for the lorde shall go befo r you y e god of Israel shal gather your coÌ„pany togither Cap. liij BEholde my â—uaÌ„t shal briÌ„ge this mater to passe
him by the right haÌ„de diuidiÌ„ge the waters before theÌ„ to get him selfe a name for euer he remembred how he led theÌ„ thorow the depthe thorow the deserte lyke as by an euen aÌ„d playne waye that thei stombled not for the spirit of the lorde directed them lyke the beastes y t go in the felde So leddest thou thy people O god to gete the a gloriouse name Lokeforth therfore froÌ„e heauen froÌ„ the holy habitacion of thy maiestye beholde howe is it thus cuÌ„ to passe that thy zele thy streÌ„gthe thy plentuouse intere petye aÌ„d soste mercye ar so hardened agenste me Thow arte owr father Abraham knoweth not vs neth r Israel knoweth vs but it is thou lorde that art owr father aÌ„d redem r thy name is of euer Wherfore lorde haste thou led vs froÌ„e thy wayes haste thou hardened owr hartes y t we shulde not feare the briÌ„ge vs agene into thy fauou r for thy promyses sakes made to thy seruants which ar of the trybs of thy heretage It was not longe that thy holy people enioyed thy sanctuarie for our enymes destroyed and spoylde it and as for vs we haue bene thy people euen froÌ„ the begiÌ„niÌ„ge of y e worlde but as for theÌ„ they knewe the not for their god neth r were thy called aftyr thy name The .lxiiij. Chapi I Wolde thow woldest cleve insondre heaueÌ„ and come downe that the hylles mought melte awaye at thy presens even as agenst an hotte fyer aÌ„d that the violent tyraÌ„ts mought be set a fyer as is water inflammedde with fyer that thy name mought be knowne vnto thy enymes aÌ„d these haithen mought tremble at thy presens Descende I saye with thy woundreful vnwonte workes vnloked fore that these hilles mought consume in thy syghte For from al tymes paste there was noman that wolde heare or take hede nether beholde with his eyes these thinges which thou haste done for men waytinge for the but thow a lone O god thou helpest hym that boldely foloweth rightwysnes aÌ„d socourste them that depende on the to go in thy wayes But lo thow arte nowe angrye because we are synners and continue stil in ower synnes and there is not one salfe for we are all lyke an vnclene thinge and all ower rightwisnesses are lyke clothes polluted withe menstrwe all we fall lyke leaves for ower iniquites take vs awaye lyke y e wynde there is noÌ„ that wil cal vpon thy name or endeuer hym selfe to holde the wherfore thou hydest thy face frome vs and scourgest vs for ower wykednes Nowe therfore when it is so that thow art ower father and we ar but claye thou arte vnto vs as a potter and all we ar the workes of thy hande Be not so sore angrye Lorde I beseche the nether remember owr iniquites alwayes but rath r I praye the consyder al vs to be thy people Boholde the cytes of thy holy lande are turned into a wyldernes ZioÌ„ is forsaken ye and even Ierusalem is a deserte ow r holy temple which was ower beutyful flower whereyn owr fathers praysed the is brentvp and all ower plesaunte places are turned into wyldernesses Wylt thou not Lorde aftyr all these thinges be entreted and bowed with prayer wilt thou be styl scourge vs so grevouslye The .lxv. Chap. MEn shal seke me whiche now seke me not they shall fynde me y â— nowe seke me not vnto whome I shal saye anon lo lo I am here at yow r haÌ„de thus shal it be sayde vpon these gentyles which yet cal not on my name for I haue stretched forthe my handes al this tyme paste vnto a nacion that beleued not whiche goithe not the right waye y e is to saye lyueth not aftyr my mynde and plesures which also neu r ceasseth to exasperat to anger me eueÌ„ to my face offeringe their offeringes in groves wodes breÌ„niÌ„ge their incense vpoÌ„ alters made of stone they sit prayiÌ„ge at tombes shrynes sleapiÌ„ge al y e night in chyrches ful of images they eate hogges flesshe vncleane potage is in their â—â—â—hes they saye if thou coÌ„est nighe theÌ„ touch me not lest I make y â— vnclene these meÌ„ shal smoke at my wrathe be set a fy r to brene for eu r. Beholde these thiÌ„ges ar decreed in my presens y â— I shulde not forgete theÌ„ but geue you you r rewarde wh r fo r I shal laye yo r wykednes y e wikednes also of your fath rs iÌ„ your own bosoms sayth y e lorde which breÌ„te their sacrifices vpoÌ„ muÌ„taiÌ„s blasphemed me in y e hilles wh r for I shal meate oute their iniq â—tes ageÌ„ turn theÌ„ into their own bosoms thê° saith y e lorde as meÌ„ wil say to hiÌ„ y e happeneth on an holy vyne pluk no grapis of this for it is holy eveÌ„ so shal I do for my â—uaÌ„ts sakes because I wolde not destroye theÌ„ al but I shal briÌ„gforth a sede out of Iacob thinheretour of my hyl oute of Iuda y â— is to saye my chosen shal possesse it my ministers shal dwel ther sarone shal be fylled w t flockis heardes y e vale of Achor shal be layers for herdes of my people y t seke me but you haue betrayed y e lorde forgoteÌ„ my holy hyl you garnesshed an alt r for y e goddes of Fortune consecrated your offeriÌ„g to y e god of tresu r I shal therfor kepe you iÌ„ sto r as tresu r for y e swerde y e you mought al be smitdown w t it because y t wheÌ„ I called you ye wolde not answer wheÌ„ I spake ye wolde not hear but ye dyd evel iÌ„ my sight chosed those thigis which I hated Wh r for thê° speketh y e lorde Lo my â—uaÌ„ts shal eat when ye shal be ful hoÌ„grye beholde my â—uaÌ„ts shal drink wheÌ„ ye shal be ful thirsty beholde my â—uaÌ„ts shal be glad wheÌ„ ye shal be ashamed Lo my â—uaÌ„ts shal reioyse singe eveÌ„ for y e very helth of their hartis but you shalkrye oute for y e very sorow of your hartes for anguysh of mynde ye shal houle as houÌ„dis your name shal not be swornby emoÌ„g my chosen for y e lorde shal slaye you cal his â—uaÌ„ts by a noth r name He y t shal be praysed in y e erthe let hiÌ„ be praysed in y e true god he y t shal swer in y e erthe let hiÌ„ swer by y e true lord for olde enymytes shal be forgoteÌ„ takeÌ„ away saith he out of my sight for lo I shal make newe heaueÌ„s a newe erthe their shal be no meÌ„tion of y e olde neth r shal thei enymo r asceÌ„de to meÌ„nis hartis but these meÌ„ shal reioyse enioye these y e I shal make for ev r for lo I shal make Ierusalez right glad even froÌ„ hyr very harte whose people shal be ioyful w t whoÌ„ I my selfe shal be glad merye with
〈◊〉 people there shal not be harde in hireny wepiÌ„ge or kryinge neth r shal there be aftyr this eth r infant or olde mn y t haue not their ful dayes but y â— yoÌ„ge maÌ„ at an C. years shaldye y e transgressour of an C. years shal be daÌ„ned they shall buylde houses iÌ„habit theÌ„ thei shal plaÌ„te vynes eate of their frutes thei shal not edifie for a noth r to dwel in it neth r plante for a noth r to eate it but y e lyfe of my people y e workes of their haÌ„ds shal be as fresshe as y e tre of lyfe my chosen shal se many years shal not labour in vayne nor bring forth their frute w t trouble for thei ar y e blessed sead of y e lorde their yssue shal abyde w t theÌ„ y e tyme shal cuÌ„ y t I wil answer theÌ„ befor thei cal on me I wil hear theÌ„ whyle thei ar yet but in coÌ„ceyuing their peticioÌ„ y e wolfe y e laÌ„be shal fede togith r y e lyoÌ„ shal eate haye w t y e oxe but y e erthe shal be meate for y e â—peÌ„t ther shal be nomo r trouble nor plage in al my holy hil saith y â— lorde c. 66 THus saith y e lorde heauen is my seate y e erthe is my fote stole where then shal this house stoÌ„de which ye 〈◊〉 buylde me whe r is this place wherin Ishal rest wheÌ„ my haÌ„dis made al these thing is thei ar rekened emonge y e thingis which ar made saithe y e lorde but to whoÌ„ shal I loke eueÌ„ to y e hoÌ„ble in spirit which treÌ„bleth at my speach for he y t slayeth an oxe slayeth a maÌ„ he y t slayeth a shepe haÌ„geth a dogge he y t offereth to me anvtwarde offeriÌ„g pleaseth me as wel as to offer me swynes bloude he y t iÌ„ceÌ„se me doth eveÌ„ a lyke thiÌ„g as to pray se blesse an idole but these meÌ„ haue chosen these thiÌ„gis their myndes haue delighted iÌ„ these wayes abhominacioÌ„s wh r for Ishal eueÌ„ lykwise chose oute their skorners those thiÌ„gis y t thei feared I shal briÌ„ge on their neckis because y â— wheÌ„ I called nomaÌ„ wolde answ r wheÌ„ I spake nomaÌ„ wolde hear but they dyd euel iÌ„ my presens chosed those thinges which I reproue Hear y e worde of y e lord ye y e treÌ„ble fear at his speache your broth rn which hate abhorre you because ye cal on my name saye let y e lorde magnifye hiÌ„ selfe y t we mought se your gladnes but siche meÌ„ shal be coÌ„fuÌ„ded ye eueÌ„ now begiÌ„neth y e voyce of y e lorde as coÌ„cerniÌ„g y e destruccioÌ„ of y e cyte teÌ„ple takiÌ„g veÌ„geaÌ„ce rewarding his enemes to be harde like y e lameÌ„tatioÌ„ of a womaÌ„ grete w t chylde before hir paÌ„ges labours cuÌ„ wheÌ„ she is briÌ„giÌ„gforth a maÌ„ childe who hath harde siche thiÌ„gis or who hath sene siche thiÌ„gis do y e erthe briÌ„gforth al on a day or ar al folke borne at once as ZioÌ„ coÌ„ceyueth briÌ„gethforth hir childern do I destroye or do I not rath r begette do I not begette do I not make bareÌ„ saith god beg lad w t IerusaleÌ„ singe w t hir for ioye al hir louers reioyse w t hyr euen froÌ„ your hartes al hir moorners for ye shal souke be satisfyed at hir teatis of coÌ„solacioÌ„ ye shal souke be rep leneshedâ—xith hir gloriouse pleÌ„tuousnes for thê° spake y e lorde Lo I shal lede forth peace to hyr lyke af loude y e pow r of y e geÌ„tils shal I ledeforth lyke a gret rysing wat r ye shal souke th r for be borne in hir bosome daÌ„sedvpoÌ„ hir knees for I shal coÌ„fort you eueÌ„ in IerusaleÌ„ shal you receyue coÌ„solacioÌ„ as of a moth r coÌ„forting hyr sonne wheÌ„ ye se this your hartis shal ioye aÌ„d your bones shal floureshe lyke a grene plaÌ„t y e lordes â—uaÌ„t shal prayse his pow r his enymes shal he threaten For lo y e lorde shal cuÌ„ in fyer his chariets lyke a whirlewinde w t grete fury to aveÌ„ge in his wrath he shal cuÌ„ in y e flame of fyer for w t fyer w t his swerde shall he iuge eu ry flessh his welbe loued slayne for his sake shal be eÌ„cresed but they y â— vowed to make theyr selfe cleane in groues thei y â— eat opeÌ„ly emoÌ„ge theÌ„ selfe hoggis flessh my se sich o th r abhominable vnclennes shal be takeÌ„ awaye altogith r saith y e lorde for I shal cuÌ„ to gath r togith r bothe ev ry nacioÌ„ toÌ„ge thâ—ir studyes workis thei shal cuÌ„ semy maiestye Also I shal geue theÌ„ a tokeÌ„ sende some of my chosen to y e geÌ„tyls as to y â— Cylicks Lybes Lydees which ar noble archers I shal sende to Italye Grece to y e fardest eylaÌ„ds w ch yet hâ—rd not my preaching nor saw my glory they shal preach my glorye emoÌ„ge the geÌ„tils briÌ„ging al your broth rn froÌ„ y e multitude of y e geÌ„tils to be an oblacioÌ„ to y e lorde thei shal briÌ„ge theÌ„ on horse in wageÌ„s chariets on mules iÌ„ cartes to IerusaleÌ„ my holy hyl saith y e lorde no noth r wyse theÌ„ y e chyldern of Israel we r wont to bring their oblacioÌ„s into y e house of y e lorde in clene vessels out of theÌ„ shal I take some preestes leuytes saith y e lorde for as this newe heaueÌ„ erth w ch I shal make shal abyde in my presens saith y e lorde even so shal your seade your name abyde also th r shal be ê‘petual festes of y e newe mones ê‘petual sabbath days euery flessh shal cuÌ„ to worshipe befo r me saith y e lord thei shal goforth to beholde y e karioÌ„s of y e synners agenst me for y e worme of theÌ„ shal nev r dye their fyer shal nev r be queÌ„ched theish albe lothed of every flessh The ende of y e prophecye of Isaye ¶ Printed in Straszburg by Balthassat Beckenth in the year of our lorde 1531. the .x. daye of Maye 4. Re. 15 Iud. vij ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞
¶ The title of this boke ¶ The vilsonor Prophecy of Isaye the sonne of Amoz which he prophecyed vpon Iuda Hierusalem in the dayes of Ozias IothaÌ„ Ahaz Ezechias Kinges of Iuda ¶ The firste Chapiter HEare heaven aÌ„d listen erthe for it is the Lorde that speaketh Childerne haue I noureshte vp and promoted aÌ„d they haue despyghtfully rebelled ageÌ„ste me The vnreasonable oxe knoweth his owener the very asse his masters stall but Israel is vnsensible my people is with oute vnderstandynge Oh synful nacion a nacion laden with wikednes a myschevous generacion pestelent children The very Lorde haue thei forlakeÌ„ euen hym that chose made holy Israel haue thei prouoked to anger are fled backwarde withe what plage more shall I then smyte you sith the more ye ar correkt y â— worse ye are All your heads ake euery harte is ful syk from toppe to toe is ther not an hole place in all your bodye All are woundes runninge sores ful of botches blaynes which noman maye clense or bynd plaster to nor yet sowple with eny oyntement your regioÌ„ is desolate your cites are brent vp with fyer your lande before your eyes a straÌ„ge natioÌ„ devowerth It is wasted lyk as with a cruel hoste And y â— daughter of Zion is lefte a lone lyk an hovelin a vyne yarde lyke a skoulke lodge in tyme of warre and lyke a beseged cyte And excepte y e lorde of powers had saued vs a fewe reamnauntes we had beÌ„ lyke So dome and Gomorre Heare therfore the worde of the Lorde ye prynces of Sodome And thou people of Gomorre take hede to the lawe of owre God sayinge thus what haue I to do with yower so manyfolde and so ofte offeringes and sacrifices I abhorre yower brente wethers I am ful of the kidnese of yower fatte beastes the bloude of oxen of laÌ„bes and gotes thei yrke me WheÌ„ ye come to se my face who requyreth these of feriÌ„ges at your handes Is this y â— waie to trede my temple Offere no more I praye yowe your giftes thus in vayne this inceÌ„se is abhominacion to me your festes of the newe mone your Sabbath dayes and solempne festes I maye not a waye withe for ful wyked are yower ydle congregacions yower kalendes and feries my harte hatethe yower fastes are all in vayne I am wery of these thinges and it yrketh me to se them when ye shal stretch forth your handes I wil hyde myne eyes from yowe And pray ye never so miche yet shal I not heare yowe for your handes are bathed in bloude wasshe ye be cleane put a waye your yuel thoughtes croked counsells oute of my sighte ceasse to do hurte studye for equyte seke iustice delyuer the oppressed avenge y â— poore fatherlesse defende y s cause of the wedowe Come hither I praye ye and let me be proued saithe the Lorde when yower synnes were as redde as skarlet were thei not made as whyte as snowe And when thei were as redde as purple were thei not made as whyte as woll If ye wil heare and be ruled shal ye not take your plesure even of the best frutes of the londe But if ye wil be steffe necked thinke ye not to be devowerde with swerde Suerly God hath so promysed with his owne mouthe But howe is it thus come to passe that this cite whiche sometyme was faithful ful of equite in the whiche iustice was excercysed hath thus changed hir face lyke an harlet and is nowe become a murtherer of hir owne innoceÌ„t citesens Thi syluer is turned into drosse Thy wyne is marred withe water Thy rulers arbetrayers and bakslyders frome God even felowes vnto theves All they love giftes and are sentence sellers they restore not his righte to the fatherlesse and the wedewes cause comethe neuer at theÌ„ Wherfore thê° saith the lorde god of powers and the myghty forth leader of Israel Ahlasse I muste neades ease my mynde and be auenged vpon my aduersares I shal suerly sette my hande vpon the I shal seeth oute thy drosse and trye oute thy pureste and I shal take awaye all thy leade Aftyr this shal I restore the thy iuges aÌ„d senatours as they were before And then shalte thow be called the cite of rightwysnes and the faithful towne Thus shal ZioÌ„ nowe redemed frome captiuite be accustomed with equite and excercised in rightwisnes when the vngodly transgressours and bakslyders frome the Lorde shal be alto broken and vtterly peresshe And excepte ye be ashamed of your stockes and Idolls in wodes and hilles in whiche ye delighted and leve your groves and gardens which ye chose for yowe ye shal be lyke okes whose leaves fal a waye and lyke a garden with oute water For the glysteringe glorye of these images shal be turned into stubble and the makers of them into sparkes of fyer and bothe of them shal be brente togither noman quenchinge them The seconde Chapit the title prefixed THe worde whiche was shewed vnto Isaye y e sonne of Amoz vppon Iuda and Ierusalem Thus shal it be in the laste dayes The hill of the house of the Lorde shal be so prepared and setvp that it shal apere aboue al the toppes of wother hilles And then shal there flowe vnto it all Gentyls and infinite folke shal goforth sayinge one to a nother come let vs ascende vnto the hyll of the lorde to the house of the god of Iacob that he mought teache vs his wayes aÌ„d that we moughte walke in his pathes For oute of Zion the lawe shal goforth and the worde of the lorde frome Ierusalem that he mought be a iuge emonge the Gentyls and rule therwith that infinite multitude And then a none shal thei cause their swerdes to be smyten into matoks and coultres and their speares into sythes and sykels For the one nacion shal no more lifte vp swtrde agenste the other nether shal they enymore excercyse them selfe into batayle And nowe speake I vnto the o house of Iacob Come neare I praye yowe that we moughte walke togither in the light of the Lorde But wherfore do I bidde the o thow vnhappye house of Iacob seinge y t thou with thy people ar now fledbacke froÌ„ y e Lorde for ye are far worse then yower elders both in soth saiÌ„gs aftyr y e maner of y e palestyns in calkynge of mennes birthes ye passe eveÌ„ y e very haitheÌ„ for as sone as your lande abounded in goolde syluer ye knewe non ende of your tresure as sone as it was replenesshed with horsemeÌ„ chariets a none was it ful of Idolls ymages eveÌ„ y e workes of your owne haÌ„des which ye made with your owne fingers ye ye worshipte theÌ„ But doiste thou o maÌ„ faldowne befo r these Idols worshipest theÌ„ ye y t so supersticiously so steffly y t no thiÌ„ge may plucke y e frome them Gete the hence quikly go hyde the in the
that then euery one of them shal saye thus Chap. xij I Thanke the Lorde for thow wast wrathe with me but thy countenaunce nowe changed thou arte mercyfull and counfortest me Lo God is my savioure I shal truste in hym aÌ„d shall not feare For the Lorde god is my strength and prayse It is he that wil be my refuge ye shal drawe waters with grete ioye owte of the welles of ow r saviow r and shal saye in those dayes Let vs geve thankes to the Lorde let vs spreade his name Let vs publeshe his plesures to the people and let vs neuer forget that right highe is his name exalted Let vs synge vnto the lorde for he hath done highe thinges that they shulde be knowne thorowe all the erthe Lawghe and be glad frome thy very harte thou that dwelleste in Zion for right grete is thy prynce which maketh holye Israel Chap. xiij THe heuy destruction of BabyloÌ„ whiche Isaye the sonne of Amoz sawe before Lyftevp a token to the hill a bove krye to them beken yow r handes to thez that the prynces might coÌ„vaye theirselues into withyn the gates For I saith the Lorde shal commaunde my apoynted messagers and cal my mightyons that delight in my maiestye to fyneshe my wrathe And methought then that Iharde a noyse frome the mountaynes lyke the noyse of miche people swellinge and clusteringe togither eveÌ„ a noyse of men musteringe as thoughe the realmes of the geÌ„tyles had beÌ„ gatherde altogither hauinge the lorde of powers for their capytain aÌ„d as thoughe thei had come frome farre regions euen frome the extreme partes of the worlde ye as thoughe bothe the Lorde himselfe his ministers and vessels of his indignacioÌ„ shulde haue come to destroye y â— wholl worlde Howle ye therfore for ful nyghe is the daye of the lorde which shal come vpon vs lyke a destroyer frome the moste myghtyeste then shal euery maÌ„nes haÌ„de haue the palsaye and their hartes shal faynte thei shal be astonned holden with anguyshe and dazynges in their heades thei shal haue panges lyk women trauelinge of childe euery man shal be a frayde of other aÌ„d their chekes shal glowe for shame for beholde y e daye of the lorde shall be presente ful of fyarcenes Indignacion wrathe anger vntyl their lande be brought into a wyldernes and synne be castoute of it for the starres the planets of heuen shalnot geve their lighte The sonne shal be quenched in his vprysing y e mone shal with drawe hyr lighte I shal saith y e lorde loke vpon the malice of the worlde shal punyshe the synnes of the vngodly I shal abate the pryde of the prowde aÌ„d the wanten lustes of tyrants shal I bringe downe I shal make that a man shal be then more preciouse then y e pureste golde ye that but a vyle man shal be bet r then a wedge of gold of Ophyr Wherfore I shal so sinyte heven that the erthe shal shake frome hyr place these plages I saye shal fall vpon Babylon at the Indignacion of the lorde of powers and that in the daye of his fyarce wrathe then shal a man be as fearful as a chased doo and as a flocke of shepe whom noman can bringe to gither one countreman shal flee to a nother for helpe and euery man to his owne lande aÌ„d he that shal be fownde alone shal be steked and he that abydeth in the raye shal be smyt downe their chylderne shal be throne agenste y e grownde before their faces their houses shal be robbed and their wyues defyled For lo I shal stere vp the Medes vpon them which shal set nothing by syluer but a lytel by golde of whom y e bowes of the yonge men shal be brokeÌ„ thei shal haue lytel petye of wemen with chylde and lesse shame to kyll their chylderne And Babylon the heade of al kingdomes the beuteful flower of the Chaldes shal be destroyde even as the lorde destroyde Sodome aÌ„d Gomor it shal neuer be inhabited nether eny man shall dwell in it frome age to age The Arabes shal nomore pitche bothes there nether the herdemen shall thith r bringe their flocke but wylde beastes shal lye there aÌ„d their houses shal be ful of owles there shal inhabit Struthions there shal scyppe these wodouses there shall krye these nyght ravens one agenste a nother in the houses of Babylon and dragons shal there playe in the palaces Chapiter .xiiij. ANd the tyme of his cominge is nowe at hande his daye shall not be longe differred But yet agene the lorde wil be mercyful to Iacob and shal yet chose Israel and bringe them agene vnto their owne lande and strauÌ„gers shal be cowpled with them and Ioyned to the house of Iacob Thei shal take this straunge nacion leade them to their places and the house of Israel shall holde them for seruantes and handemaydes in the lordes lande holde them in captiuite vnder whose gyrdel thei their selfe where before shal commaunde thez which before were their masters And then when y e lorde shal geve the reste frome thy laboures and tremblinge and frome thy grevouse seruitute by which thou were thê° holden vnder thou shalte take vp this lameÌ„table songe agenste y e kinge of BabyloÌ„ sayng howe is this extorsener brought to reste with his golden tayes aÌ„d trybutes The lorde verely hath broke the staffe of the vngodly even the septre of these lordely rulers which when he is angry smyteth the people with a plage vncurable when he is chafed he tameth these Gentyles persuâ—th them still so that nowe al ower lande is at reste and singeth for Ioye ye the very fyrtrees and the Cedres of Libani reioyse vpoÌ„ thy fall sainge Aftyr that thou were layed a sleape noman clymed vp to kut vs downe helle trembled at thy cominge Gyauntes and al prynces of the erthe came forthe to mete the all kinges of the gentyles rose vp frome theire trones all these in course magnifyed the saynge Arte thou not wounded as well as we made lyke vs but thy pryde was plucked downe to hell with thy vayne folyshnes Mottes shal be strewed vnder the wormes shal be thy koverled Howe felle ye frome heuen lucifer ye fayer sonne of the morninge ar ye nowe fallen so wretchedly to the erthe which were wonte to be Emperow r over the gentyles ye and that even when thou thus thoughtest in thy harte I shal ascende into heven and shal exalte my seate aboue the starres of heven and sitte in the congregacion hill at the northe syde I wyl ascende hygher then the clowdes aÌ„d be equale with the moste hyghest But nowe arte thou plucked downe to helle vnto the moste deapest plage of the erthe thei that se the come now nerer and dare tote y e in the face thinkinge thus vpon the Is not this the stoute man that made the erthe a frayde that shoke the kingdoms to gith r made the
songes sunge thorowte all the erthe into the prayse of the rightwouse And I me selfe saye Oh my barennes oh my penurye ah lasse for sorowe all the worlde is ful of vngodly synners ye and that of siche synners which synne even of a set porpose so boldelye Wherfo r feare and drede pitte and snare gape fore the O dweller vpon y e erthe so that he that wolde fle to avoyde the fearfull voyce muste fall into the pitte and if he krepeth oute of the pitte he shal be taken in the snare For the wyndowes of heaven shal be opened and the foundacions of the erthe shal be shaken togither The erthe shall geue a meruelouse cracke the erthe shal be sore broken the erthe shal be violently shaken in sondre y e erthe shall stacker lyke a dronken man and be borne ouer lyke a tente For hyr synne shal lye full hevye vpon hyr and she shall fall never aftyr to aryse And then this thing shal come the lorde shall vyset the prowde sprytes of the ayer that are above and the kinges of the erthe that inhabit the erthe and these shal be gatherde togither as men in bandes to be caste into doungens and shit vp in presons and be punysshed for ever Even the mone shal be then ashamed the sonne shal be confounded when y e lorde of powers shall raigne in the mounte Zion in Hierusalem accōpaned with so gloriouse a sage multitude Ch. xxv LOrde thou arte my God I shall extoll the and magnifie thy name for thou doist thinges to be merueld at accordinge to thy auncyaunte counsells both faste and faithful For thou turnest grete cytes into heapes of erthe stronge defensed townes into ruyne and the houses of the vngodly thou pluckeste oute of cytes neuer to be restored wherfore even the rude people muste nedes glorifye the and the cytes of the cruel gentyles muste feare the. For thou arte the weake mannis strength and the poore mannis myght when he is in destresse thou arte a refugye in tempestes a shadwe in heate and where the hastye violence of tyraūtes breke yn lyke a whyrlewynde there thou settest yn thy selfe agenste them lyke a stronge wall Thou arte to them lyke y e drowght in the deserte It is thou that swagest the swellinge boldenes of y e vngodly thou puttest awaye the heate withe the shadwe of a clowde and cuttest awaye the violent lyke a vyne twygge Farthermore y e lorde of hostes shal feste al y e people in this hyl he shal make thē a plentuouse a delicate feste of y e moste fattest ful of marye with y e moste beste eldest wyne he shal take awaye y e veyle in thys hyll even y e veyle y ◠hāgeth before y e face of al y e people y e koverīge which koverth y e face of al y e gentils deth shal he vtterly devower y e lorde god shal wype awaye y e teares frō everi mānes face y e opprobrye of his people thorowt al y e worlde shal he take away for it is y e lorde y t spake it Also men shal saye in this daye Beholde this is ow r god we haue trusted in hym he hath saued vs this is the lorde in whom we-beleued let vs nowe reioyse and beglad in his sauinge helthe for it was his hande that favourde this hill But Moab shal be alto broken of hym as small as chaffe to be caste into the donghill fore he shall stretche forthe his handes agenste hym even lyke a swymmer when he swymmethe and he shall thruste downe hys pryde by the vertwe of his power he shal make his highe walles of defence to rele and laye them ful lowe vpon the grownde and smyte them to powlder Chap. xxvj And then shal this songe be sunge in the lande of Iuda We haue a stronge cyte a saviour is hyr walles and hyrbolwerke Opene ye hyr gates that the rightwous folke and the lovers of faithfulnes moughte enteryn Thow whiche arte bothe Master ād workman shal frame togither peace even y e very peace I tell yow for in the men truste Truste in y e lorde for euer for he bendeth downe the stately cytesen the prowde cyte he castethe to the grownde in processe bringeth it into duste to be troden vnder y e fete even of y ◠poore nedyons Thou lorde ponderste the pathe of the ryghtwyse whether it be iuste and whether his waye be eaven wherfo r we meruelat y e pathes of thy iugements for in thy name at the rememberaunce of the mannis soule is fedde I desyer y e be nyght with al my harte and with all my mynde and spirit with yn me I haste me to the for a non as thy Iugements were publesshed in the worlde the inhabitours therof lerned rightwysnes but the vngodly when he had once goten mercye he lerned not ryghtwysnes but as sone as he is correkte he synnethe the more and feareth not the maiestye of y e Lorde Lorde thei wilnot see thy hyghe power but the tyme shall come that they shall see it and be confounded whē thou shalt devower them by the indignacion of the people and by the fyer of thy enymes But emōge vs Lorde thou shalt set peace for it is thou y t workest and fyneshest all thinges in vs bothe ower thoughtes and ower deades O Lorde ower god althoughe straunge Lordes contrarye to the haue ben rulers over vs yet not with standinge we remember the only and beare thy name ī ower myndes The cruell Tyrauntes whiche are nowe dede lyue not nether ar they rekened in the resurreccion of the faithfull For thou haste so visited and destroyed them that all their memorial shulde pereshe But contrary wyse thy folke Lorde thou haste encresed thou haste encresed thy people glorified and magnified them thorowte all the coostes of the erthe Lorde in their tribulacion they seke the Affliccion and sorowful complayninge are to them thy nourteringe but in the meane tyme as a woman grete withe chylde when hyr tyme is come trauelleth and kryeth for anguyshe and payne euen so are we Lorde in thy sighte we conceyue we trauel and in a maner we bringeforth helth thorowe the spyrit leste therthe shouldbe destroyed and the dwellers ther yn shulde peresshe But thy dede men lyue and ower deare beloued are in the resurreccion Thei are awake and right glad which lye in the duste For thou waterest them with the dewe of light and lyfe but the habitacion of the violente is fallen awaye Go yower waye therfore my people into yower secrete closets ād shit the dore aftyr yowe abyde and suffre even but a momente tyl the wrathe bepassed over For lo the lorde shall comeforth of his place to vyset the wykednes of thinhabitours of the erthe which erthe shall disclosse whose bloude so ever she hath dronke and shal hyde no lenger hyr slayne persons Cha .xxvij. THe tyme
shal come that the lorde shall vyset Leuiathan that inuincible serpent with his harde grete stronge swerde even Leviathan that subtel serpente and shal slaye this dragone of the sea Then shall men heare this songe vpon the amiable vyneyarde of Hemer one answeringe a nother I the Lorde defende and water hyr in dwe tyme. I kepe hyr daye nighte leste eny man inuade hyr I am withe oute all wrathe who then maye so move me to be so grete an enymye to hyr that my promyse neglecte I wolde set hyr a fyer all at once with thornes bryers Or who maye holde bak my strength to pacefye me and to reconcyle me vnto hyr if I wolde not But Iacob brought owte of Captiuite vnloked for shal be roted agene Israel shal budde and floureshe so that the holl worlde shal be repleyneshed with their frutes For shall not the lorde smyte his smyters agene even as he was smyten or shal he not slaye as he was slayne what mesure so ever mengeue the same shall they receyve agene He bloweth forth his vehemeÌ„t skorchinge wynde Wherfore the iniquite of Iacob is pourged on this maner and by this meanes he taketh awaye all their synful seade as when he turnethe all the stones of their alters into powlder when their images worshiped in wodes and solitary teÌ„ples be layed downe when their stronge cytes are destroyde when their goodlye fayer cytes are lefte desolate lyke a wyldernes for bullocks to fede theryn to lye aÌ„d brose on the bouwes when their corne is brentvp and the wemen which in their cominge forthe garneshed their cytes are defyeled fore thys people is with owte vnderstandinge Wherfore their maker wilnot pyte them aÌ„d their potter shal haue no fansye to them In these dayes the lorde shal smyte downe all the frutes frome the fyerce flowde Euphrates vnto Nilus the flowde of Egypte and ye chylderne of Israel one by one shal be gatherd togither in to one place And then shall there blowvp a meruelouse grete trompet thei that had perysshed in Assyria and bene outlawes in Egipte shal come forth to worshipe the Lorde in the holye hyll which is in Ierusalem Chap. xxviij WO be to the proude crowne of dronken Cphraim and to the fallinge flower of hyr gloriouse beutie which is set in the toppe over the moste plentuoust vale wo be to the dronkherds Beholde the stronge power of the lorde comethe lyke an hay le storme dryuynge downe stronge holdes and lyke a grete shower of rayne dryuinge vpon euery parte of therthe even withe mennis fete shall the prowde crowne of dronken Ephraim be troden downe aÌ„d it shall happen to the fadinge flower of hyr gâ—oriouse beutye which yet standeth on the toppe ouer the moste plentuouse vale even as it happeneth vnto the hastye frute rype before y â— harueste which as sone as on espieth it he is redye to devower it before his hande canne reche it Aftyr this the lorde of powers shal be a Ioyefull crowne and a beutifull garlande to the residwe of his people and shal be the spyrit bothe of iugement to y â— iuges and the spirit of strength to thez that shal dryve his enemis from the gates But yet euen these also erre witheoute knowlege by the reason of wyne are with oute their wittes for theyr welthy dronkenes ye their preestes and prophetes also erre oute of the waye for dronken welthynes For they laden with wyne and drowned with luste erre in preachinge aÌ„d offende in iuginge foâ— all their tables are so fylled with vometes and fylthynes that no parte shal be lefte vnfylled Which of them I praye you shal be then able to iÌ„structe eny man or to teache the right disciplyne to eny of these chylderne newely weaned plucked froÌ„ y â— teate Or what els maye they teache then clowtinge constitution to constitution throyng one coÌ„maundement vpon a noth r inhibicion vpoÌ„ inhibicion a lytel here a lytel whyles there Wherfo r lorde shal speake vnto this people confusely in a straunge toÌ„ge vnto whoÌ„ he sayde sometyme This shal quyet thy consciens this refressheth y â— weary afflicte soule It is this I tel the that shal bringe thy harte into a blessed peace reste but they wolde not heare wherfo r y â— lorde shal speake to theÌ„ saynge Byd coÌ„maunde agene forbyd and forbyd agene a lytel here and a lytel whyles there that they mought go backwarde fall and be alto broken ye y â— they mought fall into their snares and be taken Wherfore heare the worde of the lorde Oye olde wylye skorners whiche playe the Lordes ouer my people which is in IerusaleÌ„ for thê° thiÌ„ke ye we ar at a bargaine with deth at a poiÌ„te with hel that when eny gret myscheffe or plage cometh it shal not touche vs for dissembliÌ„g hypocrysye shal be our refugye with lyes we shal be defended Wh r fo r even thus telleth you y e lorde god saynge Beholde I shal laye a stone yn zioÌ„ a touche stone a kornerd stone a preciouse stone to stablesshe y e foundacion so y t whoso ev r beleueth cleueth to this stone shal not lightly slyde for his equite eavenes shal I trye by plomet aÌ„d squyer his rightwysnes shal be poÌ„derd as in a payer of balaÌ„ces But an haple storme shal take awaye your refuge which ye stablessed your defence painted with kraftye lyes swellinge waters shal bare away yo r bargeÌ„ made with deth shal be brokeÌ„ your apointmeÌ„t also made with hell shalnot staÌ„de for when this swellinge destruccioÌ„ shal aryse come vpon yow it shal swelowe yow in karye you a waye sodenlye For when it shal beginne erly in the morning it shal enduw r but the same daye and nyghte aÌ„d there shal be siche a feare that it alone shal breke euen the hartes of theÌ„ that do but heare of this Then shal beddes be so narowe that noman maye haue his reste and the koueringes so skante y â— noman maye be wrapped in them for the lorde shal stepeforth as he dyde in the mounte of Perazim and shal roffle angerly as he dyd in the vale of Gibeon to worke his owne worke he taketh a meruelouse strange wayes to briÌ„ge his owne worke to passe ful straunge wouÌ„dreful are his dedes Nowe therfore dispyse not this warninge lesteyow r captiuyte be the more grevouse For I haue harde of the lorde god of powers that there shal come a soden ende and destruccion vpon al the erthe Lysten therfore and heare my voyce geue hede and beleue my wordes Is not the tylman alwayes busye in duwe tyme to ploughe to opene and to kutforth his lande to sowe it dothe he not a non as he hath made it eaven and playne sowe his fetches or sprynkel his Coomyn and aftyr warde sowe it orderly now with whâ—te and then with barley and so forth withe other corne acordinge to the strength
answerde al y t I haue in my house haue they sene I haue shewed them also all my tresure Then sayd Isaye to Ezekias heare the worde of y â— lorde of powers Beholde y â— dayes shal come that what so euer is in thy house whatsoeuer thy fathers haue gathred layed vp in store vnto this daye it shal be takeÌ„ awaye karyed to BabyloÌ„ neth r shal therbe eny thiÌ„g left saith y â— lorde ye certaiÌ„e of thy chylderne which shal go forth of the aÌ„d whom thow shalt begete shal be taken awaye also shal be come gelded men in the kynge of Babylons courte And then sayd Ezekias vnto Isaye The lorde turne it to good that thou hast nowe expressed but in my dayes sayd he I beseche y â— lorde that al thinges mought be quyet suer Here begineth of kynge Cyrus Cha. xl BE of good chere be of good chere my people say the yower god Se that ye counforte y e hartes of Ierusalem tel them of their reste and delyueraunce from captiuite tel theÌ„ howe their synnes shal be forgeuen aftyr that thei haue receyued their ful chastisinge of the lordes haÌ„de for al their synnes Wherfore there kryeth a voyce saynge Prepare ye the waye for the lorde in the deserte and make the pathes playne for yower god in the wyldernes let euery vale be exalted aÌ„d euery mountayne and hyllbe layed lowe let kroked wayes be made straight rowghe wayes smothe For the gloriouse maiestye of the lorde shal appere which euery maÌ„ shal see for the lorde hath promysed it Farthermore the same voyce commaunded sayng krye thou And I asked hiÌ„ what shal I krye which answerde That euery man is but grasse aÌ„d all their gloriouse beutye is lyke a flower of the felde Grasse as sone as it is wythred y â— flower falleth a waye And euen so the people is but grasse aftyr that the spirit of the Lorde hath blowne vpon them notwithstandinge this grasse be witherd and the flower faded yet abydeth the worde of ower god for euer yet this voyce commaunded agene â—aynge Go vp into the highe hill O Zion which preachest vs good tydiÌ„ges Lyftvp thy voyce as lowde as thow mayste O IerusaleÌ„ whiche preachest the gospel Lyftvp thy voyce Isaye be not a frayed and tell the cytes of Iuda saynge Beholde it is yower god beholde the lorde almighty shal come with grete might shal rule by his owne power Beholde he beinge cleare noble both in counsell aÌ„d in his actes shal bringe forth his ryches withe greate triumphe He shall feade his flocke lyke an herdman he shall gather his lambâ—â— into his armes and bare theÌ„ in his besome But the ewes grete with laÌ„be shal he wel noureshe Who hath concluded the waters in his fist spanned the heauens with his hande or hath holden vp the waight of the wholl erthe vpon his thre fingers Who wayeth y e mountayns in a payer of balaunces pondreth the hilles in a payer of scoles Who hath enformed the mynde of y e lorde or who hath bene of his counsel to teache hym or of whoÌ„ hath he fetched his counsel to be taught the waye of iugement to instructe hym of eny knowledge or to declare hym the waye of vnderstandinge Beholde al nacioÌ„s in comparison to hym ar but a drope of a bucket or a batemeÌ„t of a balaunce The eylandes ar but motes in y â— sonne beame All the trees of Libanê° are not sufficieÌ„t to make him a fyer nether al the beastes theryn ar enoughe for his brente sacrifyces al nacions compared to hym are as ye welde saye but nothinge aÌ„d but a tryful Vnto whom then wyl ye lykeÌ„ God or aftyr what fasshion will ye paynte or karue hym Canne eny goldsmyth set forth his Image or caÌ„ne he with al his goold and thinne syluer plate caste him into eny forme that maye represente him Shal a keruer for eny maÌ„nis plesure that foly shly delyghteth to beholde his Image and haue not wherwithe to make it of gold or syluer chose oute a tree iÌ„putrible to setforthe his Image that caÌ„not moue oute of his owne place are ye so blynde that ye se not these thiÌ„ges Maye ye not heare wer not these vngodlinesses declared yow euen froÌ„ y â— begynninge Were ye not moneshed of these thinges at the laynge of the foundacioÌ„ of the erthe Sitte he not of whom we now speake vpon the ronnde worlde lyke as vpon a balle and are not we that inhabit it as lytel locustes Stretchethe he not forth the heauens lyke a cortayne and lyke a tente that is faste pitched to be inhabytede Doth he not bringe princes to nothiÌ„ge the iuges of the erthe to duste so that they be neuer more plaÌ„ted nor soweÌ„ agene nor yet their stocke roted in the erthe For a non as he hath blowne vpon them they ar wythred awaye and gathred vp lyke the stubble with a whyrlewynde But to what thynge I praye yowe wyll yow lyken me or aftyr what fasshion shal I be made saith the holyon lyfte vp yower eyes into the skye above consyder who made these thinges which ledeth forth their a raye or apparel into so grete a nowmber of whom he calleth euery one by his name For by y â— reason of his infinite pow r strength aÌ„d mighte ther is not one of thesehyd frome him Wherfore then shuld Iacob thinke and Israel saye My wayes are hyd frome the lorde my iugemeÌ„t scapeth my god for is it possible for the to be ignorant or not to haue harde that God is euerlastinge The lorde y t made the worlde laboureth not nether is he wearye nether is it possible his wy sedome to be serched oute But he geueth strength to the wearye and hiÌ„ y t faynteth he restoreth right wel Chyldern ar weary almoste brethlesse aÌ„d yonge men vtterly falldowne but to them that wayte vpon the Lorde strengthe is encresed and oute of thez shal growforth egles wynges so y t whiles they runne they shall not faynte whyles they walke they shal not be wearye Ch. xl LEt the eylandes lysten vnto me and let the people take good harte vnto theÌ„ let theÌ„ come before me pleate their cause let vscall eche oth r to iugemeÌ„t wo stereth vp y t rightuouson froÌ„ y e easte calling hiÌ„ forth to subdue to hym y e gentyles to holde downe kinges to dinge theÌ„ downe to the grounde with his swerde to scater theÌ„ a brode lyke stubble with his bowe so y t in folowing vpon theÌ„ he maye passe thorowe with oute perel nether be coÌ„pelled to slippe a syde into eny bypathe wohathe wroughte made ordined y â— generacioÌ„s froÌ„ y â— begiÌ„niÌ„g Even I y â— Lorde which am both before the firste and aftyr the laste Beholde ye ey landes wonder ye angles of the erthe come and see whiche of yowe haue louingly byd yower neghboure and brother to dyner
in whose eyes I am gret which is my god my streÌ„gth and he sayed It is no grete thiÌ„ge for y e to be my â—uante to stervp y â— trybes of Iacob to restore y e destruccioÌ„ of Israel excepte I make y â— also y e lyghte of y e geÌ„tyls to be y â— sauinge helth sente fro me to y e vttermoste coostes of therthe Thê° spake y â— lorde y â— redemer mak r holy of Israel vpoÌ„ Christe conteÌ„ned despysed of y e geÌ„tyls â—uante to al y â— bare rule Kynges priÌ„ces shal se ryse vp to worshipe for y â— lordes sake for he is faithful for his sake y t maketh holy Israel which hath chosen y â— o Messias agene thê° spake y e Lorde in the tyme apoynted shal I come be present withe the in the article of thy helth I shal helpe y â— saue y e and I shal geue the into an erneste of y e promyse tomy people to restore therthe y â— thou myghtste chalenge agene y e dispersed he retages saye to theÌ„ in bondes go your wayes oute to theÌ„ y â— ar in derknes comeforth into y e lighte y e they mought feade by y â— woye sydes take their plesures in al theyr plentuoâ—se pastures thei shal not honger nor thirste y â— heate of y â— sonne shal not smyte theÌ„ for theyr goyde shal tender kepe thez ientely shal geue them drinke at the vaynes of waters I shal make all my hylles playne and redy wayes my pathes shal apere troden for euery man Beholde for there shall come some frome a farre some from the northe from the sea aÌ„d some frome the sowthe Beglad heavens reioyse erthe clap your handes hylles for ioye for the lorde shal conforte his people haue mercy on hys poore afflicte But here parauenture Zion wyll saye The lorde hath forsaken me the lorde hath forgoten me Shal the woman forgete hyr yonge chylde borne of hyr owne bodye but if she forgete hyr chylde yet shal I neuer forgete the for so I haue printed the in these my handes thy walles shal neuer fal fro my mynd they y t casted the downe shal come as faste to buylde the agene thei y t destroyde the shal haue continual course recourse vnto the lyft vp thy eyes loke aboute see al these gentyls shal be gathred togither come to the as verely as I lyue sayth the lorde shalt thou be or ned arayed with theÌ„ as w t a riche ornament aparel even lyke a bryde decked in hyr cleane costely araye for thy lande which lyeth desolate wasted loste shal euen by by be to lytel to coÌ„tayne thinhabitours theryn they y t wold devow r y â— shal be far baneshed then shal thy childern born iÌ„ thi barenes speak to y â— sayng this place is to narowe let me haue a place to sit iÌ„ thê° shalt thou thinke who hath begoteÌ„ me these childern sith I am baren aÌ„d a banesshed diuorsed wedue who hath nouresshed brought me vp these chyldern beholde I am sole forsaken of wheÌ„ce then ar these Thê° therfo r answereth y e lorde god behold I shal stretch forth myhaÌ„d to y e geÌ„tils to y t populose nacioÌ„ shal I lyftvp my signe they shal briÌ„ge sonnes to the in their bosoms daughters vpoÌ„ their shulderne shal they briÌ„ge y â— theyr kinges shal fede y â— their quenes shal be thi nourses they their faces bowed downe to therthe shal reuerence y â— licke of y â— duste froÌ„ thy fete thou shalt knowe y â— I am y â— lorde in whom who so ev r trusts they ar not confounded Who maye take y â— proye froÌ„ y â— stroÌ„ge or y e captyue froÌ„ y e mighty but because y e lorde hath so spokeÌ„ it bothe y e captyue shal be takeÌ„ froÌ„ y e myghtye y e proye froÌ„ y e stroÌ„ge for I wil defende thy cause ageÌ„st thi aduersarye saue thy chyldern thy enemes shal I fede w t theyr own flessh w t their owne bloude shal thei be droÌ„keÌ„ like as w t swete wyne by y â— which veÌ„geaunce every flessh shal se y t I am y e lorde thy saviour thy myghty redemer o Iacob Cap. l. Thus saith y e lorde Whe r is this testimonial of y e diuorse of your moth r which I sent hyr or who is my creditour to whoÌ„ I solde you beholde for eveÌ„ for your own iniquites ar ye solde for brekiÌ„g of mycoÌ„maÌ„dements is your moth r diuorsed put awaye wherfo r wolde nomaÌ„ receyue me when I came nor yet answe r when I called was my haÌ„de so cutof shortened y t it might not delyuer you or was my pow r so my neshed y t it was not able to redeme you which by a worde only dry vp y e sea turne y e floudes into drye laÌ„de so y t their fysshes be corrupte for want of wat r perisshe for thyrste it is I y t clothe y e heauens in a blacke moorning clowde kou r theÌ„ w t sak the lorde god hathe geueÌ„ me a lerned tonge to know how when I shoulde speake w t the weake afflticte erly in the morninge he twitched me by y e eare wakened me as my masters were wont to do to make me lysten take hede it was y â— lorde god y t opened myne eare how then coulde I not but obaye or how coulde I auoyde or slyppe bak Wherfore I offere my backe to the smyters my chekes to the twitchers my face I turne not away froÌ„ rebukes spetel for y â— lorde god bringeth me helpe wherfo r I shal not be confounded but I set my face agenste them as harde as a flynte for I knowe wel y t I shal not be shamed for I haue my defend r by me to delyuer me who then maye stryue agenste me Let vs go stande togither before a iuge if eny maÌ„ wil contende with me in iugemente let hym come hither Beholde the lorde god hathe taken vp my cause to defende it who then shal condempne me lo al these thy Idols aÌ„d goddes shal be worne oute lyke a garment wormes shal eate thez Who so ev r he be then emonge you y â— fear y e lorde let hym heare y e voyce of his seruaÌ„te who ho euer walketh in derkenes y e light shyneth not vpon hym let him truste in y e name of the lorde cleaue to his god Beholde al you haue kindled a fyer aÌ„d eveÌ„ your selues gyrtaboute w t y e flame walke in y e myddes of your own fyer which ye haue kindled but this one thinge is brought to passe be my haÌ„d for you y t ye shal sleape with sorowe Chap. li HEare me ye y t folowe rightwisnes sekinge y e lorde