Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

We need seek no better expositor of these words then Jesus Christ, who upon the speech of washing of hands, (wherewith the Pharisees reproved the Disciples, because they had omitted so holy an act in their conceit) that he might convince them of hypocrisy, saith, Isaiah prophesied well of you, O ye hypocrites, saying, This people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far off from me: Matth. 15.7, 8. To the lips and mouth therefore the Prophet opposeth the heart; the integrity whereof God chiefly requires of us. For if we want that, he rejects all our works, carry they never so goodly a show in the eyes of men. For as himself is a Spirit,¹ so also will he be adored and worshipped of us in heart and spirit: at which end, if we begin not, we may do what we will in outward show, but it shall ⟨p. 289⟩every whit be accounted nothing else but vain ostentation.

We need seeke no better expositor of these words then Iesus Christ, who vpon the speech of washing of hands, (wherewith the Pharises reproued the Disciples, because they had omitted so holy an act in their conceit) that he might conuince them of hypocrisie, saith, Isaiah prophecied well of you, O yee hypocrites, saying, This people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far off from me: Matth. 15.7, 8. To the lips and mouth therefore the Prophet opposeth the heart; the integritie whereof God chiefly requires of vs. For if we want that, he reiects all our workes, carie they neuer so goodly a shew in the eyes of men. For as himselfe is a Spirit,¹ so also will he be adored and worshipped of vs in heart and spirit: at which end, if we begin not, we may doe what we will in outward shew, but it shall ⟨p. 289⟩euery whit bee accounted nothing else but vaine ostentation.

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