Is. 48:3: "I have declared the former things from the beginning; I did them
suddenly; and they came to pass. Because I know that thou art obstinate,
that thy spirit is rebellious, and thy brow brass; I have even declared it
to thee before it came to pass: lest thou shouldst say that it was the work
of thy gods, and the effect of their commands.
"Thou hast seen all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new
things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.
They are created now, and not from the beginning; I have kept them hidden
from thee; lest thou shouldst say, Behold, I knew them.
"Yea, thou knewest not; yea, thou heardest not; yea, from that time that
thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou couldst deal very
treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb."
Reprobation of the Jews and conversion of the Gentiles.--Is. 65: "I am
sought of them
407. When malice has reason on its side, it becomes proud and parades reason
in all its splendour. When austerity or stern choice has not arrived at the
true good and must needs return to follow nature, it becomes proud by reason
of this return.
408. Evil is easy, and has infinite forms; good is almost unique. But a
certain kind of evil is as difficult to find as what we call good; and often
on this account such particular evil gets passed off as good. An
extraordinary greatness of soul is needed in order to attain to it as well
as to good.
409. The greatness of man.--The greatness of man is so evident that it is
even proved by his wretchedness. For what in animals is nature, we call in
man wretchedness, by which we recognise that, his nature being now like that
of animals, he has fallen from a better nature which once was his.
For who is unhappy at not being a king, except a