Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
Ver. 1. Woe to the rebellious children.] Vae filiis desertoribus, vel apostatis, so he boldly calleth the politicians of his time, the counsellors of state, Shebna and others, who gave good Hezekiah ill counsel to send to Egypt for help a when Sennacherib invaded him. Well might St Paul say, "Esaias is very bold." Rom 10:20 Consurgens enim, proceres inquit, quid hoc rei est quod occeptatis? male omnina factum! vae vobls, vae reipublicae toti! Such another bold court preacher was Elias, Amos, John Baptist, Chrysostom, Latimer, Dearing, &c. See Latimer's letter to King Henry VIII after the proclamation for abolishing English books, Acts and Mon., fol. 1591, where we may see and marvel at his great boldness and stoutness, saith Mr Foxe, who, as yet being no bishop, so freely and plainly, without all fear of death, adventuring his own life to discharge his conscience so boldly, to so mighty a prince, in such a dangerous case, against the king's law and proclamation, set out in such a terrible time, dared take upon him to write and to admonish that which no counsellor dared once speak unto him in defenee of Christ's gospel, &c.
That take council, but not of me.] Though I am "the wonderful Counsellor," Isa 9:6 and though they profess to be my children, but unruly, rebellious ones. I must needs say, they are such as, like petty gods within themselves, run on of their own heads, and "lean to their own understanding," Pro 3:5 as if I were nothing to them, or as if Consilii satis est in me mihi were their motto. See the like folly, Joshua 9:14 .
That cover with a covering.] b But it will not reach. Isa 28:20 God will make the strongest sinew in the arm of flesh to crack, and the fairest blossoms of human policies to wither.
That they may add sin to sin,] i.e., Thereby adding sin to sin. Deu 29:19 Job 34:37 See Trapp on " Deu 29:19 " See Trapp on " Job 34:37 "
a Est species quaedam αποστασιας aliunde quam a Deo auxilium petere.
b Et ordiremini telam.