John Trapp on Isaiah 49:4

Ver. 4. Then ſaid I, I have laboured in vaine] I have done little more than preached my hearers to hell. The Phariſees and the Lawyers rejected the counſel of God againſt themſelves, Luk. 7.30. they would not be forewarned to flee from the wrath to come, Mat. 3.7. to eſcape the damnation of hell, Mat. 23.33. Our Saviour loſt his ſweet words upon them: ſo did the Prophet Iſaiah upon his untoward Countrymen, who refuſed to be reformed, hated to be healed. Nothing was unconquerable to his pains, who had (as one ſaith of Jul. Scaliger) a golden wit in an iron body; but this matter was not malleable: hence he ſpake to them to as little purpoſe as Bede did when he preached to an heap of ſtones. Hence his complaint, chap. 53.1. Who hath beleeved our report? he might haply hope at firſt, as holy Melanchthon did, that it was impoſſible for his hearers to withſtand the evidence of the Goſpel: but after he had been a Preacher a while, 'tis ſaid be complained that old Adam was too hard for young Melanchthon. Reverend Mr. Greenham, beſides his publike paines in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon, was wont to walk out into the fields, and to confer with his neighbours as they were at plough. But Dry-Draiton (the place where he was Miniſter many years) though ſo often watered with his teares, prayers and paines, was little the better for all:Mr. Fullers Church-hiſt. the generality of his pariſh remained ignorant and obſtinate, to their Paſtours great grief, and their own greater dammage and diſgrace. Hence the verſes, Greenham had paſtures green, But ſheep full lean, &c.

He might well cry out, as many alſo do at this day, Eheu, quam pingui macer eſt mihi taurus in arvo! Our people, alaſſe, are like Labans-lambs or Pharaohs kine: they are even Miniſtrorum opprobria. But if Miniſters toyle all night and take nothing, 'tis to be feared (ſaith one well) that Satan caught the fiſh ere they came at their net.

Yet ſurely my judgement is with the Lord] He will do me right and reward me howſoever: The Phyſician hath his praiſe and pay, though his Patient dyes. The Lawyer hath his ſee though his Clients cauſe miſcarry. Curam exigeris, non curationem, ſaith Bernard to a frienk of his,Jer. 20. it is the care not the cure of your charge that is charged upon you. Jeremy was impatient, and would preach no more, but that might not be. Mr. Greenham left Dry-Draiton, upon friends importunity, and removed to London, but he afterwards repented it. Latimer ſpeaking of a certain Miniſter, who gave this anſwer why he left off preaching, becauſe he ſaw he did no good: This, ſaith Latimer, is a naughty, a very naughty anſwer.